Journeys end

We arrived back in Sydney on the 8th of March 2010 at Narrabeen caravan park  from where we left  after 18 months of travelling. It’s a bit surreal  but we have noticed that nothing much has changed. The beaches are still the best in Australia and the pace of Sydney traffic takes a bit to get used to again after being away for so long. We haven’t had time to scratch ourselves as we have spent so much time catching up with family and friends that we are exhausted. We need another holiday.

Our tenants currently in our unit on the Gold Coast have been given notice and we intend to move there early May to have a base to regroup and allow us to do shorter trips.

So, this is our last post. We have had a great time, been to wonderful places, met some lovely people and would thoroughly recommend caravanning to anyone who is thinking about doing it.

Early evening from Jim's deck

Lamb shanks for dinner

Great shot Jim!!

Jim and Helen

Now on to Sydney.

Our progress to date

We are now in Merimbula for 3 nights and will be leaving tomorrow for Kiama and are planning to stay for 1 week. Then it is on to Narrabeen caravan park and the finish of our journey.

A ride on “Puffing Billy” the historic steam train is a must do and can be recommended as a great day out.  Drove to Belgrave in the Dandenongs and caught the train to Lakeside and return through Fern Tree Valley.  An hour each way with a stop for lunch at Lakeside. Bev reckons I was just like a big kid hanging out the carriage most of the time but I really did enjoy it.

Leaving Belgrave Station

We then drove back to Melbourne city centre and had a look at the new Docklands area before having a meal at Pellegrinis in Bourke Street, an institution in Melbourne, and well known for it’s great Italian food and atmosphere. Even met the owner who was giving some of his regulars a hard time because they were going to Guy Sebastion’s concert  and not Cliff Richard’s.

Docklands

Girls just want to have fun

At Pellegrinis

Sunday 21^st Feb 2010

Met Sue for coffee and caught up with what she has been up to. It’s probably been at least 2 years since we last saw her.

We then headed to the Mornington Peninsula via Arthur’s Seat, a lookout with spectacular views over the peninsular. Went as far as Sorrento and then drove back along the beautiful coast road to Melbourne. St Kilda beach must have been having a kite borders convention as there seemed to be hundreds of sails in the air at the time.

On Arthurs Seat

Mornington Peninsular from Arthurs Seat

Sorrento to Queenscliff ferry

Waiting for the ferry

Cute beach huts at Mount Martha

Kite boarding

Melbourne to Lakes Entrance Monday 22^nd Feb 2010

Left Melbourne and drove to Lakes Entrance stopping on the way at Drouin for lunch with my 84 year old uncle David and his wife Janice. I had been trying to contact them for a week or more and finally managed to get hold of them on just before we left that morning. David is fairly frail now but Janice seems very fit and well.

David and Janice

At Sale (it is for sale)

Lakes Entrance Tuesday 23^rd Feb 2010

Did a tour around Lakes Entrance then out to Tyers Beach and walked along a very small part of 90 mile beach.  Had lunch at a pub overlooking the water.

The pub at Tyers Beach

Lake Entrance entrance