Our trailer/camper stayed unused in the garage all of last year so we decided to make an effort during 2019 to get away. At 78, I'm finished with overseas travel and I'd like to discover more about my own country. Jenni continues to travel overseas and will shortly visit China for ten days with Bonnie.
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SATURDAY Travel to Hobart Beach
We leave home at 07:15 and stop for coffee at the Partridge VC Rest Area on the M31 at Menangle 93 kms later.
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SATURDAY Travel to Hobart Beach
We have to wait while the man with the van sets everything up, but 10 minutes later we are the proud owners of two very reasonable cups of coffee.
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SATURDAY Lunch at the Cheese Factory in Bodalla
We stop for late lunch at the Cheese Factory at Bodalla some 384 kms (240 mi) away.
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SATURDAY Lunch at the Cheese Factory in Bodalla
Jenni has a new iPhone X, which cost a stupid amount of money, that she wanted so that she can take better quality photographs in China. This trip is to be a learning experience so that she can go through her learning curve here before she gets to China.
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SATURDAY Lunch at the Cheese Factory in Bodalla
The "Tow Truck" is going well so far. This trip is its first real test.
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SATURDAY Lunch at the Cheese Factory in Bodalla
The coffee is good as are the toasted sandwiches. They are so big that we consume the rest for dinner tonight.
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SATURDAY Lunch at the Cheese Factory in Bodalla
"Still crazy after all these beers." I like this T-shirt.
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SATURDAY Travel to Hobart Beach
We get off the highway and travel some back country roads. The car on the other side is actually stopped waiting for us to pass. We wave to each other as I drive by. "Toto, we're not in Sydney any more."
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SATURDAY Travel to Hobart Beach
One of the many lakes we pass by has a group of Black Swans.
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SATURDAY Arrive at Hobart Beach
We get off the back roads and join the Sapphire Coast Drive to Hobart Beach. We arrive at the camp area at 15:30 after about 7 hours driving time. It is 500 kms (310 mi) door to door. Jenni helps to unpack.
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SATURDAY Arrive at Hobart Beach
Hobart Beach campground is located within the Bournda National Park. The site costs $25/night; it is huge and very private. This privacy becomes an issue when most of the people leave next Tuesday: it is a bit spooky; especially as packs of wild koalas are known to patrol this area.
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SATURDAY Arrive at Hobart Beach
It's hard to get an idea of the scale of this place. We are in Number 50 and it's only just walking distance to the showers in the centre of the map. Other than the "drop" toilets the facilities are excellent and the hot showers are free.
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SATURDAY Arrive at Hobart Beach
Putting the tent up takes an hour or so. It's quite involved.
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SATURDAY Arrive at Hobart Beach
But, there it is. Completely assembled and ready for occupation.
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SATURDAY Into Merimbula
We have plenty of daylight left so we go into Merimbula, 18 kms away, to buy some bed sheets and pick up something for dinner.
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SATURDAY Into Merimbula
The tide is out. This exposes the mud flats and the oyster farms.
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SATURDAY Into Merimbula
Quite amazing that these boats and oyster farms can co-exist. Oysters are very sensitive to human pollution.
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SATURDAY Into Merimbula
The Sapphire Coast Drive crosses the bridge in the background and continues on to Pambula and Eden.
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SATURDAY Into Merimbula
This bay is called Boggy Creek. Seems appropriate.
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SATURDAY Into Merimbula
A flock of black cockatoos pass overhead. We return to our camp site and have a dinner of leftover sandwiches from Bodalla, seafood salad, wine for Jenni and sparkling water for me (lips that touch alcohol shall never touch mine).