The 60th Celebration – Whitfield to Fingal Head NSW 2020
The plan started the morning after the McMasters house warming party, with a breakfast catch up at South Beach cafe. The 14th of March 2020 with Jo, Ged, Jenni, Dave, Denise, Jim and us. With a plan on a motor bike trip to Whitfield. Little where we to understand what road block was about to happen! Corona Virus, Covid19 Pandemic 2020, isolation, was about to begin! Any plans for this year where about to become crashing down for everyone. So after three months of no social life we where all feeling a little down, Cabin Fever, so as soon as the rules where lifted a quick plan to escape the peninsula and go back to our March plan, unfortunately now the bikes where ditched due to the winter weather. Peter turning 60 and unsure 😐 of how to plan anything due to numbers allowed in homes at this time, we thought why not just keep going up north in the hope the Queensland border may open!
June 12th 2020
As we do we left very early in the morning 5am picking up the caravan from the factory and on the road through the city before the traffic. Our first stop for breakfast was Euroa a very cute country town. Peter having his snickers moment raced to the first cafe in sight a bakery. I walked a little further into the Main Street for my coffee, from a cafe. With coffees in hand we walked down to the river park and took a few nice photos of the beautiful trees.
Arrive in Whitfield before lunch at set up our caravan before the others arrive over the road at the Airbnb house Lusso Kv
Peter and I checked out the house put the heaters on, and headed over the back fence to Dal Zotto for a wine tasting. As we liked the wines signed up to the wine club.
By about five the others arrived and happy hour began. Everyone was super happy to finally be away after so long being unable to do much socialising!
We ordered pizzas from Dal Zotto and lit the open fire outside.Lots of laughs and also lots of bubbles, our big night.
Saturday 13th June
Our first tasting booked due to Corona Virus is restrictions being in force, was at Pizzini 11am. We piled into two cars feeling a little poorly from the night before. At Pizzini so coffee and apple strudel was on the menu before wine tasting!
Next stop Polintini wines and home made Canoli made by the Nona. Again Corona virus makes everything that much different, due to everything being sanitized, Lidia the winery owner had to use disposable cups which doesn’t help the tasting. The small things we have always taken for granted. Only so many people allowed in tasting rooms, restaurants, shops it’s crazy times!
Next a quick walk through Chrismont winery as the tasting room or restaurant not open again due to Corona virus restrictions.
Lunch at Chestnut for the famous hamburgers from the general store, just what everyone craved after a big night!
To burn them off a walk down to Paradise falls, lucky this time the water fall was running!
Back to Whitfield called into the Mountian View pub again no drinking at the bar due to you know what, Corona V we ordered our dinner to later be picked up for take away. Saturday afternoon drinks at the house with the fire on outside. A quieter night tonight, as we peaked the first night.
Sunday 14th June
Packed up the van after breakfast said our goodbyes and headed off to our first stop on our way up to warmer weather Jugiong. We stopped at Albury by the river for lunch in the van. The grey nomad journey begins. Jugiong by mid afternoon, perfect spot by the river.
Over the road to our favourite pub, The Sir George yay 😀 we can have a drink at a bar in NSW!!!!One happy man
Sitting next to us a really nice couple we had a chat with, he was in the God Squad motorbike group from Canberra and invited Peter to join! We had a really nice night and appreciated being able to have a restaurant meal and a drink 🥃 🍾
15th June 2020
This morning waking with a lovely river view outside our van bedroom window, we got up and walked over the road to the Jugiong pantry for breakfast again another Corona virus restriction no tables inside, so we ate breakfast outside in the cold. I love this shop and bought a few bits for Ivana and NEs. On the Hume with dozens of passing trucks we made it through Sydney pretty well! Our stop for the night was Hawks Nest caravan park. Ok not that impressive. A little tired park. Arrived here just before dark.
16th June 2020
Talking to our neighbours at Hawks nest this morning raved about the caravan park at South West Rocks, horseshoe bay so that became our planned stop for the night. A quick drive around Hawks nest and back out on the road.
A lunch stop at Rosies cafe in Johns River was really nice. Rosie a Greek lady who can cook with a lovely garden setting good find.
