Surf's Up

 We enjoyed our time in the Great Lakes park. On Wednesday morning the kids swam for hours. I had a long swim as well. Lars was in for about 5 seconds. We then scootered into town via the boat ramp. The kids were fascinated watching the fishermen cleaning their fish and giving the scraps to the pelicans. There were pelicans everywhere. Charlie decided that we should fillet some fish too. So after lunch in town,

Bevan from Seymour took pity on us and gave us a lesson

me and Charlieboy went off to the fish co-op. I figured that this was the only way the poor little bloke would get to fillet fish with me as his father. So we slapped our money on the counter and walked out with a good sized snapper, a sand whiting and some prawns.

When you take your fish to the cleaning area, people assume that you caught them. When they saw us trying to fillet the poor things, they would have concluded that these were the first fish that we had ever caught. But, it was about the experience. We had a BBQ cook-up for tea. The fish weren't a huge hit. Charlie loved the prawns and William enjoyed ripping their heads off.

 Yesterday morning (Thursday) we pulled out of town and headed for Black Head (Hallidays Point.) After performing a unique 32 point turn in the main street, we settled in for the day. We went to have a swim in the ocean bath. It had been cleaned and was filling slowly. So we set up our premium shade gazebo on the beach and swam in the surf. We then relocated to the sea bath. This was amazing. It was warm and clean and there were hardly any people. Charlie and I got the skim ball going for a bit of donkey. After a big day at the beach we drove our bus up to the headland for a spot of tea. Lars cooked up spag and the view was unreal. There was a very friendly bush turkey and a number of Kookaburas. After the sun went down, we set off for Kempsey. This was a couple of hours drive. We found ourselves a spot up a side street and bedded down for the night. Free camps are a great money saver. I love going to sleep with the sound of the interstate trucks coming and going.  

Hannah reading by the pool at the Ocean Bath at Black Head




William setting up for tea at the headland picnic ground at Black Head

  

Gracie helping with tea preparations



Tea at the Black Head picnic area



Dad and Gracie sharing a quiet fizzy at the end of the day

We woke up this morning (Friday) at about 6.30. We were back on the road by 6.40. We drove to Crescent Head for breaky. It is a town perched right on the ocean. It is hugely popular with surfers. We parked in the best possible spot, with a view over the two main surf breaks. The kids collected rocks and paddled. Charlie and William made some gnarly new friends at the skate park. All the little surfie kids were in their jazziest designer surf wear. William was wearing his Buzz pyjamas. He has taken to almost exclusively wearing his pj's as his daily wear, regardless of what activity he is undertaking. I heard the kids calling him little pyjama dude. William was totally unfazed by this. Both he and Charlie are doing really well with their scooters.

Mum having her morning cuppa at Crescent Head

Charlie looking a bit wild

William and his surfie mates

William and Dad sharing an IPOD

Gracie scaled the back of the skate platform to join in the action. 

Bustin' in prime position above the Crescent Head surf beach - a great place for breakfast

After lunch at a local cafe and a yarn with a few locals we set off for Nambucca Heads. Upon arriving in town, we headed for the Rip Curl surf shop. Everyone except Mum is now decked out with a body board. Mum got herself some jazzy new clothes instead. They are very fitting for a Coastal road trip. This arvo, Lars took William and Gracie to the pool (at our new caravan park) while Hannah, Charlie and myself tried out our new boards. Charlie said it's the most fun he's had on the trip so far. We all had a dip in the heated pool just before dark (except Lara who claimed she that she needed a cup of tea instead).

While Lars was making pizza for tea, the kids snuggled into our bed and watched a few episodes of the Flintstones. The bus is quiet but for the sound of the surf. We will stay here for at least a couple of nights.

Cheers

Phil, Lars, Hannah, Charlie, William and Gracie girl.