Swansea

Swansea on the Central Coast of NSW - what a lovely place.  Although I am sure if it ever stops raining it will be even more lovely!   That said there have been periods of sun and although the humidity is through the roof we have been able to get out and do some exploring.  We have been increasing the distance we ride on the bikes each day, getting ourselves ready to do the Fernleigh Track (Belmont to Adamstown & return) when the weather clears.  One of our rides was to Murray Beach - what a beautiful little spot but the hill getting in there was probably a bit more that what we were ready to tackle.  Oh well not ones to give up we made it and enjoyed the ride back down!!

Rob at the Foreshore @ Murrays Beach

Murrays Beach wharf

We enjoyed the walk out to Galgabba Point which is between Swansea & Murrays Beach and is a significant bushland area.  Beautiful walk and so much to look at whilst your walking through the bush.

There was some beautiful sights during our walk

Caves Beach is aptly named for all the caves in the cliff face overlooking the beach.  These are only accessible from the beach at low tide.  Last Saturday, along we Rob, Lucy & the boys, we decided to investigate.  Alby just loved it and I have to say it was pretty special to look at and walk through some of the caves.

Caves Beach looking towards the caves

Entry to a cave

Looking out from one of the caves

You can walk through some of them

Caves Beach

And one more

Looking towards some of the caves

The rock above was also lovely to look at

Now which one was the way back?

Ah Rob made it!

A few days later we did the Caves Beach Walk which follows along the cliff line.  Spoon Rocks features the remains of a breakwall constructed to load coal into waiting ships before the Newcastle port was created.  You walk up again to Quarries head which gives an outstanding view and although I couldn't capture it well enough on the day - we counted 18 ships lined up going to (or from) Newcastle.  We then continued into Wallarah National Park finishing overlooking Pinny Beach.  I say fnishing - we then had to walk back but it was well worth it.

Looking back at Caves Beach

Beach at Spoon Rocks

Breakwall at Spoon Rocks

Starting to climb

Quarries Head

On our way up

Quarries Head

Overlooking Pinny Beach

Loved some of the native bushes

What goes up must go down

We also enjoyed the Green Point foreshore walk (well until it started to rain on us). You get an amazing view looking over Lake Macquarie

Green point foreshore looking towards Belmont

Oh here comes the rain :)

With the rain came a rainbow

So pretty looking through the tress

Sorry one more

We've also enjoyed catching up with some friends.  Lew - it was great to see you and I hope Rob didn't lead you too astray!
Lynn - it's hard to believe we haven't seen each other for years, it was just so easy to catch up and looking forward to spending some more time with you before we go.  Helen - I wish you were here with us!
We have 2 more weeks here so hopefully I will be able to show you some photo's with blue skies soon.....

Central Coast NSW

Ahh the beach - oh how we missed you!!

The first glimpse of the water and sand and I had to at least get my feet wet before we travelled on to Rob & Lucy's.  What a great week we had, enjoying spending time with not only Rob & Lucy but Alby and Frankie.  They are both such cuties and we loved every minute.. 

Ettalong Beach

Looking across the water to Wagstaff

Frankie & Alby - so cute xx

Lucy played tour guide and took us around the Avoca Beach/Bensville area showing us the local sights.
It is such a pretty area and each day gave us further insight into why so many people want to live on the Central Coast. 

We also enjoyed a couple of nights with old friends - Paul & Denise Robinson at Kariong. 

One of the things we have found since we started this adventure is that it is nice to have time to spend with family and friends and where we want, without having to meet any deadline, other than those we impose on ourselves.   It's a great feeling






Next step - our first "house sit" experience.  After Jen & Garry recommending aussiehousesitters.com.au  we decided to give it a try.   First step was to register and create our profile.  Next was decide on what area / time we wanted and then just wait and see what becomes available.  Low and behold - Swansea on the Central Coast for 3 1/2 weeks.  SCORED.
Kathryn, who so kindly agreed to accept us without any prior experience, wanted to spend some time with her family and needed someone to look after her garden.  After meeting with Kathryn and finding our what she needed done - off she headed onto holiday and in we moved.  Oh what a lovely home and the location is just beautiful.  Our front verandah for the next 3 1/2 weeks overlooks Lake Macquarie 😃

Bit more living space than our van!

Love our bedroom

When Kathryn purchased the house it was an old, small, fishing cottage.  She has done an amazing rebuild and now has a beautiful comfortable home. 

Another living area in case we get sick of each other.

And our view!!

She has created a stunning garden, both front & rear.  Rob was so looking forward to having a beer and watering the garden each afternoon but sadly it has rained every night so far since we got here.  Oh well still plenty of time yet..










This is our favourite spot.  Cup of tea in the morning or a beer in the afternoon - there is always something different to look at and most days we can see a flock of Black Swans on the Lake.

Our bikes have come in handy and we've been exploring both Swansea and Caves Beach for the past week.  Such a pretty area and we are loving getting out and exploring.
I'll share some of our favourite spots next week - till then xxx

Wombion

We finally hit the road on the 20th Feb - headed for the Central Coast.
We had to travel through the fire ravaged area around Leadville and whilst the area is devestated at the loss of stock & property they are truly blessed that no lives were lost.  What did come out of this though was the spirit of the people and the support of other farmers to those that lost some or all of their homes and stock.  There were several large convoys of trucks from down South and also from Trangie/Warren bringing hay into the effected area for the surviving stock.  People who had cottages on their properties that survived and wern't in use offered these up as homes to those who lost theirs.
Caravans were offered as temporary accomodation to others.  Places like the Narromine Men's Shed donated truck loads of furniture and household items.  Others like the Trangie Tigers (football) offered their labour on weekends to help rebuild fences etc;   It truly is amazing and we really are lucky to live in this amazing country.

