Stephanie's Words: SURPRISING SOUTH COAST

Our Beach - Pambula

Camel Rock

Why on earth is this place such a secret? I have never heard another caravanner talk about the wonderful time they had on the south coast of NSW. Incredible! This coast is just one outstanding spot after another. The whole coastline is laced with lakes and inlets making for a very watery environment. The mountains climb down into the ocean and the rain forests fringe the beaches. The waters are sparkling turquoise and sapphire blue edged with golden sand and colourful cliffs. All in all it is delightful.

Still Our Beach - Pambula

PLAYFUL PAMBULA

Our first caravan park in NSW was the pretty little seaside hamlet of Pambula Beach. The park was a Big 4 and in the way of these camps, immaculate. Not so immaculate were the mobs of kangaroos lazing around in the sun – we were amazed to see that these fluffy grey animals have no respect for the usual ‘only come out at night’ rules and just mosey around all day. There are BIG signs up everywhere asking us not to feed the kangaroos. Right! No, I didn’t feed the kangaroos, well, not intentionally anyway. The camp was also full of the usual cheeky sparrows and bunnies. Very cute to see the bunnies and the roos all grazing together I have to say. Ferals tho’ the bunnies and the sparrows might be, they are at least 6^th generation Australian in my book and that makes them at least as Australian as me – good enough for me. Anyway, I digress – I had some old bread I needed to get rid of and so I crumbled it up and tossed it out for the birds. Sadly, I was not unobserved and before I knew what was happening I was set upon by a very determined lady kangaroo who thought she should have the bread instead. I had read the signs, I knew she wasn’t supposed to have the bread, I tried to deny her – all to no avail – she became even more insistent and in the process of wresting the bread away from me, scratched my forearm and my midriff – fortunately not severely. Well, what can I say, I fed the kangaroo!! From that point on, (she told the others) we had the roos stopping in at the van quite frequently just to see if there was any more bread. They became involved in my painting and made camp outside the van. One of the mums decided to stay all day and she and her joey simply lay down in the shade of the awning and had a lovely snooze.

Coming In For Face Painting!?

Mum and Joey Just Lazing Around

There must have been 50+ of the grey roos in and around the camp at any given time – it was quite surreal. The camp was right on the ocean although we could only hear the waves as there were dunes between us and the ocean. As I was outside the van painting one morning an enthusiastic Japanese tourist became super excited about my ink painting and jumped up and down shouting quite loudly in his excitement. He obviously mistook me for a real artist and even accused me of being a University Lecturer?! He and his wife were here on a golfing holiday – she was the golfer he said, and he was just along to enjoy himself, both on and off the golf course. He was quite a character. His wife, like long suffering wives the world around, seemed quietly resigned to his idiosyncrasies.

From the town of Pambula we explored south to the picturesque town of Eden and north to the famous cheese producing area of Bega. Merimbula was the closest town to Pambula and was quite a busy hub. All of these towns are reasonably large and dwarf most of the WA coastal and country towns.

Off The Coast Batemans Bay

Stunning Coast - Tuross Head

We (read DD) found a source of cheap oysters, from $4.00 per dozen upwards, depending on the size. We availed ourselves of 5 dozen of the medium sized delicacies and enjoyed a dozen between us each evening for most of the week. I don’t think DD’s fingers enjoyed the experience however, as he tells me these little oysters are far harder to shuck than their southern cousins. A fair bit of bark and not a little claret was spilled in the shucking adventures.

On our travels we discovered the delightful little town of Cobargo and a brilliant little second hand book shop called “Well Thumbed” – what a little ripper! We left the shop with a bag of books to suit both our tastes and the nice warm feeling you have, having met a kindred spirit. All good as my boys would say.

Typical Coastal Suburbs

Peaceful Scenes - Tuross Head

There is not a great deal more to say about the area that I have not already covered, blue, blue hills and mountains are the backdrop, green rolling pastures abound around the dairy towns, deep ravines and small mountains carpeted with a mixture of bracken, zamia palms, the odd tree palm and tall, tall gum trees all vie with each other for attention. The lakes are deep blue and plentiful, bird-life is abundant, the fishing, they say, is good and the weather (up until today) has been just wonderful.

