Day 1 – 21 April 2021 Yass to Harrington NSW

We departed Yass earlier than expected at 0800.  We stopped at Sutton Forest for a wee-wee break and maybe to get coffee at McDonalds but there were 3 bus loads of school children (I think years 5 and 6 boys) on a school trip and they were ALL ordering at the counter ……loudly.  And the McCafé part was not taking orders. So back in the car and off to another stop.  We stopped at Mittagong to have morning coffee at Roses Café in Mittagong, which is the sister café to the one we go to each day in Yass.  Good coffee there too.  Then on to Sydney to battle the traffic on the freeways around the city.   Oh, how I hate Sydney traffic.  Got through there ok with only a few minor scary situations.

Next stop was Raymond Terrace north of Newcastle for a late lunch.  We could not find a nice place to stop so parked out the back of the industrial area. 

Oh, well.  At least it was close to the fuel station where the trucks refuelled so we topped up our tank and continued on to Harrington.  Nothing exciting on this leg though.  18 months ago, there were horrific fires through the Taree area and this time there were floods only a few months back.  The regrowth from the fires is noticeable now, and lots of fences are chocked with debris from the floods.

We checked into the Big 4 Colonial Park at Harrington just for the night.  We’re not unhooking so we’ll call one of the pubs to come and pick us up and take us to dinner.

OK.  We called the Harrington Irish Pub as reception here said they have a courtesy bus.  The guy at the pub when I called said it’s only available Friday thru Sunday and here we are on Wednesday!!  So we unhitched and drove there.  Did the normal Covid check-in and the guy asked to see our green tick on my phone even though I showed him when I did it.  Smart-asre comment back from him that he’s blind and needs to see it again.  Not a good start so far.  Dinner ordering was an exercise in patience.  This pub is full of old retirees.  I think Harrington is the retirement capital of Australia.  I don’t think anyone is under 80.  And they can’t make up their mind when ordering or paying.  One guy, after using the NSW $25 voucher had $1 to pay and he had a dollar to pay it but the wife insisted that he pay the dollar with the credit card. OMG. It was also a club meeting of sorts as there were a lot of elderly ladies dressed in 1920s outfits.  After finishing our meal, we went to the supermarket to get some supplies.  The streets are so dimly lit we couldn’t find our way into the shopping centre.  Heaps of roundabouts and one way lanes, and the parking was 100 metres from the supermarket.  And this town is for oldies??

Back to the caravan for some peace.

Helen’s Highlights/Minnie’s Musings

I did not have anything to write in this section until we were trying to get into the shopping centre, so the highlight then presented itself in the form of the hilarious antics and vocal tirade from Michael as he tried to navigate the carpark while talking to his Auntie Margaret on the phone. Margaret and I were not very supportive as we were laughing at him.

Day 2 – Harrington to Gold Coast

For a coastal town it was very cold overnight.  At 5.00am I had to put on another doona and then I was nice and toasty.  Maybe this is because of all the “cold people” who live in Harrington.

We departed Harrington about 8.00am.  Freeway traffic was rather heavy as I guess everyone was off to work in Taree.  Traffic at the Port Macquarie turnoff about an hour up the freeway was also backed up.  Past that everything went smoothly until we hit Coffs Harbour.  The town needs a bypass and quickly.  The new Grafton bypass is just magnificent and cuts off all those river coastal towns that for decades have been a bottle neck on the north coast highway.  So we stopped along here for lunch at a nice new rest stop.

From there on the traffic was flowing nicely and we just sat on 100km/hr on cruise control.  Arriving at the Gold Coast precinct everything turned to custard.  Traffic everywhere.  We found the Tallebudgera Creek Caravan park with the help of the GPS and checked into a nice site near the river.  Great park this one.

My aunty Margaret lives on the north side of the Gold Coast (and we are on the south side).  We went to her place for dinner and set the GPS which told us it would take 30 minutes along the Gold Coast Highway.  BULLSHIT!!!  It took us an hour.  Traffic was horrendous.  Who would want to live here??  It’s worse than Sydney!!  Had a great evening with Margaret and reminisced over some old times and some more recent ones.  Back to the caravan park that evening we came back “the long way” down the M1 Freeway.  Although it was over twice the distance it took us about 40 minutes.  And not as much stress.

Early night tonight after another long day driving.  But first a cup of tea after I finish this Blog post.

Day 3 – Gold Coast

This is a very nice campground right on the banks of the river.  So far it’s nice and quiet and only less than half full.

This morning we went to Pacific Fair shopping village, the largest on the Gold Coast.  Fascinating place but the underground parking was very squeezy.  The height limit is 2.0 metres and we just fitted under the barrier.  But on the next floor the barrier looked lower without any height markings, so we reversed down the ramp and parked.  Not too crowded and we came away with a pair of new sneakers each.

Then it was off to meet our long lost friend Bev and her partner Clive.  Lovely apartment overlooking Burleigh Heads beach.  After lots of hugs, we discussed what we had all been doing over a few drinks and a very long lunch.  Great afternoon.

Back to the caravan park to find it’s now full.  Caravans and tents everywhere.  I guess being Friday night most of Brisbane has come down to the Gold Coast.  Tomorrow it’s off to Scarborough for the next couple of nights.

Day 4 – Gold Coast to Scarborough

Boring drive, straight up the Gold Coast freeway.  Checked in to the Scarborough Tourist Village where we have stayed a few times previously. 

Outside the park is a very nice café called Sea Salt and Vine.  So we had the obligatory coffee and went shopping for stuff we needed.  Then went to see my sister and her other half Alan.

Day 5 – Scarborough

Today was a personal day where we visited Mum.  Tomorrow we head off on our trip proper.  Driving north to Gympie, we spend the night at Mundubbera.