Darawank October 2012

October 1^st, When we arrived at Wallamba River Holiday Park, yesterday, the Van on the site behind us was parked too far back for me to properly position our Van on our slab, to set up the annexe walls. They left today so I hooked the Van up to the car and moved the Van into its correct position. To set up the annexe I had to complete the repair of the roller shaft, with the parts that the Mens Shed had made for me. Unfortunately, the spigot diameter was too large so I “Let my fingers do the walking” and found a couple of Engineers in the Local Directory. That is a job for tomorrow.

October 2^nd, Rob and I headed off to Forster to see if we could get my roller spigot turned down to the correct size. I now had a sample of the shaft it had to fit into. We drove to the one that looked like the smallest business and more likely to be able to help me on the spot. When we arrived at the address, it was a private home and we thought we must have the address wrong. There were no signs advertising that a business was being run from there. I could see the garage door up so decided to check and it  was the right place. I gave him the job to look at and went down to the car to let Rob know what was happening. When I went back to see if he could do the job for me and at what cost, he handed me my spigot, turned down to size, and said “no charge”. Just goes to show that there are some generous/helpful people around, when you need them. Back at the Park I fitted the spigot and re-tensioned the roll out awning and set up the Annexe. Rob and I bought Pizza’s from the local shop in the Park for dinner with Val and Carole in the Camp Kitchen, then finished off the night with a game of Tiles.

October 3^rd, I set the boat up today, ready to put in the River tomorrow. Rob had his boat ready to launch, so using my towing hitch, we towed it to the boat ramp, put it in the River and I drove the boat up to the Lagoon while Rob drove his car back to their site. The lagoon is a safe mooring away from the wash of the Ski Boats and has a walkway, to tie the boats to.

October 4^th, Rob helped me to put my boat into the River, so we gathered our gear and went out for our first fish. This was the first time that I have been able to use my new fish finder and although it was showing fish on the screen, we didn’t catch any.

October 5^th, Carole and Val went into Town to  do some shopping, so Rob and myself spent a few hours fixing water leaks on both our Vans. Carole threw a line into the River from the board walk and landed 2 bream.

October 6^th, We went out for a fish in Rob’s boat this morning and after changing spots a couple of times, ended up in the creek that runs up the northern side of the Park. When we decided to move again, the motor wouldn’t start. After a lot of rope pulling, a few times the motor did start then died again. My guess was that it wasn’t getting fuel and was cutting out after burning off what little made it into the carby. Rob thought that he had picked up some dirty fuel. We eventually gave up and paddled into shore and I walked across the Park, collected my boat from the Lagoon and Towed Rob and his boat back to the Lagoon.

October 7^th, Rob came back from shopping with 2 “Witch Hat” style crab traps, so put them out in the river, to try our luck. We joined in with Carole, Rob, Terri and Patrick for a BBQ dinner next to Carole & Rob’s Van. We had a great meal with plenty of food, as always, and after Terri & Patrick went home we finished the night with a game of Tiles.

October 10^th, Rob and myself have been fishing everyday, in my boat, and have had some success with a couple of 37cm flathead and a 27cm whiting, but no crabs. I added a tin of cat food, with holes punched in it, to the crab pot.

October 11^th, Checked the crab trap this morning and found an unusual fish caught in the mesh of the trap. Nobody in the Park could identify it and it was not listed in our “Australian Fish” Book. I managed to set it free once I had dis-entangled it from the trap. Rob had to take his boat motor in for a service, in Forster, as he couldn’t find the cause for his motor problem. After he picked it up the problem was rust flakes from the top tank was fouling up the carby, so with that problem solved his boat is back in business and now ready for their upcoming stay at Dunleith Tourist Park, at the Entrance North. With Carole and Rob, we went to Terri and Patrick’s for Dinner and drinks, and had a great meal and enjoyable evening.

October 12^th, The 3 girls went on a Shopping Spree today, they call it “Retail Therapy”, while I went out for a fish with Rob and we caught 2 good flathead, 37 and 43cms. We all had a good day, in our own ways.

October 13^th, No fish or crabs today. We took Rob’s boat out of the water, loaded it up on his truck then Carole and Rob packed up ready to leave tomorrow.

October 14^th, Carole and Rob finished packing up and moved their Van off site and parked in the street, then with Terri and Patrick, we all met for a Fish & Chip / Hamburger lunch at the Shop in the Park. After an enjoyable lunch, overlooking the River, we saw Carole and Rob off for Home.

October 16^th, I took Patrick out fishing with me and Patrick caught a 46cm Flathead plus 3 other throw backs while I caught nothing.

October 17^th, I decided to clean the skylight in the Van and soon realized that it had to be completely removed from the roof to do it properly. Half way through that job and we were hit with Gale Force winds, but I had to carry on regardless and finish the job. I was glad I did get the job done as it now looks as good as new. The weather improved late in the afternoon, so I went down to the boardwalk to join the other fishermen and woman and landed a 56cm Flathead. What an unbelievable catch!

October 19^th, yesterday and today Patrick and myself caught a 50cm and 3 X 37cm flatheads. Patrick is still out fishing me but I’m sure my day will come. We are doing all our fishing “on the drift”, using cooked prawns. I did catch and try fishing with live “Poddy Mullet” and never got a taker. A large tent was being set up down on the Flat, northern end of the Park, and I found out later that we were getting a visit by a 50 strong Motorcycle Group called “Easyriders Australia”.

October 21^st, We caught our 1^st Muddie today, but it wrecked the crab trap. Val was overjoyed and cooked it up for her dinner tonight, which she thoroughly enjoyed. We read in our fishing book that the Witchhat type of trap were not suitable for Mud Crabs and we now know why.

October 22^nd, The “Gale Force Winds” were back again today, so no fishing. I put the witchhat traps in big bin and went into Tuncurry and bought a Proper “Mud Crab Pot”, best I could get from the local Fishing / Camping Shop, with 4 entries, so how could we miss.

October 25^th, Went out fishing with Patrick and we caught 3 just legal flatheads. While in Tuncurry this afternoon, I made an appointment to see a Doctor about my swollen left leg. I’ve had a bit of fluid in that ankle for the last 2 years but now it doesn’t go down overnight, so I thought that I should find out what the problem is.

October 26^th, I saw Dr. Islam at 10.15am and after examining my leg put me on a course of antibiotics, as a first thing to try. I did injure that leg when we first arrived at Wallamba, dug out a chunk of flesh, about the size of a dollar coin and it’s still healing. Val cooked up a heap of Crumbed Flathead Fillets and we had Terri and Patrick around to our Van for Dinner.

October 27^th, Val had a few bets today on the Cox Plate Day at Caulfield and apart from a few small wins got up the Trifecta which paid $267, WELL DONE.

October 28^th, Went fishing with Patrick and I caught a flathead and a Garfish and Patrick had a nice day out on the river. I knew my day would come. Had a fish off the boardwalk at sunset and caught my first bream.

October 29^th, Saw Dr. Islam at 11.15am and he was happy with my progress and instructed me to complete the full course of antibiotics and come back on Friday. Patrick and I went out for a fish after lunch and we caught 2 flathead, 52cm and 37cm, of course Patrick caught the bigger one. I should point out that Patrick will not keep any of the flathead that he catches and gives them to Val.

October 30^th, Terri and Val went out Shopping, more Retail Therapy, while Patrick and myself had a fish, with Patrick pulling in a 36cm flathead.

October 31^st, Fishing again, Patrick a 42cm flathead and a 28cm Whiting and I caught a 37cm flathead. We are enjoying our fishing trips. Val has been making “place mat sets”, so family and friends, look forward to getting a present.