Side of the road

Some trees survived

Burnt out fences

It just went on & on

Such devestation

We made our way through to Wollombi. A small town showcasing some of Australia's history.
White settlement began in the 1820's.  Between 1826 and 1834 a road was built with convict labour and it became known as the Great North Road and parts of this are still visible today - called 'The Convict Trail'.   Wollombi has some beautiful old buildings and they have free camping behind the pub (as long as you patronise the pub).  It is also on the edge of Yengo National Park which has significant Aboriginal heritage sites.

Our campsite at Wollombi Pub

Ah - a selfie!

View top of Mt Yengo

Look closely - a goanna (we saw heaps)

Aboriginal carvings

Overlooking Wollemi National Park

Part Convict Trail

Imagine laying this by hand

Dedication Plaque

We enjoyed 3 days in this lovely spot and it's well worth a visit.  Next time it will be Wollemi National Park itself.  We have done a day trip here and it is just amazing. 
Oh well  - farewell drinks and onto Bensville to Rob & Lucy's. 
Something I forgot to mention - we have taken a house sit at Swansea from the 5th to 31st March.  More on this next

Wollemi

Original building

Wollemi corner store

Farewell drinks

Dubbo

One of the great things of our time in Orange was the proximity to the rest of our family and this enabled us to catch up with family & friends in our down time.
We loved spending time with Shaun who came across regularly from Forbes and seeing Jordan & Keera.

Shaun, Keera & Jordan

Ready for a ski

We a couple of great times skiing at Forbes.  Roland (Nephew) who had just returned from the UK and Greg joined us for Australia Day which was great, although I'm pretty sure Roland didn't feel so great the next day with sore muscles and some sunburn :(
We also had Aimee (Niece) and Jake join us from Sydney a few weeks later, along with Vicki & Greg and Louise & Bruce. Aimee - next stopt the Olympics!!   Although I think it's Jordan who will probably be the one to watch - he's pretty damm good.

Up first go!

Aimee showing us how it's done

We spent some time in Dubbo with Vicki & Greg.  Rob helped Greg with crutching some lambs - this this reminded him that he doesn't want to take up shearing again any time soon.  I have to say that Greg had the farm looking pretty good and we had some great fun out there.

Stay still will you!

Treading the boards

Bruce & Louise were in Dubbo for a few months and we managed to spend some time with them.  Hope not too boring looking around at the sights but nice to show them places we had previously only talked about. 

A toast to Vicki & Greg for the lend of their house

A toast to Cathy & Mark for the lend of their house

In Narromine with spent time with my Mum & Dad, Rob's Mum and sister Sharon< Michael, Erin and the 3 boys. Wow Dane, Kade & Mason have all grown so much.  It's hard to know where the time has gone.  They are gorgeous boys and certainly keep Mick & Erin on their toes!  
We also caught up with friends Stephen & Lynn and Mark & Cathy. 
A big Thank You to Mark & Cathy who kindly put us up for the time we were there.  (Mark I'm not sure a can drink Red Wine any more!!)  They have 2 lovely homes and wd just loved having some time to spend with them and enjoy the special ambiance of both. 

Overlooking the Macquarie River @ Gin Gin

So the big question is 'Where to Next?'
Well the one family we didn't catch up with was Rob (Junior) and Lucy and the boys - so Central Coast here we come.

Orange NSW

Well I've been a bit slack and haven't posted in awhile 😊 oh well here's a short catch up..

Our trip home from South Australia in October only lead us to know that we needed to return to explore more - another place for the bucket list.

This one's for you Kaz - look how close they build their houses!

Max in Balranald

We came back to Orange via the Hay plains - such a boring trip and this time was no different except that after all the floods there was water everywhere.  And the stench from stale water just laying there was awful.  If you've never been across this way it's hard to imagine it but it is just miles and miles of flat ground and so the water just lays there.  In fact the road had just been opened in places and the Highway between West Wyalong and Forbes was still closed - and this was a good month after the rains.
We returned to take a job working for Caernarvon Cherry Co in Orange - in charge of the Dispatch of cherries throughout Australia and overseas (they were game weren't they!).  We learnt a lot about Cherries during our time there - who would have known it was such a difficult thing to grow and get to the consumer.  No wonder they are so expensive to buy.  Fiona & Bernard Hall owned the packing house plus a orchard (apples & cherries) and I take my hat of to them - man they work hard.  And such a lovely couple as well which made it all easier.

End of the Cherry season

Our lunch room

My office!

The best part of our time in Orange though was getting to spend time with the family.  Bec & Glenn thank you so much for having us - I know it was longer than we all thought but it was fantastic to spend the time with you both and to see Max & Emma growing.  By the time we left Emma was walking and Max had grown up so much.

Max fishing after Christmas

Emma walking

Max & Emma 2017

Orange is a beautiful town (maybe a bit COLD in winter) but there is so much to see and do.  

We did a bit of tripping around whilst waiting for the cherries to ripen - places like Milthorpe, Carcoar, Bathurst all have so much history and beautiful buildings and scenery.  Then add in the amazing food & wine on offer in the region and you know why people put up with the cold. 

Beautiful old buildings

Abercrombie House

Carcoar (I think)

Rob enjoying the view

Abercrombie House, Bathurst