August 2013

Another sunny day with a forecast temperature of 12 to 22.

We spent the morning reading papers over a late breakfast, before heading to the V-Wall Tavern at the entrance to the caravan park. The tavern had plenty of customers and we chose a table outside on the balcony. Di had roast lamb and David had beer-battered coral trout, and we both finished off with baked cheese-cake. The meals were excellent value.

After lunch we went for a walk along the V-Wall where many visitors have taken to painting the rocks and boulders that make up the sea-wall. On the way we passed an MG parked on the lawn because the driver could not find a parking spot - I guess if your an MG driver you can get away with it!

V-Wall Tavern, Nambucca Heads

If you cannot find a park - put it on the lawn

Di admiring the V-Wall art

We have not seen rain for ages

Abby's Lookout

Cliff-face behind the caravan park

Mostly sunny today with a temperature range of 11 to 21 degrees.

This morning we drove into town for papers and a coffee at the Nambucca Boathouse Café. Back at the caravan park we were sitting in the sun with the papers finishing our lunch when the word went round that there were whales performing off the Heads. After watching the whales for a while and trying to get a few photos with the 300 mm zoom lens, we watched a fisherman braving the bar-way after a morning out fishing.

A black whale

White whale

A whale breaching

A fisherman navigating the Nambucca Heads bar-way

Our van from across the Lagoon

Yamba - 9 to 19 degrees and sunny.

Nambucca Heads - 11 to 21 degrees and partly cloudy.

We were on the road at 9:45 am this morning for our 189 km trip to Nambucca Heads. We were slowed down by road-works on our trip today with almost continuous road-works between Woolgoolga and Coffs Harbour. For much of the trip the speed limit was 80 kph. We arrived at the White Albatross Caravan Park at about 12:20 pm and booked in for 10 nights. We have a waterfront site on the lagoon and were all set up by about 2:00 pm.

Waterfront site W13 on the lagoon

View across the lagoon

Another view across the lagoon

Late in the afternoon we walked along to the hotel/bistro at the entrance to the caravan park for a quiet little drink on the balcony in the fading sunlight.

Sunset at Nambucca Heads

Forecast today is 9 to 19 degrees and sunny - a little warmer than yesterday.

We spent the morning sitting in the sun and reading the papers. Our baby plover is still with us today. On the Clarence River the usual fishing activity is in progress, although the commercial fishing boats show no signs of activity. The caravan park provides a good location to sit and watch the activity on the Clarence River.

Baby plover with a watchful parent

Fishermen heading out

Bird on a log

Idle prawn trawler

Yamba Yacht Club

As the Australian Electoral Office proudly advertise that pre poll voting is available from 20 August for travellers, we thought that we would drive over to nearby Maclean to put Kevin07 out of his misery. The AEC website directed us to 48 River Street in Maclean, but no activity here. The Information Centre did not have a clue and directed us the Council Chambers, where we were advised that Pre Poll voting would not be available in Maclean until 4 August 2013. We will try our luck again in Nambucca Heads.

We decided to wander around Maclean and find a spot for a coffee. All over Maclean the power poles have been adorned with Scottish tartans - The Mackenzie tartan took our fancy.

The Mackenzie tartan in Maclean

After returning to the caravan park we started the process of packing up so that we can get an early getaway tomorrow.

Temperature today is forecast to be 7 to 19 and sunny. We had a cool start to the day and a cool breeze for most of the day.

The baby plover is still with us this morning with its two parents chasing of any other birds that might be a threat. Its interesting to see Magpies and Crows run for their lives when challenged by a Plover. Mid morning we went for a walk along the bank of the Clarence River to the Yamba township - a distance of about 1.5 kms - for a coffee and a few groceries at the local SPAR store.

Baby plover - the last of four

Another George

Di on the Clarence River

Not sure what a Pilot Boat is doing in the Clarence River

After lunch we drove to Turners Beach near the mouth of the Clarence River and walked to the end of the rock wall to look for whales - apparently there were two yesterday, but none today. We watched a few surfers doing their thing at the beach and watched a yacht come into the Clarence River after negotiating the bar-way.

Yamba from the end of the rock wall

Yamba Lighthouse

A yacht coming over the bar-way into the Clarence River

A surfer at Turners Beach, Yamba