Trip 24 - Part 2 - Pebbly Beach

WORDS BY: Fina

PHOTOGRAPHY BY: Don

On Wednesday 17 December 2008 we took a drive into Coffs Harbour to prepare for our Christmas camp oven meal. On the way we saw a truck which had tipped over a hugh rain water tank off the tank. Very lucky that no other vehicle was underneath at the time.

After looking on the http://www.geocache.com.au/ I found one right on Pebbly Beach. Located on a small rock island underneath a Banksia tree, we were unable to get to it on high tide so the next day Don and I attempted to find it on low tide. Yes we found it under a huge rock in an old army ammunition box. Pebbly Beach is a peaceful family camping ground nestled in the southern end of Yurygir National Park and surrounded by the Solitary Islands Marine Park.

Another geocache located within the Yuraygir National Park near a statue that was made by Jonaas. Jonaas Zilinskas was the Ashton's Circus strongman and dental trapeze artist for almost 40 years. Originally from Lithuania, he was lived in his caravan on a friend's property next to the Pacific Hwy. An extraordinary visual artist as well as circus performer, he had transformed his tiny patch into a living art gallery of pieces he made from beach pebbles, cupie dolls, house and car keys, and his own hair. His daily exercise regime was throwing a loop around his neck, throwing the end of the rope over the limb of an enormous gum tree, and then hauling himself up the tree by his neck. Nearing 90, he still had all his own teeth, legacy of so many years of holding young women aloft on trapezes he held in his teeth as he hung from the circus rig. Jonaas has since returned to Lithuania to be with his sisters and their families. The track to the geocache was strewn with over blown trees, so we had to walk the last 500 metres.

On our way back to camp we decided to take some detours down Brown's Knob Road and through the state forest making our own tracks along the way through cut down trees, stumps and steep declines.

Christmas eve we went into TJM, Coffs Harbour to pick up two 100% waterproof and 100% dust proof bags made by Rhino to fit on the truck roof rack and the trailer roof rack. Christmas day was spent cooking our pork roast and veges on the camp fire.

During this week we met another lovely couple, Wayne and Chrystie, and their daughter, Sami. They were staying for a week or so. They live in Woolgoolga (Whoopi) just 30 minutes from Pebbly Beach and run their own mechanic workshop.

On Sunday 28 December Don decided to walk to Wooli to check out another geocache. The only problem is that we were situated 7km away from Wooli through beaches, swamps and cliff faces. He made it to Wooli River 5 hours later where he ended up flagging down a tinnie to take him across the river. As Wayne was already out of Pebbly Beach at this stage, he ended up picking Don up from Wooli. By the way Don never ended up finding the geocache as it was already on the side of the river he was on before catching a ride over the river. Bummer!

On the 30 December, Wayne and Christie decided to go home for a couple of days to return to Pebbly Beach on New Year's Eve.

On New Year's Eve morning, Don wanted to go fishing again. So we packed up the truck with all the fishing gear only to discover that the car wouldn't start. After checking the batteries with the multi meter we ended up getting a jump start from a Pajero (of all cars) and since the batteries were still not charging once the truck was started, I figured out that the alternator had failed. Since Wayne is a mechanic and in Whoppi, I rang him New Year's Eve to see if he could source an alternator but, of course, at that time of year, no way.

Wayne, Chrystie and Sami came back to Pebbly Beach on New Year's Eve afternoon to celebrate the New Year with us on Pebbly Beach. They were about half a dozen bomb fires on the beach with different groups of people letting off fire crackers. A gorgeous, enjoyable night and definitely a different way to spend New Year's Eve.

Wayne offered for us to come back to Whoopi with them and camp on their 3 acre property while the alternator was being sourced and the truck fixed. So on New Year's Day we packed up the camper and headed to Whoopi to get the truck fixed. The amazing thing is that we had only known this family for approximately 5 days when they offered their backyard and house to us for a few weeks. Thank you so much. Don and I greatly appreciate it.

Check out "more photos" on the right hand side.

See you next time in Woolgoolga (Whoopi).

Trip 24 - Part 1 - Pebbly Beach

WORDS BY: Fina

PHOTOGRAPHY BY: Don

After only staying one night at Station Creek, we decided to move to Pebbly Beach in the Yuraygir National Park. Access to Pebbly Beach is by 4WD only and definitely on low tide only. The road is sandy and narrow and you have to drive on the beach for 2.5kms and cross a salt water tidal creek to get there. Lucky it was low tide! Campsites with beach views are on grass areas just behind the beach. It was well worth it and highly recommended.

