Day 102 Sunday 20/9/20 Mylestom, overcast with a few drops 24 The topsail schooner familiar to many Melburnians, the Alma Doepel was built here in 1903 and named after the builder’s youngest daughter. This graceful ship was a coastal trader … Continue reading Banned on the Run, Day 102 – Nature’s beauty

Day 100 Friday 18/9/20 Mylestom, sunny 24 The internet is poor here. Mostly one bar and it often drops out. Our best option is to use it early in the morning. Funnily enough we get two bars of reception on the beach. Perhaps we should park the van above the high tide mark. In the afternoon we drive around Repton and find the “Old Coast Road”. A gravel road crosses a narrow wooden bridge and winds into the tall timber of the Bongil Bongil National Park. I wonder if this is the original Sydney Brisbane road? Next there’s Raleigh to … Continue reading Banned on the Run, Day 100 – Is it 100 days already?

Day 99 Thursday 17/9/20 Mylestom, warm 24 There’s no point in rushing home, there’s no AFL Grand Final in Melbourne, no hype and hoopla. Hairdressers in Melbourne won’t be opening until late October at the earliest so we book appointments with Anthony at A Flair for Hair in Urunga to get trimmed up. Anthony is a nice bloke and he tells us that the town is busier than normal. We’re not the only ones ‘locked’ in NSW. Back at camp it’s time for another long walk on the beach. Bugger! I just squirted lemon juice on the bed while marinating … Continue reading Banned on the Run, Day 99 – Trimming

Day 98 Wednesday 16/9/20, strong northerly 23 An early morning walk to the river while Woody drives to Toormina for a blood test. El Prado drives us up to Bellingen for lunch at the Federal Hotel. We have seafood pie and tempura vegetables if you’re interested and of course El Prado has yet another parmie. Of course there’s another quick visit to the fruit barn, which I might add has hundreds of case moths hanging from the hedge out front. Only one who waits in the car would know that tiny snippet of trivia. Bugger I didn’t photograph them. On … Continue reading Banned on the Run, Day 98 – Busting out all over

Day 97 Tuesday 15/9/20 Mylestom, sunny 23 Another warm and dewy morning. A lady who lives opposite the park bakes bread and make jams and relishes. Woody checks her garden each day just in case she has made more. The internet here is abysmal but not everything in paradise is perfect. The Prado’s go shopping in the big smoke (Toormina) and buy smoked cod. We laze about and walk the beach, just for variety. When Elle cooks her favourite smoked cod casserole for dinner we swoon. I swear I’ll never cook cod any other way from now on. We eat … Continue reading Banned on the Run, Day 97 – Using Silver Bait

Day 96 Monday 14/9/20 Mylestom, sunny hot 24 A warm morning yet there’s dew on the grass. We drive into Toormina and Coffs Harbour for a spot of shopping. Shopping has a way of sapping time so we grab a … Continue reading Banned on the Run, Day 96 – Magic on the beach track

Day 95 Sunday 13/9/20 Mylestom, warm 24 Bloody heart tablets! The last chemist gave me a different brand and these ones don’t break evenly in half. That’s enough of my whingeing for the day. A walk up the beach on … Continue reading Banned on the Run, Day 95 – Twitchers are we

Day 94 Saturday 12/9/20 Darlington Beach to Mylestom, wet to sunny 21 Woody is up at some ungodly hour trying to a) shower before the rest of the camp and b) pull the awning in. Now for those who aren’t … Continue reading Banned on the Run, Day 94 – Off to Mylestom

Day 93 Friday 11/8/20 Darlington Beach, warm cool wet dry 17 It’s washing day and a mob of kangaroos lounge outside the laundry. Some have made dust nests in the flower bed. They’re a treat to watch as I wait for the dryer to finish, what with little heads peeping out of warm furry pouches. We manage to squeeze a lunch into our busy day, down at the Woopi Seaview Tavern. Because we wouldn’t be able to do this at home we feel like kids wagging school. Afterwards we pop across the road to John’s Indian grocery for a box … Continue reading Banned on the Run, Day 93 – Roo poo & Duck’s muck