6/6/22 Scotts Head

 

   Another day , another drive , only a short one today to Scotts Head . A beautiful day after a cool night , we arrived to find some offshore winds starting to blow . First stop was at Little Beach for a great view .

Next we drove around to Elephant Head , more expansive views to the south , some very large houses on the hill above the beach .

   Time to take flight for some views from above .

   This is looking back at Elephant Head and Scotts Head , with Little Beach and Scotts Head Beach curving away into the distance .

   Here's Little Beach with some surfers and swimmers enjoying the water .

    Down to the Surf Live Saving Club and a walk over past the carpark , we found some steps to a viewing platform for more beautiful views .

 We walked up past the platform up to the top of the headland to find a few bench seats and a view out to sea - probably an excellent whale watching spot - we didn't see any though .  

 Views over the beach to the mountains in the distance .

  This is Little Beach again , you have the ability to change beaches if the weather is a bit so so on one , you simply walk across the carpark and you're on Scotts Head Beach less than 200m away .

  Back to the van for lunch and we were permitted to wash the ute & van , so we did . Followed by a bike ride around the convention centre and then pack them up ready for our departure tomorrow . here's a map link :- https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1ThCleTYT6uTulh7bnTFP6dkPgwgtom4&usp=sharing

3/6/22 Bellbrook out & return

 

   After all our work , we decided to head west of Kempsey for a drive , just because we could ! Another nice day , we headed down the old highway down toward Frederickton . Crossing the Clybucca Creek , I asked my driver to stop and turn around for a photo opportunity .   The reflections in the water were perfect , clouds were reflected in the creek and there was some blue smoke hanging around as well .

   The destination for today was Hickeys Creek , but we stopped early and went down to the Macleay river and Toorooka Bridge . The river was flowing well and the water was surprisingly , very clear - I expected the water to be a little brown with all the rain falling of late .

  Guess which way the water flows ?

   It was time for a drone flight to show off the river valley .

  

  From here we decided to go up to Bellbrook to check out the village . The road was down to one lane beside a large landslide that would have closed the road - there were 2 x 40ft sea containers being used as a blocking wall to hold back the land slide . We drove through Bellbrook , turned around and came back to a spot with views over the river , so we stopped for lunch .

  Yes it's Lantana , but it's also a pretty little flower .

    This grass seed got my attention as well .

   The drone came out again for a look around .

   This is the landslide , if you zoom in , you can see an excavator down at the bottom and the 2 x sea containers further up , just to get an idea off the size . 

   After lunch we headed back to Hickeys Creek Rd , the bitumen ended after a bit and we were back to the back roads again . Love the forests around here . The road took us through forests and open areas , creeks flowing well and water seeping out of nearly everything , it was a great drive .

    Crossed over several bridges , with creeks flowing well .

   Finding ourselves at Taylors Arm , we found another road which would take us on a short cut - finding this patch of forest .

   The rain started and we continued on as the track slowly got narrower and wetter , with many boggy sections to go through . We bailed out , turned around after reversing for about 500m and headed back to Macksville then back to Stuarts Point . We would have continued if it was dry - that's our excuse anyway .

   Here's a map link :- https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1guz1x1lr8r10H155t4gLYUMmPNsMebk&usp=sharing

31/5/22 Nambucca Heads

 

   Another of our free days , we head to Macksville , then via some back roads to Nambucca Heads . Ending up at some very nice lookouts on an extremely nice day . Here's one looking to the south - South West Rocks is in the distance middle right , Nambucca River is flowing out to sea here as well .

   Same view from a little bit further out on the headland .

 Nambucca River .

    The sun reflects off the ocean to the north of Nambucca 

   This is Shelly Beach .

   This is the boat ramp at Shelly Beach

  Yeap more of Shelly Beach

   Not the beach , but a mosaic on the toilet block at Shelly Beach .

   Here's map link :- https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1jKfk_1glT1H4mMTu6yFHXWVjW1rPKY8&usp=sharing

25/5/22 Stuarts Point & Grassy Head

 

   Leaving Wingham , we head north , occasional showers reminding us it's still bloody wet - why are we here ???? we definitely aren't enjoying the rain and cold that comes with it .  The further we get the less rain there is - got to love that !! We  drove through to Macksville and did some shopping - the fridge was a bit empty after being in a house for a week - it was a nice change , but nice to be back on the road again . Backtracking , we head out to Stuarts Point and set up , only getting a late shower - nothing to serious .                          Next morning the sun was shining and it was quite nice - could even take the jacket off !!  The drone came out for a few photos of the surrounding area . This is The Macleay Arm of the Macleay River , looking back to Stuarts Point on the right , and South West Rocks top left .