Lucky 🍀 here as we got back onto the highway not far from Johns River a truck had a tyre blow out on the other side of the highway and ended up on ourside, with another truck breaking very hard to miss! A very lucky escape by all
Arrived via Crescent Head beautiful afternoon with the cool kids in their camper vans lined up by the surf
Impressed by Crescent Heads we decided to come back on the way home. Arrived mid afternoon into South west rocks loved our set up here and can’t wait to return here one day! Peter set up and off for a quick dip.
Dinner in the van and Netflix White line session. Morning early sunrise walk around stunning South West Rocks, with a few nice picture moments!
Take away coffees from the cafe up the street and a visit to the local butcher. Continued our walk down to the river entry and over the bridge a really lovely morning here!
17th June 2020
We left South West Rocks and as it turns out often we get a phone call at the moment we leave a place and end up missing the turn off, we make a mistake end up on the scenic route out of town oh well! First stop today Coffs Harbour, The big banana never to return! Nothing remains the same, I’m sure the big banana has had a size reduction and the cafe is crap! It doesn’t help with this crazy pandemic to be fair!
Our next stop has been recommended by Greg Miller – Chock who wished he had discovered this place years ago, Minnie Water. We first went for a look around Wooli, a cute little seaside village looks like a holiday home kind of place with the ocean on one side and a river on the other. Followed onto Minnie Water and ordered fish n chips at the general store. We sat on the picnic bench by the life saving club and saw our first whale.
Got to the caravan park at around 3pm. Today’s mistake one to remember always disconnect the 12pin plug from the car or you bugger up the Slide out bed, which is what happened! A phone call to Jane and Phil and pull the controller apart to fix the broken button, hopefully we never do that again.
I imagine Minnie Waters would be a nice place to spend more time at, but we are on a mission to get to Fingal Head, and we are time poor.
18th of June 2020
Raining this morning so a cooked breakfast in the van, then sort out the slide out bed. Thankfully Peter can fix stuff because it was pretty tricky! It rained the whole day while we where driving to Fingal Head quite heavily so not much fun. We arrived in Fingal Head to rain and around lunch time, we headed straight for the Very Rustic Sheoak beach shack for lunch. Tracey Kay had mentioned this little find, which was quite interesting! Nice art work, pottery and home made food.
Onto the Fingal Heads caravan park after lunch, still bucketing down we checked into the caravan park in the pouring rain. One of our worst backing in the van experience’s, (so far) due to the rain. Sat in the car for the rain to slow down. Parked the van and just jumped into the caravan. After a while the rain eased and we went off for a drive into Kingscliff, where we found the lifesaving club and had happy hour there. Walked the Main Street and got a few supplies from the supermarket. Back to Fingal Head for dinner in the caravan and Netflix session.
19th of June 2020
Not a great day as it’s still raining, so the perfect time to sort a few things out. Pay bills, washing, shopping, Peter hair cut and a drive around to get our bearings around Kingscliff with a coffee at the French cafe at Salt the big resort there. Back at Fingal Heads and a walk to the cute little light house and look out for passing whales.
20th June 2020
Organised to meet up with Glen Delaney and Nicole for an early breakfast in Kingscliff, as he is off to flinders for his sons 21st surprise. As it’s not great weather we decide to go for a drive into the hinterland. First stop Tumbulgum where Sam would love us to buy as it’s a town right beside a perfect wakeboarding river. A perfect house is on the market waiting for us, only it’s a bit of a flood prone area, sorry Sam not for us this time!
Next stop yay happens to have a market on today, the first one I’ve been to in months since this whole Corona Virus crap started, Murwillumbah, nice not great bought some cards painted by a friendly lady we chatted with. Walked though the art centre which was nice and found a take away coffee place. There is a gorgeous newly renovated pink pub in this town with lots of old Queenslander type buildings around the town.
