Jun 2007

Day 54 Sunday 10th June

As some of you might be aware, the floods just south of here are pretty bad. So we made the decision to stay her another day, just to give the floods time to ease! We did look at going around the long way via Tamworth but even some of those roads are flooded too! So here we will stay for another day. But what a nice place to be at!
Sunday morning and there is always a market somewhere. Yep we found one in Coffs. So of we went, as markets go, not bad. Brenda bought some nice gifts and cards for different people. I bought a plastic “ Bat”, of the mammal variety. Don’t ask!

From the market we headed to the ’Big Banana”. I was a bit disappointed as the place seemed to be run down. It looked like it needed a good clean and a lick of paint. Half of the attractions were closed, the ski run has been closed for a couple of years. But, talking to some people that work here they told us that the site has been sold and the new owners have got huge plans for the place. One thing they said would be coming was a wet and wild style area for the kids( big and small). So they are trying something.!
On the way down we picked some Mandarins and Macadamia nuts all free! How good was that
We did the Sky Walk, even though Brenda struggle up the Steps, we got to the top. The view was worth, great panorama of Coffs. We met a nice couple from NZ had a good old chinwag with them. They told us we must go to NZ! So that might be a trip in the future!
Well if I thought the walk up was hard for my girl, the walk down the slope was even harder. I thought about trading her in for a new model, but she cooks and cleans well OUCH!!!!!!! All jokes aside I think the inevitable Knee replacement, is closer than she thinks!!
I saw the toboggan ride was operating so just had to have a go (where’s the g/kids when you need them).

Of course after all my exercise I needed a coffee.
Back to park for a well earned relax and read in the sun!!!

DAY 53 Saturday 9th June

Here we are in Coffs Harbour. We quite like this place, we have been here before so, we do know our way around this town!
After a reasonable night, just a few strong wind gust’s and a few spots of rain. We woke to Blue skies and sunshine! Yes Brenda said about b….y time! The van was very cold this morning, so we had to put the heater on for the first time to warm us up!!! Temps were 8-19 deg for today.
We decided to go for a bit of a drive so went to the surf beach. There they were, no matter what the weather the surfers were out in it!!
Off then to the shops, we had some food shopping to do, but also manage to look into a few more “other” shops! Then it was off to MacDonald’s, no, not for food but to send off our Webb pages and check E-mails.
There is no doubt about it Macca’s is a licence to print money, the place was chockers!!!

Then it’s off to Pet Porpoise Pool, the funny thing is they don’t have any Porpoise’s there? But they do have Dolphins, (one of Brenda’s favourite animals), Fur seals and Penguins. We had a ball here. Some of you know my feelings on Monkey Mia! Well this place absolutely kills them!! The actually want you to touch the dolphins, they say the interaction makes people more aware of them and the rest of the critters in the ocean!! They put on a show with the seals and dolphins, it’s well worth a watch! I have a great pic of Brenda being kissed by a Fur seal and one of the same with a dolphin. If anyone is coming to Coffs you shouldn’t miss this place10/10. Best part about this place from Brenda’s prospective was that it’s not very big to walk around, because her knees are giving her pure hell!! She actually is walking with a limp now! Not good!!!!!
Well back to the park for a relax and read. Sun is shining, but not all that hot, but at least it’s not raining!
The big worry for us is the weather. We have got to move south but the weather down that way is shocking! The TV news is full of all the gloom and doom down there. We all wanted the rain but not all at once!!!! One small town , who’s name I can’t remember, there town drinking water was completely dried up, but in one day’s rain, they have enough for 6 months!! So we have decided to stay here for one more night, hopefully the roads will dry out some.

Day 52 Friday 8th June

Left the cold coast sorry Gold Coast behind and crossed into NSW at 0845. “Yes o great one the sun is shining”
Reached Ballina at 1000am so yes the grey nomads stopped for morning tea!!! But weather is starting to change. We really have upset someone!!!!
Got to Grafton found the Bunnings Store, Brenda want’s a light under the cupboard, so that’s my project for today!
Reached Coffs at 0150pm nice park , we have been here before. So spent the afternoon putting the light in. And I actually installed some windshields that we bought in Biloela. So the day was not wasted.
We were talking to some other people in the park , who told us that 50mms of rain fell here yesterday!
Believe me the weather has gone real wild up here. The TV news has just told a story about a car that fell in a hole that opened up on the old pacific highway. 9 people are now missing presumed fallen in the hole?
And also on the news was a coal carrying ship that has run aground on the rocks just off of Newcastle in cyclonic winds! They have rescued all the crew but the ship could break up…
What great weather…………..

Day 51 Thursday 7th June

First night here at Helensvale we woke to 2 inches of water around the Van. P….d down all night.
We really are wondering who we have upset up there!!!! Temps today 16-21 Deg.
That was the start of the day, then just about to leave to go to movie world, PANIC!! silver bracelet missing. I bought it for Brenda on our 25 anniversary. So there was more water flowing, not outside but inside the van!!!! We looked for ages and nearly gave it up when I found it in the mud next to the car. I now am in the good books, if only for 10 minutes!!
Smile came back , so off to movie world to meet up with the kids.
Well, talk about thrills and spills. We went on all of the roller coasters and most of the rides. Brenda says that she is bruised from the Lethal Weapon ride. But it does throw you around a bit!!!
Then in the evening we took off to the “Outback Spectacular show”. This is worth the dollars you pay,($95) but you do get a 3 course meal, a hat , beer ,wine and soft drink, so not to bad. The show is very good too!!
Got out of there around 0945, guess what? yep raining again!!!!!! Bugger!!!!!!!!!!
Oh well pack up and move to Coffs Harbour tomorrow.

Day 51 Thursday 7th June

First night here at Helensvale we woke to 2 inches of water around the Van. P….d down all night.
We really are wondering who we have upset up there!!!! Temps today 16-21 Deg.
That was the start of the day, then just about to leave to go to movie world, PANIC!! silver bracelet missing. I bought it for Brenda on our 25 anniversary. So there was more water flowing, not outside but inside the van!!!! We looked for ages and nearly gave it up when I found it in the mud next to the car. I now am in the good books, if only for 10 minutes!!
Smile came back , so off to movie world to meet up with the kids.
Well, talk about thrills and spills. We went on all of the roller coasters and most of the rides. Brenda says that she is bruised from the Lethal Weapon ride. But it does throw you around a bit!!!
Then in the evening we took off to the “Outback Spectacular show”. This is worth the dollars you pay,($95) but you do get a 3 course meal, a hat , beer ,wine and soft drink, so not to bad. The show is very good too!!
Got out of there around 0945, guess what? yep raining again!!!!!! Bugger!!!!!!!!!!
Oh well pack up and move to Coffs Harbour tomorrow.