Two Aces and the Blue Heeler

Mainly fine and sunny today for what is a relatively short trip to Kiama (132 km).

After an early breakfast we packed up, said our good-byes to Jan and Andy and headed back to the Lane Cove River Tourist Park to collect our van. Being the end of the morning peak hour the traffic in Mowbray Road and the Pacific Highway was a bit slow. After hitching up we were on our way at about 9:40 am, From the caravan park we took the easy option, travelling via Epping Road into the Lane Cove Tunnel (ka-ching, ka-ching), then onto the Gore Hill Freeway, the Waringah Freeway, then into the Sydney Harbour Tunnel (ka-ching), then south past the airport and onto the Princess Highway, variously the A1 or the M1, which took us past Woolongong to Kiama. We arrived at the Easts Beach Caravan Park at about lunch time and checked in for 3 nights.

Set-up on site D1 at Easts Beach Caravan Park, Kiama.

Fine but mainly cloudy today.

In the afternoon we went for drive to West Head in the Kur-ring-gai Chase National Park. We stopped for a coffee at the Akuna Bay Marina before driving out to the West Head Lookout which looks across Broken Bay.

From the West Head Lookout (the bright spot) the view is east to Barrenjoey Head, south (right) to Pitwater, north (left) across Broken Bay and Lion Island to Brisbane Water, southwest (lower right) to Cowan Water and Akuna Bay, and north west (lower left) to the mouth of the Hawkesbury River.

Akuna Bay Marina.

Cruiser on the hard for an anti-foul.

Travel lift at Akuna Bay Marina.

Not too many yachts at Akuna Bay Marina.

Lion Island in the middle of Broken Bay.

Di with Jan at West Head.

Razzamatazz out for a sail on Broken Bay.

Barrenjoey Head from the West Head Lookout.

Another view from West Head.

Careel Bay from West Head.

Mainly fine and sunny again.

In the morning we walked down to the Artarmon shopping strip for a coffee, papers and a few supplies. After our coffees we took the long way back walking through the Artarmon Reserve.

Later in the day we were joined by Bec, Andy Lee and Henry; and Matt, Bin, Coco, Willow and Goldie for a family get together. We had such a good time we forgot to take any photos.

Fine and mainly sunny in Sydney today.

While Jan and Di had a girls day together, Andy and David went to Balmoral Beach for a coffee at the Boatshed Cafe and a wander around the area, followed by a drive around Middle Head. In the evening we went to an Italian restaurant La Capannina in Milson's Point for an excellent meal.

Boats moored in Hunters Bay from Balmoral Beach.

The Boat Shed at Balmoral Beach.

Boat Shed Cafe at Balmoral Beach.

A view from the Boat Shed Cafe at Balmoral Beach.

Another view from the Boat Shed Cafe.

Looking along Balmoral Beach towards Rocky Point Island.

The Bathers Pavilion at Balmoral Beach - now a restaurant.

Rocky Point Island at the end of Balmoral Beach.

Naval Hospital at HMAS Penguin on Middle Head.

We had rain overnight and a few early morning showers but the day turned out mainly fine for our trip today.

We were on our way at 9:40 am for the 265 km trip to the Lane Cove River Tourist Park. We retraced our steps to Bungwahl on the Lakes Way and turned left for Bulahdeleah where we re-joined the Pacific Highway. Just past Raymond Terrace we turned right onto the New England Highway before turning left onto the M1 Freeway (the old Newcastle Freeway) for the run into Sydney. It is starting to show its age and will need an upgrade in the near future to cope with the volume of heavy vehicles that use the route.

We arrived at the caravan park just after 1:00 pm after a fairly uneventful trip and checked in for 4 nights. We were allocated our requested Site 2 and did a basic set-up before heading over to Artarmon to stay with Jan and Andy for a few days.

MaMa and Aunty MaMa at Artarmon.