Buttercup to Cooktown and Roundabout Back May to August 2021

 After collecting our new caravan - a first for us - we headed home to Merrijig from Somerton in late April.  It took about three weeks to set up our 18 ft van the way we wanted it.  That was fun. Like playing house all over again. It’s a New Age Manta Ray,

We had two practise nights in our driveway about a week apart!  Had to make sure we didn’t forget life threatening items like the bottle opener!

New Age Somerton sales manager Clint Curnow did a top handover for us so everything was easy.

Yarram - Victoria - May 20, 2021

Our first stop was Yarram where a dear friend lives. Joan Christison and her husband Don, who has since died, were lifelong friends of my parents. My dad and Don were prisoners of war together in Eichstatt in Germany during WW2.  Once released they kept in touch for all those years so we grew up closely even though so far apart. Our family lived in Melbourne and they were on their farm in Yarram. It was great to reconnect with Joan, her son Jimmy and his wife Gwlenys.

 

                My Dad and Uncle Chris as we called him in 2006                                 Gwlenys,Jimmy, Joan and me in May this year

Paynesville

Laurie’s cousin, Sue and her husband Robert Fordham, live at Paynesville in a beautiful house on one of the canals there. They made us feel very welcome.  

The view from their deck, then from their upstairs bedroom.

The marina there was an eye-opener. Quite a bit of money tied up in those boats! 

This is just one small section of the marina.

Eagle-eyed Sue was quick to spy this sleepy resident of Raymond Island.

Sue and Robert took us to the most amazing restaurant in Paynesville.  Called Sardine Eatery and Bar the food was to die for.  If you ever get an opportunity to go there don’t hesitate.

We’d been advised not to miss the Mitchell River Silt Jetties.  They didn’t disappoint.  I had no idea how they were formed so found this courtesy Ms Google….The Mitchell River Silt Jetties have been created by silt deposits over thousands of years and are the longest digitate delta in the world. They are located along the end of the Mitchell River where it runs in to the Gippsland Lakes.  Access to the Silt Jetties from Captains Cove is just a 7 minute drive to Eagle Point. The Silt jetties offer excellent fishing locations, walking or bike riding track as well as a great place to observe birdlife of the Gippsland Lakes. Partly sealed & partly gravel the silt jetties extend for about 8kms. 

It took us much longer than the seven minutes mentioned above.  It was more like 30 minutes due to the VERY poor condition of the road. When we arrived at the end of the delta the view was lovely with a bonus small gathering of pied oyster catchers.

A fishing boat roars up the Mitchell River. The huge Mitchell River

Nearby is Eagle Point Reserve which gives lovely views as well.   It is home to a pair of peregrine falcons, hyacinth orchids, pig face, forest clematis and native blackwoods.  There was an interesting barrel installed two thirds of the way up the tree.  Perhaps a man-made nest for the Peregrines which are very creative with what they nest in like the planter pot on the ledge of the high rise building in Collins St, Melbourne. They will be nesting soon and you can watch their progress from August by clicking non this link, https://367collins.mirvac.com/workplace/building-overview/falcons-at-367-collins

Bairnsdale

A short trip to Bairnsdale followed so we could visit friends who were teachers at Timbertop, Christine and Ian Cooke.  Our boys and theirs were very similar ages and were great mates.  We were godparents to Matthew but not very good ones I’m afraid.  We had a lovely lunch at their favourite pub in nearby Nicholson followed by beautiful dinner at their place.

Ian, Laurie, Christine and Louise at the Nicholson Hotel.

Christine and Ian have a very productive vegetable garden.  It was so lovely to swap news about the boys and their families.

Our new van was due for its first service which we’d arranged to have at Bairnsdale New Age because the reviews had been outstanding.  They sorted a few very minor issues for us and we were on our way although several hours later than we’d hoped which meant we would arrive at our next stop in the dark.  Not ideal when still learning the ropes. But we managed!!

Mallacoota

After last year’s catastrophic bushfires we wanted to head for Mallacoota to spend some money there in the hope it would in some small way help the local businesses.  We checked in to the caravan park, quite late, and woke to explore the town.  Down at the wharf there is a moving tribute memorial to the firefighters and other emergency services who helped the community during the fire.

We’d planned to spend two nights in Mallacoota, to have a look around but had been keeping an ear out for any COVID 19 news. As the day progressed we realised a lockdown was imminent at midnight the next night so we bailed after the first night.  

We were an hour and a half’s drive from the NSW border and crossed over it the next day at 11 am.  The lockdown was to kick in at midnight that night with us having to be in NSW by 4 pm.  We made it by five hours.  Although the following day we found out that it had been brought back to 1 am!!  

  

There was no Welcome to NSW sign to tell us we had crossed the border. However there was this…..a nice touch!!

Next stop...Pambula Beach...