Big River Drive

 Hi, the temperature up here is just right at the moment , getting down to 14 overnight and up to 28/29 during the day . So after another good nights sleep , we defrosted the fridge and fiddled around for a bit , then headed out for a drive on Tourist Drive 22 .
 We left Grafton heading northeast on the western side of the Clarence River to Lawrence ( a small community about 30 kms away . It was one of those nice drives away from most traffic , which left us time to drive at our speed and not be rushed . We wound our way up the road through pasturelands and dairy's till we arrived at the side of the Clarence River - Big River Country ! The roads narrowed noticeably till it was one lane , skirting sugar cane fields and beside houses & sheds - fortunately we didn't meet another vehicle through this section .

  Continuing on , we arrived at Lawrence , some of the town was sited by the river , but most was above flood levels . The jetty proved to be a good spot to grasp the size and the amount of water in the river . Big River Country Indeed !!!

 We drove around the houses away from the river , deciding , it probably wasn't where we wanted to live , especially when you then discover that when it does flood , you may well be stranded , as access to the Pacific Hwy is on one of two vehicle ferries - that would be tethered somewhere till the water subsides .

 We crossed the river and headed to Maclean , just up the road , and had a look around before heading out to Yamba . Now , we have been driving past Yamba for years and had never been there before , so today was the day !

 Unfortunately the closer we got to Maclean , the heavier the traffic got , and stayed the same on the way out to Yamba - didn't faze Lyn at all !! Before long we had arrived and went about finding a nice spot for lunch , which we did overlooking the beach that stretched from Yamba to Angourie .

 We headed up to the lighthouse that overlooked the entrance to the Clarence River , with two long breakwalls stretching out into the water .

 The lighthouse was situated in a large grassy park , that also had two old houses that the boat pilots lived in . There was also a small replica lighthouse that was used for navigating the river .

 From there we headed to Angourie , turning at a sign to Blue Pool - we were intrigued to say the least - was it a rock pool with waves crashing over into it ? - it kind of was , without the waves .

 There was a story to it - here it is - in 1890 it was decided to erect break walls at the mouth of the Clarence River to enable safe passage for boats - Hmmm need some rock for this - that's right , there's bluestone at Angourie , we'll get it out and sent it up to the river head on a train that we'll build tracks for ( it will double as a road later when they invent cars !!! ) What forethought they had !! Anyway , they toiled away for 9 years , removing and transporting a much rock as they could . Yikes , what's that ?, there was water filling the excavation site - damn and blast , there goes that quarry , Here's another thought - we could let it fill with water , call it Blue Pool , and the tourists will flock to it in another hundred years or so - Brilliant !! 

 It may not have been the exact thoughts going through there heads , but it sounded good !!

  There was also a second quarrie , that also filled with water - and they called that one Green Pool, you probably already guessed it - one looked bluish and the other definitely green .
 Back to the car and up to the lookout , overlooking a small beach and Angourie Point . We sat and just soaked in the view for about ten minutes before realising that there wasn't too much more of Angourie , so we headed back to Grafton - down the highway !! we were reminded why we like the back roads , nice and quiet !!!

 That's your lot for today , hope you enjoyed it as much as we did . The cheese & bickies & beer went down a treat .

Here's todays map link :-https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=z3uwp0IUF5HE.k3HZtA5UmmP4

Planning , cleaning and riding

Okay , you just can't keep doing great day after great day , so today was time to do the boring stuff - clean the RV , the ute , do some washing , do some planning , and then some exercise .
 Lyn attacked the RV & washing , I attacked the ute , Lyn then did some aquarobics before lunch .
Lunch completed , we sat and sorted a few destinations for the next couple of weeks . Next week was easy , we will be at Lismore to give the RV a going over - only some minor things to correct , then we will be at the Gold Coast to check out the rental properties . After that who knows where !!!
  Time for a ride down into Grafton - we are about 3klms from the centre , and it's all flat riding - must say though , there aren't many bike tracks around the centre of town , going out of town however , is catered for well . We rode around many of the backstreets and checked out lots of older houses .

 For a major town to have such a large frontage to the Clarence River , there aren't many parks / gardens to show off . It is Big River country , but little parks - probably hard when it is subject to flooding . 

 Well that's your lot for today , not a lot of action or excitement , but a casual day for us , not driving outside of the park . Oh , and there's no map for today either !!!

