Month: Feb 2017

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Finally we arrived in Coffs Harbour after a massive day of tyre changes and heat.

Riding to Coffs i managed to be 45 minutes behind Rob as the fastest i am allowed to go as a learner on the highway is 90, even if its a 110 zone. I felt like the unfit kid in school running a marathon who thought he was going super fast until he got lapped.

On the ride I ran over a live brown snake and nearly pooped my pants as apparently they can bite you on the move and wrap around your bike. (One of Australias most poisonous snakes)
Thank goodness nothing happened to me, just a scare as most creatures on the road are already dead.
Its so different riding over or near road kill on a bike. First you see it, then you get the smell and its bad. Really bad!!
A few days ago i saw road kill too late and didn’t have time to move(and was a little more anxious to do so as a newbie)
So i went straight over. Not sure what it was but it hit me in three stages.
1st I heard something squirt out as i rode over ( and to hear that over my bike is a good squirt)
2nd I felt it flick up on my boot. Yuck!
3rd I smelt it, death, literally.
Now thats taking one with nature to a whole new level. I will try harder to slowly maneuver around road kill now.

On the journey there was also a large traffic jam, of cattle. Gotta love the country!
I stopped at a pit stop called Fusspots in Ebor,  dont get a home made cookie from there, she must be learning.

We arrived at Tina and Dales just above Coffs Harbour. The house was so relaxing with soft music and candles every where. They are a fantastic team and made us feel so welcome. They cooked delicious food, my favourite being the prawn dumplings (from scratch) and a heathy breakfast wrap. Delicious!!
 Waking up to so much wildlife literally outside your window was amazing. We saw Kangaroos, stacks of water dragons, eels, geckos, turkeys and cute little birds having a bird bath in the pool.

We went to the big banana and saw how lollies with writing on them are made. Very interesting, its all about the temperature, who would have thought!?
We went for a nice walk on the pier which was surrounded by fantastic landscape and a quick walk to the beach as it started to spit.

What an amazing way to spend a few days, great company, great food, great location.

Next stop Yamba!

We set the alarm for 7am. The first alarm of the trip. We wanted to get out of Tamworth before the weather got to 38° c as predicted and we had a 4 hour journey ahead of us.
First there was one quick stop planned at the Golden Guitar and then we were off to Coffs Harbour. The Golden guitar is an iconic statue for this country music town, a must do. Rob pulls up ready to turn a street earlier than needed, “ill meet you there” he says, he has spotted super cheap auto and needs chain loob. (A maintenance spray Rob uses every 2nd day)”Ok”so i ride ahead, sit under some shade as its already hot and its only 9.30am.
 
He is usually pretty fast with things like this but he took about 30 mins. I didnt mind, but when he got to super cheap auto he realised he had a flat front tyre. 2nd one of the trip. He pumped it up at the petrol station across the road before arriving at the golden guitar and the tyre is going flat again in front of our eyes.
We get the photo and head back over to the petrol station. Rob gets out his tools from under his seat and replaces the valve core to see if thats the issue. Its not and we can now hear a solid leak.  We google bike repair shops and there is one down the road 2km away. We get all our bike gear on, Rob pumps up the tyre and takes off. I can see him up ahead trying to make it to the shop on a puff off tyre air. We make it. The shop is open until 12pm and its now 10.30am. The shop is very busy. The guy finishes his last job and then gets onto Robs tyre. We leave at 11.35am. Not ideal to be riding in the middle of the day with the heat but we have to do it today.

We pull in and stop for fuel and food at a side road house about 15km outside of Tamworth in Kootingal. Its very cute and quirky for a petrol station more like a nice cafe inside with couches and all. As we move our bikes to the parking bay Rob shouts. “Its flat again” with a few possible swear words under his breath.
He calls the bike shop at 11.55am and let’s them know its flat. The guy says he will send someone. Robs says he will try and pump it up first and ride back into town.
Gets off the phone and rides to the air pump which is out of order. Calls them back asking to be picked up. They will get someone there asap.

We go inside and i can see Robs mind is ticking over with jobs and possible things he can get ready for there arrival. Bike positioning, wheel off or on etc. I tell him to eat and have a drink first as he is sweating more than a pedophile at a wiggles concert.

The young guy who changed the tyre arrives looking quite embarrassed and apologetic.
They get off the tyre and both head back into town while i stay on the comfy couches and watch the bikes. Its now 12.45pm.

