Bali, 11th time
Had a nice big rest for the couple of days back in England before heading out to Bali and had a quick stop in Kuala Lumpur on the way. We got to Bali a few hours before Joy so we had a few beers while waiting at the airport, we were stoked already to be back. After 20 hours plus of travelling we were pretty had it so we just had a feed and hit the sack. The first day we slept in late and the wind was howling so I went and got a bike then we hit our duty free turps. The second day I got up at sparrowfart and went for a look at the surf but it was blown out so I didn’t even go out, a bloke at the beach reckoned Ulus could have been working but I couldn’t be bothered going all that way for the chance of crowded, average waves. The wind had died off overnight so the next day I headed straight out for Pabean, I was stoked when I got there, no one was out and it looked like a decent size. When I got out I realised why no one was out, the sets were about 7-8 foot and it was bloody heavy. I only got a few waves and got caught behind on two as it was so fast. Being stubborn and stupid; instead of going in I kept trying to conquer it but I got slapped around like a bitch. A set broke on my head and washed me way back in over the reef, I held on to my board somehow and hit the bottom then got spat out and pulled back in. By the time I eventually got back out I could feel something on my rail and I’d half creased my board just from being in the washing machine. A few more hold downs and after the next wave I finally admitted defeat and went in, after a year of not much surfing and average and weak waves it probably wasn’t the best first surf for me to have. The next day though was heaps better, there were about four blokes out at one stage and although I was still a bit hesitant at first after the day before I got some sick waves and a few barrels. Over the first week I surfed there every day and got heaps of pits and did a few airs too, I was so stoked to be surfing there again and had a few sessions with just me and the baby turtle. Shell came out one day and took some video but it’s a fair way off shore and the camera was getting pretty dodgy so it wasn’t much good but it was great of her to come and give it a go and see where I’d been raving about. I took my fish out as it was getting smaller and it was a bit shallow that day but I still got some fun ones. We had a few big nights when we first got there and I was drinking most arvos over the weekend watching the footy at our new hotel that was heaps better with a telly and a fridge for food and beer of course but after that we backed off a bit until the next weekend. We were having some great feeds and one arv we went out to Tanah Lot to watch the sunset; we’d seen it before but not on sunset and Joy hadn’t, it really was beautiful so we were glad we did it, bloody busy now though. We got to see a ceremony blessing a new shrine at our hotel with Gamelan music so we were fortunate to have that on our doorstep. I went around and said hello to the schools in Sanur at the end of our second week and it went OK but nothing for that year.
When the tides were not right for Pabean and it was getting too small I went out to Serangan and it was small but fun and there was one bloke out for a while but he went in so it was just me and what I think was a huge turtle this time. I did a few airs so I was stoked but when I came in and I was taking off the tight cold water booties that Rob loaned me I popped out my little hernia type thing that hadn’t bothered me for ages; I was spewin, I went back and massaged it and rubbed heat cream into it and laid down but it was still sore. We had a big one that night and the surf was even smaller so I decided to let my gut have a rest and took Joy for a look around the little fishing village of Sakenan near Serangan while Shell slept, I was hoping that I would be sweet for a wave the next day as it was supposed to be picking up. Had more good days at Pabean, the best session of the trip so far when I got a 6-7 second barrel and heaps of other good ones. Surfed Serangan again and was a bit bigger so I could surf down the reef and get some nice little pits. The wind came back up so I started surfing Kuta reef and got some fun ones at Airport Lefts the first day then at middle reef the next few days was a bit better. Went out the other side to the school at Kerobokan then Canggu and got done by a cop for apparently running a red light but it was yellow and he didn’t stop all the Balos that went through but it was only 300,000 and you can’t argue with them, surf was no good out that side that day. Shell and Joy went out to the zoo that day and had a good time, we were still going out a bit and having quiet nights in between. I surfed with Rabs a bit and we all went out with him and Greeny in Sanur and had suckling pig and watched a cool band. Shell and I booked ourselves in a tatt for the day before we left, I just finally got my ring done and she got her foot fixed up and we went to the dentist also. We’d had a ball; I’d had some sick waves, it was a bit windy for the East side but I was still stoked and we were a bit sad to be leaving but we were also looking forward to getting home.