Rivers , Roads and Views - Old Glen Innes Road

Hi there , todays venture was a round trip up into the mountains , from Grafton to Bald Knob ( near Glen Innes ) and back - with some spectacular side tracks !!
 We had read stories about the Old Glen Innes Road before , and today turned out to be the day we would experience it , and what a day it was - about 250 klm round trip . Starting in South Grafton , we headed out on the Gwydir Highway , turning left into Old Glen Innes Rd - it was a bitumen road for some of the way - 100klm / hr speed limit - we didn't feel comfortable doing 80klm / hr on a road with no signs and the width of one & a half cars - didn't seem to bother the locals , who just blasted their way down the middle of the road . Eventually the bitumen turned into gravel as we had expected, and the traffic disappeared , except for the odd car . We travelled along the road , slowing to avoid  covering a cyclist in dust , but he decided to speed up after we had passed - he would have inhaled a far bit of dust . We came to our 2nd river crossing for the day , ( 1st was the Clarence at Grafton ) , next was the Nymboida River . The remains of an old bridge were still to be seen - 2 steel pylons that were the only parts left of the original bridge that was washed away in a flood - the water was 4 feet over the hand rail .

 There was still quite a bit of water flowing today . Continuing on over the hill and round a few corners , the next river was The Boyd or Little River . The countryside was lush and green , even in amongst the gum trees .

   We followed the Boyd River for quite a while , there were calm patches and sets of rapids , also many places where people can camp - there were quite a few caravans & tents already there . The road took us to Dalmorton - and old gold mining town with a few old buildings still standing and various ruins around . The town was surveyed and streets and building lots all mapped out in the hope that the gold would continue to be found and the town would prosper . Apparently the gold was found in a quartz rock reef and was extremely hard to extract . There were roads going off to Guy Faulks National Park and another camping area or two .
 Not too far up the track was a road tunnel hacked out of the huge rock on the side of the river . It matched the road - one lane and not a lot of clearance on the sides or roof .

 After some more travelling at 40 kms / hr we started to leave the Boyd River and begin climbing out of that valley and into the next . There seemed to be more open space and a few scattered houses on farms - cattle grazing , and very healthy cattle they were too ! The next locality was Newton Boyd , again with only a few older houses - one that was obviously the old school house .

  Continuing on , winding our way through the hills & valleys we came across a sign to Tommy's Hill Lookout , so we decided to take it - it was only 4klm away , so shouldn't take long . We turn off the main road and start heading upwards , spoon drain after spoon drain , onwards and upwards - 600m higher in fact !! We engaged 4wd and shifted to low range , as the decomposed granite was a little slippery , the drops either side of the track were steep and didn't bear thinking about . We got to one section and had to have 3 goes to get up and over the spoon drain - it was a bit rutted out and rocky , but we made it over and kept going , the landcruiser was showing us just how good it could be , handling all that we through at it with consumate ease - it really was a delight to be driving up this track . We must of gone up & over at least 60 spoon drains to get to the top , with some steep rocky sections  as well . The landcruiser was so excited , it lifted the back wheels up and waved every time we went over a drain .

 We arrived at the top and walked to what we thought was the lookout - no guard rails and probably a 200m straight drop off the edge of the rocks - it made the hairs on the back of your neck stand up !!!!!

  

 Then we found the proper lookout about 10m below us and about 30m behind , that had fencing and guard rails , so we had lunch there . On our way back to the ute we came across a lizard that wasn't bothered by us at all , and stayed where it was until we had long gone .

 Back to the ute and back down the fire trail to the main road - Lyn had decided that it wasn't time for a driver change just yet , at least not until we had found some flatter roads . After about 30mins driving back down the 4klms , we met up with the original road - that would be one of the best tracks I have driven up and down - you couldn't get the smile off my face - what a day this was turning out to be !!!!!

  Before much longer we found ourselves climbing out of the valley up to higher ground , the road had been tarred to assist getting in & out in bad weather . There were creek crossings , tree ferns , bracken ferns and more beautiful gum trees .

 Next locality was Bald Knob , where we met the Gwydir Hwy again . We found one of the locals just wandering around looking for a feed .

 Heading back toward Grafton , there was a turn off for Boundary Falls picnic & camping area in another National Park - we have been past or in several today !! The walk down to the falls was all steps and and rails and was worth every one of them - you be the judge !

 Back to the road and onwards back to Grafton . We passed several B double cattle trailers - must have been sale day today - so we figured the road back down the mountain must be okay . We were over 1100m above sea level at the top of the mountain , but the temperature was only 17 degrees and quite pleasant . About half a kilometre down the road was Raspberry Lookout , so away we went again - all good this time , bitumen road and Lyn driving . The lookout was facing to the south and east and straight over the areas we had driven over & through today .

