Day 171 to Goodbye Australia

Day 171 January 19 Monday
Left Nowra and took the road to Fitzroy Falls in Morton NP. Went through the tourist trap of Kangaroo Valley to get there. The falls would be spectacular if there were a lot of water flowing but still was pretty country.

Took hwy 48 through Mcquarie Pass NP. The road was twisty and windy and mostly 25 to 35 km curves. When I reached the coast, took the scenic highway north through Wollongong. Spent the night in the small coastal town of Bulli, at Bulli Tourist Park. Nice chat with a man and his son.
Day 172 January 20 Tuesday
Left the camp ground, as I got close to the turn to Royal NP I noticed the engine warming up. Pulled to the side and steam came out of the motor well. Found a hose off, so put it back. Tried to call AAA but the phone did not work. The van started and I went about a 300 meters and the engine quit. Lucky there was a place to pull over and the phone worked. NMRA man came and determined no water circulation through the motor and called a tow. Took me to Heathcote to a repair man. The radiator repair man will take things apart and I am to call in the am. Bugger. Spent the night at Heathcote Motel.

Day 173 January 21 Wednesday.
Called the repair man who took the van to a radiator repair shop. Walked the 2km to the shop. They showed me the radiator which was clogged outside and inside and the hoses were in very bad shape. They replaced the radiator, hoses and fan belt. Whew. I spend the day at McDonalds in air conditioning with free WiFi. Well about 2 hours worth. Went to Com Bank and got copies made of the an sale agreement and learned how to transfer my money back to Shelton. I will leave it in OZ as I can get 45% interest on saving. Hopefully, some day the Australian $ will be buying more than $0.66 US$. Picked up my van in early afternoon. Drove to Adele’s in north Sydney area. Glad I had my GPS. Met her partner and three nice young boys.

Day 174 January 22 Thursday
After breakfast went to go to Kings Cross area, east of downtown Sydney. I tried to get on the Harbor Tunnel but the roads are so confusing I ended up going over the Harbor Bridge which worked out ok. Big problem in that the car market where people went to buy and sell cars was closed. I had to make some flyers to put in all the hostel around. I put ads on two car sale websites. One German couple looked but did not buy. I had planned to leave my car at the car market and take the bus back to Adele’s. Drove back instead, again glad for the GPS.

Day 175 January 23 Friday
Drove back to Kings Cross, this time went with not prepaying the e-pass toll, and found a place to park. Decided to stay in the area instead so got a place at a youth hostel. Made some new flyers with pictures of the van and put them around at hostels and also added pictures to the web site ads. Hot day. Got an email response to one of my ads. Eventually sold it to an older couple from Ireland. Hope they are happy with it. At the hostel had BBQ and beer party for $5. Now I can relax and enjoy Australia Day weekend. Monday is a holiday.

Day 176 January 24 Saturday
Walked from Kings Cross to China town where a Commonwealth bank was open so I could deposit the money from the sale of the van. Walked to the Harbor Bridge/ Opera House area and had lunch and watched people for a while. It was getting hot so I took the bus back to the hostel. The temperature was 40 today (104 deg F). HOT and HUMID too.

Day 177 January 25 Sunday
Took the metro train to Darling Harbour. Huge crowds and suppose to be half a million or so tomorrow for Australia Day. Watched a cute juggling act, aboriginal musician, and watched Chinese groups preparing for tomorrow. Tomorrow is the Chinese New Year of the ox. Had a mocha cappuccino and later a beer. Stated to get warm and I was getting hungry so went back to hostel.

Day 178 January 26 Monday Australia Day
Took train to town and then bus 207 to Cammeray Store stop and walked the two blocks to Adele’s to pick up some stuff I stupidly left there. I too the stuff back to the hostel then walked to Hyde park where there were lots of activities for Australia. Supposedly 1000 old cars on the streets and I believe it. Got a beer and watched some music acts on one of the stages. Saw part of swearing in ceremony for new citizens. Watched some more music acts while talking to Scottish couple who are here on a work permit for four years. Rain showers so went back to hostel.

