After safely navigating the Sydney Metro Area, I checked into Toowoon Bay Holiday Park, not far from The Entrance, on the New South Wales Central Coast. The park is very large with many "permanent" vans and annexes that appear to only be used occasionally.
Once set up, I contacted Andrew Davies, who lives close by to the South at Brooks Hill near Wamberal, and not far from Terrigal. I paid a visit mid afternoon and it was great to catch up with Andrew, Sue, Josie and Nikki, who I had not seen for a few years. We had a cuppa and a bit of a gossip, then Andrew took me for a trip around the area, including Terrigal, Avoca, Copacabana and the Captain Cook Lookout over the three capes looking South towards Sydney. Silly me didn't take any photos, so a return visit will be on the cards.
On Sunday, I was invited for lunch and caught up with Nikki before she had to head off to work for an afternoon shift.
Nice family photo of Andrew, Josie and Sue after lunch.
I was treated to an excellent home cooked fish and chips with real green vege. A very enjoyable time, followed by a late afternoon nap, back at the van.
On Monday (5 Feb) morning, I took a decent walk around the area, including the nearby Toowoon Bay Beach.
After the walk I spent most of the day catching up on the previous chapter of the blog, which was just a tad overdue and watched a bit of the US Superbowl football game. Very strange spectacle for me, set up to allow maximum TV coverage and advertisements. I was hoping to see some of the clever US advertising created specially for the Superbowl, but unfortunately local boring ads prevailed.
Tuesday morning I had another hour long walk around the local neighborhood, with an excellent coffee on the way back from a small local cafe, which is likely to get a visit tomorrow morning for breakfast after I saw some very good looking scrambled eggs being served. Once I got my act together, I then set off to do some exploring around the area and revisit a few of the spots Andrew had shown me.
After another roundabout drive back through Terrigal, Avoca and Copacabana, I climbed up to the high point and stunning Captain Cook Lookout.
This is the fabulous view to the North past Terrigal.
The lookout is at the top of a very steep hill overlooking the rocky headland.
Cook was taken with the three prominent points and by the looks of it spent some time tacking in the area to make headway?
On the way back I had a closer look around Terrigal where Elizabeth (Davies) has an apartment and usually spends some time during the hottest part of the WA summer.
Terrigal is a very busy holiday destination with many hotels, apartments and a busy tourist strip around the bay and sandy beach.
The Haven is protected by Broken Head and has wide boat ramp and protected anchorage off the beach.
Next to the boat ramp is the Haven Beach Cafe Restaurant, which Andrew recommended and where I had an excellent coffee on the shaded verandah with great views out over the bay.
Another feature of the Bay is "The Skillion" with a sloping grassed slope up to a shear cliff to the rocky coastline below. Lots of people walking up to look at the view.
I continued my drive up to The Entrance where there is a bridge over the channel linking the sea to the large Tuggerah Lake. Again a very busy tourist area with lots of shops, restaurants, cafes, accomodation and you name it.
I returned to the park for a short afternoon nap and late afternoon Andrew & Sue came by to have a look at the caravan. We then travelled back to The Entrance to meet the girls and have a meal out together. Unfortunately the family favourite Italian and Pizza Restaurant was closed, but we had a walk around and were lucky to find another Italian based Restaurant right next to the water, with great views across the channel and sandflats.
This time I managed to get a photo including Nikki and her Boyfriend Tyler.
Dinner turned out well, with some very good pizzas, great salads and excellent company. A very pleasant evening for me. Andrew & Sue dropped me back at Toowoon Bay and we said our good byes for this trip. Was great to catch up with them and the girls, and meet Tyler as well.
Wednesday 7 February 2018
I had another beachside walk in the morning and did a bit of a review of the Super Fund share portfolio after the large (5%) correction to our holdings yesterday. Fortunately about half that loss was cancelled by a bounce in the market today, so I can (at least temporarily) call that a correction that was long overdue on Wall Street. I then did a shopping trip stocking up again at Long Jetty and Bateau Bay for my next short journey to the North.
Another beautiful sunny day with temperatures in the mid 20s (C) and a nice cooling breeze in the warm afternoon. In the morning I will continue North to Swansea, where there is a channel linking the very large inshore Lake Macquarie to the Sea. Stay tuned for the next chapter......
Catching up.
ReplyDeleteYou have some beautiful photos Pete. The car schamozzle was a lucky escape. Keep em comming