 We made our way down the mountain - it was 18klms of downhill and much easier than Macquarie Pass - with only 2 large hairpin turns . Further down , we met back up with the Mann River ( I forgot to mention that one earlier ) , and found it had grown substantially .

 We have seen several rivers today , and have seen them all flowing different directions as we drove past & alongside of them . We left at 9am and returned at 5:30 pm for a full days entertainment - and we are still smiling !!!

 Todays map link :-https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=z3uwp0IUF5HE.kOGCE70nEq64

Rainforest with a view

Woken by the birds again this morning , quite a pleasant way to be woken up - we listened to them for about an hour , drifting in & out of sleep . Up for breakfast , and then pack up & hitch up , before wandering over to the house . Gordon suggested we go for a drive up Yarrahapinni Mtn to the lookout, so we jumped into the car & headed off . We had always had the thought of going up the mountain , but had never got around to doing it . It is 500m above sea level at the top and was several degrees cooler , but the views were magnificent !! The drive up was through some amazing rainforest, with trees reaching to the sky - some ( there were lots ) over 30 metres tall - there were flooded gums , hoop pines , white beech , rosewood , turpentine , bungalow palms and many others , and this was in a forest that had been logged as recently as 1999 . There were steep ravines full of bungalow palms and other rainforest species , so thick you couldn't see the ground below . Here are some photos - one looking at South West Rocks again and the rest in the forest - with some tree huggers !!!

  The views from the lookout and towers stretched out in the distance , along the coastline to the south & southeast , and up to the mountains of the Great Dividing Range - absolutely amazing !! Back to the photos .

Flooded Gums

 Hoop Pines

Lyn & Meredith hugging a rather large Flooded Gum

   It was amazing to see how much water was running down the creek , seeing as we were basically on top of the mountain . We wandered around a rainforest walk where this Flooded Gum was , there was also a picnic area in amongst all this splendour - it made you feel good to be alive - good for the soul !!! 

 Back down the mountain for a cuppa , before we head north again . A big thank you to Gordon & Meredith for their hospitality and showing us Yarrahapinni Mtn !!!

 This afternoon we headed to Grafton for 4 nights . We found a caravan park that is absolutely awesome - up to date amenities , manicured lawns , gardens , hedges , pool & tennis court , and the cost ????? try $22 a night for a powered site - how good is that !!! It is also an over 55's retirement place , and also has units to stay in - if you need to stop in Grafton , I would recommend this place HIGHLY :- The Gateway Village , it is only 3klms from the centre of town on The Summerland Way.

 Hope you enjoyed the photos as much as we did taking them - another memorable day in our adventure .

 Here is todays map link :- https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=z3uwp0IUF5HE.kO8mHbqQ6sOQ

We're back & up the road a bit further

Now that easter is done & dusted , we have hit the road again . We left Wingham yesterday , after spending some good times with Maree , Kevin , Melissa & Dave , Lachy & Ethan and assorted others.
 We have ventured further north to Yarrahapinni - near Stuart's Point , to my brother Gordons place . The driveway into Gordon's is tight to say the least , but we didn't have a whole lot of traffic , so I swung out on the other side of the road , and came straight in the driveway without taking out the white post or mailbox . Had to engage 4wd going up the driveway as it was a bit slippery on the gravel , but made it up through the trees , only to find out the yard was rather wet after many days/weeks of rain . We didn't chew up the grass too much - a few wheel tracks here & there - nothing that won't fix itself . The afternoon was spent around the kitchen table talking .
 Today we woke to the local birdlife , and there was plenty , and lots of varieties . Breakfast done , we wandered around the garden to see where the old norfolk pines had been removed in between our last visit and now .
 Next , we decided to actually go to Stuarts Point for a look - we hadn't seen any of it before - and we are only 2klms from it . It is a small village , with a tavern and a bowling club , a caravan park and half a dozen shops - maybe a little bit larger than small !! It sits beside the a side shute of the Macleay River . Fishermans Reach was the next location - about 4klms away - a few houses , oyster leases and  a few yachts moored - a very quiet spot .

 Back down the track to Grassy Head , then Scotts Head for some lunch . The view was awesome looking back down the coast and around to Trial Bay .