Day 179 January 27 Tuesday

Rainy this morning. May go to the famous Bondi beach if it stops raining. Otherwise just resting.

Day 180 January 28 Wednesday

GOODBYE AUSTRALIA

Day 165 to Day 170

Day 165 January 12 Monday
Whew am I knackered. Hiked the 18km return (11miles) to the top of Mt. Kosciuszko. It took four hours including eating lunch on top.

The views were great but to me it looked like some peaks were higher. The hike was along a road that used to be open. The basin below the mountain is the start of the Snowy river.

(This is a special fish that lives only on the upper part of the Snowy River)

There were lots of wild flowers all over. Beautiful. My other alternative was to go to Thredbo and take the chair lift up ($28 return) and then hike the 13.7 km return trip. Shorter but steeper. The day way beautiful with some clouds.

Spent the night at Thredbo Diggings camp in the park. The camp is along the Thredbo river.

Day 166 January 13 Tuesday
Headed towards Tredbo. Once past it the traffic disappeared and the road got narrow with no lines. It was a beautiful drive through the park with spectacular scenery. Went to Yarrangobilly Caves which is in the park. First hiked to the thermal pool, 27 C, and went for a swim. Felt good as the temperature was getting warm. Hiked along the river to Glory Arch and Glory Cave. The cave is unguided but lights up as you walk through. This one was interesting as it it mainly white inside, due to lack of iron in the limestone and the cave was very wet. Continued heading north and spent the night at Tumut Reservoir about 39 km from Tumut at Old Yacht Park. It was hot and suppose to get to 40 tomorrow. Whew. It was funny to watch the crows. They would feed in the shade of trees eating, flies I hope, and then when they reached the edge where the sun was, they raced to the next shade area where they slowly started eating again.. Once I saw them huddle in the shade near the base of a big eucalyptus
Day 167 January 14 Wednesday Two Weeks Left
Left the park and drove to Tumut. The lady in info said to go to Adelong where a mile out of town is an old gold mine to tour. It is now a park with trails around the ruins. Very nice along the river. Drove from there to highway 31, a divided 4 lane one to Vass. Really hot for me. Stopped at the Vass Caravan Park. Suppose to be cooler tomorrow.

Day 167 January 15 Thursday
Left Vass and headed south on hwy 25 to Canberra, ACT, Australia Capital Territory. Lots of traffic. The city is planned but by whom? I would think not by anyone who needed to live there. The streets are increasing concentric circles with some roads crisscrossing the circles. Wanted to go to National Museum but found no signs. Since it was suppose to get close to 100 F today decided to keep on going south through town and go back over the coast range to the sea. As I crested to the east side of the mountains it was very much cooler. Good choice I said to myself. Drove north on the coastal highway from Bega to Mystery Bay. Cool and nice with thunder storms from 5 to 6 then sunshine till dark.

Day 168 January 16 Friday
Drove to Batemans Bay up highway 1. Went to Bunnings to get paint for the van wheels. Also went to the auto store to buy some polish and oil and filter. Went to a auto shop to get a pink slip inspection. The guy says that now they are no longer required for selling a car, only for reqo. I was glad of that, one less thing to worry about. Spent the afternoon cleaning and waxing the van. Will spray the wheels tomorrow is the wind is favorable. It is looking good. Still worried about getting my rocks home. May have to send some. Stayed at the Pleasurelea Tourist Resort space 9.

Day 169 January 17 Saturday
Spray painted the wheels, cleaned everything else I did not do yesterday. Started packing my rocks to see how it will go. Went for a walk to the beach. Drove a short distance to the store to get ice and some food. Found a book store and traded five books for two, could have had three but would not have time for them. Waypointed Adel’s address on my GPS. Went for a swim in the pool. Casual day. I think the van is ready to go. Only minor things to do the day I take it to the car market.

Day 170 January 18 Sunday
Left Batemans Bay and headed north. Stopped at Kioloa and checked out the beach. Went to Jervis Bay, Booderee NP, and all the camp sites were full. Went to Nowra and spent the night at Nowra Wildlife Park Reserve. It is a private zoo where you can go pet and get up close with animals. It is next to the river. In the evening, peacocks and guinea hens were wondering around the camp. Made arrangements with Adel to be at her house on Tuesday.