   Looking to the north , Grassy Head is on the right , then Middle Head , then Scotts Head .

    The next few days we caught up with our sister in law Meredith , and got an idea of what was ahead of us . Here's some of the flowers in her yard .

  This is Yarrahappini Mountain , many years ago there were banana plantations on the slopes , now macadamia's are taking over .

  Time for a walk around Grassy Beach and Grassy Head , we had to share it with 2 surfers and someone else walking their dog !!

   Clouds and storms were never really far away , fortunately it stayed out to sea dumping a whole lot of rain .

   We walked down to the headland and decided to try and get up onto the headland - there's a monument up on top and a viewpoint for one of the shipwrecked boats just to the south of the headland . The track won the day , we decided not to continue - it was wet , very wet , muddy and slippery .

  The drone came for a walk as well , so we could get some aerial shots .

   The Macleay River used to come out to the sea just on the other side of Grassy Head , but has been filled in with sand for a long time , the river goes to sea near South West Rocks .

    Here's the storm that was hovering off the coast .

    Back to Stuarts Point , there's a bridge that crosses the river and takes you to the beach , made for a nice view .

    A local came to say hello , along with it's puffer fish friend .

    This is looking south toward Fishermans Reach , Stuart's Point Caravan Park is on the right .

   Time for some work - Yes you read correctly , work - we began clearing around Merediths house , allowing it to breath again , air could circulate around and under it again . There was so much that needed doing , we moved lots of branches , cut down trees , cleared and cleared some more . There were 6 of us working and we got through a lot . Slept well Saturday night , then back at it again on Sunday , but only 5 of us today . Maree & Kevin left after lunch , and we were down to 3 . Slept well again . 

 Monday arrived and Dave & James - 2 of my brothers friends were there to do some more . It was Bouganvillea day - there was an old one with 6m long new shoots reaching out everywhere - and thorns by the hundreds - we shed a little blood today - from arms & legs , but we got rid of it all by the end of the day . 

   The cold front & threatening winds called off Tuesdays work , a tree snapped off and brought the service  line to the shed & house down , as well as bringing a branch down off a dead tree near the house .

   Wednesday we cleaned up the dead tree , removing it with minimal impact , moved some old cars around and tidied up the old veggie patch . We all sat back at the end of the day , looking back at what we'd accomplished . We then all came back later to have dinner together with Meredith .

  There were a few other places visited , but we'll do those in separate blogs , here's map link :- https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1TU8p-Lr9sRz6rSNk7XoOhCyocS1frL4&usp=sharing

18/5/22 Wingham

 

   Leaving Maitland Showgrounds , we head north again - off to Wingham and a stay with my sister & brother in law .

   Clouds were interesting as we drove - they looked like they had been brushed on the sky .

    Here is the Myall River at Buladelah , with the old highway bridge in the background . A popular spot to hire a houseboat and cruise down to Myall Lakes .

   All of the east coast appears to be floating at the moment , every drop of rain is flowing into gutters , creeks & rivers , the ground hasn't been able to soak up all the excess for quite some time . 

  During breaks in the rain we have managed to get a few walks in , there are lots of plants out in flower at the moment , here's a selection of them .

   The frangipani certainly isn't though .

    Rain drops sit like drops of mercury on the leaves .

   There are many different designs of houses here in Wingham , lots of classic designs .

    Quite a few timber slab ones as well .

   The countryside is as green as I've ever seen it before , and does look amazing .

    Wispy fog & mists rise out of the valleys & hills around the surrounding areas .

    This is the Manning River and the road bridge to Tinonee , the hand rails are still folded down in their flood position .

   Here's some aerial shots of the Manning River and parts of Wingham .

   The main street of town is at middle left .

   We didn't venture far , catching up with Joe & Tracey for lunch one day , and Alan & Di out at Tallwoods for an afternoon . It was nice to catch up with them .

   Here's a map link :- https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1FYlhpIoeh8bVRmyZzeh2KVih5_9yHHY&usp=sharing