Whilst sitting in that petrol station i realised there was a significantly large amount of females that stopped in. What a difference some comfy furnishings, good food and clean  bathrooms make to the clientele. I couldnt have chosen a better petrol station to be housed at if i tried.

They arrive back about 2pm and we are off to Coffs Harbour!! Woop woop!!! Well for 10 minutes. Rob had left his wallet and phone at the petrol station. Haha ohh geeze. He said he will catch up.
I still went up to the lookout as previously planned in the morning and messaged him that i was.  Whilst there I heard Robs bike roar on past the lookout turn off as he hasn’t seen the msg and has tried to catch me.
It didn’t matter though as our previous ride to Tamworth Rob took off and i met him there. I can only go 90kms on my learners and i go much slower around corners as I’m still finding my groove.

I thought i would feel uncomfortable riding by myself but i actually prefer it. I can stop for the ridiculous amount of toilet breaks i need and not feel bad and take photos when ever i want without a sweaty impatient boyfriend standing in the 1metre square patch of shade he has found asking if I’m ready to go. I love him but patience is not a strong quality of his and he knows it.
For the first time on the trip it now feels like its truly my own journey and i like it.

What crazy weather its been, super hot today and storms in the afternoon. The town looked like it needed good rain though as there was dry grass everywhere. 
Its a larger town than we anticipated but a nice town. We went to the power museum to find out that Tamworth was the first place in the Southern hemisphere to have electric powered street lights. 16 years before Sydney and 20 years before Melbourne. We had a great tour of the Museum from Arthur a very cute, smart, knowledgeable man. He would be in his late 80s. Bless his cotton socks.

From there we walked the streets and grabbed some food to prepare at the caravan park as i was fading fast. I was so hungry and it was so hot. We made some lunch, went for a long swim where i had my ears chatted off by a young girl at the pool the age of 21 who was a compulsive liar. She told me within the hour of talking she was a nurse, baker and shop owner of a sandwich shop in manly. Poor girl i hope she finds her way but entertaining to listen too.

We then set out for some live country music and we came across the amazing Adam Bolton a well known local artist. You can hear that country music is his passion as when he sings country its as though he is singing to you with his soul. When he sings other music its still great but not breathtaking.
We walked home along the main street full of beautiful fairy lights on the trees. What a lovely town. Tamworth you have surprised me.

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Today was warm however we woke up well rested with our tent in the shade of some huge trees in Secura Lifestyle caravan park in Forster.

The caravan park is really nice, very well maintained with very clean facilities. There is even a a social undercover area which houses 4 bbqs, over 40 seats a large tv and full kitchen for all to use.
Great pool so Rob and i snuck in for a late night swim last night and the water temperature was fantastic.
It was the cleanest and nicest park on the trip so far.

This morning we went for a ride and walk around the area and it was very pretty indeed. We ate at Beach bums cafe on the water which was delicious and spent the rest of the day at the beach.

We then head to Port Macquarie to stay with our friends Ben and Anna. They have 2 gorgeous girls Ava and Mia.

The second day in Port we rode up to the Don Johnstone lookout which was so beautiful. Ben rides a Harley so it was nice to have some riding company for a change.  I had no idea there were so many mountains, lakes and canals in the area. So much water and very blue, a great spot.

Mia had her 2nd birthday party and it was a hot day, the weather got up to 47°c which is hot for the area.
The kids all played in little kiddie pools and under the sprinkler.
We had to retreat to a neighbors pool when most of the guests had left as it was too hot for the adults to be sitting outside. The neighbors are all crazy which made it quite fun.

It was lovely staying there, strange waking up to the sound of children though. They have so much energy. Robs usually looks a little awkward holding children as though they are from another planet but with Ava he was quiet comfortable. He said “i like this one”. Understandable, all she does is smile all day.

We went for a nice lunch intown and Anna cooked us some smashing dinners. I wanted to give her a break so i took Mia (whos 2) for a huge walk in the pram one afternoon and a swim in the lake. Not a problem at all, loved the water what a gorgeous girl. Anna has done a great job they are so well behaved which is more rare with kids than it should be these days.

As Rob and i travel around Australia we are picking out places we would like to live after the journey. Port Macquarie we loved. Its full of beaches, lakes and luscious mountains. Its now number 1 on the destinations we would like to live. Big enough town to feel comfortable, small enough for business opportunities. Jinderbyne is now number 2.