Day 162 to Day 164

Day 162 January 9 Friday
Left Orbost and took the scenic route into the Snowy Mts. Via C612. Had to watch out for logging trucks that take up all the road and drive fast just like in the states. Beautiful drive. Went to Bombala in NSW and then went back to Victoria to Cann River on A1 using B23. Drove 11 miles to Turra River roadside park.

Nice 1 km walk there along the river. After dinner a bunch of us got together and sat a round the fire and had a good time. That is me in the maroon shirt just in case you can't recognize me. Two OZ couples, one British, on Spanish couple and me.

Day 163 January 10 Saturday
Continued north on A1. Stopped in Eden at the library and paid my Visa bill. Also stopped in Mirimbula. Bought some car vinyl polish to do the van. Both towns loaded with people. Stopped at Yellow Pitch Dam wayside park for the night. Spent some time cleaning up the van washing and polishing most of the vinyl parts inside and outside the car. Looking good. Had a nice chat with a couple from Austria.

Day 164 January 11 Sunday
Left the wayside park and drove over the great dividing range to Cooma. More second and third gear driving again. Steep and windy road. Stopped for the night at Jindabyne, at the base of the Kosciuszko National Park, home of major ski resorts and the highest mountain in Australia. Mt. Kosciuszko is 2228 m high (about 6700 feet. Stayed in Jindabyne Holiday Park space 20 right on the lake. Powered site for tonight as it is suppose to get in the low 40’s tonight. Did some laundry.

Day 156 to Day 161

Day 156 January 3 Saturday
Left Wynyard and continued East on A2 getting off to go to the town of Penguin. A little past Penguin is a place to get jasper which has washed out of basalt. The stuff was not of good quality but took a couple of small pieces. You could see big chunks still embedded. This area is where the first silver mine was in Tassie in 1850, right on the beach. At Ulverstone, took B17 south the Preston water falls

and then to Leven Canyon which was very pretty. Went back to Ulverstone and spent the night at Apex campground. After dinner heard some terrible country western music. Went to check and the park was having music with cheap burgers and hot dogs. They had about four different groups. The singer on the first one must have had a half an octave range. Bad. The music in general was good but not the singing. Ate on hot dog. Fun.

Day 157 January 4 Sunday
Left Ulverstone and /drive along hwy 1 to Lillico beach where penguins come ashore at night. The headed south on B16 to Sheffield then south on C136, then 138 to King Solomons cave. Did not go in. Took B12 to Deloraine stopping at Alum Cliffs. The cliffs looks down on the Mercey River which flow to Devonport. Suppose to be ochre where aboriginal women came, but not the men, to get the ochre. Drove hwy1 back to Devonport and did a little shopping. Went to Able Tasman Caravan park for the night. Close to Ferry terminal.
Day 158 January 5 Monday
Got the Spirit of Tasmania I in Devonport and sailed away to Melbourne. Ship was rocking side to side more than the trip to Tassie. The music in the bar was definitely a lot better in terms of the music and the singing. 60-70 songs mostly. Went back to the same caravan park I used the night before I took the ferry over. The caravan park is a lot less crowded probably since the two week vacation period between Christmas and New Years is over.

Day 159 January 6 Tuesday
Took the Mornington Highway south to Carrum then east to M420. Then went on M40 to Stony Creek taking C444 to Wilson Promontory. Camp ground at Tidal River was jam packed, as in chock-a-block. Got a spot at the park entrance which had only two of us. Hiked along Tidal river and along the Norman bay beach. Took a hour and half walk to Tongue point. Weather was the warmest I have had since going to Tassie. Was clear this morning but clouded up in the late afternoon. Sitting before dinner, all of a sudden I have a very severe pain in my right foot near the arch. A ant was biting me. It hurt for at least a half hour and left no permanent damage. Worse than a bee sting.

