Ben and Bonnie Wedding

We were thrilled to get away to Townsville to see Ben and Bonnie get married.  We had a really enjoyable 4 days away with Family and family friends.  Here are some of the beautiful photos of their Special Day

A day in Orange

We are having to make sure we get the km's on the car so today we headed out to Orange to Visit Dazza, Kazza and Noah.

We left at 7am with coffee in hand and a large home made fruit salad. We made one quick stop in Lithgow for a comfort break and then were back on the road. It was almost exactly 3 & a Half hours from our door to theirs so at 10.30am we were welcomed with big hugs and hello's.

After a coffee and stretch we headed out to see the sights and head for lunch. We were given a tour of the area and went up to Mt Canobolas. It was cool and cloudy so we couldn't see the whole view but of what we could it was stunning. Noah was very impressed he got to see his rockets also.

Well this is where the day SLOWS down and we sit and just soak in the atmosphere, smells, sights and ahhhhhhhhhhhh just everything wonderful. We made our lunch reservation at Borrodell on the Mount for 12.30pm and we arrived to find we had one of the best tables and view's they could offer. We shared antipasto plates and sipped champagne and then onto wine with our divine main course and after letting it all absorb us we all polished off a very decadent dessert. We chilled some more then headed back to the car a very casual 3 hours after arriving. Noah was a dream just sitting and playing and also enjoying it all.

If you wanna sneak a peak at where we ate and the menu click on the title of this post, be warned though it may make you want to take a spontaneous trip to Orange to try it for yourself.

We headed back to the Smiths seeing more of Orange on the way. We stayed for a short while longer before hitting the road about 4.45pm. Again it was a easy trip home taking the same amount of time with no traffic to be seen.

Thanks Smiths we cant wait to do it again.
Us2martins doing gourmet lunch in Orange.

HUGE stick insect

While camping at Crowdy Bay National Park we came across a HUGE stick insect we almost could call it a Log insect it was so huge. We had put our things away for the night and were locking up the car when I noticed this bug on the inside of our canopy window. We very gently moved it out and onto the roof. We took some pictures just to show you how big this thing was. We then left it to very slowly move on its way and we never saw it again.

Us2martins and 1 HUGE log insect.

Crowdy Bay National Park

On our trip home from this year from Christmas in QLD we did some exploring. We first stopped at South west rocks and spent the night and then doing the tourist drive we found our way through Diamond Head and into Crowdy Bay National Park. There are 3 nice flat camping areas 2 of which are within 100mtrs of the beach and the other just a short drive or longish walk.

We decided to take a weekend away and book it in as a club trip and head back to this area. It is a comfortable 4 hr trip from Sydney and in a National park so no pets or generators and there is a fee for being in the park and staying the night.
On the 12th and 13th of feb we headed out early to meet up the fellow explorers and campers at Taree at 9.00am. We caught up with David and Liz on the road, Walter and Alicia were first to the meeting point, next in were Rhys and Effie and bringing home the trip report title were Hammo and Di. We all grabbed coffee and some breakfast and pulled out and into line on the highway just before 10am.

In the convoy we had 1 Holden, 1 Mitsubishi, 1 Nissan, 1 Jeep and 1 Suzuki holding up the club name strong. We took a turn off the highway too soon which took us into the park via a different road and past a camping ground we had not seen before. We aired down for comfort and then pushed on into the camping areas. With this park there is a rangers station and you have to pay there first prior to setting up camp. The way we entered the park we saw all the camp sights before getting to the rangers station. We pulled in bought bags of wood and paid our fees for the night. On returning to our vehicles Rhys was found jacking his car up to change his rear flat tyre that had collected a large rock and hence a hole.

Some of the group took a walk to the beach to have a peak and others helped Rhys and if you were David you just tried to look busy so you didn’t have to do either. After it was changed and we were back together we drove out to the Kylies Beach camping area and picked out space. It was fortunate that the Holden, Jeep and Suzuki had all bought along marquees for shade so they went up first as the day was warm. After we set camp we gathered to have lunch and chill out. It was then that we decided to jump in our cars and head down to the beach. We only went a short distance and then pulled up and ran in for a swim. The water was very cool but refreshing. Everyone went in and enjoyed the water. The boys all went out and did some body surfing while the gals chilled in closer to shore and kept count on the bobbing heads.

