Day 88 Sunday 6/9/20 Darlington Beach A warm soggy morning. Our plover family have a success! A little bundle of fluff pops out from under Mum or Dad as The Prado’s watch on. We spend the afternoon watching the chick find its legs and stagger about as a young Joey hops in ever widening circles honing his bounding skills. And the sex of the chick? Heaven knows we still haven’t worked out which parent is which! If only Toothless was here, he loves birds so much… he’d be stomping about shouting “Vermin, bloody vermin.” Backed by Melbourne University projections the … Continue reading Banned on the Run, Day 88 – It’s a ?

Day 87 Saturday 5/9/20 Darlington Beach, thunderstorms VeeWee is slowly heading south. Double or Nuthin’ and Shirley Temple have found another paradise on a farm stay near Ingham and R&T are still fattening up that turkey in Hervey Bay. We wait in anticipation of what we’ll be going home to – the Victorian Premier will be announcing his plans tomorrow – either an extension of Stage 4 or an easing. We have another delightful morning. Do these locals know how good their climate is? As I write this a kangaroo sprawls on the lawn just a few metres away. I’m … Continue reading Banned on the Run, Day 87 – Watching & waiting

Sep 2020, Darlington Beach, NSW Elle is complaining that they’re being woken at 4:00am by kookaburras and again at 6:00 by ducks. We’ve now learnt that male Pacific Black Ducks have a blacker head than females, thanks Google. We’re still waiting for the plovers to hatch, staying another week will mean that we may see some action in that department. We scan the sea at Woolgoolga (Woopi) for whales then have lunch at the Seaview Tavern. Doesn’t everyone check for whales before eating in a pub? The Buddha Bowl of roast veggies gets a 10/10 from me and a walk … Continue reading Banned on the Run, Days 85 & 86 – Looking & Cooking

Day 84 Wednesday 2/9/20 Darlington Beach, pleasant 21 We’ve decided that we’ll extend another week here as it is so relaxing. We’ll book the following week at Urunga, just south of Coffs before heading for home. Lockdown Stage 4 should be over by then. To our dismay Urunga is booked out but we manage to secure sites at Mylestom on the opposite side of the river. Kevin kangaroo is becoming a regular visitor at happy hour, no doubt hoping for a nibble. The Prado’s roast a piece of beef on the Weber. We eat under the awning, it’s a warm … Continue reading Banned on the Run, Day 84 – Making plans

Day 83 Tuesday 1/9/20 Darlington Beach Our motor home neighbour corners the boys and talks incessantly barely taking a breath, Woody is pleased that he can’t hear much of the conversation. The story goes that he bought the motor home for his wife’s birthday and he wants to spend two years doing the big lap. They’re only a few days from home and already she wants to return to her stressful job. I wonder why? We return to Earworx for another wax removal treatment and hear the good news that a GP visit will not be required. A wax film … Continue reading Banned on the Run, Day 83 – Not the big lap

Day 82 Monday 31/8/20 Darlington Beach, hot 30 With a quiet day ahead of us the boys decide that a trip up to Dorrigo would be in order. We hurriedly get ready and hit the road calling in to Urunga first as The Prado’s haven’t seen this little gem. The Bellinger Valley is shining in the sun. We’ve been here countless times now and it always captivates us. Big old European trees shade two storey wooden houses. There are paddocks of dairy cows and poddy calves and horses in grass up to their knees. Bellingen is bustling. There’s a whiff … Continue reading Banned on the Run, Day 82 – Let’s go to Dorrigo

Aug 2020, Darlington Beach, NSW Elle bakes potato based tarts in her pie maker. She squashes potato gems in the bottom before adding salami, cheese and an egg. And I thought she was crazy bringing her pie maker! I’m eating … Continue reading Banned on the Run, Days 80 & 81 – A surprise guest at happy hour

Aug 2020, Darlington Beach, NSW Woody and El Prado play bowls. I walk the beach down to Arrawarra Creek it seems easy but the return with a head wind totally does me in. The sea sparkles and there’s a perfect … Continue reading Banned on the Run, Days 78 & 79 – Blue jobs

Day 77 Wednesday 26/8/20 Darlington Beach, sunny 20 Bouncing, well not quite bouncing more like dragging ourselves up into the four wheel drive, we explore nearby Arrawarra Headland then head for the hills. Up the Bucca Road to Nana Glen … Continue reading Banned on the Run, Day 77 – Taking a gander at Glenreagh

Day 76 Tuesday 25/8/20 Darlington Beach, sunny 20 Hear ye, Hear Ye, a day of great excitement. The repairman from ABCO arrives just after 8:00am to fit the new bathroom roof hatch. He’s swift and agile, climbs ladders better than … Continue reading Banned on the Run, Day 76 – the pleasures of toe sucking