Bonshaw Weir

Today we left Evans Head and travelled the Bruxner Hwy passing through Casino and Tenterfield with our destination Texas. This meant that we had to transverse some windy and hilly roads with one windy stretch being 35 klms before plateauing out, our speed was greatly reduced until we had crossed the ranges. With only 20klms to go until Texas we came across a free camp at the Bonshaw Weir which looked rather inviting, so after being on the road for 5hrs and over 300 klms travelled we decided to pull in for the night.

When we left at 9am it was already 20 degrees with 80% humidity a lovely day on the coast.When we arrived at Bonshaw Weir it was 26 degrees and 24% humidity at 3pm, a very dry heat to what we had been having.

As we pulled into the camp area we were welcomed by a fellow grey nomad who was already set up and relaxing by the weir with an invitation to join his camp fire at Happy Hour. Tonight there are about five other vans, a very large motor home and a couple of smaller camper vans. The couple from the two smaller vans are members of the Solo Travellers Club and are enjoying each others company with the benefit of having their own space.

Tomorrow we hope to make Texas!

Happy Hour Bonshaw Weir

Bonshaw Weir

100% attendance!

Evans Head

After a couple of days at Yamba with periodical rain and a drop in the temperature we were keeping a close eye on the weather forecast for further down the coast. Things were not looking crash hot so we back peddled 65klms to Evans Head. This is a lovely little coastal town with a beautiful beach that has two breakwater walls protruding from the river out into the sea, allowing the commercial boats access to a safe port. It is quiet difficult to navigate in rough weather with the waves breaking at the entrance also if the tide is low the boats will sometimes bottom out. There is a Fish Co-op at the wharf area where we managed to buy our last feed of fresh caught prawns for this trip.

We stayed three nights at the Silver Sands Holiday Park, which is the largest holiday park in NSW, it is in a great location positioned just a 100mtrs from main beach. No need to use the car as it is walking distance to the boutique shops, cafe's and of course the Bakery! We enjoyed some of the best weather since we have been away while we were there, we also managed to walk the beach each day, not forgetting the couple of meals that we indulged in at the local bowls club that was just through the back fence. If we ever come back to this park we would ask to be allocated a site in the overflow area, which is on the reserve alongside the river and a more informal environment than in the main park.

Unfortunately our time away is drawing to an end so we have to keep in mind that we need to move on as we still have some days travelling before we hit Melbourne. So this morning we said farewell to Carlene and Rex who are on their way north to Burleigh Heads and we took the Bruxner Hwy inland towards Goondiwindi.

Appreciating the coastal view Evans Head

Evans River

A well camouflaged lizard 

Side view of that same rock

Monument to wooden boats and iron men

Feeding the Loreekets beside the caravan

Baz critiquing another bakery

Yamba

Sunday we left Southport travelling down the Gold Coast Hwy towards Ballina, as it was a lovely day as well as Fathers Day every man and his dog was on the road it was like peak hour in Hobart. We didn't have any plans for our next stop, just thought we would call into some coastal towns along the way and choose a nice location. Our friends Carlene and Rex were leaving Port Macquarie that morning and hoped to meet up with us that night so we finally decided that we would travel as far as Yamba and meet them at the Big 4 caravan park. It was a lovely park for families with a jumping pillow, play ground, pool and a great water park, also a large number of  kangaroos and heaps of bird life, just glad we will not be there in the school holidays!  The only down fall is that the park is about 10 klms from Yamba, if we come this way again would probably try to stop at the Calypso Caravan Park which has a great location with an easy walk to the river, beaches and the town.

The weather had deteriorated after leaving QLD with occasional showers that passed over quiet quickly unfortunately is also made the temperature drop so it was on with the jeans and vest when we went out that night to the Yamba Bowlo for a meal, not looking forward to the cooler days as we head south.

Yamba Coastline

Lighthouse Yamba with another shower brewing

Grandad at the skate park Yamba

Local kangaroos in the caravan park

Creek that runs through the caravan park

Water park at the Big 4 Yamba

Water park at the Big 4
I could have used this for the
Ice Bucket Challenge