Travelogue: November 2020 Archives

Slept like crap.  Hurrah.  Felt like I was awake half the night.  Certainly felt that way in the morning - zombie tired.

We got ready and left at 8:07. 

Stu stopped on the road out of town so I could get some close up photos of the goldilockses.  Another flower we don't get in Canberra.  Miss these things.

Saw the Memorial Garden at Clybucca, but only in passing - we should definitely stop there next time we're up this way.  Until the bypass and bridge opened, the turn off to South West Rocks was further south so hadn't actually seen it before.

Crossing the Hastings River

Stopped in Port for breakfast at the Scottish Restaurant and get petrol.

And then we drove.  And drove and drove and drove.

We listened to two episodes of Thirteen Minutes to the Moon.  I dozed for a while because I couldn't keep my eyes open.  

The trip back through Northconnex was better - we didn't have to stop.

We made it all the way through to Sutton Forest without stopping (I did offer to swap driving, although it was probabaly safer having Stu drive for most of it).  Had the Scottish Restaurant for a late lunch, and got petrol, then I drove the rest of the way home (I was feeling much more awake by this point).  

Got home at 16:40.  Too tired to do anything much, and had pizza for dinner.  And David even put the bins out.  Bestest brother ever!

Slept really well which was nice.

We hung out with Jeff and Ruth for a while and watched all the rainbow lorikeets having their breakfast.  Funny little birds, it's a pity we don't get them in Canberra.

Midmorning Jeff dropped us off at Little Bay so we could do the walk up to Trial Bay Goal.  In fact we'd done this walk before - last time we were here - just in reverse.

Jeff picked us up and we headed back for a lovely bbq lunch.

After lunch we helped Ruth with her laptop.  She is *exactly* like my Mum when it comes to computers.. hrmmm

Had a bit of a rest, then went to Trial Bay Beach for a swim.  Caught this adorable little crab.

Then headed back.

Had some snacks and drinks with Jeff and Ruth, then went down to the flat to rest and have some dinner (Ruth had left some lefover chicken stirfry).  Then I went up to watch the Masterchef Junior finale with Jeff (Ruth had gone to Bible study).

Then to bed.

Slept ok.  Had one of my bacon and cheese rolls for first breakfast to keep me going.

Chilled for a bit.  

Cat in a bag!

Went out with Kerry and Violet - they were going to see if Target had any rollerblades, but they were only online.  Then had a little walk around the waterfront.

There's quite a few Art Deco buildings in town, one day I should document them properly.

I thought this was cute.

When everyone was ready we headed out for second breakfast - at Bittersweet cafe above Lighthouse Beach.  They wanted to put our group of six essentially right in the middle of the footpath where literally everyone trying to get past in or out of the inside part and outside part or either way along the footpath would be tripping over us.  Kerry asked if we could go in the far corner furthest away from everyone (it was only setup for four people) but they said they couldn't because of congestion for Covid.   *blink* what?  Whatever, they did actually let us sit there.  I think because Kerry said something they blacklisted us - service was *very* slow.  Took fifty minutes for our food to arrive.  I got eggs benedict with bacon and a cheese and bacon rosti.  Mostly nice, although the second egg was a bit overdone so wasn't as nice by the time it all cooled down.

After brunch we thought we'd go up and see the lighthouse.  But everyone in Port was doing the same thing, and there was literally no parking available, so we just left.  The others went home and the sweetie and I went back down to Lighthouse Beach for a looksee.

Drove around some more.  Went to Shelly Beach where we were lucky enough to get a park.  So.  Many.  Crowds.

Went for a walk around the headland looking at beaches and stuff.

As we were leaving, someone asked if we were leaving so they could take our parking spot.  So.  Many.  Crowds.  All of Port is like that, and it's not even peak season.  Apparently the locals hibernate for Christmas/January to avoid the crowds.

Next we headed back into town so Stu could do a driveby of an old friend of his houses.  Then I remembered a slide I'd scanned of Dad's taken in 1976 of the view from a holiday flat we stayed in, and looked up where it was taken.  Turned out it was in the same street as his friend's house - about five houses back from where we'd stopped!!  I'll post the comparison pics in a separate post, but this is the house.  I wonder if Mum would remember it :)

Continued to drive around.  Wandered all the way up to Settlement Point and even saw the ferry.

On the way back looked at the crazy expensive houses around The Anchorage/Portside Crescent.

Chilled for a little while (I played through some of Violet's beginner piano books - I *really* need to learn the bass clef) before getting ready to leave.

So headed north.  The last time I was up here the Kempsy bypass and bridge over the Macleay floodplain was still under construction.  This time we got to go over it.

And finally arrived at Jeff and Ruth's.

Had a brief rest, then went on a drive with Jeff around town.

They don't need lawnmowers in this part of town - they just let the kangaroos at it

Then over to the east side of town

Then back into town, for an obligatory jacaranda photo

This is the view from where we had dinner.

Ruth cooked up beef for dinner.  Nicely cooked, although fairly grissly, they weren't too happy with it.

After dinner we watched the second last episode of Masterchef Junior.  Amazing kids.  We saw two get dropped out before the finale with the final three.

Then bed.

I'll be backdating these cause I'm so far behind in my blogging!

Left the house at 8:04.  Stopped on the Federal Highway for petrol and breakfast at the Scottish Restaurant.

Left there by 8:52.

Along the drive we listened to several episodes of Thirteen Minutes to the Moon podcast.

Lake George had a bit of water in it.

We saw people falling out of the sky at Picton!

There were people having a chat in one of the emergency stopping bays on the M7, so that meant we all had to slow down to 40 for a good kilometre or so.  #grunt

We timed the trip quite well - Northconnex had opened a mere week before.  This new toll tunnel cuts off that horrible section Pennant Hills Road and you breeze through the tunnel instead.  This also means no traffic lights between the Federal Highway in Canberra and northwest of Newcastle!

That is, you *would* breeze through if buttheads didn't break down and ruin it for everyone!

Stopping did mean I could take a photo of one of the exists

#grunt

The tunnel does have some pretty light displays.  I watched a documentary on the tunnel and apparently it's to help keep drivers alert and interested.

No sooner had we gotten out of the tunnel than we get this sign

Great.  Someone tailgating and/or not paying attention.

Crossing the Hawkesbury

I always love the big dipper ride down to the Mooney Mooney Creek Bridge

It's a pity you can't go and look at the bridge anymore (haven't been able to for years)

Near Gosford is the Australian Reptile Park.  I haven't been there since I was a kid..

Bridge over the Hunter River

At Raymond Terrace we stopped at the Scottish Restaurant for lunch.  Also got a bit more petrol.

Then continued on.

Bulahdelah Mountain

Look, our very own version of Animal Crossing!

Crossing the Manning River

I think this is Middle Brother

Arrived at Scott and Kerry's around 4pm.  So eight hours to get there, including two meal breaks and several breakdowns and accidents.

Stu had a little lie down, and Scott, Kerry and Violet and I went for a little walk around the neighbourhood.

Then chilled for a bit

Potty cooked up a bbq feast