Kenchega Sunset

Painting No. 20 on the trip, Kenchega Sunset was inspired by the magnificent sunsets we were privileged to witness when we were camping in the National Park late last year. Hope you like it and for once Ron is talking about framing - that's a worry LOL.

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IT'S WAR

The Germans have attacked

While having breakfast yesterday we were viciously attacked but a marauding Kea campervan. Now the old saying of "Did the earth move for you" takes on a whole new meaning. Cups spilt, crosswords tossed to the far ends of the van, wine glasses clinked and the pace makers skipped a beat.

"Oh so sorry, we didn't see you" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We're 27ft long and parked, how can you not see us ????

After the initial surprise from the attack, (much like Pearl Harbour I imagine) we surveyed the damage and were able to make running repairs that will keep us out on the road until March. Poor ol' Miss G is not very happy though, bent and twisted at Rons end (and don't anyone touch that), but it was always a bit twisted down there LOL. Torn fly (again leave it alone) and generally looking scared, we will soldier on into the great unknowns of Huskisson and Cowra via the Berry cellar to stock up on some essentials to ease our pain. LOL.

Signs, signs, everywhere are signs, blocking out the scenery blowing my mind ......

Sounds like good lyrics for a song LOL. As you can see we are at Durras Beach and lake and the council is making sure that no one has any reason to sue them over not being warned. So let's look at what it has to say:

• We are in the Eurobodella Shire
• At Durras Lake (although this sign was at the beach)
• We're told to observe every sign
• Things are prohibited on the beach, is that us ? signs?  very badly worded LOL
• No camping
• No fires
• No cars
• No horses

Then there are the Hazards

• Flags !!!!!!!!
• Falling off a bubble or is that meant to be a rock ?
• Waving to friends while swimming !!!!!!
• Tsunamis !!!!!!!!!!!

They care about us - touching, but just in case something else goes wrong there is the emergency phone number, putting litter in the provided bin (didnt see any bin in our  6klm walk) and all this is bought to us by the safety beach program. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa h just makes you feel better don't it.

Back to what we got up to yesterday,we started off by kayaking the lakes which weas fantastic and the weather was just great. Unfortunately like most of the country the drought is having a big effect here, the mouth of the lakes into the ocean has now been closed for several years and the lakes are starting to suffer greatly from evaporation. We managed to peddle/sail about half the lakes the other areas were too shallow even for D'Luded.

In the afternoon we took the beach walk to the cliffs about 4klm away, strolling through some of the most beautiful clean water I have seen. Emerald green and lovely small waves, perfect. On our way back the tide changed to an incoming tide and all of a sudden blue bottles started washing up on the beach. Sharks one minuted blue bottles then next, life at the beach is always an adventure LOL.

Packing day

We are off to Durras, just north of Batemans Bay this morning for a couple of days. With luck most of the xmas traffic will be heading home so things should be returning to normal. Last night we had the BIG night out and went to the circus. It was Ron's first country circus and I did warn him that it was not quiet up to the standards of THAT Canadian group that he seen. It was very funny with all the kids very excited and four cows strutting around the arena. Someone should have told the circus that Bega is a diary area and cows just dont do it here LOL. That said the "Man in the Bottle" was pretty spectacular and we are still trying to work out how he did it. Ron is in practise, send a chiropractor quick LOL.

This one is for Arty(Hope you are feeling better), Hans and Roli and everyone else that's in the Northern hemisphere and doing winter. (Another blissful day downunder)


The wait is almost over when we get to reclaim the beaches, mountains and outback. On Tuesday we head up the highway to Durras and spend 3 - 4 days there just chilling out on the beach and he can do some fishing.

The stay here in Bega has been good with a couple of dinners locally and yesterday we had lunch at Wheelers Seafood which is just north of Prambula Beach. Food was great and seafood very fresh. Had a really successful night on Saturday night, tried out a new bistro downtown and then headed up to the RSL to put some money in a machine. We had invested $20 when he who is arsey won $270 on a one cent machine. That was our exit win so a good night was had and still enough money left over to pay for yesterdays lunch.

