We haven't moved far

We had a terrific time in Nambucca Heads. The Big 4 caravan park was a hidden gem. We were looked after very well by Shawn and Janine who were the park managers. Shawn has a great mind for remembering names. He seemed to know all his guests by name (including me) and he and his wife Janine couldn't do enough to help. He later confessed that he farmed beef cattle in NZ and gained his memory skills from looking at his 250 or so cows each day. He possibly imagined each of us with a tag in our ear. Either way, he was impressive and the park was great fun.

Some slip and slide action

Hannah with the best seat in the house

The weather was, however, very average and it rained pretty consistently while we were there. The upside was that the pool was heated and we spent hours swimming and playing. Charlie and William also enjoyed the games room, complete with table tennis table.

On Saturday, the owner of the park (Ian) gave me a lift into town and I did a spot of shopping. I stocked up on all the essentials before walking home. Hannah was crook most of Saturday with a big temperature and a bad cough. Indoors for her. On Sunday we decided to venture out to Nambucca Heads Baptist Church. As it was pouring with rain, we got ourselves a Maxi Taxi. Church was good - a cross between West Preston Baptist and Bolwarra Uniting. It was very informal and we felt right at home. The kids behaved well and enjoyed the post service morning tea. We scored a heap of guavas from one of the parishoners. They were very tasty (the guavas that is). Following Church we lazed around town.

We made the mistake of going back to the Rip Curl shop. A few more purchases were undertaken. The girls got themselves a necklace each. We scored some free stickers from the lovely owner. The boys found themselves some very jazzy caps. Unfortunately, they were just about the most expensive caps in the entire shop (possibly the Southern Hemisphere). The boys put them on and they looked like they should be on tour with the Krusty Demons. Before we forked out the cash, we gave them a little lecture about taking care of them and the need to put them in a safe place when not adorning their unruly heads.

It was too wet to walk home again and so we called another Maxi Taxi. Kath was our driver. She drove us both ways. It was a round trip of $30.00, although it could have been more. Later in the day, when we asked William where his expensive new cap was, he looked at us very blankly. We canvassed a range of possibilities. His face contorted when we mentioned the Maxi Taxi. Yep, it was left in the taxi after only  10 minutes in his care.

More sliding action

Following several distressed calls to the Taxi people, we had to just move on. I was busily calculating how much our taxi ride had actually cost us. It was terrifying. However, at about 7.00 pm there was a knock on the door at Bustin' Loose central. It was the lovely Kath, complete with William's cap in hand. What a relief. She'd gone out of her way to drive the 2 km's to our park to drop it off. We found this generosity over and over again from the people we met in Nambucca Heads.



Leaving Nambucca Heads Big 4


After a quick turn on the slip and slide on Monday morning, the Simpson's were back on the road. We didn't get far. I entertained romantic notions of driving hundreds of kilometres (possibly well into the night). Lara, it seems, had different plans. We made it to Coffs Harbour. This is approximately 45 km's from Nambucca Heads. Doh! We stopped at the Big Banana and Lara sort of got caught up in the hype of Coffs Harbour and all its possibilities. I think it was the chocolate covered banana she scoffed that tipped her over the edge. Tonight is our last night here.


It was difficult getting it up there but it was worth the effort



The health food of a nation



Ice creams with Nana's money at the Big Banana

This place does have an awesome pool. It has three water slides and all sorts of other stuff to keep the kids entertained. It is about 17 degrees below zero but nobody seems to mind. Hannah spent almost 5 hours in the water today. Charlie was not far behind her.






Hannah's favourite activity




William occupied himself for ages



We started today by hitting the beach early. I think we were probably in the water shortly after 7.30 am. The body boards got a work out. After 30 mins or so, Lars, William, Hannah and Gracie headed back to the park. Charlie and I stayed on to muck around in the surf. Charlie just loves his board and catching waves. The water is amazingly warm.

Off we trot to the waves

Willliam gearing himself for the waves - Note the Cap!

  

An early start at the beach

 

Our new found family activity


We're not sure where we are going next. Possibly a little further tomorrow than we went on Monday. But we'll see. We picked up the free camping book from BCF in town as we may have to do some free camping over the Easter weekend. Most parks are already booked out.

William hard at work




Lara the meanie makes the kids do homework

We had a short naming ceremony today as we re-attached the Bustin' Loose name to the back of the old girl. It was quite a special moment. The various stickers adorning the bus are thanks to our good mate Matt Adams at Motosign. He made them up quick as a flash for us before we departed Melbourne. Thanks Matt, they look ace. At least now when trucks, cars, push bikes and old ladies in personal mobility scooters are stuck behind us, they will be able to curse us by name.



Moments after the naming ceremony



Until next time.

Phil, Lars, Hannah, Charlie, William and Gracie