Next stop as I wanted to see Nimbin after 35 years when I went there as a teenager with Nicola Morgan and blew up a car! Far out don’t really care if I never go back. No Covid 19 worries in this place, it’s like a whole different universe here! After walking past a group of guys pretty high on life and very grungy looking, I was seriously in need of a calming beverage and it’s only 11am! We found the cleanest looking cafes to sit and calm my farm! Ordered a Gin and tonic, beer and a pizza which surprisingly was very delicious, and happen to have a clean loo! Bought myself some Hemp Oil drops, a quick walk up the street and probably never return!
Back to the Caravan Park and set up properly as the rain has eased. Peter found a couple of new fishermen mates Dan and his brother who gave him some fish which we cooked on the Webber for dinner, very nice.
21st June 2020
Breakfast in the van this morning. Then Glen arrived with the kids, so we went for a walk up the beach to the lighthouse point, to the most amazing dolphin show I think I will ever see in stunning crystal clear waters . It was beyond fantastic, Glen’s girls absolutely loved the moment. Soon after Sam and Ana arrived to see the dolphins too, pretty up there moment.
We walked back blown away by the magnificent show we had just witnessed, with Jess and I collecting shells along the beach. Glens kids had a play on my electric bike back at the caravan. We then decided on lunch at the Chindy Pub at a table in the sun. Glen’s girls had a little tumble where Jess got a bit of a black eye! Nice afternoon with the family. Happy hour we called into see Mark and Mel Harrison at their home off Lagoon street backing onto the bush track to the beach. Pretty amazing property they are doing up. I’m sure will be very impressive one day. We had a lot of banter on old stories on their back deck by an open fire. Arrived home late around 11pm lots of fun with nice people.
22nd June 2020
We woke up early with blue skies we took advantage of the day, with an early morning bike ride along the river via the Harrison’s to pick Peters sunglasses up left from the night before. We rode to the cafe Cubby beside the Chindy pub opposite the river, for a yummy breakfast and coffee fix. Sat over the road beside the river for a while before riding back to Fingal Heads via a caravan park along the river, where I came upon a big snake, shit myself as I hate them quickly rode on super fast! Back at the van caught up with washing and Peter fixed the blockage in the van. Had a relax on the beach listening to my audio book Alicia Keys so far autobiography. We had a quiet night getting ready for a big weekend. Early night as it gets dark by five and feels late.
23rd June 2020
crazy!
Up again fomo – early and off for a walk on a perfect morning along the beach we decided to walk to Kingscliff. Couldn’t of asked for a more beautiful morning, we had it all blue skies, birds singing in the bushes, dolphins beside us and whales in the distance, heavenly morning. An eight kilometre beach walk into Kingscliff we stopped at Choubox for breakfast again, as we went there with the Delaney’s the other morning. Walked around the shops in Kingscliff then called an Uber back to Fingal Heads, from the boat ramp. Went to Tweed Heads for a quick shop, Peter to find some fishing bits and I went to Aldi for groceries as Ivana and Nes came down to see us at 2:30pm. We had a cheese platter and bottle of wine out the back of our van in the sun which was really pleasant!
After we went for a walk up to the point along the beach to show off where we are staying. Back at the van we had an early bbq dinner together. Very nice evening
24th June 2020
We cooked breakfast in the van, did my diary entries before I forget sitting out the back of the van listening to the birds in the sunshine so nice! As my laptop was not working we went for a drive into Tweed Heads to try and sort it out, first by going to Jaycar to test the charger. The guy said it was fine ( I don’t think so ) next step to post laptop to Brisbane a Leader computers, as it’s under warranty. Bit complicated go to post office with order on my email, walk over the road to print shop, print labels back to post office, leave laptop at the post office to be picked up hopefully, told 24hr turn around- not true!
O
M. Our plans to maybe go to Queensland shattered, not for us this winter.
Home
Back to the Caravan Park by 2:30 to sort out insurance for Peters new car to go ahead, as it’s a car chopped a little difficult or a challenge to find an insurance company! Club 4×4 to the rescue. Dinner tonight in the van, bbq.
25th June 2020
Peters last day in his 50s and holiday fomo again, up early and a walk along the beach towards the spit we had a beautiful kelpie dog keep us entertained with a stick the whole way there and back. Carole called to wish Peter happy birthday a day early – later Chris as well, new bday 25 June ! Another spectacular winters sunny morning
Loved the mornings walk along the beach it doesn’t get any better to have a dog beside you, looking out to more dolphins and whales far out in the distance. Peter had a fish for an hour with no luck. Next activity! We went for a drive down by the coastal road towards Byron bay.