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As we slowly rode into Mount Wilson it was like riding into a hidden rainforest. There was fog all around us, soft rain falling on my viser and beautiful huge rainforest flora. We quickly set up our tent in the light rain, put our ponchos on and went for a walk through the rainforest. It was picturesque with the vines reminding me of the trees on the streets of Rio. There was a huge tree which had been struck by lighting some years ago but slowly growing back. During the night it rained heavily and didn’t stop or look like it was going to anytime soon. We luckily got a 10 minute break to pack up the tent but everything else we managed to pack up under the shelter of some covered picnic tables.

Very very lucky to have been close to shelter.
I put on my wet riding gear that had been hung on the tree the night before hoping it would dry. It was saturated.

We head off to a place called Broke stopping in Bilpin on the way which is famous for its delicious apple pies, we were not disappointed.
The rain stayed with us majority of the journey. Its funny, i always felt sorry for people riding motorbikes in the rain, but riding in the rain is amazing. There is something soothing almost calming about it. You feel one with nature, with your environment. Strange.
We road through a place called Kurrajong Hills in the middle of nowhere but full of huge houses. What do these people do out here?!

As we road into the Hunter Valley we were surrounded by exquisite wineries on each side with the mountainous green backdrop. We pulled up to the only shop in town and refreshed ourselves with a drink after a long ride. Filled up the bikes with petrol (mine a lovely total of $14.60) and looked for the winery offering free accomidation with a meal purchase from their restaurant in our phone. Something we had read the night before. We follow the GPS the way we had came to a classy looking winery entrance.
Our goal was to check the menu first and then decide if we would stay, so as we searched for someone on the premise at 5.30pm a small dog came running out and started licking the back of my knee. What the!!
A woman comes out to greet us and shows us the menu. Delicious looking food, not overly expensive, we will stay.

By this time the rain has long gone and we are hot! I quickly grab out my gym pants to swap for my thick riding pants but as i pull my pants off a leech falls into my boot. Ekkk i drop my gym pants on the ground and show Rob the leech. Its been in there since the morning and we had been riding for about 5 hours including stops. Its got a bit of blood in it this one. The dog liking my leg now makes sense. I quickly put my pants on and walk over to show another couple we had been talking to whilst pulling up. Whilst showing them the leech in my boot something starts to bite my legs, all over.. its ants!! They got in when i dropped my pants and i literally had  ants in my pants and it hurts. I drop the boot housing a leech and run as fast as i can whilst trying to pull them out of my pants to the toilet. I only wish Rob was faster with a camera.

So after discovering a leech and ants in my pants we showered and head to dinner looking out over the beautiful view.
What romantic way to finish the day.

What a fun 4 days,how did we end u at Bathurst?

Well, we were sitting in McDonalds on Thursday morning in Lithco charging our phones as we had just come from Woolami National Park and had been out of range and battery for a few days. As Rob turned on his phone it lit up like he won jackpot on a pokie machine. Ding ding ding. It was his mates Buster and Scotty, They were currently on there way to Bathurst with some extra space in there campsite for the 12 hour. Rob loves racing! Its for 3 night 4 days. We were 45mins away. As if we would say no.

I have never been into car racing, I have however been to a few race meets as its Robs passion and he races for fun.
I did like the Bathurst 12 hour though. There are lots of families there and it was a much more pleasant friendly environment. I’ve been to a car race on the Gold Coast and a motorbike race at Phillip Island before and they were both seedy male dominated unpleasant environments for a woman. Bathurst 12 hour was a winner!
As we drove up to the track on the Thusday, the day before practice day we were allowed to drive on the actual track past all the race cars in the pits. That was cool. I think Rob might have creamed his jocks.

We then waited for the guys and headed up to our camping spot. The days were warm but entertaining.
The guys were very drunk but not disgusting. I learnt a lot about cars and racing which was great.
The highlight for me however was when we drove into town to find the rest of the team a walking stick from an opp shop (due to a walking stick trend Scotty started the previous year#leaning/esky dragging stick)
I think we may have gone into every op shop in Bathurst, which i loved. In that time i found myself a new dress, hat and glasses for $15 as i had limited clean clothes and left a dress at Lindas. I managed to score a compliment in the first 30 minutes of wearing the dress from a lady in a cafe. Op shop score!!!

The race was a great one to watch, especially watching grown men throw tanties when there team crashes. Unacceptable but entertaining.

