Week Three | The City Lights

Week Three

The City Lights

SNAPSHOT

Travelling is like being a dog, well obviously not a dog but certainly dog years......one day is like seven days!! When the blog writing day comes around each week it only feels like yesterday I wrote the last one and it's hard reflect on how much we have actually achieved in a week - bizarre!

This week has been a rollercoaster, we've found ourselves in places we would never dreamed of plotting on our map, thanked the lucky stars we made it alive through the Macquarie Pass (brakes now working - what a bonus!) and showed the girls the bright lights of Sydney (whilst also providing an educational tour of the perils and outcomes of drug usage 😉).....

WHERE ON EARTH ARE WE?

Another big week but the palm trees are increasing and so is our opportunity to slow down!!

Shellharbour

This should read Kiama - however due to "someone" in our family insisting on detouring to the Don Bradman Museum 🙄 we ended up on the Macquarie Pass and the rest is history......smoking hot tyres and impending darkness meant a stopover at the Shellharbour Tourist Park and we turned it into two! Just gorgeous! 

Upon arrival Leigh was approached by Noel an "old grey kangaroo" - Noel was particularly keen to show a new young buck the "ropes" of caravanning and 45 minutes later after giving his two bobs worth (which was only worth a quarter of that!) ensuring we were parked in a spot that didn't interrupt his "non waterfront paying" view (notwithstanding it was a short putt from the construction site) of Shellharbour we settled in 🤣 Leigh prayed to St Nomad, the patron saint of patience to survive that rather unforgettable experience!!

**NB: apologies to anyone offended by this post, it was a humourous way to end a harrowing day and granted sometimes help is much appreciated ....but not on this occasion!

North Ryde - Lane Cove

Im not sure how this wee National Park is still alive - only 10km out of city its completely surrounded by concrete but the Lane Cove Tourist Park was exactly what we needed especially for a day trip to Sydney, public transport so easy!!

Karuah

Another unintended stop that should read Maitland! But kinda glad it doesn't - we were going to stay at the Showground but there was a caravan and camping expo on so after a very short discussion about pulling in and setting up anyway (who would notice? Said Maggie) we kept going to Karuah and honestly could have stayed another few nights!!

Kempsey

I'll be honest, this is just a cheap means to an end - car needs to be in Grafton for a Mazda service on Thursday so we are biding time!! The Showground great accom for $20 although the extra $5 per night for girls a bit rich!

REALLY?????

We went to the Sea Life Aquarium in Manly - Leigh was eyeing up the brewery across the road and bravely suggested perhaps we ALL didn't need to go........if my sharp glare wasnt enough to make him wither then perhaps it was my comment of "if you want to make this a competition about who has had the most "me time" then let's go buddy" that saw him plaster a smile and walk through the doors 😂

Anyway that's not my interesting fact of the week! We did a shark tour about Grey Nurse sharks and learnt that females often give birth to only one because the first foetus to grow teeth in the womb EAT the other babies. 😳 Ewwwwwww. 

BEST PART vs WORST PART

🤸‍♀️Liv

Best part: Finally seeing the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House! It was so much better than I could have imagined! I loved the Sea Life Aquarium - the shark tour was really interesting and I learnt lots of new things about sharks!🦈

Worst part: Mum telling me to Sshhhhh all the time - I can't help it if I'm loud 😭

🐴 Maggie

Best part: The boat trip to Manly and the Sea Life Aquarium - I loved the penguins the most 🐧

Worst part: All the people rushing in the city - I was so scared. I don't love lots of people and honking cars 😞

🏌️Leigh

Best part: Definitely Sydney - so much to see and do! 

Worst part: Without a doubt the Macquarie Pass - my AFD went AWOL after that harrowing drive - on a positive note at least the brakes waited until we were at the bottom before giving out!!

🌺 Rana

Best part: It would be lax of me not to mention the warmer weather but my best part is an emotional one  - It's wonderful watching the world through the girls innocent eyes at the moment - their bucket lists are awash with ✅ and proudly hanging in the bunk cave - most importantly for us is a complete change in their relationship with each other - yes there are ridiculous arguments and competitiveness over the last biscuit but also a dramatic increase in giggles and cuddles.....warms the cockles of my heart. ❤

Worst part:  Sydney city - not the actual city, of course it's beautiful - just the fact it's a city, so many people rushing around was a "too soon" reminder that three weeks ago this was me.....we never intended on spending time in the rat race however it was awesome for the girls and Manly (via Captain Cook) was a welcome reprieve......

LESSONS LEARNT:

📝 Our in-car navigation system is next to useless in cities - it literally has a meltdown. Therefore with a driver who can't use the navigation system and a front seat passenger who can't navigate manually to save herself we are literally screwed in a city or town any bigger than Ballarat. 😂

📝 Reality has hit home that this isn't a 2 week jaunt.....I can't just take the dirty washing home to do,  or let the girls watch a movie so I can put my feet up with a cuppa (oh come on we all do it!!) - so we are constantly rehashing the boundaries to make this work for everyone - first cab off the rank is an hour or two "free time" for Mum this week woo hoo!! 

📝 Don't let Leigh and girls stop to watch street performers otherwise it becomes a family sideshow with us included!!

SAY IT AGAIN???

Miss 12 "owwwwww Dad!! I hurt my hand!!!

Dad "walk it off, just walk it off"

Miss 12 😡

NEXT DESTINATION:

Coffs Harbour, Grafton followed by the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast where we have every intention of stopping for a whole week! Woo hoo!!!

 

A road thus travelled......

 

The beautiful view from Kooka in Shellharbour -  my fave yet!!

 

   I think you will all be familiar with these shots!!

 Leigh the Street Performer - don't ask! 🙄

 The serenity of Karuah.....more nights required!!

And last but not least! Lunch at Port Macquarie - the beauty of travelling with a kitchen - lunch can be anywhere you like!!