Tranquility - Tuross Head

Historical All Saints - Bodalla

BALMY BATEMANS BAY

From Pambula we headed north to a tiny spot just north of Batemans Bay – South Durras – we are still there, in a secluded little eco-park called Lansea Park – a much accredited Holiday Park which as I speak is expanding considerably. Here we share the park with abundant wild-life, large numbers of grey kangaroos (hence all the roo-poo), possums, hundreds of Lorikeets, Crimson Rosellas, King Parrots, Wood Ducks, Galahs, Sulphur Crested Cockatoos, Black Cockatoos, Wattle Birds, Topknot Pigeons, Magpies and a myriad of smaller birds. The park is smack bang between the lake and the ocean and we are able to stroll to either one when the mood takes us.

DD is happy as he has a fireplace and the park sells firewood by the bag – so far tho’ we have only had it lit once as it has either been too warm, too windy or tonight, for the first time, too wet. Oh well – he feels better knowing it is there when he wants it. The park is supposedly dog free (for obvious reasons) although we know that a couple of the permanents do have beasties.

All Saints

Driver With Attitude

They have an odd rule here (and in Tas) – permanent cabin owners can only spend up to 150 nights per annum in their cabins. We have not been able to discern the reason for this, but it does explain why the cabins sell so cheaply. You could pick up a basic little cabin here for around $6000 give or take. The property values are fairly steep along the coast and the increasingly heavy traffic indicates the urban sprawl is sprawling further and further south. We would be at least 300k from Sydney here but you would think it were much closer.

From South Durras we have explored south to Moruya and yesterday visited the absolutely stunning Tuross Head. This is an amazingly beautiful and picturesque spot, snuggled between two major lakes and the ocean. The homes there were an eclectic mix of large and small, architectural design and shanty. The terrain was rain forest crossed with mangrove swamps, sparkling lakes and golden sands. Sandbanks abounded as did rocky outcrops and tiny islands. Whilst enjoying the views we met a genial lady who told us what a delight it is to live in the area. Dear soul, she and her hubby had been across to the west earlier in the year to help mates get their crops in – in Corrigin of all places. It reminded us of how many wonderful people there still are in this world.

We will remain here in South Durras until this Sunday when we will turn tail and head away from the coast. We were planning (again) to head to Canberra, but guess what, we have oscillated so much that now we are unable to get into a caravan park anywhere in the close vicinity to the ACT. No, nothing to do with the elections (aren't you glad they are over), but rather the annual Flower Show is about to begin and the place is packed. Add to that the fact that the dear children are about to have another holiday and we’re as they say in the classics, ‘off’.

We are sorry not to be catching up with friends and rellies further north, but the steady increase of traffic on the roads has us twitching and we are yearning for ‘further out’. The latest plan is to head towards Goulburn and then across to the Mildura and the Murray River. There we will slow down and enjoy the river, the Flinders and our good mates in Clare. What, sorry Pete, didn't we tell you we were coming – oh well, now you know – only fair to give you a chance to leave town!!

So my friends, until next time when we will be ............................?? Spring is Sprung, The Elections are finally over, Our Footy Team is ‘Finished’ - so Live, Love and Be Happy. Stephanie

FULL PIKE WITH A HALF TWIST (otherwise known as The Duck Dive)

Well, it’s been quite a while since I had a major klutz attack but yesterday morning I made up for a whole year’s worth.

We are currently staying in a beautiful little eco-park on the south coast of NSW – I will fill in the gaps as to where, in a ‘proper’ blog. All you need to know for this one is that it is a birdie paradise and we have more birds here than even I could wish for. Among the feathered pretties is a family of Maned Ducks or if you prefer, Australian Wood Ducks. We have been adopted by a mum, a dad and seven fluffy little ducklings. They are adorable and of course I am mothering them to bits.

