Welcome to Cindy and David's 2013 Adventures
Note 01 - Forster
This trip, so long planned, took a long time to actually get going, chiefly because at the last minute David discovered the car fridge, recently repaired, did not work at all. So, on the day of departure, 9 March 2013, he had to do a round trip to the repair shop where he left the fridge for further investigation. Even then it took some time to move the van out of its cosy parking space because it was actually parked far too close to a tree stump which it initially refused to go around.
So off we all went, Syb, Stefan, his parents, Volker and Monika to the Pacific Palms resort and Julia, Tapani, Markus and Margaret and ourselves heading for a caravan park in the vicinity which ended up being the Great Lakes Caravan Park at Tuncurry, northern NSW. We celebrated the start of the holiday with a bbq down by the water at the caravan park but it was a short lived event due to a HUGE mosquito invasion.
Forster Beach
The week following was full of beach visits, pool and spa visits and more of the same. We did a bit of walking here and there and in the case of the Bells a bit of caravan organising and fixing up various bits that had deteriorated in storage. We had no water in the van for a few days due to a rotted pipe which was a bit trying. We mostly had our bbq meals at the resort because of a few less mozzies!
Zoe stayed overnight with us for two nights and was with us when Julia and family came with us on the way down to visit the resort when we took a side trip to Cape Hawke lookout. Well, about 100 yards into this forest walk (very much uphill) we realized we were totally surrounded by mosquitoes (again!) so we basically ran all the way in pure terror.
Zoe, Markus and Margaret at Cape Hawke lookout
Dinner with all of us. Zoe, David, Stephan, Sybil, Volker, Moniker, Margaret, Julia and Markus. Cindy is hiding behind the camera
Zoe and Markus got to the lookout first followed by Cindy (who as you know is generally more horrified by mozzies than most!) who had literally run all the way and was totally winded, and then the others. We all, although the lookout itself was mozzie free, took photos and generally admired the view, did not waste much time and took off back down the hill at breakneck speed to take refuge in the car! Much hilarity (and relief) – even Maggie had gamely climbed as far as she could before mum snatched her up and ran on.
On the Friday, David took off for Sydney to pick up the fridge which they had not managed to fix because the guy capable of doing so had a massive (is there any other?) motor bike accident which meant a hospital stay of some weeks. David also picked up a few forgotten items from the house and Tapani who had driven home on the Tuesday to return to work for the rest of the week so David brought him back for the couple more nights before his family headed home.
On the Friday, David took off for Sydney to pick up the fridge which they had not managed to fix because the guy capable of doing so had a massive (is there any other?) motor bike accident which meant a hospital stay of some weeks. David also picked up a few forgotten items from the house and Tapani who had driven home on the Tuesday to return to work for the rest of the week so David brought him back for the couple more nights before his family headed home.
The view towards Forster from Hawke Cape Lookout
At the end of the week, Syb and Zoe, and Monika took advantage of the resort’s Beauty Spa to have facials, nails etc attended to and Syb’s group booked to go on a Swim with the Dolphins cruise on the Saturday morning before they left for home. That all went wrong as Zoe woke up very sick so she and Syb stayed at the resort and Julia stepped in their place with alacrity as she was really keen to do this. UNFORTUNATELY, a small matter of seasickness overtook her after her first swim and of course brought the enjoyment to a swift end.
However, her experience was memorable! Apparently the group of dolphins numbered in the hundreds, all around her – magical.
The sad part of the week came too quickly and off everyone went, back home to Sydney, in Syb’s case, only to repack and head off the next day for the Great Ocean Road down in Victoria, Zoe to stay with Julia and Julia and family to return to “normal” life.
The sad part of the week came too quickly and off everyone went, back home to Sydney, in Syb’s case, only to repack and head off the next day for the Great Ocean Road down in Victoria, Zoe to stay with Julia and Julia and family to return to “normal” life.
The Pool at Tuncurry and cousins on bikes
Thong throwing contest.