Next stop for lunch Brunswick heads hotel which was really nice as it was sunny and an old school hotel. Peter loving his birthday celebrations! Decide apart from the pub Brunswick Heads is not for us, a few interesting souls about this town like the freak walking up the street with his massive boom box and dancing to his own beat, and the guys in the park shed doing whatever!!!!!
A quick trip into Byron Bay to buy Peter some last-minute birthday presents when Peter gets a call from Slop he’s old friend for a quick beer on the way home. Speed trip back to Kingscliff where we stayed on for drinks with the Delaney‘s, Ending up staying for dinner and leaving around 8:30pm, we know how to pack in a big day on holidays.
26th of June 2020 Peters 60th birthday today
A sleep in finally! Cooked the boy a nice breakfast on the Webber just how he likes it!
Then off for a bike ride down to the general store for a coffee. Peter getting lots of birthday calls, the weather not that great today. While we where sitting at the general store a funny thing happened. A really good looking Mercedes Benz fast white car goes by, does a u turn and a guy gets out to say hi to Peter. I’m thinking like who’s this now? Who does he know or should I recognise this bloke? Turns out it’s one of Peters fishing mates from the caravan park called Steve. Next his girl friend the driver of the car gets out wearing just a jacket, bra showing with black patent very high stilettos, bright orange lipstick and nails, completely out of place for Layback Fingal Heads general store. Pete’s mate Steve asks us over to his holiday weekend apartment for drinks, sorry we are out of time. It’s always entertaining the people Peter meets along the way. I booked a haircut at 2:30 in Kingscliff did a bit of shopping before my appointment. Peter stayed back at the caravan park and had a fish. Sam, Ana, Ivana and NES Arrived at the caravan park loudly singing happy birthday to Peter so that everyone around could hear, it was pretty funny. Then here comes Nes with his famous shots. More shots at Slop’s house. Dinner was booked at Spice Den in Casuarina, by Ana. So for Peters 60th birthday, he had Sam, Ana, Ivana, NES, Glen & Nicole Delaney and Al & Kristy Cook, we had a really nice night and lucky to be out with friends. As had we been at home the Corona Virus restrictions would not of let you be in a group of ten people.
Back at the caravan we had more shots and a little bit more fun for Peter‘s 60th birthday celebrations.
27th June 2020
After a pretty slow morning from the big night before we had breakfast in the van. We then went for a walk up to the Lighthouse and sat and watched the surfers and Whales in the distance. We walked through the track and down the street to the general store for a morning coffee with hot chips for our hangover. Walking home we went via the boat ramp to have a look at the point. In the afternoon Peters two cousins from the Gold Coast, Jillian and Cheryl called I called over to visit, which was really nice of them.
Andrew the caravan park pest
This guy was so predictable, someone could write a story for a comedy about this guy. When we arrived he straight away came out introduced himself. Overly helpful, moved his car guided us into the caravan spot. Then started his nosiness, with his head in our storage box checking everything we owned. Noticed Peter had the wrong shackles on the caravan. Told other people we had a new van, as we had people come over and comment heard you bought a new van! Maybe it was due to Peters backing the van in skills that day. Made sure Peter kept his distance from this guy. As days in the park went by we noticed his routine. He would be super friendly to everyone arriving, repeating what he had done to us. His wife just sat in the annex every day reading never with him. We would never see him walking the beautiful beach, just stalking the park. With young girls in camper wagons he would be around them, the minute a van left from a site he would walk around looking for dropped coins. So when we left I wrapped a dollar coin in paper with a note saying thanks for bringing my washing in. He was pretty amusing to watch and what he wore even funnier, dorky safari shorts, socks with slides and our neighbours saw him in his silk dressing gown with a big dragon on the back. Hopefully we don’t meet to many Andrews in our travels!
