Stuarts Point August 2014, Wk1 and 2

July 29^th, We travelled to Stuarts Point, with a stop at Coles in Kempsy, to stock up on our groceries. We booked in at the Holiday Park and set up on our riverfront site. We have been here a few years ago and it’s one that we like a lot.

July 31^st, I took the boat off the car, set it up and put it into the Macley River, chained up to a tree. I am hoping to catch some fish while we are here.

August 3^rd, It has been very cold and windy for the last 3 days and today we had a bit of rain, as well. So, I still haven’t been out in the tinny yet, but caught a couple of small bream off the bank.

August 4^th, At low tide, I went out in the boat to the sand bar and pumped around 30 yabbies. Boy! That was hard work! I’m hoping it will be easier with practice. I went out for a fish at 3pm but didn’t have any luck.

August 6^th, The wind dropped a bit today, so thought that I would go out for a fish, even though it was low tide. I decided to go downstream as I have been told that they are getting a few fish down at South West Rocks, at the inlet from the ocean. I didn’t expect to get that far down but after probably getting around a kilometre down river and on the sandbars 3 times, I gave up and came back home. I might try it at high tide on another day.

August 8^th, High tide this morning, so went out for a fish just along the front of the Caravan Park but only caught a small whiting. I went back out at low tide and pumped a few more yabbies.

August 9^th, Went out again this morning but didn’t catch anything, then found out later when talking to the Park Manager, that the professional fishermen had recently cleaned the river out. Val and I decided to take the walk out to the beach, as it was supposed to be only a 10 minute walk. It actually was a ¾ hour walk from our Caravan to the beach and back. We would have only spent 5 minutes at the beach taking a couple of photos, nice long beach though, with fine sand.

August 11^th, Very strong winds today and very cold. I went for a stroll along the river’s edge and did notice, for the first time, that there were a few small fish along the river edge, so hopefully the fish are starting to come back.

Failford July 2014

July 19^th, We travelled to the Riverside Holiday Park at Failford, just north of Tuncurry. We arrived to a closed Office and were let through the boom gate by one of the workers and told to pick any spot and set up, as he didn’t know anything about the Office work side of things. Surprisingly enough, the office is only open for a few hours on Thursday and Friday mornings, but had a phone number to contact the Manager at other times. I picked a patch of grass alongside a power post and started setting up. When I went to connect the water I couldn’t find a tap, so rang he Manager only to find out that they don’t have water on any of their caravan or camp sites and we would have to get water from the nearby Camp Kitchen! The other snippet of information from the Manager was that their Park is basically a “Home Park”. We made a few calls to other Parks in the area and decided to try it for a week at this one, as it was close to our friends at the Wallamba River Park, at Darrawank. I finished setting up and we went around to Terri and Patrick’s place for dinner.

July 20^th, Terri and Patrick picked us up this morning and we went down to Nabiac. There was a Caravan and Camping Show on at the Showground, but at $15 a person with no pensioner discount, we decided it was a bit rich for us and went around to check out the Tavern for lunch. It looked busy so we decided to try the Pub at Harrington, after a visit to the Nabiac Caravan Sales Yard on the way. This is where Terri and Patrick bought their Van and we were very impressed with the presentation and prices of their Vans. We arrived at Harrington Waters and found the Irish Pub, so went in there for lunch. It was packed but we got the last vacant table and enjoyed a great lunch and a drink.

July 21^st, I got the boat off the car and set up.  I put it in the river then went upstream for a fish. Very disappointed, I came home without even getting a bite! To top things off, I am still having trouble with my clamp on wheels, as one has practically rusted away.

July 22^nd, I went out for a fish again today and this time went down river and fished out front of the Wallamba River Caravan Park and came home with a bream and a flathead. The rusted boat wheel collapsed, so I went to the Recycle Centre and picked up another rusty wheel and was delighted when it was a giveaway. Terri and Patrick called in for afternoon tea and dropped off some chokoes and cauliflower for Val to make a batch of Choko Pickles.

July 23^rd, I got busy today and dismantled my new rusty wheel and rebuilt it as best I could, using all the bits I had from both wheels. I put the boat in the river, the rebuilt wheel kept undoing the nut, as I couldn’t get a split pin fitted and the bearings are stuffed. I motored up to Wallamba Caravan Park and picked up Patrick and we fished our old spots but the fish were not biting. Val cooked up a delicious meal in the slow cooker and we took that over to Terri and Patrick’s for Dinner tonight. Terri has been trying to buy a Robe for their second bedroom, without much luck. She is desperate for more hanging space, so Patrick said he would build one and I offered to help him.

July 24^th, I went to pick up Patrick this morning, to go to Bunnings at Forster and pick up the material for Terri’s Robe, and he was having trouble walking with his sore leg. I took Terri with me instead as Patrick would have struggled to walk around Bunnings. We stacked the material in the cleared bedroom ready to make a start tomorrow.

July 25^th, Went back to Terri and Patrick’s today and prepared the side and top melamine panels, kickboard and a vertical board to hold the door catches. We screwed and glued all the joints and stood the assembly up, then fixed it to the wall. It was looking good already. I stayed for a Pizza dinner with Terri and Patrick before heading home. Back home, Val told me that a plumber had called in this morning to let her know that the water to the camp area was being cut off, as there was a leaking problem somewhere! We would now have to cart our water from the Amenities block up in the permanent section.

July 26^th, I put 2 hanging rails into the robe, made up the doors and assembled them with magnetic catches. Job complete and Terri and Patrick were very happy with the finished job. It wasn’t perfect but I was happy with it as well and had enjoyed doing it for them. Still no water at home today!

July 27^th, I loaded the tinny back onto the car and we drove into Tuncurry and did some shopping. Val rang the Park Manager and got an afternoon appointment to finalize our fees and , on asking, got a 50% reduction for our last 3 days stay, due to the lack of water in the camp area. How good is that?. Val made Spaghetti and Meatballs, which we took around to Terri and Patrick’s for dinner and to say our good-byes. We leave for Stuarts Point, just north of Kempsey, in the morning.