Our journey to Broken Head

Blue ocean. Yellow sand. Grey rock. Green trees. White and grey seagulls.
Broken Head!
A short road leads past houses hidden behind trees and bushes to  a small caravan park nestled into a bluff. The  park rises up from the beach in a gentle slope.  Caravans, tents, camper trailers and camper vans surround the central  ablutions building. Sounds crass, but it's actually quite a pleasant looking structure of white rendered walls and a high pitched roof. Circular windows are set high up in each end wall giving it a kind of Mediterranean feel.
Being in the centre of the park gives everyone the same distance to walk...which helps in the middle of the night when you just 'gotta go!'.. :-)

Our adventure begins about a month ago when we buy a used Hi ace Toyota camper van. It's a big deal for us, because we are contemplating making a trip around Australia next year. This is the beginning of that idea.
We organise pots, crockery, cutlery, food, etc.
Sheets for the bed, a light cotton blanket, pillows etc.
I buy medium sized seethrough plastic containers for our clothes, which turns out to work well.
Camera, books, torch, thermos, matches plus a myriad other bits and pieces we need.

We head off on Monday 14th December, but we take ages to get ready. Then when we finally are, our first port of call is the local BCF store just up the road.
We need chairs. Ross has seen some 'you beaut' chairs that cost the earth, have adjustable backs and are extra comfy.  We debate for less cost, easier to set up etc, but we go with the luxe model. After loading our buys into the van we drive to a friend's place a few suburbs away, who knows lots about things like: how to switch the gas on, how the lights work, what the battery does, how to work the tap  and how to fix up the annexe and shade fly. None of which we know how to do at this stage! Unbelievable, but true!

By the time we leave his place it's after 5 pm and peak hour!
 Not to worry, we head off any way, after having rung the Caravan Park at Broken Head, making sure they leave information in their "Late arrivals' box, outside the office.

We arrive after 10pm ESDT. All is dark, but the map they've provided  is well marked and we find site #4 easily. All to do now is to drive onto the cement slap (making our vehicle instantly level! hooray!) and plug in the power lead. Hey presto we have light! Our bed is already made and after a quick visit to the building with the round windows, we crash out for the night.

Next day, we  walk the 30 metres to the beach and enjoy the beautiful clear water as we dive in and out of the waves. Just gorgeous!
We drive to Brunswick Heads a place that holds fond memories for Ross, via a 'shortcut' because we don't want to drive through busy Byron Bay. Not a good idea as we spend quite some time waiting at STOP signs because of road works on the hilly, windy road!  however...we arrive at Brunswick heads where we used to visit a Christian community in the late 70's. We hadn't been back there for ever...so it was good to walk the stunning white sand beach and rummage around the shops.
I see an item in a shop window that would make a great present for Christmas but the shop is closed - Every Tuesday. We must come back later in the week.

Then we drive to Byron Bay up to Cape Byron to look at the lighthouse  and enjoy the amazing views. There's a man asking us if we want to park and 'that will be $7 thank you'! It's going to the upkeep of the grounds and beautiful old buildings...so yeah, we pay the seven bucks.  We walk up the hill to the lighthouse, then down, down, down the steps that lead to several more easterly lookouts. There's another point way further down which I would love to go down to, but I don't think I'd get back up the steep hill again. As it is, I take several opportunities to 'enjoy the view', so I can get my breath back and continue my climb back up the steep steps to the lighthouse. It's incredibly hot and very little breeze is blowing at all. Unusual for a spot so high up above the Pacific ocean I think.

We do a bit more sightseeing and before we know it, it's after 5 pm and time to head home - well, to the caravan park. We cook dinner on the small gas stove and enjoy the meal outside the van under the stars . It's milder now being right next to the ocean. So nice to get reprieve from the high temperatures that Brisbane has been enduring lately.