One day we went down to the Shell at Halfway Creek to pick up on some supplies. NRMA were there for a driver reviver stop waiting for the schoolies to stop in on their way home from the Gold Coast. However, we had a free sausage sizzle and cold drinks.

We set up camp just behind the dunes with our own entrance to the beach and approximately 10 metres from the water's edge with sunrise to our left over the water and sunset to our right over the mountains. The beach is made up of millions of pebbles and crushed shells - not your normal white sandy beach.

On either side of the Pebbly Beach cove rocks formed some magnificant rock pools where Don and I did most of our fishing catching bream, parrot fish and wobbigong shark. Some of the pools were quite deep with the waves crashing over the rocks at high tide while at low tide the pools formed quiet oasis for turtles and fish.

The salt water creek that you cross from Pebbly Beach campground onto the beach to get back out of the Yuraygir National Park was tidal. Therefore crossing of this creek was recommended at low tide only. Even at low tide, I still hated crossing a salt water creek. If it was fresh water I wouldn't mind, but salt water ... well let's just say that salt water is not too kind to vehicles.

Our activites during our stay at Pebbly Beach were mainly relaxing, fishing, walking, cooking, socialising, eating, swimming, yabbying, drinking, 4wdriving and geocaching and of course, Don had his fire every night.

However, in the evening of 11 December a major hail storm hit with gale force winds. The hail wasn't a major issue howver the wind picked up the annexe bending all our annexe poles.

The next day a king tide hit making the crossing of the river vitually impossible. Normally at mid to low tide you drive around the star pickets however this day the last star picket was almost totally under water.

One day, while walking through the camp ground, I noticed a Patrol with the number plates "Don 94". I recall this Patrol from the same complex that my son, Daniel, lives in at Kallangur back in Brisbane. So when I saw the owner I asked him, "Are you Don 94?" His answer, "Yes". "Do you live in Kallangur?" His answer, "Yes". "Do you live in a complex in Goodfellows Road?" His answer "You know way too much". It turns out that they do live in the same complex as my son. What a small world. Anyway, we became very good friends with Don and his wife Ray and their two young ferals. We ended up having to call Don, Don and the our new friend Don, Donavon so as not to mix up the two.

One day one of Donavon's friends, Elvis, turned up in his 4WD Oka. A beautiful truck which Elvis has done up to travel around Australia. As Elvis was only staying overnight and after a day of successful fishing, that night we all sat around the camp fire eating fresh fish, talking, drinking and singing some karaoke.

Catch up with you on the next part of Pebbly Beach.

Don't forget to check out "more photos" on the right hand side.

Trip 23 - Station Creek

WORDS BY: Fina

PHOTOGRAPHY BY: Don

We left Brisbane on Friday 5 December 2008 to head south along the the Pacific Highway along the NSW coastline. Don did the close-eyes-finger-round thing on the map and we ended up at Station Creek in the Yuraygir National Park. Yuraygir National Park is a water wonderland with isolated beaches, quiet lake systems and striking scenery. The park is less than an hour's drive from Grafton, Maclean and Coffs Harbour, on the north coast of New South Wales. Covering 60 km of coastline, it extends from the tidal lakes at the mouth of the Clarence River, to the Corindi River in the south.

Station Creek is hidden in angophora and banksia woodland beside Station Creek estuary and is a favourite place for bird watchers. The beach is a short stroll away. Access is along Barcoongere Forest Way.

We initially wanted to stay at Pebbly Beach, but with the camper and without knowing the tides or track conditions we decided to camp at Station Creek and take a day trip out to Pebbly tomorrow. So after setting up camp and collecting the firewood (which is provided), Rob the Ranger came around to collect the camping fees. He confirmed that low tide tomorrow would be the perfect time to head into Pebbly Beach with the camper as there is a salt water tidal creek crossing.

Therefore, just a quick report this time as we only stayed at Station Creek for one night.

Don't forget to check out "more photos" in the right hand column.

Trip 22 - Brisbane

WORDS BY: Fina

PHOTOGRAPHY BY: Don

After 3 months in White Cliffs and almost 9 months on the road, on Saturday 25 October 2008 we left White Cliffs with mixed emotions. Sadness on leaving a great country town and the helpful and friendly locals and excitment on heading home to Brisbane to meet our new grandson and to catch up with family and friends. With 5 days up our sleeve before our grandson was due to be born, Don decided to drive straight to Brisbane on a marathon drive. We left White Cliffs at midday and travelled through Wilcannia, Cobar, Bourke, Cunnamulla, St George and Warwick arriving in Brisbane 21 hours later at 9am on Sunday morning. That's with all the fuel, comfort, drink and food stops. For safety reasons we swapped drivers every 2 to 4 hours. Our only incident was around 3am on Sunday morning. Don was driving and I was sleeping until he hit a kangaroo which went under the front passenger wheel, under the rear passenger wheel and then under the camper trailer at the back. Blood was all over the rims with bits of fur under the car but thankfully no damage. Don's comment "I'm awake now" with my response being "You were meant to be awake cause you were driving!"