28th of June 2020
Sunday morning we cooked breakfast on the barbecue. The weather today was not looking great it was raining consistently. We had arranged to meet Mary Clapworthy at the Sheoak cafe at 10 am. We had a lovely chat and lots of reminiscing of the old days. Mary had her beautiful greyhound sitting by her side on the couch. One funny story Merri told me that I had forgotten was when Nick was born Mary was impatient and rang the Bays hospital while I was in labour to ask to speak to us. The hospital put the phone through to the birthing ward and spoke to Peter just as Nick was born. Mary remembered that Peter wasn’t very happy as no one knew at that time what we had had. We laugh about it now.
All in the details
After a coffee we went for a drive down to Byron Bay to take the clothes back I had bought for Peter for his birthday and exchange for a different size. We called in to the farm at Byron Bay and got some take away lunch as it was packed.
Peter got a text message from Slop calling drinks at the Kingscliff hotel Sunday afternoon. Of course Peter could not resist the temptation. So I dropped him off at the hotel and went back to the caravan park and picked up Eric and took him back to the pub.Tracey and I had a glass of bubbles to celebrate Tracey‘s birthday. After we picked up the boys from the Kingscliff hotel rather pissed. They had a great afternoon catching up with Mel and Mark Harrison as well as Slop. Eric has booked the Taverna for dinner at 6:30 for Tracey‘s birthday. As we were running late but the restaurant could only let us have the table for an hour. So we quickly ate our dinner and had our desert at the bar. We had a really fun night lots and lots of laughs due to the boys being pretty merry!
29th June 2020
This morning we had a late brunch with Tracey and Eric at our favourite little cafe called Cubby.
Peter swapped cars today with Slop due to his Queensland numberplates so we could go over the border to see Sam for the day. We picked up Sam and went out for lunch to the Burleigh pavilion.
Again lots of rules and regulations of where to sit or not to sit due to the coronavirus. We had a nice lunch of pizza and a salad to share. We got a message from KIrstie could we go and have a look at some units she had seen on the Internet in Currumbin. So off we went with only minutes to spare as it was nearing 4 o’clock. Checked out the units not really that great so off we went for a drive around to have a look at other Real Estate in the area.
With not long to spare before the sunset Sam took us for a walk up Miami lookout to watch over the sea. Sam then dropped us off at Ivana, Nes and Anas’s house for dinner which was really nice as usual Nes had made a beautiful spread of his slow cooked lamb he cooks so well, and Glen my brother joined us as well. More shots to come and lots of laughs at old man. We got back to the caravan that night at about 9:30pm.
30th June 2020
As that was our last day in Fingal heads we had a slow morning with coffees made by Eric in his caravan. We all walked up to the Lighthouse walk to watch the views, before we went back to the caravan to pack up for an early start the next morning. Tracey and I had a little bike ride to the general store for coffees and takeaway. Peter took the fishing rod back to Mark Harrison‘s and I did a quick shop for dinner for the night. We we went back to the caravan to pack up for an early start the next day. Tonight we barbecued the meat at Eric’s van while I roasted the vegetables in the caravan oven. As it was cold we had tea in our van with Eric and Trace, as Eric would say in the Club Lounge!
1st of July 2020
With a bit of a slow start to leaving Fingal heads our first stop was a small bakery in Tyndall. The coffee didn’t look great there so we stopped at a place called Ulmarra, For coffees from a small van beside a couple of antique shops that we look through and a timber shop. The antique shop was absolutely amazing the way they displayed the antiques in colour and types I could’ve spent hours in there.
Ulmarra was a great little find off the highway, where all the good stuff is! Here we parked opposite the police station by the river on a perfect still afternoon. We walked past the pub up the Main Street to pass through the quirky little shops. The book shop was next level, packed with pre loved books. A classic old Ute outside the pub with the best beer garden by the river ever, really super nice meals too. Again we are too time poor, dream about slowly seeing places with as much time as you could want.