Move over Cook

Yesterday we headed off on a voyage of discovery from Tathra. The weather was perfect, the sun beamed down and a light wind from the east. D'luded slipped into the river and the sail was hoisted and off we set. With peddles peddling and the breeze pushing us along we soon left civilization and headed into the great unknown. At 1pm we found an island to stop at for lunch and a quick drink only to find that someone had been there before us !!!!!!  Man Friday maybe.  We soon devoured our lunch and continued upstream in our voyage of discovery. At 2pm we came upon a totally new island in the middle of the river and as you can see we soon claimed it in the name of a queen, any queen will do LOL.

After many hours cruising along it was time to turn around and head for home - DISASTER we had failed to take into account that when you have a very very favourable wind on the way out, you have a very very strong head wind for the way home. Many Many hours later we finally got back to the truck, tired and sunburnt we headed home for a much deserved drink.

Good Morning from Bega

At last the weather has turned and we have a great day. The last couple of days have been cold and very very windy so we bunkered down here in town. But this morning dawned clear and calm and with the promise of a fantastic beach day so off to Tathra we go for some kayaking.

The one good thing about the bad weather was I got to do some more work on Kenchega Dawn, the new painting. With luck it will be finished in the next week or so.

Is it a garden from Japan ????

Who the hell are you and what are you doing in my garden ?

Genoa falls, small but certainly a great walk and climb. The local waterdragons were out sunning themselves and even a giant goanna came out to check us out.

Yesterday we packed our bags and headed up the highway to Bega, yes as in the cheese. The park here is small, only about 40 sites and only two permanents with spotless amenities.  Bega is only 10 minutes from the coast and the same to the mountains, so depending on the weather we will either go kayaking up in the mountains where there is a great lake or take off to the coast and sail around the bays and inlets. We are only 20 klms from Tathra so we might even move down there after next weekend when we get to reclaim the roads LOL. Since leaving Marlo we have been with the nomads as they hide away from the hordes. The freepark at Genoa was full of them and there are several around us here. Last night was drinks and snacks next door at our latest best friends LOL and tonight its on here at Miss G.

and what a gorgeous gorge it is, and yes that mist is smoke from bushfires burning in the area. The Little River gorge in the Snowy Mountains National Park. We had planned on leaving Orbost today but the highway to Cann River has been closed because of the bush fires so we have decided to sit here for another day. Victoria hasn't changed weather wise, yesterday 43 and stinking hot and today raining and 18. Now I know why we have made the decision to move North LOL.

The man from Snowy River

We set off at 10.30am to do the lap of the Snowy Mountain National Park and had been warned in advance it did include some very ordinary dirt roads clinging to the side of the mountain. The first 100klms to Boyang was sealed and the countryside flowed past with mountains on either side and the sound of bell birds ringing through the forests. From Boyang the road got much more interesting. One track dirt and yes there were the 500meter drops off to the passenger side (lucky it wasn't on my side). I positioned myself so that I was facing the rock wall and just continued to drive around thousands of corners that just disappear into thin air, very spooky drive.  Only one close call with a d---head driving like a lunatic in his 4wd ute,he came flying around a corner ahead of us, thank god we didn't meet him in a corner. The views from the high country were spectacular and now we know why the farmers are fighting so hard to retain this area as a grazing area in summer. We climbed down to the Little River Gorge, which is Victoria's deepest gorge at 600meters (pic tomorrow). This was gorge 73. After 6 and a half hours and  300klms we arrived back at Orbost and ready for a good stiff drink LOL.

And stay out .................

Ol' brownie here was our farewell from Marlo LOL. He was quiet impressive, about 1.5 meter in length so he got your attention. As we left town, thousands of new 5 - 10 year olds were rolling into town for the next two weeks. It was great having the time with Bailey ,Scott and Julie and we will catch up with them in March when we get home. We have moved to the Orbost Caravan Park and it is very civilized. Before we had even starting unpacking the nomads next door had introduced themselves and we all had a laugh about hiding for the rest of the holiday season. The good thing is they have just come down the coast freeparking and will give us the clues on where to go. AMEN

I've worked it out

Everything on the road has a tag, so here are some explanations on what we mean when we talk about certain groups:

Nomads:
Retired and travelling, usually on the move alot, unless working along the way. Very social, love a drink and usually lots of fun. They have a fantastic knowledge of places to go and things to do and you will always learn something new. Nomads also include young families that have taken 6 - 12 months off and are travelling with there kids (primary school age) who are being home schooled along the way. These families are great fun and always add to the life in a park.