Our bed has turned out to be quite wide enough for us, but not quite long enough. Ross' legs stretch out about 30cm past the end of the bed. He curls up and is actually quite comfortable. He doens'nt complain at all about it. I find the whole idea a bit claustrophobic at first, but settle down when we leave the back door of the van slightly ajar during the night. It allows a lovely breeze to come in and I don't feel so hemmed in.

Wednesday we drive off to Lennox Head. Choof up to the head  where believe it or not there is no official look out. We walk up the slope of a vacant block and are rewarded with a gorgeous view past Broken Head to the north, right up to Cape Byron, the most easterly point of the mainland. Back in the car, we head back down to the Esplanade, following it to the northerly end where we discover lovely little Lake Ainsworth right by the sea. We park our van next to the lovely grove of trees that grows right along the eastern length of the small lake. It's nice and shady. We pull our chairs out of the van and enjoy a coffee and some bikkies in the dappled light of the grove. The water gently laps at the roots of the trees. Kids swing on a rope tied high up in nearby giant trees. It's so nice to see them having fun...reminds me of youth camps near the Pine River in my teen years.
Nearby some painters (tradies), have finished work early and enjoy a beer with their lunch. They have several dogs who run in and out of the water and race through the trees. Max is a boxer and has been away a bit too long for his master's liking. A few sharp whistles and Max come bounding back. I'm so enjoying this.

People are swimming in the lake...so I end up having 3 or 4 swims. The water is dark brown. Stained by the surrounding tea trees, but completely transparent when you scoop it up in your hands. The top 1 metre layer is very warm but very cool deeper down. As I swim out further into the lake, the water is beautifully cool. I really enjoy my swims throughout the day. In between swims the rest of the time is taken up by lazing in our 'you beaut' chairs, having lunch, chatting, reading, having coffee, reading, chatting, snoozing and even a quick swim in the ocean on the other side of the little road that separates it from the lake.

We head back to the park feeling happy and ready for the night.
We have dinner outside again and decide that tomorrow we will stay put, and we do.
Thursday we read, swim in the ocean, talk to other campers about all things camping and travelling. We meet a nice couple from Brisbane on one side who are trying out their new off road camper trailer - top model, and a Swiss couples, who've been travelling around Australia for the past 6 months. It wil be their first ever Christmas away from home, so we invite them over for Christmas day. They may or may not come, but the opportunity is there if they want to come.
We'll give them a call.

Friday we decide to stay another night.Ross is told that there's just one night left for us on site #4...after that the park will be full with Christmas/January campers.
We put on our joggers and walk the cliff path that rises and falls over the bluff which is Broken head. It's unfortunately not a very long track, only about a kilometre and a half, and ends with a very steep descent of steps to a beautiful, secluded beach. We decide not to attempt the descent...the climb back up will be too difficult. We head back and end up spending some time sitting on an outcrop overlooking a series of coves with white sand beaches. The waves hit the rocks below us and explode in a massive cloud of spray in front of us, time after time. It's hot by the time we get back. A swim in the gorgeous turqoise waves is a must. The water has really chilled down since yesterday and we suck in our breath as we dive in. Once in it's still very cool, but extremely refreshing.  I just adore the water, the sky, the sand, the surroundings. Wow! How amazing is creation.
We head back to our little 'home' on wheels - our van for some brunch. We put our chairs under a shady tree in the little park right next to our van.  We read some more, sleep some more and I cook dinner, wash up and Ross suggest we go out to hear some music, have a coffee. Byron is too busy and grubby for my liking so we find a local hotel where they serve coffee and dessert. No music, but it's nice to spend some time out.

Because each time we go out we have to make sure everything is in the van and  packed in such a way that nothing rattles or shakes, it's very easy the next morning to get underway. After an easy cereal breakfast, we fill the thermos, make sure everything is secure and we head back home.
We take all day, stoppint at Brunswick Heads to buy the gift that I saw in the window. I end up buying a dress, a top and a cool strapless dress and a purple hat. The owner of the shop is hilarious, a reall eccentric who vow that purple looks amazing on me, I laugh my head off the whole hour or so I'm in the shop! What a fun time. I walk out of the shop, see a whole bunch of people having coffee on the pavement and see a woman who looks remarkably like one of my sisters. It turns out that it is she!! I end up having a chat to her and her friends.
Ross has been walking his favourite beach and spent time sitting by the Brunswick River while I've been shopping.

