GOLF DAY

Another great day starts with the kids on bikes that we expected yesterday , so we got up at 7:30 . It was nice to be able to sleep with all the windows open and not be cold ( we are not missing the cold ).
 It is golf day , where Lyn gets to have some free time , yes , yes , I get some free time as well . I played at Mollymook Hilltop course , one which I hadn't played before . It was spectacular , with holes going downhill , uphill , across hills , over creeks and dams with water lillies . The course is lined with beautiful gum trees , turpentines & tree ferns - it was a pleasure to walk around this course.
 For the golfers out there , I had 20 points on the front 9 , and 14 on the back 9 , for a total of 34 -2 worse than my handicap , which I think is pretty reasonable seeing as I hadn't played here before .
 While I was away , Lyn took care of some things around the RV , had a ride and a swim , before coming back in to Mollymook for a stroll down the walking track beside Mollymook Beach . She also took todays photos . They are looking toward Bannisters Point .

 We arrived back to the RV and found that Optus had finally repaired their problem and we had phone and internet again , a small thing , but it's amazing how much you miss it when it's not there . 

 The plan for tomorrow morning is to battle the hoards of people on the lake , and take the kayak for a paddle and see what we can find . 

 See you tomorrow .

Lunch , then a drive in the bush

After another good nights sleep , we expected to be woken by kids on bikes , scooters and skateboards - but all was quiet , so we slept in till 8am .
 Breakfast out of the way , we read a few magazines and got organised for lunch with Norm & Debbie . Awning out , privacy screen attached , ground sheet out , table & chairs out - we were all good to go , so we went back to the magazines for a little while .

 The visitors arrived and we did the tour through & around - and both were very impressed with our home on wheels - they even offered for us to go back to their place and they would stay in ours -how thoughtful of them - we declined !!!
 We headed off for an afternoon drive to Pointers Gap Lookout and Porters Creek Dam - both west of where we are . They are up on top of the escarpment to the west of the highway , 493m above sea level . The drive up through the forests of Morton National Park was great with towering gum trees , palm trees , all tangled with vines and impenetrable - the smell was pure rainforest . Onwards and upwards we went , some sections of bitumen where the road was steep , then back to gravel again . Nearly at the top we drove under towering sandstone cliffs that hung over the road - we were happy when we had made it past them !!!

 The track up to the lookout was a bit washed out and made for an interesting drive - not much of a challenge for our ute though . We parked the ute and walked the 135m to the lookout - to come across one of the better views that you would find anywhere . The view stretched from north of Jervis Bay to south past Lake Tabourie , with views of Lake Conjola , sandy beaches , Milton & Ulladulla , dense forests and green pastures . On a clear day you would be able to see a long way out of the coast as well - it was a little hazy today , but still worth the drive .

Looking toward Milton 

 While at the lookout part of a butterfly wing floated down from somewhere - so as not to miss out , here it is .

The finger is only to give some perspective to the size 

 We headed back to the ute through a forest of banksia's that almost formed a tunnel over the track , and headed off to go to Porters Creek Dam - the water supply for Lake Conjola down to Lake Tabourie . We were surprised when we arrived at the dam - we could walk up to the edge of the dam wall - we could have nearly driven straight into it !!! A few photos and we were off heading back to the RV for a quiet beer .

 The park is getting busier as the day goes on - everyone is rocking up for the weekend . We are finding that the RV and ute are attracting a lot of attention this afternoon . Many people are coming past , and they're all having a good look . A few guys from Sutherland chatted to Lyn for a while , asking all about it and the ute .
 Well , another day down , many to come . Thanks for reading , Cheers Alan & Lyn

Off to Lake Conjola

Pack up time , and off down the road to another destination . It seems whenever you are packing up and trying to get moving , that you attract the most attention , and people want to talk to you !!! We were supposed to be checked out by 10am - but we managed to get out at 10:45 , after emptying out the tanks and getting out of the place .
 Lyns turn to drive today , and it was through a lot of changing conditions - roadworks and a lot of varying speed limits , undulations , up hill down hill , parking , doing U turns in driveways , reversing and intentional jack knifing . A satisfying drive for her , without any major dramas , and best of all we arrived safely at Lake Conjola , our residence for the next 4 nights .
 Set up with the usual ease and settled down to some lunch - it was a warm day with a lot of humidity -very sticky . We even had some kids say " Nice Van , wow how big is that ". Getting a lot of looks from passers by also .
  We decided to explore Lake Conjola by bike , also to see if we had any mobile service outside the park , but alas no . The office girls told us Optus was having issues at the nearest tower and wouldn't be fixed too quickly , but assured us they were working on the problem . We ended up going out to the highway to make a call where there was some service - so if you are trying to ring us - that is why we are not answering .
  We are about 30m from the lakes edge and will be getting the kayak wet in the next few days . The park is huge with many private onsite vans and about 50 tourist sites . They told us about various rules that we hadn't heard of before - such as how far away you have to be from the front , back & sides of the site for sound pollution and fire risk . The measurements didn't really apply to us as we were too long for most spots - we decided that we wouldn't ring , but just turn up unannounced ,
probably not the best idea given the size of our RV , and the fact their sites were only 10m long /deep.
If we had of rung , they probably would have turned us away .
  We proved again that wherever you go , you can't get away from people you know - Mick Ryles walked past as we were sitting down having cheese & bickies & beer . For those that wouldn't know him , he works for Endeavour Energy at Narellan depot - so it is a work connection .