Arriving into the south side of Brisbane through Ipswich on Sunday morning, we decided to stop at Don's brother's house for breakfast. It was great to see Nick, Sally and Decklin and we eventually stayed for lunch as Nick had invited most of the family. That afternoon we left Nick's house and headed to the north side of Brisbane to see my son, Daniel. After so many months of only talking on the phone, it was fantastic to see Daniel again and how well he and Tamara have settled down into their life style.

While in Brisbane, the camper trailer was booked to go back to the manufacturers in Caloundra to fix the annexe broken in the dust storms in White Cliffs as well as a few quirks and fixes that will make life a little bit easier. During that time we will be staying at our friends, Ness and Janine, and their 4 girls also on the north side of Brisbane in Kallangur.

Our time in Brisbane was spent mostly catching up with family and friends as well as doing some maintenance on the truck and cleaning up all our stuff ready for packing it up again in the camper trailer and truck.

My son, Daniel and his financee, Tamara, came over for dinner. It was great to see them especially how big Tamara's stomach had grown.

In the early hours of Tuesday morning (5:50am), 4 November 2008 (Melbourne Cup Day), Rhylee Thomas was born weighing 8lb 1oz. Both Tamara and Rhylee are doing well just very tired. Don and I thought we would leave the new family alone for the day to get over the birth and to bond.

So instead we went to Gambaro's for a Melbourne Cup luncheon with my employer, Enthalpy Pty Ltd. With a magnificant seafood lunch, the Melbourne Cup race and entertainment by a four piece band, a great time was had by all and it was great to catch up with all my work colleagues. All the girls wore pretty frocks with hats or fasinators and the men wore suits with ties. Everyone looked a treat.

On our way home, we stopped in at Janelle's house to see how her daughter, Roxy, was going with her pregnancy. Roxy is due early December. Her stomach is a lot bigger than Tamara's and Roxy still has a month to go.



On Wednesday 5 November 2008, we picked up Daniel, Tamara and Rhylee from the Redcliffe Hospital for their first trip home. Rhylee is absolutely gorgeous and looks at lot like Tamara with Daniel's chin features. While on the road, I knitted a blue and purple square patch baby blanket for Rhylee and wrote a verse to go with it. That was a very special moment between us.




We also caught up with the 4WD club members on Thursday 6

November 2008 at the general meeting. Again it was great to catch up with all our mates and to organise the potential of going to Cape York in June 2009.

More family visits were to Don's cousin's, Simon and Kim, for a BBQ dinner.

We also visited my sister, Anna, for a BBQ lunch. Again great to catch up with Anna and her husband, John, and my two nephews.














One day at Daniel's place, I discovered that he had got himself a tatoo. Quite tastefully done on his back with Est. 1989 and the Southern Cross. It was amazing to see how much Rhylee had grown and changed in a week.




On Saturday 29 November, Don's family held an Umu for Don's aunty, Sylvia's birthday. Sylvia passed away in February 2008 after being diagnosed of a brain tumor 18 months earlier.






Over our time in Brisbane, I held a couple of karaoke gigs at Don's brother's house with a number of friends, family and cousins. A couple of good nights especially the singing competition between the cousins. The girls were the judges just like idol and it's amazing how competitive the boys really were. Rounds 1 and 2 were songs the boys choose themselves, round 3 and 4 were songs the girls choose and round 5 was a traditional niuean song.


I also held a karaoke gig at Mel and Ryan's house for Janine's 45th birthday. Another great night with everyone joining in the singing and having a great time.


One weekend we drove all the way down to Kingscliffe for a BBQ with Don's family. A lovely day were we ate, swam and fished and generally enjoyed each other's company. Oh, and of course, the food.




All over after spending over 5 weeks in Brisbane, it was great to catch up with everyone - family and friends and to meet our new grandson, Rhylee. It definitely was a culture shock for both myself and Don after coming from the town of White Cliffs with a population of 200 to Brisbane with a population of "way too many". So we were looking forward to travelling back out onto the open road. We are we headed - who knows? Probably the NSW north beaches. Check out our next story to see.


Don't forget to check out "more photos" on the right hand side.