From our base in Kangaroo Valley, where
we stayed for four nights, we made forays out to explore the area.
After a trip to Nowra to replenish some of our stores we went down to
the coast to the twee little fishing cum tourist village of Greenwell
Point with its manicured lawns and picnic areas right on the
seafront. A tranquil place with beautiful views over the bay then on
to Culburra Beach.
The purpose of this particular trip was
to test out all the equipment and so far all seems well otherwise, if
any major difficulties arose, it would have been back to Sydney for a
re-assessment. I suspect the experiences of 2010 with our constant
re-organisations during the first three months, have stood us in good
stead and I think we can finally say we are on our way – but to
where who knows? All I can say is that this time it looks like a
clockwise circumnavigation – as Sandra always says the view always
looks different when going the other way. We are however hoping not
take a different route to see new places but such is the nature of
the country a certain amount of overlap is inevitable.
One of our forays out of Kangaroo
Valley took us the length of Seven Mile Beach from Shoalhaven Heads
to the south with its wide sweep of sand and surf populated with only
a couple of surfers and a few geriatrics taking in the sun and views
– and I don't mean us – up through Gerroa, Gerringong then up to
Kiama.
In Kiama the “must do” thing is to
see the blowhole near the Visitor Centre and Light House. Obviously
very impressive with tiers of viewing platforms for several hundred
people to take in the spectacle – unfortunately it wasn't working
when we were there, something to do with the wind, current or tides
were not suitable. In fact it was a bit of a damp squib – although
the coastal scenery was attractive. At this point I received a phone
call from Steven to say that Talia was missing her granny and could I
put Sandra on to speak to her. I actually think that Steven has found
a new way to keep her quiet and under control when he takes her
shopping.
Hearing we were in Kiama, Steven said
the “must do” thing was not the main blowhole but the Little
Blowhole which was much more impressive – it wasn't!
To celebrate our last night at Kangaroo
Valley we opened a bottle of fizz to supplement the red wine and beer
– not a good idea as it turned out as packing up camp in the hot
morning sun with a hangover is not the best way to start the day.
Then it was off south. We stopped at Mollymook with its fabulous
beach, loads of people in the sea and a squad of dolphins “putting
on a show” as one of the locals said. Probably most impressive of
all was the ultra-modern Mollymook Golf Clubhouse overlooking the
beach with its vast windows providing a fabulous view of the bay. I
presume the other side would have given a fabulous view of the 18th
but I never got that far.
 |
| One good reason for drowning in Mollymook Bay - the Life Guard! |
Where to spend the night became the question of the day and we set of to look for Pretty Beach south of the small town of Kioloa and in the Murramarang National Park - in true Douglaswalkabout fashion we never got there. Missing the sign (assuming there was one!) we headed off into the forest on a dirt track which got rougher by the kilometre. Our new destination was one of the premier camp sites in the region – the famous Pebbly Beach. Sandra estimated about 7k should get us there – it didn't. We took solace from the fact that, as the road was so bad there wouldn't be any caravans there – in fact traffic was so light (there was none) we had hopes that we would have the place to ourselves. What we didn't know was that there was a tarred road in from another direction and that we had taken a little used forest track to get there – eventually.
 |
| A selfie on Pebbly Beach - thunderclouds top left |
Whilst Pebbly Beach had a nice location
in a sandy cove with rocky outcrops and kangaroos performing on the
beach for tourists – we were rather underwhelmed by the camping
facilities. The choice was either a caravan stance which was full of
rocks that would have ripped the bottom of the tent or one of the
tent stances which were less than appealing. As Sandra said – she
doesn't mind putting up with a poor site – but not when you are
having to pay $27 a night for the privilege. Mind you we had probably
been spoiled at Kangaroo Valley which was free. We decided to give
Pebbly beach a miss – but it was starting to get late.
 |
| Two of the famous inhabitants of Pebbly Beach |
Consulting the map Sandra had noticed
what appeared to be a campsite at a place called Shallow Crossing
about 14k inland from Pebbly Beach. Missing the road we ended up in
Batemans Bay and starting to consider the possibility of a commercial
site or setting up a bush camp for the night. Spotting another way
into Shallow Crossing we set off into the evening gloom to look for a
town called Nelligan and thereafter a track up beside the Clyde
River. Crossing the river we hit a dirt track which, after about 8k,
according to my navigator, we should arrive at an idyllic grassy
campsite by the River Clyde. After 15k, getting low on fuel and with
a thunder storm bearing down on us, we decided to give it another 5k
…. then another 5, until finally when we were on the point of
turning back, we found ourself in Shallow Crossing.
 |
| Shallow Crossing camp site - when sun came out next day |
 |
| It's a hard life in Shallow Crossing |
Dusk had descended and so had the
thunder storm and we set up camp amidst flashes of lightning, rumbles
of thunder and torrential rain. It was all reminiscent of the time on
our last trip that we huddled in our tent for three days waiting for
the rain and thunder to abate – and when it did, Sandra managed to
fall into a river. Deciding not to bother cooking we went to bed,
waking up the next day to find that the site was brilliant – acres
of space, few people and the river just yards away.
 |
| Domestics done - now for a beer and a blog |
And yes, Sandra did get wet in the
river after borrowing a canoe for a jaunt upstream.
We are leaving tomorrow and heading
further south.
No comments:
Post a Comment