We head off again driving up through Pottsville, and stopping at Kingscliffe overlooking the estuary for lunch. It's turned dull and windy. We have a snooze in the van before heading home.

What a lovely few day it's been. We arrive home around 5 ish in the afternoon, having gained an hour since leaving New South Wales. We unpack the fridge and  I put on a load of washing.
It's good to be home again too.

Holmes Family Update

It's been quite some months/years!!! since I last 'blogged'!

24th August is the date Jason and Steph have set for their wedding day! Yes, it's really happening...Jason popped the question on New Year's Day 2008, and since then wedding bells have been ringing in our heads. So much to organise - most of it has been done, but then there are all the smaller details that need attention.

• The engagement party was held at the Clontarf Baptist church venue and turned out to be a lovely afternoon. Everyone pitched in to help with setting up the room, decorated with balloons, flowers and colorful serviettes to match. Lots of rellies and friends turned out to celebrate the event, and wish Jase and Steph well. They received many great gifts, and thank everyone for their generosity.
  
  Anita moved to London in March this year and is enjoying herself. She became Nanny to Jack, son of her friends Sarah and Nat (?), but now that Jack has gone to Nursery school this week, she's trying to get a few week's work before heading to Europe with Tonia, who will be arriving later this month.
  
  The girls have finally made the move! It's taken them a while to get off their bottoms and onto a plane to fly across to the other side of the world! Good for them...!
  They will come home about 10 days before the wedding....oh my! I hope I can do it without their help.
  
  So far:
• Steph's dress has arrived


• I bought my outfit last Saturday on the Sunshine Coast


• Bridesmaids dresses are bought


• Ross has his suit


• Venue is booked


• Celebrant ready to go


• Flowers booked


• Cake booked


• Photographer booked


• Cars organised

So now we 'just' need shoes, hair, makeup, DJ, accessories, something warm to throw on so we don't all die of cold on the day. Anyway, we'll get there I'm sure.

We've had a huge amount of much needed rain in the past few days, so that is fantastic. Too much in places, but Brisbane seems too often to miss out...but we certainly got some mm's to bless our dams with this time. Char and Dan and kidlets got stranded with no way in our out of their property. It usually doesn't take long for the water to recede, so they should be right by tomorrow.

Ross is busy with his little school run, ferrying physically and mentally handicapped children to the local primary and high school. It's a great part time job for him, which he compliments with his small business as a Marriage Celebrant. Check out his website here: http://www.authenticceremonies.com/ for more information. It's still a work in progress (the website) ,so keep an eye on it, as more pages will be added soon.

At the moment I am taking steps to ressurrect my INTIMO (http://www.intimo.com.au/) business...I have 2 bookings lined up this coming week and one later on in the mponth. So I'm looking forward to some good business in the next few months. The product is great, and sells well. Also lasts and lasts...so here's to the future! Do me a favour, and tell your friends... I'd be happy to come and do a presentation for them soon. They get lots of freebies too! If you know anyone who's looking to start their own business very cheaply...get them to call me on 0422 309 362...and I'll help them get started.

While on the coast I sold several Pursekets too -(check them out at http://www.womensbusiness.net.au/oscommerce ) My friend Fabe, pulled my Purseket out of my bag, when we were out to lunch over the weekend with some ladies who were attending the same Conference as I was. She announced: "Tricia sells these" much to my embarrassment...but she got a great response with one lady buying 2 and 5 girls buying one each...so now I have to order some more as I am low on stock.

I'd better bring this to a close as I need to get online to order some Business Cards at vista print for Ross. I've been procrastinating for weeks, and now the site is busy!! If you want FREE or low priced, but quality business cards, postcards etc etc follow this link: http://www.vistaprint.com/frf?frf=640726430812