Home again,
again
We were certainly stoked to be home,
had a few small waves at Cabs and caught up with the family. Went back to work
at Woopi Public soon after I got back which wasn’t my plan but was good for
some cash. Had some more small waves but kept getting out there and loving it.
Got all my instruments out and recorded a song with some of the more uncommon
strings. Bough our new van which we were stoked with, didn’t go anywhere in a
hurry but that’s cool. I was getting plenty of casual work and Shell got a 4
day a week job at Sandy so she was very lucky. Went up to see Roy and Joy
quickly in the school holiday just as the surf was picking up and I’d had some
decent size ones at Cabs! Went and saw Kate and Darren on the way up which was
good. There were fires up there so we fought some and back burned some too and
I chopped wood, thistles and did some painting. We went and saw Heather on the
way back and I got a few small ones at Ann street and King’s. Went looking for
a few jobs up there then stayed with Krepo on the way through. Got more waves
when I got back at Cabs, Mullaway, Spot K and Emerald. Worked on the car when I
had days off, Shell went to see Roy in Brisbane as he was crook. Missed her
while she was gone but got some good waves at Darkum and Roy was going OK so
she headed back. Went to a coupla DSA meetings which were really good, they
loved it. Went to see Kerry and Beelin and saw Phil and Tom at the Amble Inn
for the East Coast challenge. Shell decided she wanted Soundwave tickets for
her birthday which was fine with me! For her actual birthday we were going to
camp in the new van but it poured down so we just hung at home. We went in and
saw Kara’s place soon after that and went out in Coffs with her. Went up to
Rob’s 30th and had a ball then got some sick waves at Darkum and
Mullaway when I got back. Luke Patto came and stayed for a night on his way
past and we had a surf. Had some more good waves at Mullaway and Emerald before
heading up to Roy and Joy’s, saw Krepo on the way and had a rubbish surf at Broady
before driving up. Roy was doing much better and Roxanne and the new Dave were
there for a while. Had some small waves at Moore Park and Bargara then sick
waves at Agnes with Phil and Horse! Went up with Phil and Andrew and I was
stoked. Chopped wood, rounded up cows and swam in the dam a lot as it was
bloody hot! Went back to Agnes for new year’s which was fun but I cut my knee
and broke my fin out surfing fun little waves at Workman’s. Was good to get
away though and have our first real camp in the van!
Went
Down to Darren and Kate’s not long after new years and had a good night then
went to see Neil and Lisa then Phil and Jodie. Fixed my board up and my leg was
feeling OK, watched some cricket while lazing around. Was hoping my leg got
better so I could get down to Rainbow Beach for a surf. Ended up going back to Agnes
instead of Rainbow beach and got some fun, decent size waves. Had a long, wet
night in the rain and wind and after packing up everything and jumping in the
car it wouldn’t start! Got it going
eventually and then booked in for more work and money to be spent on it but
eventually it got sorted and was becoming really handy to stay in. Had good fun
at Roy’s 70th then got home for Oz day and had a few in the rain
again with Clint, Kara and Zac. Got a few waves and went for a paddle in the
creek to see if I could get some stationeries in Woopi creek but no go. Then I decided
it would be a good idea to paddle back home along the beach. It wasn’t even
very big but I had my board on my leggy, the paddle in one hand and I thought
it’d be a good idea to jump off and push it through waves but one hit the canoe
against my head and made me lose my hat and sunnies, I found the hat but lost
my sunnies from Portugal so I gave up and paddled home like an idiot through
the creek. Got the job at Sandy which was awesome and some sick, decent size
waves at Darkum so I was stoked. Bought a new board and it was going sick, so
good to be able to paddle better and go faster. Shell got a job at Sandy as
well so we were making some good coin. We went up to Minnie waters for DSA and
Dunga day (which was a cruisy comp for just old fishes and mals) the first comp
I’d been in for ages and the first time I’d ridden a mal in ages. I had a shocker
on the heavy straight old timber mal but was having a blast on the little fish
and ended up getting 3rd then Dad, Danny and I won the teams
challenge! DSA was good too and we had a great weekend all round, sold my balsa
board too so that was good. Was getting sick waves at Cabs and Darkum most of
the time by myself and a few surfs at Mullaway sometimes. Then we went to
Soundwave which was awesome! Meshuggah was so powerful and tight and Devin Townsend
blew me away. He was so funny but also singing was so good and he’d be playing
really tech stuff while not even looking and joking around with the crowd.
