The Kowsas' Big Lap: December 2011

Rain, rain and more rain for our trip towards Sydney!

We spent a few very wet days in Kangaroo Valley, with a hair raising drive in and out over Mount Cambewarra. Our camp spot at Bendeela was beautiful though, with massive grassy camping grounds right on the Kangaroo River.

On our first night, I was woken through the night to a loud rubbing noise and the van slightly rocking. I thought I was imagining things, so I decided to ignore it and went back to sleep. Further into the night I was again woken by the same weird noise, but this time so was Paddy.

After a short discussion on what it might be, Paddy ventured out with the miner's light on (always a good look) to inspect. As suspected, it was a stocky wombat enjoying a back scratch care of our van's under carriage. The night progressed in much the same way, with the chunky critter enjoying himself many more times throughout the night.

Funniest of all, we woke the next morning to a nice present in Immy's thong...wombat poo in her shoe!

The next day we went for a stroll around the village of Kangaroo Valley. It is a beautiful little place and we enjoyed some fudge tasting (and a purchase), yummy pies at the bakery and fossicking through an antique shop. We finished off our visit with coffee and hot chocolates at the pub. On our way home we saw an echidna by the road side and enjoyed a 5 minute stop watching him dig for ants.

Our second night was a little less eventful, as our wombat friend decided to use the car instead of the van after catching him in the act during the late afternoon and shooing him away.

We moved onto Kiama and set up in a small caravan park on the beach. Unfortunately the rain persisted and we endured some heavy downpours, particularly throughout the nights and woke one morning to a steady stream of water pouring in through a speaker under the overhead cupboards and onto the laptop. Thank goodness though, we discovered it was just because the cover for the coax cable had come off which was easily fixed and it wasn't long until the disaster was over.

Saturday we managed an easy drive up to the "BIG SMOKE"...Sydney! We had planed to avoid Sydney during our trip, but Grandad and Shan had planned to spend nearly a week in Sydney visiting Shan's daughter and family, so a detour was made.

We stopped at Lang Cover National Park, which was surprisingly close to the city and had great facilities. The weather was perfect whilst we were in Sydney and we had a wonderful time and my opinion of the huge city has now changed for the better. We had a lovely time catching up with my Dad and Shan and also had a fabulous time with Shan's family, enjoying many dinners and drinks at their house.

Monday we headed in to explore Sydney Harbour and the excitement level from the girls was high. The looks on their faces were precious when they spotted the Opera House for the first time, whilst on a double decker train going across the Harbour Bridge. We managed to travel on a train, ferry, bus, mono rail, back on a ferry, bus and train, then a cab...and all in one day! We enjoyed fish and chips at Manly for lunch and followed up with ice creams at Circular Quay.

Tuesday we had a car trip to the southern beaches and sat for coffee at Rose Bay, a play at the park in Watsons Bay and lunch at Bondi Beach. The day was finished off with dinner at a Japanese restaurant, where we all enjoyed trying some weird but delicious foods. The girls tried most of the dishes and Libby even had a go a the wasabi and pickled ginger.

Wednesday we moved onto our current destination at Fingal Bay in the Port Stephens area. Unfortunately though, the weather has turned sour again as just after we arrived a storm hit the area and it has been showery and windy ever since.

After a sleepless night the first night due to the wind being so bad we thought at any moment the tree behind us would fall and split the van in two, we moved to a site free of any trees. This morning we had an attempt at luring blood worms from the sand at low tide, but we came home empty handed. The big beach walk was a challenge in the wind, but it was nice to get out for some exercise. This afternoon has once again been spent doing lots of craft, after enjoying Paddy's now famous Nachos for lunch. Libby has created a flying Genie house on a magic rug, whilst Imogen has been making a beautiful butterfly mask with Daddy's help. I think all this craft equates to school work in some way...doesn't it!?

Next our journey takes us to Dubbo Zoo and then hopefully up the New England Highway if the roads are accessible. We should be in Withcott by mid next week and then it's home for the Kowsas within a week and a half.

Wow, is this adventure nearly over? How will we go back to life in a house again? All that room...and all that stuff!