Guests for lunch tomorrow - Norm & Debbie are coming down . 

 With 4 nights here we will get to do some exploring around the place , Stay tuned !!!

Another day in paradise ????

We awoke to the sound of heavy rain at 4:40am and thought hope this stops soon . It did at about 5am - back to dreamland Ahhhh .
Before too much longer , it seemed we had only just drifted back to sleep , the alarm went off - someone had agreed to play golf today - hitting off at 7am - so at 6:45 we got up and got organised , had breakfast etc - had a brief discussion about the weather and we were off .
 The rain had stopped and we got a little drizzle - but not enough to stop serious golfers - so we continued on - played 9 holes before the rain got serious , and by then we had had enough - so pulled the pin and came back to the rv - I played with Graham and his son Luke .
 Thank you Garry Lee for providing a shower big enough to take all my golf gear , to allow it to dry out !!!
Meanwhile Lyn had decided to take a walk around the headland to the little blowhole - it wasn't raining at the start , but decided it would rain just to add some extra's to the walk . She made it back just before we got back from golf , after taking shelter in a few places , without getting soaked .
 As the day moved on , the weather slowly improved , so we went for another walk to the southern headland . Must be something about getting as far away from shelter as you can before the rain starts again . We got back to the park before getting any real rain , and took shelter on someones verandah , whilst the next shower passed through .
 Another day slowly closes in , and we will have a visit from Shane & Elly later and we'll have some tea with them .
  We will be off again tomorrow - probably as far as Huskisson for a few days . Stay Tuned .

The view back to the caravan park

RV drying room / sometimes utilised as a shower

Meetings , Shopping and Visitors

Not much happening today , busy with a superannuation meeting in Wollongong @ 10am .
 Drove back to Shellharbour to do some grocery shopping , fill up with diesel and head back to camp.
 The weather looked threatening all day , with a few small showers early , but then the sun would break through occasionally and warm us up .
Got an invite to play golf with the neighbours tomorrow morning , so that will be fun . The afternoon seemed to disappear without a trace , with only time for a small walk to the northern end of Easts Beach , before Bianca And Kane paid us a visit to check out the RV and have a quiet beer .
 This caravan park would have to be one of the largest ones we have been in - 14 hectares of it , with all varieties of accommodation from tent sites , van sites , ensuite van sites , cabins and apartments - some with beach frontage , then there were the onsite vans that people own and use for holidays .
 The beach and each headland either side form part of the 22 klm Kiama coastal walk from Gerringong to Minnamurra River .

Easts Beach

A new shoot on a Norfolk Island Pine just to remind everyone of the beach.

  That's the joys of doing , or not doing some things , there is always tomorrow . Till then Bye Bye.

Off we go

Here we go , packing up without any real rush, but with a common purpose , we find ourselves ready to go at 10:30am . Slipping quietly through town and out to Berrima , passing a few old workmates as we go - gave them a toot and a wave - the reality of our decisions now sinking in , the smiles on our faces getting wider and wider .
 We went down to Picton Rd and down Mt Ousley ( the brakes certainly warmed up going down there,  driving in the truck lane in 2nd gear trying to keep everything under control and save the brakes ),  through Wollongong and onwards to our destination - Kiama -East Beach Big 4 Caravan Park for a couple of days . We drove through some rain and the odd shower , before reaching our destination at 12:30 . Not a large distance from Moss Vale , but it's not about how far , more the journey .
 Setting up in no time at all , we had already got some comments from the new neighbours , who couldn't believe we could be finished setting up that quickly !!After a quick chat , it was time for lunch and a 40m stroll to the beach , walk around to the southern headland and back before a nice swim in the pool , then a quiet beer and a BBQ for tea .

Easts Beach

  There you go Dianne , you have challenged for one photo a day - here are 4 for you to peruse .

Meetings and shopping tomorrow - probably not a lot of excitement there , but we'll see how it goes .

Stay tuned !!!

The start of it all.

  Hi everyone , we trust you will enjoy our travels as much we will - We'll try to keep this up to date as much as possible
We have been camping in tents for years and years , branching out and going further and further , and enjoying it more and more.
It all started with an idea - we enjoy this , so lets go travelling indefinitely - and has grown from there to where we are now - just about to begin our epic journey!!! It's taken a lot of research , planning , and time - off course some money as well !!
 We started with selling the house and as many contents as we could ( 7 months ) , buying the landcruiser and getting it modified (6 weeks), ordering the 5th wheeler and taking delivery of it (3 months) , then finally getting around to retiring from work so the dream can come to fruition (seems like forever).