Machine Head were sick too and Lamb of God, Slipknot and System and so many
others. There were stacks of people and it was a huge venue and with an awesome
atmosphere so we were stoked we went and hoping to go next year if we were
around but who knows that far ahead? Had a few weekends at home and had a
barbie with Kara in at Parky which was cool. I was surfing everyday even it was
crap just going down to the headland and deciding where to go when I got there.
We went camping at Hungry head which was fun, got a few little waves but was
good to be just us two. Had more sick waves mostly at Darkum and was getting
some big barrels and doing airs every now and then. Found out I’d have my job
at least for another term and most likely the year but unfortunately Shell
didn’t.
Camping from NSW
to QLD
She
decided to try to get into uni so on our camping holiday we’d stop in at
Brisbane for her to do a stat test. Before we left we went to Aidan’s 30th
which was heaps of fun and I didn’t manage to get too hurt when wrestling for a
change. My back had been really sore and I hadn’t surfed for a whole week
before but it cam good and I had a wave with Rob and the boys at Emerald. Then
we tried Broom’s head but couldn’t find a nice free spot to camp so we had our
first night at Iluka camping on the river. We went for a walk in the rainforest
in the afternoon and I had few waves in the morning at Iluka wall in the morning.
Then we checked out Evan’s head but the surf was pretty crappy and no good free
camp spots so we went and saw Kaiden and Zara at Byron the camped out the back
of Byron in Ewingsdale, just off a side road on a hill overlooking beautiful
bushland. The next day we went to Brunswick Heads and I got a few fun waves
then Mum and dad stopped in for a coffee. We were planning to camp at the beach
as there were no camping signs but we were told cops were checking people out
the night before and it was a no grog zone so we decided to head out of town a
bit after we went and got our plat tyre fixed. The next day we drove up to
Cabba and I got some good waves and then we found a nice spot to camp out of
town a bit. It was near a truck maintenance joint on a road in the bush and the
owner came and said it’s cool and even dais we could use his water which was
really nice of him. The next day we headed up to Cooly and I got some sick waves
at Snapper, it wasn’t actually that crowded by it’s standards. Then we went to Claire’s
and got on it with her and her brother, even her mum and a few drinks which was
cool. The next day Kreppo picked me up on his way through from Brissy and we
went for an average surf at Kingy. Shell ended up driving down later and we stayed
at his joint and had a few drinks again. Lockie came over too and was knee tap
drumming me and explaining the awesome new Mudstick stuff they were jamming for
a new album soon so I was stoked. Kreppo and I had a pretty fun little surf at
Hastings the next day and we just had a cruisy night. Shell and I stayed at his
luxury pad but ourselves the next night before getting up early to head to
Brissy for her stat test. We then went to Rainbow beach and I got some sick
waves at Double Island Point and we did some fishing and drinking with Roy and
Joy. Then we went to see Carl and have a few and I got some epic and not too
crowded waves at Noosa. Then I got some more sick waves at Point Cartwright
with Troy and then we stayed with him and his girlfriend at Bribie Island and
headed home the next day pretty stoked after our two weeks of camping but
unfortunately I had two boards with lots of dings and a broken fin to fix.
We
did some more camping trips; went to Nambucca which was great fun. Camped on a
fire trail in the middle of the bush, got a bit of rain but we were all sorted
now with our gazebo and tarp. Got sick waves at Blackrock and then the river
mouth the next day. We also went back to Minnie Waters by ourselves which was
nice, got a couple of waves but nothing too exciting. Shell went to see her
olds while I was busy doing school work and we just had a fair few quiet
weekends, some sick waves at Cabs nd Darkum too. We then went to Bali with Mum
and Dad, Kara and saw Clint and Ayu there. We stayed in Sanur first and I got a
few waves at Pabean but it was the wrong wind a lot and not it’s best. Had some
waves at Sanur reef and Serangan which were fun, few little hollow ones. Then
we went over to Lembongan for the first time in ages, was good to be back
there. Stayed down near Shipwrecks this time, it was ridiculously crowded there
and tiny so I surfed over the other side of the island and got some sick waves
with not many people. We then went to Bingin and it was even more crowded and
small than Shipwrecks! I still had a coupla surfs out there and got some sick
waves but surfed Impossibles as well which wasn’t as crowded but also not as
good in that small a swell. It’s a beautiful area down there and definitely has
sick waves but I knew now why I hadn’t been back to the Bukit for years and
would be happy not to go back again. We then headed back to Sanur and met up
with Kara and I had some waves with Dad on the end of Serangan Island; not
barrelling but decent size, long and just us out there. We saw Clint and Ayu on
the last night we were there which was good. We’d had a great trip, not the
best waves but still plenty of them and was good to be with the family. I
bought a Tufflite JC 6’2 for bigger waves for 100 bucks too which I was stoked
about as it went off, getting sick of polyester boards falling apart on me and
this was so fast and light, airtime! Things just kept getting better for us,
we’d tried to get finance from the bank when I got the job at Sandy but they
knocked us back as I had no contract. We tried again now that I had a contract
and within a few weeks we were moving in to our first home; A cheap unit in
Woopi less then a minute walk to the beach! We were over the moon, was great
being at Mum and Dad’s and we couldn’t have done it without them but we needed
to get out on our own and we finally owned something, well the bank did… and
us.
