Just to confuse our devout followers, we are now back in Sydney, this not really being part of the round Australia trip as such..just a catch up with our daughter who is moving to Perth tomorrow to work for a while, but has dropped in to Sydney for this week to stay with a friend .
We finally got out of Gladstone to head South as soon as the floodwaters had receded enough to reopen the highways. Made it back in nice weather to Gold Coast where we were again treated to the awesome hospitality of our friends in Mudgeeraba. Took in a few days of surf and sun soaked beaches at Burleigh and Fingal Heads as well as dinner in park at Burleigh featuring drummers and entertainers on a lovely balmy evening. South again there were however a few detours in place round Grafton. We had to hide out in a bus stop shelter out near Ballina in sugar cane country when a storm front hit us soaking rapidly through to undies and then tipping it down so hard we couldn't see. Just a bit further on in Grafton we hid back in McDonalds planning which camping ground we'd head for..Sawtell again..hmm how about nah.. electrical storm now in full swing stopped any further plans and pitching a tent went rapidly to booking into a cabin in camping ground close by instead. Yes wimps I know, so next day heading South thought we'd better harden up and head for a camp spot in our 'Camps 4' directory off the beaten track a bit 24k's North of Bulahdelah.We turned off highway just 3k's South of Coolongalook (now how do you think they came upon that name?) and headed 9.5 k's East into forestry roads/tracks and it soon became evident I lacked motorcross experience so after crossing a bridge with slats missing and getting into slushy mud applied a little more throttle than I should have and back wheel stepped out and I crossed it all up beautifully and bike and I landed on our side in the mud, nothing damaged, just dirty, at least I had a knight in Armour (well lets face it none of it shining..all pretty grimy) pick me up out of the mud. Met a dude on a motorcross bike who looked sceptically(the dirt road having deteriorated into motocross heaven) at our bikes in the forest ….OK so both Bevin and I had flashes of 'Wolf Creek' flash through our thoughts ..individually I might add..what was scarier same thoughts or Wolf Creek..you decide… that told us where the 'camp' was and after Bevin explored a wee bit further said we'd never make it through the river round the next bend..well not till I get my Crusty Demon's diploma anyway. Back on the Pacific Highway..it was like a long lost friend… we got to Bulahdelah and settled for pitching our tent in a camping ground right beside busy highway so got serenaded by trucks all night..but hey I got a look at the size of the mosquito's in that forest we had just escaped from and at least trucks don't bite if you don't bother them.
Hitting Sydney we had organised to try out Couch Surfing and got hosted by a lovely lady called Catherine. If you don't know what that is google it, we were hosting travellers ourselves before leaving NZ. We had a lovely few days there before arriving here in Parramatta to stay with another awesome host, Mary, sister of a good friend of ours back in Taranaki. We have been gadding about Sydney, having fun with our daughter and her friend beaching it at Bronte and surrounds and a barbeque dinner down at Bronte. Next day Jo took us all down to Southern Beaches (Stanwell Bay to name one) through the Royal National Forest…lovely thanks Jo. Rest of the week has seen us getting right into public transport scene (trains, buses and ferries)…drivers are pretty scary here in Sydney… it's very busy, very hot and tempers thin it would seem L So it was Sydney CBD, then Oxford Street and other malls so darling daughter could shop..till we all dropped haha ! Wednesday was Australia Day and boy do the Aussies know how to celebrate this day..flags a flying etc. We caught River Cat down Parramatta river to Circular Quay, met our daughter and friend Jo and headed over to Manly on ferry..walked along beach to Shelly Bay and tossed ourselves in the tide amongst thousands of others, before returning to the city after a pretty cruisy day.
Bevin has been helping Mary out with some minor repair jobs at her apartment so it was a Bunnings( affectionately named the Man Shop) trip for bit and pieces yesterday…some missions accomplished others a work in progress..Mary treated us to a Thai dinner in Parramatta last night..awesome thanks heaps MaryJ
Bevin headed off this morning to Motorcycle Accessories..a huge warehouse to get a new Back Tyre for his bike. After purchasing the tyre thinking he would have to fit it himself noticed they fitted tyres then found out they would fit tyre and balance it for nothing as long as he gave them the wheel or charge $50 for the job. After telling them what we were doing on our bikes lent him a stand and out in the carpark he removed the back wheel and within half an hour was back on the road having saved $50..awesome thanks guys, the Aussies love a good adventure storyJ We had a lovely day at Featherdale Zoo out in Blacktown with our daughter today so Bevin and I are just having a quiet night in tonight J and will see her off at airport tomorrow L then make our way North again in a few days.
--Bevin & Felicity Lealand iPhone
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http://bikersfromdownunder-lealand.blogspot.com/
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