 Next we headed to Macksville , and out to Gumma Reserve ( a camp site ) for a look , before heading back through Macksville and out to Bowraville . It was a pleasant drive though the valley as it started to go upwards toward the mountains behind . Then we hit an intersection and it was decision time - left to who knows where , or right to who knows where ??? we decided left up Williams Hill Rd . Well , that was the best decision , the gravel road we chose was in great condition - especially after the large amount of rain they have been having - continuing up the road , climbing away into the forest . The hinterland looks quite good , with green grass everywhere and full dams , cattle looking quite happy & contented .

 The larger dams had some water lily's on them and were in flower , so you had a nice contrast between the grass , water & flowers . Before long we found ourselves back to some bitumen road at Talarm - that was a shame as , the gravel road was in better condition than the bitumen . It wasn't too long and we were back in Macksville and decided to fill up , then head back to take care of todays blog and have a quiet beer or two .

 Here is todays map link :- https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zPuFw54ZmdQs.k6HTtCM-xTbo

Easter Rest

Hi people , the RV has been parked for the weekend - hopefully it won't get lonely. We are at Wingham for Easter at my sister Maree and husband Kevin's place .
 The 40 min drive from Halidays Point wasn't too stressful , we arrived at 11am , and after chatting for a while we headed out of the outskirts of town to leave the RV at a friends property . We unhitched and drove back in to town and down to The Brush free camp spot beside the Manning River , to check it out .
 Back to the house and some lunch , before spending the afternoon catching up on everything .
 The blog will probably have a break for a few days , as the weather is supposed to close in and rain a bit - we will see how it goes . I have even done a map for today :- https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zPuFw54ZmdQs.kj8HO62Nk8lk

Manning Point

Happy Easter to all , Cheers Alan & Lyn

After the rain

 We awake today with patches of blue sky showing us a sign of finer weather , only to look the other direction for a second , and down it came again - only for about 5 mins , then the sun peaked through again . So confident were we , that we did some washing and hung it out - then jumped into the ute and drove away .

 Todays destination :- Manning Point ; Old Bar ; Wallaby Point and Saltwater . As we drove back out to the highway , the rain came again for another short shower . The road out toward Old Bar was a bit rough , but had nothing at all compared to Manning Point Rd , there were sections that have been rebuilt , but they were outnumbered by the sections that need rebuilding - I've never seen so many patches before - there were patches on patches on patches - and that was only what we could see while driving over them - there was also a road crew out working on the road - you guessed it - patching up potholes !!!!

 Enough of the road , we arrived at Manning Point as the clouds rolled back to let the sun shine through . There was mist and fog rising in the foothills in the distance , to help with the picture .

 For those who don't know the area , Harrington is on the other side of the Manning River from Manning Point - one of the rivers exit points to the ocean . 

 There was very little wind , condition were still and there were reflections dancing on the water .

There are many short jetties , all in varying condition , poking out into the river .

Back on the road and back to Old Bar - we haven't been here for a long time , the place has grown somewhat . We headed out to the beach and checked it out from the viewing platform , with views to Redhead , Diamond Beach , Blackhead Beach and around to Forster .

 We met an interesting gent , who stopped and had a chat with us . Turns out he has a story to tell to whoever he can get to listen . Seems he was a headmaster , he got sacked for trying to enrol 3 aboriginal children , got arrested on false charges , is taking the state government , police force all to court to fight it and is determined to take as long as it takes to get justice , and also wants the Bowraville murder case reopened !!! That was a long time ago . There have been out of court settlements and police on perjury charges etc, etc, etc. He continued on to find further interested people , and so did we .

 Heading down to Wallaby Point and Saltwater . Wallaby Point is just a lot of houses and not much else , besides the beach of course .

 Saltwater is a national park , day use area where there is an estuary for a reasonable sized creek , and access to the beach . I have long memories of this place - we used to go here for family outings 45 years ago - the road back then was nothing more than a bush track through the sand dunes and scrub - my dad was told about it by the local milk carter who came to pick up the milk from the farm , so away we went the next time we could escape the farm for the day - had to be back for milking though!! You could camp there also , but that has changed now - NO camping !! 

 We walked down the boat ramp and followed the edge of the water around toward the beach , checking out how much beach has been shifted during recent bad weather . 

The estuary mouth stretched for hundreds of metres , with many rocks now showing , that are normally buried under a lot of sand . Heading back to the ute , we then drove back to the headland to have lunch , looking back north up the beach toward Old Bar beach and beyond .

 It was then time to head back to go for a swim , get the washing , cheese & biscuits & a beer and get organised for Easter - we will be spending easter at my sisters in Wingham , so there may not be any entries to the blog for a few days .

Here is todays map link :- https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zPuFw54ZmdQs.ks08JxyRYMfc