More camping in
NSW
Not
long after moving in I got the job in Japan! As usual I sent hundreds of
application emails away and got an offer from Lombok that unfortunately wasn’t
enough pay then along came the offer from Japan! It all worked out great timing
too, we needed to stay in our joint for 6 months for the first home buyers and
the job started in April which was about that time. I would have loved to stay
at Sandy but there were no guarantees and it was time to get moving again. We
were both loving being home, doing a lot of camping and me surfing my nuts off
but when the offer came we didn’t hesitate. There was a complication though,
Kate’s wedding was on the weekend after I started, thankfully they agreed I
could come earlier and leave on the Thursday and Shell and I would get back for
work on Monday. With the extra cash I got from having a student teacher I
bought another board, this one a bit more expensive but still second hand and
cheap for what it was; a JR EPS epoxy 5’8 5 fin small wave pig and it was so
responsive, fast and light, more airtime!
Got a new skatey too; longer and faster, mostly used for trips to the
bottle. We had another long camping trip, well it was going to be two weeks but
Shell went to see her olds as she knew it’d be the last chance she’s get until
we came back from Japan (and we didn’t know how long that’d be) and we had
already planned to go on our long trip through south east Oz. When she got back
we stayed at Grassy head and watched the footy final at the pub then stayed in
the bush. Had a look around the next day in South west rocks which is a lovely
place then had a crappy arvo surf at Hat head. We stayed in the bush again in a
great grassy spot about half a minute walk to the beach but the surf was even
smaller the next day so I thought I’d wait to see what we find. The next day we
took our time as it’s a nice drive then had to get a new tyre and an alignment
in Kempsey. Eventually we ended up at Old bar and camped in the bush again, the
next day I finally got some good waves! Fun little beachy with a coupla hollow
ones, was good to be back at another place where I remember getting one of my
first barrels. We then headed for Forster, Shell had heard lots about it from
other people saying it was great years ago but these days it is getting a bit
too big and busy for our liking. So we kept going and booked ourselves in for
two nights with a shower and laundry at a camp ground. I got sick waves at
Cellitos the first morning, was pretty small but had it to myself for a while
and they were sick little lefts running along the rocks. Had a fun surf that
afternoon at Boomerang and then sat out in the sun and then by the fire again
which was really nice while having a few beers and a barbie. The next day I
surfed Boomerang again, it was still fun but it had dropped a bit
unfortunately. Reluctantly we headed back for home, I thought it’d be nice to
drive up through the bush but put too much faith in Google maps and it was a
45+ degree day due to fires in the area. The van overheated going up the mountain
goat trail, luckily no serious damage was done but we decided to go back the
other way and found out later that it would have taken us a lot longer that way
anyway. Kate and hubby to-be Darren came down for a week or so and
Clint came for a quick visit too, was good to see them all. We were seeing Kara
fairly often so that was good too. For Shell’s birthday we went up to Glen
Innes and stayed at a farm where she went for a horse ride, it was beautiful up
there. We had a camp fire and stayed in a caravan and after the horse ride we
went for a walk along the creek. She loved it and I did too, the drive back was
stunning too along the River and down the mountains through the fog.