Boaties:
The worlds most boring group on the road. You must drag around a tinny, wake the entire park up at 4am each day as you head out to slaughter some poor fish that is undersize. On the return you endlessly tell about the days exploits, only to do it all again the next day, and the one after that, and the one after that etc etc etc

Mexicans:
As the name suggests usually people south of the Qld border who do the annual migration from Reservoir with there neighbours and invade the entire tropical coast. As they are neighbours they talk to no one else and have the same sites at the same parks each year until death or dementia. Usually invading the coast from Mothers day to Fathers day, or as the Qlders say mothers day to the opening of bowls in the south.

Hordes:
Families on holidays along the coast. Generally in training to become Mexicans in later life. Loads of children and they consider caravan parks to be child minding facilities for the entire stay. Very clicky.

Well our time at Marlo ends this morning and we head up the road to Orbost for a couple of days and from there onto the road proper.

Help

We're Stuck

As our time here ticks down we started to make enquiries about where to go only to find that everywhere along the coast is totally booked out until after the 26th Jan. So this leaves us with a big problem, where to go and still get away from the masses. To start we might just move up the road to Orbost as the park there looks good and seems fairly quiet. We are going to check it out today. From there we might have to freeparks or go inland. Oh well all those little darlings will be going back to school soon and we will have things back to normal LOL.

This year it is off and running in Red.

We are still at Marlo and now only have 3 more days here (thank god). It has been fantastic to spend so much time with Bailey, Julie and Scott but we really are totally out of place here. We are missing the 5 kl zone crowd or the nomads, either would be wonderful and come Saturday we will be looking for them LOL.

Last night Ron cooked up a storm with crispy skin chicken and Lamb curry and I helped out with the fried rice and everyone agreed that it was a feast. While this was being consumed, it was washed down with good Aussie wines and we put on a pic slide show on the TV of places we have been and seen. All up a good night was had.

The Royal Cave at Buchan

Well the rain continued so we headed off to Buchen caves to see if any of the moisture had managed to make it into the caves. We only got to do the one cave but what a great cave it was. It took approximately an hour to work our way through the system and the entire length is alive and growing. Out of all the caves we have done in the last 2+ years this is by far the most awe inspiring. Everywhere you look there were formations raging in age from Millions of years to thousands of year. Great trip. We came home via the scenic drive around the snowy river back to Orbost and then we went exploring the other side of the river to find new camping sites for future trips.

Good Morning from a cold and wet Marlo.

New Year was a fun night down here with lots of drinks had and a great lamb spit at Scots. The night ended somewhat fuzzy as the champagne, pinot gris and savy blanc kicked in at the back of the ute next door, when I was getting to know the locals under the supervision of Julie (just to make sure I didn't do or say anything out of order LOL LOL). Sat morning was pretty ordinary though and the good weather decided that it was taking off as well, so here we sit trying to stay dry LOL.

Our hopes of the park emptying out this weekend seem to be unfounded. As soon as someone moves out someone else with children replaces them. As an example: surrounding us on the site on the right are 6 people, 3 tents, one caravan, 3 cars and a dog. Immediately behind is 3 tens, 2 cars, one boat, and entertainment area 2 adults and 4 children and on the left of us are 2 cars, a boat, three tents, and I cant keep count of the heads running in and out of the main tent. My understanding of park regulations is that there is a limit on overcrowding but maybe I'm wrong. At least in their defence they are all pretty good neighbours and don't cause us any grief.

The old crew up the end of the row have sprung us. As Julie and Bailey were walking past yesterday they were asked if we were Bailey's grandparents, Julie explained that we were the god dam god fathers and then they asked whether we were "Queens" !!!!!!!!!!   Julie hummed and harred and then came clean. I guess our trying to blend in failed LOL LOL. They are a pretty good lot and we have had a few good laughs on the way past with them.

This morning is overcast and cold so it might be off to do Gorge 72 today, cant spend another day sitting here waiting for it to warm up. Hans the new painting is about half done and I think you will love it. Bruce is sitting on the fence I think LOL. It's bright and busy and the result of a dream or as Ron says a nightmare LOL.

Happy New Year