Adorable

Proud Dad

Yesterday morning, very early (around 5.45) I heard a quiet ruckus outside the van and looked out my bedroom window to see the family all gathered outside the van. Not only was the mother duck looking at the van and quacking, but not to be ignored jumped up on a post the better to see in and catch my attention.

Now this is a wonderfully quiet park and currently we are the only van in, so I was not worried about stepping outside the van in my nightie. Hmmm, step is not really the appropriate word here! I very quietly extricated myself from the bed so not to disturb the quietly snoring man beside me (yes he is snoring again) and cautiously opened the van door in order to throw out some seed for the ducks. Now...........those of you not familiar with our van need to know here that it is quite high off the ground – due to this we have a marvelous set of stainless steel steps – solid as you like and very stable. Great! Now, due to old age, infirmity, crook knees, sheer bulk, etc, etc, I am always but always super cautious exiting the van – one very careful step at a time. What on earth went wrong yesterday morning then? Oh perhaps I was not fully awake, perhaps I was distracted by the sight of 7 fluffy ducklings all trying to get into our water dish, perhaps the flight of the brightly coloured lorikeets flying around my head, or was it the friendly maggie waiting for a titbit, perhaps I just momentarily lost my mind..................whatever the distraction was it had spectacular results.

Was It These Jeweled Birds Flitting Around Me?

Or This Colourful Character

One moment perched reasonably safely on the top step of the van and the next flying oh so slowly thru’ the crisp morning air. It was remarkable in many ways – firstly, never before have I had such clear and distinct thoughts whilst heading towards a crash – they went pretty much like this:

“Oh No - Faaaar Out - there was still a step to go!”

“Maybe if I do the stumble dance I can stop the forward momentum and prevent a disaster”,

“Oh good, there’s the chair, I can grab hold of that and save myself”, “Oh rats, the chair wasn't properly expanded and has simply folded and fallen on the ground”,

“Oh bugger!” (this as my face met the ground)

“Oh was that kangaroo poo?”

“Well, here I am lying flat on my face in the kangaroo poo”,

“Gee, I just missed hitting my head on that fire place”

“I better call Doug to come and help, oh no, better not, don’t want to wake him – he had a restless night”

“How am I going to get up?”

“Can anyone see me?”

“Uh oh, my nightie is not covering all of me!”

“Thank goodness there is nobody around to see this!”

“Where the bloody hell is Doug?”

“Is there kangaroo poo on my face?”

“Oh, I hope I didn't squash the ducklings!”

“Well it looks like the cavalry is not happening; I will just have to try to move”

“Hmm, at least it doesn't feel like I've broken anything”, “I see I have scraped my knees and I’m sure that is kangaroo poo”

“Hope I don’t get ticks”

“Well at least I’m able to stand – sort of”

“Well I guess I should try to get back into the van and clean off all this kangaroo poo”

“Where is the bloke when you need him?”

“What the ................he is happily making a cuppa, awake after all”

As I staggered back inside the van, scraped knees, shattered nerves, poo splattered, nightie awry, what did that estimable bloke say to me? “Bit damp out there this morning
sweetie?”

The King Was There

Looking Down From Safety

No questions like, “where have you been in your nightie?” or, “Is that Kanga Poo on your forehead?” or “Sweetie, you poor thing are you all right?” Oh no, not my bloke -

OH BLOODY HELL – he really is just a bloke after all! Not that ‘anybody else’ asked, but yes I am fine THANK YOU VERY BLOODY MUCH!!!!! Just a tad tender in a few spots! I was incredibly lucky not to have done any major damage. I guess the angels were watching over me – seems they have a pretty good sense of humour tho’.

Did She Just Try To Fly?

She Had Roo Poo On Her Forehead!

Just to add to your mirth, I stepped out of the van this morning to try to feed 'just' the beautiful King Parrots as the Lorikeets are just such aggressive feeders, the other parrots have trouble just getting a look in. I should have known better as DD had already been out there trying to get a few more photos of the Kings and he had birds flying all around him and trying to land on his shiny 'runway'. As you will see from the photo, I was somewhat overwhelmed - what you can't see is the cheeky little bloke who just a moment earlier was trying to find his way inside my dressing gown!