Day 40 Wednesday 23/7/2025 Nambucca Heads, wet 14 – 19

Oh joy, oh joy, we have another cold and wet morning. The park is about half full and by noon most of the cars have gone. We’re guessing that they’ve all escaped to the RSL Club* for a warming lunch. We drive down to the Information Centre to see if that’s where the Greyhound bus will be arriving, and sure enough the RSL car park is chockers. We don’t have any luck with information at the info centre, though we hear that they’re not happy with the trains. Not to be daunted, we grab pies from the bakery up on the main street and eat them at Shelly Beach.

By the time that we’ve returned from the roller coaster ride that driving around this hilly town is, the rain is gone. It’s time to hit the pavement again, this time along the river watching pelicans, gulls, galahs, a cormorant and a pair of sooty oyster catchers. It’s such an interesting walk with story boards explaining the work of the early timber cutters, the sawmills and ship builders. There are artworks along the shore and explanations of the culture and language of the Gumbaynggirr people, of whom many reside in this area.

Our neighbours have bikes with them and they are doing their best to take the dogs for a ride. She has the cheeky little dachshund in the bike basket, while he is trying his best to stuff ‘Fluffy’ into his jacket. Fluffy can run, Fluffy runs very fast.

Happy hour is spent talking cars with our neighbours and watching the clouds change colour from thunderous greys to the palest of pinks as the sunsets here are always dramatic. Sorry, there are no prizes for guessing who was watching the clouds.

On TV we learn that there were dolphins at Shelly Beach today, what a shame we missed them.

Dinner tonight is lamb loin chops, peas and caravan mash. Caravan Mash? Put quartered potatoes into a freezer bag and microwave them until cooked. Holding the bag carefully, pour in milk, butter, salt & pepper and mash with a potato masher. If there are any lumps, just give the bag a gentle squeeze. Squeeze the mash onto the plate to get a quenelle shape. And there you have it, about 5 minutes and the only thing to wash is the masher. Oh no, I think we’re about to dine on microplastics!?!!

We arrive at the Info Centre / bus stop at 10:45pm. The town is eerily quiet and it’s wet, you’d reckon that they’d rolled up the footpaths. We wait patiently watching the lights of the occasional car reflect in the puddles. The Bridesmaid rings to say that the bus is going to be a half hour late as the driver is having his break at the BP servo**, at some place called Valla? That’s 5 minutes up the road, Woody guns the car and there she is outside Macca’s with her wheelie bag and looking like a rabbit caught in the headlights after the trip down from the Gold Coast. Depositing her into the pre-warmed camp cabin (thoughtful park staff) we have a quick celebratory drink and hit the sack. The BM has no idea of where she is or of the stunning seascape outside. That surprise will have to wait until morning.

Accom: $46.00

*RSL Club, Returned Servicemen’s League, aka The Rissole.

**Apparently the bus toilet is out of order, and driver and passengers are eager for a pitstop.