Tomakin to Huskisson

Well folks, we have well and truly moved on from Tomakin, as the days and weeks race by. Already 2 months on the road, and given current rate of progression, the date for leaving NSW has been pushed out again, and the planned duration of the journey has now become "a long time"!



Geurilla Bay near Tomakin



The main beach at Tomakin

We really liked our time at Tomakin. The coastline is a series of beautiful bays and beaches, and of course there is the $4.00 lunch at the club! Now I know that many of you have been hanging by a thread waiting for news on the lunch, and I can report that it was all we had hoped. The choice was Corned Beef with seeded mustard sauce and vegetables, Flathead and Chips, or Chicken Snitzel with vegies. Every pensioner between Moruya and Bateman's Bay was there, and we found out about all the other budget venues in the area. Carol is so thrilled!! (actually fearful that I will seek them out).



On our second last day, we found an old friend who lives in Tomakin. Joan Duncan, is the wife of John, who worked for John back in the late '70's and '80's, and was Manager of the ACT branch. Sadly, John passed away some years ago, but Joan has continued to send us a Christmas card and hand written letter every year. After a couple of unsuccessful tries, we finally caught her at home, and gave her an enormous surprise. She is now 90, as energetic as ever, and we had a great old reminisce. So we left Tomakin with $4.00 full tummies and a warm fuzzie feeling.

We then moved on to Sussex Inlet, a sleepy fishing community, that stretches around the inlet which is the seaway to St.Georges Basin. Again a beautiful spot. Unfortunately ours was the worst kept caravan park in the area. We should have reversed out the gate on arrival! The park was called Alamein. I thought we won that war! Anyway, we were ambushed well and truly, being literally led to our site, which was in a hollow, and only a patch of dirt, under a tree canopy so thick you couldn't see the sun, and in between old cabins and the entry road. As soon as we got there I could see there was no way out, other than the way we had come in, which meant I would have to back the van out along the same windy, narrow track with all the overhanging trees. AAAAAHHHH! And to top it off, the water pressure was about the same as a 75 year old guy with prostate problems! It took a while to get going and then not very well!!



Pelicans at Sussex Inlet



Anyway, we stuck it out (all the other parks in the area were full), and had a good look around the area. It was pretty, and we did get to pick up the kayak and cruise the Inlet. We definitely did not spend much time at our site, and were thankful that we didn't get much rain, as the site would have flooded in no time.



Real Aussie garden sculpture at Durras Lake.



On our last day we had a real treat, as Neil (John's brother) and wife Adrienne, brought John's mum down for a visit. We drove up to Berry for the day and had a lovely lunch at the Berry Sourdough Cafe.

It also gave us a chance to personally help celebrate Adrienne's 50th birthday, with a little champagne, some good food, and all followed by a little girly retail therapy, along Berry's famous shopping strip.

Lunch with Neil Adrienne & Mum

We headed back to start packing and preparations for the dreaded reverse out of Alamein.

We had prearranged with the neighbours to move their cars from the driveway on Sunday morning, as we would need all the road, and thankfully all the neighbours were great, and obliged. In fact, the people staying in the park were fantastic. They were all fisherman, and we have some nice fresh fish in the freezer, to show their generosity.

So on Sunday morning, after 5 sleepless nights, and while everyone was at church or out fishing, with Carol watching the back and helping with directions, the reverse out began. Drew quite a crowd, and went surprisingly well. Only took about 20minutes to go the 100metres backwards out the gate! Carol was relieved and John now has completely overcome the fear of reversing this big sucker! The reversing camera has now paid for itself.



Sunset at Huskisson behind our van



This is soooo nice!



So up the road we went to Huskisson, which is where we are today, 21st February, and will remain until Friday. The Jervis Bay Caravan Park is very nice. Right on the river, and we have a site backing onto the river. There is a beaut swimming pool area, which was just lovely yesterday, on such a hot day. Neighbours are great. Had a beaut happy hour last night, with the neighbors, and now we feel normal again, back in nice surroundings. April has settled in quickly, after the stressful week at Sussex Inlet. Even she seemed spooked at Alamein.

We are looking forward to a quiet few days here kayaking, fishing and generally just relaxing. It shouldn't be too hard to achieve, if the weather co-operates.

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