We
stayed and had Christmas at Lisa and Shane’s with Nan and Pa, Mark and Lyn, Mum
and Dad and Kara were up with Kate and Darren for Christmas. Boxing day we were
out of there, we stayed at Norah Head the first night, I looked for a wave of
course but didn’t find any. We found a great spot to camp though and couldn’t
believe we were this close to Sydney and allowed to sleep in a car park with a
public toilet on the beach! The next day I had some fun little hollow shoreys
at Budgewoi and then we went through Sydney. We went down to Bowral and it was
a nice drive through Kangaroo valley. I looked for waves at Culburra but once
again found none, we spent that night with the Leslie and Chris which was
great, Kimberley and her boyfriend were there as well and Jo and her kids came
over the next morning. We were glad to have more time with them this time, they
are lovely family. We saw Michael and Danni and their kids the next day in
their joint at Sussex then kept going onto Moruya to camp with Col and Rhonda
and Ray and Jackie. I got sick little sucky waves in the arv on the wall, the
next day it had dropped again so I grovelled for a little while then we headed
off. It was good to see Shell’s family too and have a few beers. We then really
started to take it slow and stop in little towns, so many beautiful spots down
there. The mountains of Tilba, the Sapphire blue and Emerald green water of
Narooma and then one of the most picturesque camp spots we’ve had in Bermagui. After
walking around town, having a snorkel and a swim near a seal we went and had
beers at our camp spot metres from the limestone cliffs above town and over the
ocean. We’d had an amazing day, bringing back long lost memories for me and
Shell witnessing this captivating area for the first time, we were already so
glad we’d started this trip still had so much to go and we agreed that this
would be an area we’d both be happy to spend a longer period of time in the
future. The next stop was Pambula, after looking around Merimbula which was
just too busy we found a cheap park in town. It would have been nice to be near
the beach but there were no waves and all the parks were full being New Year’s
I did have a surf the next day but it was tiny so we spent the day relaxing and
then had a few beers in the arv. We went to the pub but the music didn’t start
til later and we were used to sleeping early camping so we were in bed by 9:00!
We looked around Eden the next day which was cute and then headed over the
border, there wasn’t a lot that way but we found a nice river to have a rest at
and I had a swim.
Camping through
Victoria and Tassie
Our
first night in Victoria was at Lakes entrance which was another nice spot, I
had a fun surf in the arv with some hollow little suck ones and then we went
for a walk around town before going back to our camp spot beside a golf course
for some beers. The next day we had another pretty long drive with not a lot
going on and it was really hot but when we got to Wilson’s promontory we had a
beautiful camp spot by a farm hidden from the road in the scrub. We saw an
Echidna in the arv and the sunset shimmering on the dam beside us was
fantastic. We didn’t fully appreciate the beauty of the place til the next day
though, it was still really hot so we didn’t do as much walking as we would
have liked to but the beaches, mountains and rock formations are beautiful. I
had a tiny surf at one place while Shell cooled down on the beach then we found
a shower and I had a better surf. We left that arv and had a nicer drive around
the coast to stop at Cape Patterson. We had a walk around the beaches there which
was nice and we camped in a new estate a short walk over the sand dune to the
beach. I had a tiny surf the next day and then we headed to Philip Island where
I was hoping for more swell, I didn’t find any. It was ridiculously hot so
Shell wanted to rest in the car and shade was bloody hard to find, I found some
and though it would be a short walk to the beach through the sand dunes. At
least 40 minutes later I made it to the water to cool my burning heels, the
surf had also gotten worse since I’d seen it. I didn’t stay out long as it was
pretty much unrideable so I set off for the long walk back over the dune. We
then headed off for our nice air conditioned hotel in Melbourne, the car wasn’t
liking the heat at all so what should have taken about an hour took over 2
because we had to stop 3 times to let it cool down. Eventually we got there and
to our room, because it was so hot (apparently) the air conditioner wasn’t
working, it was like a heater! We were not very impressed but tired and needed
a shower so we had a quiet night and sweated to sleep. The next day we got up
and explored Melbourne, it was nice because we’d both never been into Melbourne.
We went on a tram, saw the old churches, the Graffiti, Chinatown and it was lot
cooler than the day before not in our room though! We went back for a bit of a
rest before going down to St Kilda to the Espy and saw a band and had a couple
of beers then a good pizza for dinner. The next day we got up and got on the
ferry to Tasmania, it was good to be on a ferry again, brought back memories of
Europe and feels a bit more like you’re really going somewhere.
