2WD drive around oz

 As Rolf and Marion wend their way around Australia, they are enjoying a new view from their window every morning.

We left Manly on Friday afternoon during a torrential downpour. Having discovered that the garage of the van had turned into a swimming pool, we threw all the last bits and pieces on board and took off for Suncamper at Berowa, in a race to reach them before they closed for the week-end. They were able to find the leak quite quickly and fixed it, but we had quite a bit of drying out to do. In the rush we left a number of things behind, including the spare keys, which we have never needed before, but which would have been quite useful that night when Rolf locked the keys in the van. Fortunately by then we were at Merelyn’s and we were warm and dry and cosy in their house. Claudette joined us for breakfast and then we set off for Kew where we found Alison and Stewart at home and had a lovely evening with them. Alison cooked us a beaut breakfast Sunday morning and then took us on a tour of the district. The view from the top of Big Brother mountain is just spectacular. We would certainly never have found the track up there without Alison. We finished our visit with a very wicked cake and coffee morning tea in Kendell.

Our next stop was Port Macquarie to visit my friend Jenny and her cousin and also my friend Liz was staying with her which was a double bonus.

Sunday evening saw us at South West Rocks, camped under some Norfolk Island Pines, heavy with the shrieks of lorikeets. If we had closed our eyes we could easily have imagined we were back in Manly. We had spent time here before and visited Trial Bay Gaol, so although the sun looked brilliant coming up over the ocean we hurried north to warmer climes. Tonight we are at Emerald Beach, another gorgeous piece of coast just north of Coffs Harbour, but it’s still too cold. Northward tomorrow.   

Hello Emily, James, Zali, Lachie and Koby.

Grand-pa and Mazzie have set out on their big trip around Australia.

Every morning when we look out of our window we have a different view and we have to think where we are today. This morning we had this lovely view of a little beach and we could hear the waves breaking on the rocks with a whoosh. We will send you some pictures of the things we see along the way. What do you think of this big banana? I don’t think it would fit in your lunch box!