Day 160 January 7 Wednesday
Headed back into Wilson Prom.. Hiked to Cotters Lake and beach, 2.4 km return, Darby Beach, 2.2 km return, Whiskey Beach, 0.6 km return, Mt. Bishop, 7.4 km return, Squeaky beach, 0.6 km return, and Millers Landing, 4.0 km return. Total of 17.2 km hiking for the day, about 10.5 miles. Day was overcast with marine air with misty sprinkles off and on. Not cold but warm enough. View from Mt. Bishop was less due to low clouds. Squeaky bay so called because the quartz sand squeaks when you walk on it. Drove to Yanakie and spent the night at the camp spot next to the town hall.

Day 161 January 8 Thursday
Left Yanakie and drove north to Foster on A440 to Yarram and headed north onC482 to A1. Took A1 all the way to Orbost where I spent the night in the caravan park. Took the time to walk into town to get a much needed haircut.

Day 151 to Day 155

Day 151 December 29 Monday
Left Queenstown and drove to Strahan. Found an internet place and when I was half way through my blog the blog side went down so I had to start again. No pics but will try that later. Drove to the exit of Macquarie Sound but the last part was 4 wheel drive. Drove back into town and headed north on B27 to Zeehan and then onto A10 to Rosebery. Tried finding a road to a mine site. Two were close, but they were overgrown and no place to park on either side of the road. Spent the night in Rosebery.

Went to Stilt Falls which was by the camp.

Day 152 December 30 Tuesday Happy Birthday to me. Sweet 16 plus 50.
Left the camp and took A10 north to highway B23 west. Rainy and windy so no 3 hour hike to water falls.

Stopped at Waratah to see falls. Drove about 10km then took road north to gravel pit. Hiked the next 1000m to old mine site. Found two of the mine entrances but not the reckoning site. I think the road was changed so I was looking at the wrong spot. At the gravel pit, found some interesting rocks, which I think came from the same formation I was trying to fine. Went back to A10 the went south to C132 the road to Cradle Mt. NP. Went to caravan park, only two spots left, I got one. Still rainy and windy. Suppose to snow at higher elevations tonight. Burrr. No hike to top of Cradle Mt.

Day 153 December 31 Wednesday
Was cold and windy and rainy/snowy overnight. Took the bus from the information center at Cradle Mt. NP to Dove Lake trail. Was partially sunny but windy. Snow on top of the peaks.

Very pretty 2 hour hike but got rained/sleeted on after about ¾ of the way around. Left the park as it was suppose to snow over night. Burr and no powered sites available. Headed back to A10 and headed north to the coast. Found a nice little caravan park on the ocean at Wynyard. Warmer here. Did much needed laundry. After dinner a bunch of the campers got together in the camp kitchen to celebrate the new year. After a little while of talking, someone came in and said they were going to set of fireworks on the beach. We all went out and watched $65 worth, which were very pretty.

Day 154 January 1 Thursday Happy New Year
Headed out and drove about 20km and decided to put on my long pants instead of shorts as it was cold. Forgot them hanging on the line at the campground so went back. Dummy. Of course they were wet because of rain showere overnight. Put on my jeans. Drove west again on A2 all the way to Marrawah and Green Point. Nice beach. Then drove south to Arthur River and got a space at Manuka camp ground. Off and on raining and windy all day with sun breaks.

Day 155 January 2 Friday
Drove into Arthur River and went across the one lane bridge over the river. Drove to the beach where the river comes out. Great waves coming on shore.

Went north again to A2 and headed east. Stopped at the Dismal Swamp which is a really big sink hole in the limestone. Fee park with big slide tube into the valley. Decided not to. Drove on to the town of Stanley which is on a peninsula with a big basalt blob on the end called “The Nut” named after activists who wanted to preserve it. I hiked to the top on a steep trail, could have taken a chair lift. Good view from the top. Drove back to A2 and went to Rocky Cape NP. Went to two aboriginal caves and the lighthouse. More pretty views. Went next to Table Cape with good views too. Drove back towards Wynyard but stopped at Fossil Cape where most of the layers have fossil sea shells. Spent the night at the same park in Wynyard.

Wynyard on far left where caravan park is. Fossil Cape is brownigh bluff on right.