We
were jumping out of our skin with excitement when we passed through the heads
in Devonport, probably a mixture of all day on the ferry and the beauty we’ve
and heard of the Apple isle. We were not disappointed either, prettiest drives
I’ve had off the ferry and over to Marrawah. The road is 20-30 metres off the
beach, the quaint little old houses are right near the road, it’s green the
ocean is clear and it just feels like a step back in time before housing
estates and motorways and shopping malls. First camp spot was amazing too; on
the beach, public toilet and apart from the one amazing house on the beach in
the scrub you can’t see a sign of civilisation. Surf was pretty fun, wasn’t
extremely cold but I was glad I had my steamer. We then set off for Cradle
mountain and it was spectacular, up in the crater lake the mountains were
reflecting off the water which was lovely to swim in as it was so fresh. There
were also walking trails with waterfalls that we explored before heading south
humbled and chilled already by the majesty and enormity of the endless
wilderness. We ended up near Strahan at Ocean Beach after driving the thickest,
darkest impenetrable looking old growth forest I’ve ever seen. I thought I
could surf but it was huge, no one was out and it looked dangerous and sharky. It
was a unique sight to see though, nothing between us and Antarctica but ocean
and frosty winds. We stayed on the beach again but unfortunately Shell picked
up a nasty cough around this time which would stay with her for months. The
next day we went to the mouth of the Gordon River which was so beautiful,
lighthouses and people that can only get to their homes by boat. Definitely a part
of the world you go to enjoy solitude and the splendour of unspoilt nature. We
then went into Strahan and had a quick look around, it’s a cute old heritage
town. Our trip from there to Lake St Clair was both beautiful and a bit scary.
After the day before at Cradle mountain with temperatures above 35 degrees it
was now below 10 degrees and the fog on the mountain pass was very thick which
had the advantage that we couldn’t see how far down it was over the edges of
the mountain from our goat track. On the way to Lake St Clair we stopped a
couple of times in Franklin/Gordon rivers national park and walked to a
waterfall and around a river which was beautiful. Lake St Clair had an eerie
sort of feel to it with fog floating across it and patches of sun coming though
every now and then. It is natural beauty on a grand scale again, way off in the
distance there was a boat house that looked like it was floating on the
surface. We kept going and soon enough we were in rolling plains and farmland
which was such a stark contrast from the world heritage forests we had just cam
from. We were getting tired and didn’t know where we’d stop when we came across
a sign in messy black texta that was easy to miss saying powered sites 10
bucks! That was us, it was a little place called Hamilton and it was time we
recharged things and had a hot shower. The next day we headed towards Hobart,
unfortunately we had to give a national park there a miss because of the fires
but we were very lucky we weren’t caught in them like some people. We had a bit
of a look around Hobart and did some washing but there were no waves and we
were keen to get back to the national parks after what we’d seen so we headed
along the east coast. The Tasman Peninsula was another place we couldn’t get to
due to the fires but we got to Swansea and they told us Freycinet would be open
the next day. We stayed there in the bush and went the next day; we are so
lucky, it is gorgeous. It was a bit of a hike but well worth it, Wineglass bay
is incredible and other little coves are so secluded and picturesque. We then
went to Bicheno and stayed at a place near there on the beach again. We went
down the beach with our torches at night hoping to see some fairy penguins but
only saw their tracks. The next day we went to our last national park which had
a billabong with I think the clearest water I’ve ever seen. I finally had a
surf then at a sucky little neck breaker beachy on my own. That afternoon we
had a look around St Helens and then went to camp in the bush a short walk from
Scamander beach. I got some sick hollow waves that arvo then some not quite as
good but still fun the next morning. It was then time for us to head back
towards Devonport, we had a bit of a look around Launceston but it was too big
a city so we went and found a pub in Devonport and had a couple then slept in a
car park on the river before getting back on the ferry the next morning.
