Crowdy Bay National Park and Dunbogan

THURSDAY 25 MAY

Following the State of Origin, I have to say that the ol’ head was pounding a wee bit, but I struggled manfully on! I decided to swing inland a bit, to see Taree and the first of Australia’s ‘BIG’ things – in this case – the BIG Oyster! I actually also considered staying the night, but one look at the place as I passed through convinced me I shouldn’t! On passing the BIG Oyster, I saw that it was now a car dealership – and a ropey one at that!! It really just served to confirm I’d made the right decision, so off I tootled to Crowdy Bay.

This area is a national park and you depart from the Pacific Highway some 40 klicks south – rejoining the Highway, via Dunbogan was marked by a dashed line on the map, which I took to mean that there was a path… of sorts! I didn’t fancy an eighty klick detour!! Anyway, Crowdy Bay is beautiful – little lighthouse on the peninsular and I reckon about 10 miles of sandy beach connecting Crowdy point to Diamond Head point, near Dunbogan. Alas, there was no caravan park, so I had to chance the ‘dotted line’. It was a road, but unsealed and for 26 klicks had to listen to the cutlery banging out their own staccato beat for the trip – my hangover was loving it!! Never has 26K seemed like 260!! Trudi had written me a list of ‘to dos’ and ‘must sees’ for my trip ‘oop Nor’ and I noticed that one of the ‘must sees’ had listed Crowdy Bay as a good spot to see some Kangaroo’s scooting about. I pulled off at Kylie Campsite … and I also stopped there – what do I see?

Say hello – the little fella wasn’t even phased by the car and there were loads around the campsite. I was tempted to stay but I really wanted a hot shower now and so it was more ‘rough and ready’ track to get to a caravan park.

Pulling in at Diamond Head, the Reception had free DVD’s which you can borrow, so I took out X-Men 2, to brush up on my ‘Mutant News’ prior to seeing X-Men 3 at the cinema some time – whose side will you be on indeed!! It turns out that this caravan site is where Neil’s folks, Ron and Sue, live. Winner – so I pestered the poor couple and arranged to meet them Friday night – for a BBQ! Waytago – Kirky’s first Aussie BBQ.

FRIDAY 26 MAY

Managed another cheeky run this morning along the beach and also got in for a swim. The sea had plenty to say this day and I got thrown about quite a bit!! The main task of the day was beer, snags and rabbit food for the BBQ, so I set off with gusto to get things sorted. Laurieton is a small little town, one main high street where I imagine that everyone knows everyone - either that or I’m becoming paranoid as everyone is looking at me!! It’s not until I go for a coffee that the lass kindly points out I’ve got bird poop on my shoulder and chest!! No wonder I thought it was the ‘Village of the Damned’!!

The BBQ was good – Ron, Sue and I had a good natter – poor Ron though was suffering from ‘Carbuncles’. Now, I dunno what they are but they sounded very painful – every time Ron moved, he grimaced in pain – or maybe it was my conversation!! None-the-less, good catch up again!