After leaving Sydney I packed up the snail house and spent a very uneventful evening in an overpriced campsite in Hawk's Nest. Saturday was carnival day in neighbouring Tea's Garden so I wandered down to check it out. The high street was closed and lined with stalls of local people selling local produce as well as all their shit carbooty style, Dr GraEme would have been in his element.
I just couldn't get my head around the ozzie equivalent to the donkey ride. Surely these ships of the desert belong in the desert? Is that a bouncy camel I spy in the background? I guess they don't know what a castle is down under lol.
I stayed around to see the heats of whatever this is. I call it big brutish Bruce's bludgeoning logs.
And here are small serene Sheila's spinning threads, I don't think they were competing though.
To be honest, I find village fetes at home tres Dullsville and they are pretty much the same here in Oz so after about half an hour me and the snail headed for Mungo Brush (cool name) in Myall Lakes National Park.
These amazing sand dunes can be found at Black Point. An aboriginal heritage site because it is of cultural significance to the indigenous people. The settlers also massacred them here in 1800 and something but try and find somewhere where that didnt happen. What puzzles me is that discussing the butchery and genocide of the aborigines is still taboo here in middle Australia, descendents of the settlers seem embarrassed to talk about it.
I have finally found out how to camp on the cheap in Oz, national park campsites are the way to go. Unfortunately they don't have showers:(
Meet Les and Roy my camping neighbours, we struck up conversation due to their fascination with the snail house. The lovely lady is Mrs Les and I'm ashamed to say that I can't remember her name. Mrs Roy, who I believe is called Judy was not around when I took the snap:( They well and truly looked after me, gave me drinking water (none available and I didn't know), fed me cups of tea, eggs and bacon and advised me on routes. A big THANKS to you all, it was a real pleasure to meet you.
This is the wistful sunset over the lake. I shared it and a beer with a bunch of pissed up prawn catchers up for the weekend from Newcastle (NSW not Tyneside).
The following day after breakfasting with Roy and Judy I went for a 4 hour hike through the rainforest, around the lakes and along the beach. Here are the photos.
The map said to 'make your way through the bush to the sand dunes' but it was really dense. I did give it a go but felt like the prince from sleeping beauty fighting my way through the thorns. I got covered in scratches and was a bit nervous about meeting snakes so decided to walk along the road, I did head to the beach via a different route though.
The sea here is wild
And although the beach is beautiful it was covered with a plague of dead birds, they were either crows or seabirds blackened by oil. I stopped counting corpses when I got to 50, all a bit spooky, fortunately I don't believe in omens.
I got back to camp around 2ish, said my goodbyes and headed for Crowdy Bay, this is the snail house on the ferry.
I took a detour via Seals Rock to visit the famous lighthouse at Suagarloaf Point.
A paraglider, I have a voucher to do that when I get home. What fun!
This is the closest I have got to photographing the bird of prey I keep seeing. Not being a twitcher I have no idea of species but I know they get ospreys around here.
Pictures of the lighthouse and surrounding views.
I got to a basic campsite at Crowdy Gap around 7ish. The only other people there were 3 stoned teenagers painting a nude woman on the side of their campervan. So early to bed and early to rise for Adilady, this morning I headed for Diamond Head.
When I arrived these cuties were waiting to greet me...
And the beach was stunning.
This feature is called 'Split Rock'.
I spent 2 happy hours on the beach finishing my book and I am now in Laurieton library throwing this bloggington together, I have about 5 minutes left!
I'm about to hit the road for Hat Head NP. I'm in desperate need of a shower, my hair itches and my skin is terrible. I can't believe I used to be a styley bird who wore perfume, lipstick and had a skincare regime! The good thing is I don't give a monkies cos I'm having a ball. Much love and sorry this bloggage is sooo badly written, over and out xxx
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