Back on the road to Cresant heads to meet up with Jenni and Dave by sunset. We arrived around 4:30 pm to our site already taken by young campervan cool kids. So therefore we had to call the office to arrange another site quickly before it got dark. Under the stress of trying to get sorted before dark Peter didn’t see the light pole outside the left hand side so a slight dent and smashed the back tail light. Today’s lesson walk around the site you are about to back into and be aware of any poles in site and take your time. Once we parked the van we went over to the barbecues where lots of Mornington Mt Martha people were having drinks, Jan Dunton and janes chatty friend too. For dinner Jenni and Dave and us walked up to the RSL to lineup due to Covid restrictions until another four people came out. As it was Parma night for the flogs the first Wednesday of the month the boys had to have a Parma and share the photo with the flogs at the Kirks. Jenni and I had the roast of the day which was super yummy. A fair few laughs was shared by us of the stories of our trip so far.
2nd of July 2020
As this was officially our last day we had a slow morning breakfast in the van followed by a walk up past the lifesaving club to the point to watch the surfers and the whales on a beautiful day. We then walked up past the golf clubto the top of the hill to look back at the views either side where we met a couple of farmers that lived near Tweed heads. They had driven from south west rocks along the beach. The guy recommended we buy a pass to drive along the beach up the hat head end. We walked back past the Watertower down the street to the green room cafe as recommended by Jenni and Dave for coffee. I had a little bit of retail therapy before going back to the caravan. Next activity on Peter‘s mind was the beach drive, so Peter motivated Jenny Dave and I to jump in the car and go for a drive along the beach. We got to the place where the track starts So Dave and Peter dropped the tyre pressure down ready to get onto the beach. Remembering Dave has a bad back and the tide was coming in we just had a 15 minute ride on the beach, more dolphins beside us lots of fun.
Life is never boring with Peter and sitting down doing nothing is not an option. So next activity after the beach drive is a quick Sup with Jenni before the sun goes down. Happy hour by the river at Jenni and Daves and calling it a progressive dinner back for main course in the Jayco Club lounge. So many laughs tonight at caravanning stories of the toilet cassette filling emptying. One funny story Jenni told her was that in our van our cocktail cabinet was like a fridge. This became the joke of the night with Dave popping a vb can into the cabinet and saying it will be chilled in two minutes! To late a night for the drive the next day through Sydney traffic! But lots of laughs!
3rd of July 2020
A very slow start this morning due to the night before. We packed up the van then I walked down to the lifesaving club to order coffees and egg and bacon rolls while Peter finish the packing up. I sat on the picnic table near the lifesaving club when Kathy Mitchell Jane Mccaulay‘s friend came over for a chat, boy can she talk. We chatted over becoming grandparents both of us this year and all our purchases probably chatted for to long because we didn’t leave Cresant head till about 11 o’clock. Unfortunately driving through Sydney the satnav took us in the wrong direction costing us about half an hour. Note to self never use a satnav going through Sydney again, always use the signs. We arrived in Jugiong at about 9 o’clock that night. Our heads hit the pillow and fell asleep instantly.
4th of July 2020
We left pretty early took the wrong turn out to the highway, once again on the phone to Nick. Don’t know when we will ever learn to not answer phone calls leaving or coming into towns on these trips. Anyway satnav took us on a backroad journey with beautiful scenery, and showed us where the Jugiong non catholic cemetery Peter had read about the night before, so we will take that as a positive! Found the correct road out finally. As we didn’t stop for breakfast in Jugiong, we stopped first to see the Dog on the Tuckerbox , in Gundagai
We then followed the signs into Gundagai for coffee promised on the highway billboards to be the best coffee before Albury, lucky for me it was good coffee. Again off the highway is where all the good stuff is as Gundagai is a really regal town. Buildings built in the gold rush era still stand proud! Nice Main Street and one place I would like to come back with more time to.
We arrived home Saturday around 6pm tired from the drive. Thankful to have had a fun 60th excuse to get away from all the Corona craziness as the numbers in Victoria are going crazy. The rest of the country are not happy with Victoria as borders can not be opened and businesses are suffering. I’ve come home with a cold, nervous of the dreaded virus. And burnt out from all the fun! As I finish writing this blog tonight the 6th of July the New South Wales border is closing at midnight due to the outbreak of Corona Virus, we are in for a bumpy ride ahead. So thankful for the time away we had with many friends along the way. Live by Yolo and Fomo because you really don’t have any idea of the future!