After cooling off we drove back to camp and proceeded complete the afternoon doing lots and lots of nothing. David managed a nap in his chair I pulled out a towel and found a shady piece of grass while others read and chatted and drank. Rhys and Effie kept making cocktails and the champagne and wine came out as the afternoon passed. Before long it was time to start the fire and cooking of the roasts. Once the sun went down we sat and chatted around the fire and generally just enjoyed camping and each other’s company.

Sunday morning we slept till it got too hot to be in the tent. We cooked up a yummy breakfast and then proceeded to pack up. By 10am everyone was packed and it was decided we would head back to the beach for some photos and swimming. We swam and then showered and were back on the road home by about midday. After airing up out on the black top we hit the highway again in convoy with Raymond terrace as our final destination for a late lunch. We ate and then said our farewells and went our separate ways home. It was a really enjoyable weekend with fantastic company in a peaceful destination.

Us2martins camping in Crowdy Bay.

A reccie to Chichester State Forest

Rhys and Effie put the word out that they were heading away for a Reccie weekend. For those who don’t know what a “reccie” is. It’s the art of going somewhere you have never been simply to find out what’s there. It doesn’t matter if you get lost or find nothing it’s all about the experience of going somewhere new.

Saturday morning we set off early to meet Rhys and Effie at the Wyong servo’s at 8am. As we approached we spotted them and managed to pull in before them, therefore they should be doing the trip report but I don’t mind doing them so here goes. We had coffee and pulled out about 8.30am.

We pulled into Dungog about 10.00 and found the local i centre. We made short stop and then found our way to the Chichester Dam. We decided to have a coffee and morning tea by the river at the base of the dam. We then made a quick stop at the dam wall took photos and then headed for the forestry tracks and to find a place to camp. Along the track we came across a old hunters hut had a quick look around and kept moving.

We found Frying pan camping area’s there are 2 here one for trail bike riders and one for everyone else. It was around 1.20 and we decided to push onto the other camping area to also check it out then make a decision where camp would be for the night. We drove for about another 15min and pulled into to Telegherry camping area’s. All camping area’s were covered in lush grass and they all had pit loo’s and seemed very inviting. We had a look around and then picked a spot to camp. We all set up tents and chairs and then enjoyed some lunch.

The rest of the afternoon was spent chatting watching the boys drive the remote control car around and generally relaxing. We shared food and cooking then Rhys built a fire in the provided pit. We ventured down to the river right on sunset to take photos and have a look. It was a beautiful area with enough places to hop in and sit in the moving cool water. It was too late and too cold to swim then but on a warm day it would be very enjoyable. As the sun fell the fire was lit and we then sat for another few hours just talking and keeping warm by the little fire.

Sunday morning we all woke late and again shared a cooked breakfast. We took a slow pack up and left camp after another trip to the river for a look about 11pm. The plan was to do a big loop around the park. As we were tracking along we took the occasional detour down inviting looking tracks with none turning out to be much but if you don’t look you will never know. We came across a interesting diversion and as Rhys put it lets take the path less travelled. We took a right turn and wound our way through lots more forest. After taking a left instead of a right we crossed another river and found our way to a lookout but on to a different track. This track bought us out onto “The Buckets Way” and back heading for home just north of Stroud. After a quick comfort stop we made our way out to the highway. We pulled into a rest area and had a coffee and this is where we realised how hot the day had become. We had a easy trip back into Sydney and were home and unpacked with the car washed by 6pm. A very enjoyable weekend, we will be going back to keep looking around the forest there are lots of tracks and other camping areas to explore.

Us2martins with Rhys and Effie in Chichester State Forest.