South Oz, Vico
again and ACT
We were a bit sad to leave but had definite intentions of
coming back in the winter to see what we think of it then, we loved it. We’d
need to have great jobs as there is not much work but we could buy something to
suit us both, Shell could have land for horses and it’s affordable enough to
have it near the beach here in uncrowded waves! So back on the mainland we
stayed by the bay in Corio as we had an appointment the next day. We then
started heading along the Great Ocean Road, I had a surf at Bells that was
pretty bloody horrible but there wasn’t much else around anyway. We’d been
warned and there were signs everywhere telling us not to camp or be fined so we
stayed in a park in Anglesea. We needed a shower anyway and that night we just
had another quiet one, Michelle’s back was starting to get very sore and her
cough was much worse. The surf was too small to find any waves at all so that
night we stayed in Bimbi park at Cape Otway; it was sweet, we had Koala’s
walking around and grunting at each other. I ran for 20 inute through the bush
to get to some big and gnarly waves. I didn’t stay out very long though; there
was a big current, rocks were popping up everywhere, no one around and it felt
very sharky, it’d be a long walk back through the bush with a gash. We then
kept going and after tiny waves a few hundred K’s back it was now huge and no
one was out! Johanna looked doable but I was nervous after the sharky surf the
day before, Easter reef was solid 10 foot plus and looked sick but aain no one
was out and it looked like roughly a 20 minute paddle, that was fine in
tropical places like the Philippines where it’s not known as a hang out for
sharks that can take a whole leg in one bite. We then headed for The Twelve
Apostles and that spectacular coastline. It really was amazing, I remembered it
was but not as vividly as these new images I was seeing. We took hours to go
about 50 kms because there is so much to see. There were plenty more beautiful
spots again like Port Campbell and Port Fairy where we spent the next night
camped up under a tree listening to the Magpies singing up a storm. The next
day we went to Portland with the hope of finding some amazing waves, it had
dropped off again though and although I found some sick looking setups I ended
up at least having a bit of a wave a bit past Portland near the ‘Petrified
Forest’. It wasn’t actually a Petrified Forest, it just kept that name after
being mistaken for it. It was actually water tubes caught in the limestone that
made cave like formations on a headland; the juxtaposition of the otherworldly,
desert colours against the brilliant blue of both the sky and the ocean
crashing against the craggy cliffs was magnificent to see. We then get going
toward South Oz and this as the closest we came to the fires, it was a fair way
off but a bit worrying when it appeared we were moving toward this big cloud of
smoke hogging the sky.
We
got to South Oz and stayed at Port MacDonnel, I had a few small waves at the
same spot I’d surfed with Dad and Clint about twenty years before. We then went
and checked out the little fairy penguin colony sfter having a nice feed and a
couple of beers at the pub. We stayed in a great spot right on the beach which
was nice for the last one of the trip. The next day we headed for Mount Gambier
and spent a bit of time checking out the extraordinary blue lake and the
expertly crafted gardens inside a sinkhole. It was time to start heading back
though, the car was making some odd noises, I was needing to get back and sort
some stuff out for the job in Japan and Shell’s cough and back were becoming
worse everyday on the road. The drive as we’d planned through the middle of
Victoria was uniquely beautiful in places, the Grampian were spectacular to see
and some of the old mining towns we passed through were steeped in heritage and
history. We stayed that between Ballarat and Bendigo in a rest area; the sunset
bright orange, pink, red, purple and captivating. The next day we went to Tumut
and stayed with Bob and Shezza and the day after that he took us for an
unexpectedly intriguing and beautiful trip through the Snowy Mountains. We were
particularly fortunate having him to show us around, he knew the place really
well from working there and took us to old homesteads that had been there since
the start of white men going up into the hills. Yarangabily caves were amazing,
I’d wanted to go to caves somewhere on the journey and these were especially
amazing, the sheer scale of them and the surrounding cliffs looking out to the
forest and river below was something that will stay with us, We had another
ight with Bob then went to Canberra the next day; after having a great night
with Mark and the Boys and their girls we headed for the other side of Sydney
late that night. It was insanely hot and the car had over heated once already
so we decided to play it safe and get home, we stayed at a rest area on the
side of the Hawkesbury which was nice, had to take the backboard from Bob out
through the night but that would prove to be great for both of us. I had a
couple of fun waves at Bonny Hills that day to freshen up, the last surf of the
trip and then we arrived home that afternoon. We’d had such a great time, it
was even more special than I remembered and I’m so glad Shell had got the chance
to see how diverse and beautiful that part of our country is. There were places
we both wanted to get back to and we were keen to check the North and West when
we got a chance.
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