We went out in Bathurst and had to re step Rob through the night the next day when we went into town. You know your boyfriend is drunk when you go into a bar that you went into earlier that day and the same lady serves you. Rob says ‘ Your the lady from the Oxford bar’ i say ‘ Honey we are in the oxford’
He says ‘ what!? We are in the oxford!? Is this the oxford?!  Me.. ‘Yes honey’ Rob ‘ no way!’
He danced more than John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever that night with more pelvic thrusts than a girlfriend should witness on the dance floor. We had fun.
We also went to the RSL earlier that night and watched some boxing match between Green and …. that idiot .. Mundine. There was an actual fight in the RSL between two boozed up bogans thinking they were professionals.
Rob almost got in a fight. He was trying to be friends with a group of local guys but too drunk to realize they didn’t want a bar of him. We moved and left straight after the fight.

Bathurst as a town was so beautiful, so many heritage looking buildings and clean well manicured parks. We went to a house called Abercrombie house which is huge, old and incredible. We didn’t book and unfortunately when we arrived the ferrari team who won the 12 hours had just left as that had been there  for 4 days. Bummer, but at least we got to see the outside of the house.

We then left Bathurst for Mt Wilson in the rain.

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Our plan was to wake and set off for an 8km hike and then a 2 hour ride to our next destination.

I however had a horrific sleep. It rained heavily and i woke up and with an owl singing loudly near our tent, me needing the bathroom, and my arms throbbing from my first off road ride so i was unable to get back to sleep.
Usually its Rob who cant sleep but last night it was my turn.

Instead of riding, we hiked about 15kms. We went for a walk to the glow worm tunnel and Ruins walk in the Woolami National Park.
The glow worm tunnel was amazing. Initially when you walk in, its so dark and you have to emurase yourself further into the cave. As you stand in the cool darkness and silence they slowly appear, one by one their lights come on. Its like looking up into the night sky as each star appears, yet they are all around you in a cave. We stood in the tunnel in awe holding each other and eventually leading to a romantic disco pash under the wormy sky.

We hiked down and Rob scared the begeebers out of me by doing a river crossing on his bike. It was a lot of water and  sand, it got him pretty excited.

We then hiked on a ruins treck of an old oil refinery that started operation in 1907. It must have been such a huge production as the site is still magnificent even though it closed in 1937.
Most of the relics at Newmes distilled and refined crude oil into a range of products.The engineering and quality of workmanship that still remains today is one of wonder. Incredible to think it is now just part of the landscape. Incredible place in the middle of no where.

The campground we are staying at the park is spectacular. We are surrounded by multiple amazing cliff faces that are protecting us from the wind. We have seen a Wombat, Kangeroos, Wallabies, Ducks Walleroos, and even a black male Walleroo which is rare and hard to get a photo of. I just managed.

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How beautiful! Leura was such a cut little town, breath taking trees and feel about it. We went for a walk to look at Wentworth Falls and the 3 sisters(few mountains) in true ozzie style, thongs. What was i thinking? I should have known it would turn into a full blown hike with Mcguiver trying to find new suspecting paths.

We walk down one path and there was a couple kitted out with sneakers walking back. The path is too narrow they say. I can see the light go off in Robs mind, challenge accepted.
We walk down the narrow path on the side of a cliff as far as it will go. As it starts to spit and my thongs get slippery i step in a big sloshy mud pit. We laugh, i cry inside.
Rob is not deterred to go back as that would mean defeat like the other couple, even though we had gone significantly further.
He looks for another path..there is a faint one. We take it. Thankfully i hear other people and it gets us close enough to another path  that we can dart through the bush back onto the normal hiking track. Guess who we are not far behind? The couple who advised us otherwise. Rob is stoked as he states ‘that means we didn’t loose any time but we had an extra adventure.’ I never know where ill end up when im with Mcguiver.

We get to the falls and they are amazing. We find places we can relax and run the water over our hands and feet.
We ride back to our campsite which is on Lyell lake. Rob has already set up the hammock for me the previous day. Its my favourite spot.

We were thinking about having a third night at the location however waking up this morning it was soo windy. As we were on the edge of the lake there was so much sand and dirt flying in from the side. We packed up with the intention to move to another area yet we decided a new located would be the better option afterall.
We stop in and have lunch in town and head further into the  blue mountains with our supplies. Riding to our current camping location i rode about 18km on a dirt road. Uneaven gravel the whole way in 34degree heat. I was wrecked. I thought i was going to faint when we arrived i was so tired. A bit of fresh air,  shade and water worked wonders.
We then went and cooled down in a close running river. Rob, made me a rocky path to our destination, the romantic thing he is.
We spoke to a couple named Rodger and Katalina who work in the one and only resort not far from here, they advised us to do the ruins walk if we can off the old coal station. We will do it tomorrow.