Australia Day 2011

Peter Hilton had decided to run trip to Boat Harbour, Kurnell for Australia day. We have spent Australia Day there before and with the weather supposed to be warm we decided to join him. Desiree, Jerome, Barbara, Tom, Louis, Hammo, Evil Hammo, Chris, Linda and Kate all also came along. We got to the gate at 8am and Hammo showed up minutes later and with cars filling in we decided to go get a spot. There was limited choice when we got on the sand so we picked a spot with our cars backed down towards the water’s edge. The tide was out and we so we had plenty of room.

Peter, Jerome, Louis and Chris all showed up within the next half hour it was good we organised a early time as by 9.15am the park was full and everyone was being turned away. This did mean that some friends couldn’t get in which was a real shame.
We set up shade and had coffee and sat back to let the suncream soak in as well as the atmosphere. We all took turns at venturing out into the water it was cool but refreshing. Jerome and Chris had bought along a few pairs of snorkel and goggle sets so they were used to watch fish and Octopus. Chris also bought his Kayak which they enjoyed using to paddle in the calm waters.

We have heard about sea mist before but have never witnessed it firs hand. Well today we did. It was an incredible sight it was easy to see it approaching and it was cool and salty to feel and smell and kept a lot of the heat out of the day. From about 10.30 till 2pm the mist blew through in patches some so thick you couldn’t see far in front and others only lightly passed over.

The day was spent swimming and walking and lots of talking and dot sitting. After lunch I went out for a snorkel and was fortunate enough to see a blue groper which was about 1mtr long and also swim over the top with a manta ray which had a wing span of about 140cm. It was a truly wonderful way to end my swim and day at the beach.

When we got home Leah and Tara came over for a swim and then Peter and Desiree also joined us. We then sat and enjoyed each other’s company and had a lovely BBQ dinner. We couldn’t think of a better way to spend our day.

Us2martins Australia Day 2011 Boat Harbour.

Beach House Photos,

A weekend at the Beach House.

There is a beautiful house at 91 Marine Parade MacMasters Beach. It is co-owned by the Robson’s and another family. It is set on a hill looking across the far south corner of the beach with only the native trees between you and the view. At the end of a cul-de-sac there is the life saving club and kiosk which each day brings out the locals and visitors of a coffee or drink while watching the beach goers. The house has 3 bed rooms upstairs and a bunk room down stairs allowing a total of 16 people to comfortably stay. A kitchen with a view to die for and then a well equipped deck right in front to sit out on and just soak in the sun and salty fresh air.

We had wanted an easy weekend away to share friends for some time and with a little planning the beach house was booked. Tim couldn’t make the weekend so Leah, Holly and Tara were to represent the Steele family for the weekend. It was the weekend after the Hilton’s wedding so as a little extra gift we invited them to also join us for a night only giving them few instruction on location and what to pack they went along with it and turned up to a very nice surprise.

We met up with Leah just before the freeway on Friday night and hit the road north. The beach house is a easy hour and a half drive from Syd. As we got to the end of Mt White we hit road works so off the freeway we jumped and enjoyed the windy roads of the Pacific Highway to get to our destination. We arrived about 9.30pm and unloaded the cars and settled in with cup of tea in hand by 10.30pm the relaxation had set in.

Saturday and Sunday there was lots of delicious food cooked and enjoyed countless hours spent at the beach and sitting on the deck. Afternoon naps were had by those wanting one. Often followed by glasses of wine and more soaking in of the aromas of the beach. We had planned to make it a long weekend and took the Monday off work so as the sun set on Sunday night we drank wine and were very content with just sitting for another evening. Peter and Desiree tried to come up with many a plan to stay but their work beaconed them home. They had to head but as late as possible to soak as much in as needed. Monday the beach was empty for most the time and as we sat and ate ice-creams on the beach while sipping latte’s a pod of dolphins put on a show right out in front of us. It was hard to leave the beach as the water was cool and crystal clear and just so enticing. We had an early lunch on the deck and then packed the cars and hit the road home. We were in the door before 3pm unpacked sun soaked and completely RELAXED.

Us2martins with the Steele’s and Hilton's chillin at the beach house.