3. Should I cancel the van?

Bilgola Beach

Last Friday we were off for a rainy swim at Bilgola and looking forward to boarding Black Magic on Saturday morning at Palm Beach and spending a couple of days in Pittwater, Cowan Creek and Hardy’s Bay with my sister Peit, her partner Captain Steve, her daughters and their partners and grandchildren.

Bilgola Beach

Bilgola Beach
Cowan Creek

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hannah and Al

Incredibly the day dawned beautiful for us on Saturday and we had perfect weather all weekend. It was such a tonic to spend time back in these waterways with family. I was last here sailing around in about 1995 on boats owned by my kids’ Dad and me, Mum and Dad, and friends. I had my 30th on a Palm Beach Ferry and many other family parties on and around this beautiful sandstone edged waterway.

Peit and me

Refuge Bay Waterfall

Although we were only on the boat for about 28 hours – time slowed to allow relaxing, swimming, Refuge Bay waterfall, fishing, eating, drinking, scrabble (which I won! And Pete came second due to a rule my sister Peit regretted making up). I wanted to get my paints out and get cracking on my next painting. Next time. Hannah did a couple of drawings – she came prepared.

Pete the figurehead

French toast a la capitan Steve
after Pete's delicious breakfast

Pete was happiest out on the deck or in the water – he was a bit cramped in the cockpit and gally. He made us the most delicious French Toast with maple syrup and banana – I think there will be quite a bit of French toast being made into the future by those who were there to enjoy Pete’s. Actually as I write Peit sent me through a pic of French toast a la capitaine! Love it! Haha.

With Graeme And Ruth
at Church Point Waterfront Cafe

Graeme and Ruth pad

After our fond farewells, we caught a ferry from Hardy’s Bay to Palm Beach and the lovely Hannah and Al drove us back to Church Point. We got showered and dressed and were off for a delicious king prawn linguine meal with Graeme and Ruth, our hospitable hosts, for our final meal before heading south to Melbourne. De ja vu to be sitting in a recent version of the same Church Point Waterfront Cafe and General Store I loved back in the day. We were spoilt rotten by Graeme and Ruth and their grown children who adore their long time friend Pete and vice versa. Thanks very much you guys xxx

byer Motor Inn Cab Shiraz

We took two days traveling from Church Point to Melbourne, via Warriewood to vote. Pretty exciting to be only a couple of sleeps from picking up the van. We stayed at the Byer Fountain Motor Inn at Holbrook on the way down - it was built and run by my great uncle Max back in the late fifties I think. We stopped in at the HMAS Otway submarine which is an interesting story - a sub in the middle of the country. 

Donna aboard HMAS Otway


 

 

 

 

Pete on HMAS Otway Holbrook

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beechworth
We drove the road less travelled through Chiltern for a yummy country pie lunch then diverted to Beechworth because I've heard how beatiful it is. I think we will come back here with our canoe and our ebikes - it is stunning.  

Beechworth

Cousin Luke and Di
 

 

 

 

Our first night in Melbourne was to visit my cousin Luke and his partner Di - such a lovely evening in Port Melbourne. Dinner at their local Prince Alfred Pub  where his daughter works and then too much red wine back at their urban retreat. Lots of catch up and getting to know you  chat - always a bit cheeky landing on working folk mid week. Thanks so much for haivng us - looking forward to next time. xx

We take possion of the Eco Tourer E10 Hurricane!

Next stop was Srpingvale South where we took possession of our beautiful new van. We are so stoked with it - it is all we hoped it would be and the hand over by young Alex was a pleasure - learning all the things so that we can best utilise her and look after her well. We left her there for the night so that we could go see Spencer at Fairfield without dragging her around the city.
It was so nice to see my beautiful son - it's been 18 months since last we saw each other. He looked after us - gave us his lush bed in his lovely share house where the house full of fellas live well and have a shed for all their boy toys. I wish we could have seen more of him - but we will be back as we get on the road proper and he will come camp with us then. Thanks for letting us gate crash you mid week Spence - love you all the world xx


Spence! at the Wesley Ann Pub for dinner


Boys toys galore
It is almost a year since we ordered the Eco Tourer van at Brisbane. It’s been such an exciting prospect to work towards – most of the time… We’d been together about 7 months when we ordered it. It is now 20 months since we hooked up proper. The last year has seen us selling Pete’s house (after 32 years living, surfing, and building in Lennox), purchasing his next place at Evans Head, packing up and moving all the things minus many due to the downsize. Pete then accompanied me out to the farm over a few months where he helped get my mud house to lock up and furnished after twenty years slogging at it.

Our first sleep in our new abode

The van was due to be ready in February this year. I was working out how and when to leave work. Pete was informed of a health issue in early November which resulted in a major operation in February. The van was delayed anyway because of Covid among other things. As we have negotiated our way through – when things would get testy between us – Pete would say …. Should I cancel the van? And that would seem like the end of the world to both of us. So, we’d manage our way through and continue planning for where we are right here right now. We were laughing about it while driving down the Hume and I decided it should be the title of our bext blog. We are so happy with ourselves - and looking forward to the adventures ahead.
We are currently at West Creek in Gippsland with a lovely long time friend of Petes, Veronica who lost her husband, Pete's mate, just over a year ago. We are camped in her yard for a couple of nights - have washed finally after two weeks - and are booked at Tidal River Wilsons Prom tomorrow for five sleeps. Sending love to you D and P xx 

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