Lismore

We finally found a place to stay over Easter.  We are in Lismore, a very large regional town close to Ballina and Byron Bay.  We had no option but to move inland for this peak period as the coast was completely booked out. We even got it for a bargain price of $100 for the 6 nights.  Now try and beat that for an Easter peak period.  Impossible right.  Not at Lismore. Yes I'm hearing you.  The place was not the most lavish and the local residents not always the best but they stayed away from us and we stayed away from them.  It ended up being a great week. 

 

This year was our first Easter away from the extended family and it was very strange.  Not having the family get together...hunting for eggs around Pa Ace's house.  Not tucking into a great meal at Grandma and Pa's.  Those were the little things we missed.  We look forward to celebrating Easter with the family next year.

Good Friday...my favourite day in the whole year.  The only day when it is mandated in the house that seafood is the only thing on offer.  We had an absolutely amazing lunch.  A wide variety of fish, prawns and oysters.  All the things I just love.  Nigel even gave the prawns a go.  His first ever try and he really like the garlic & chilly prawns(Thanks Nathan for the recipe).  The two older kids enjoyed the prawns again and tucked into the fish also(whiting tails...yum yum!)   Kaleb tried a nibble of each but came to the conclusion "That's yuck...I HATE FISH." Oh well, maybe next time.

Alstonville & Ballina
Easter Saturday we took a drive to Alstonville and Ballina.  We went to Amaze'N'Place. A very cool lattice style maze.  The kids had quest sheets to complete and had lots of fun trying to find the centre of the maze.  Very cool indeed.  Next we visited the Big Prawn...sad old prawn he is, all shut up and lonely... Oh well off to the beach, can't dwell on the problems he is facing....LOL.  We drove back to Lismore to attend the night Market and to await Easter Bunny's arrival.  He visit for a quick moment and then dashed off to go and start his night of egg deliveries.  It was a nice Easter Saturday.

Easter Sunday arrived with the three kids squealing with delight & excitement.  Yeah Easter Bunny found us and he gave us lots of eggs to eat.  Kaleb dived in straight away and tried to eat his entire stash.  Wooo boy.  Keep some for later(AKA Dad).  We did a quick trip to the book store and brought some new books for all of us and Jordan and Dad got straight into their books as soon as we arrive back at camp. What a lazy enjoyable day.

 

Anzac Day - Easter Monday.  We pulled ourselves out of bed at 4.15am to attend the Dawn Service at Lismore Memorial Baths.  The kids struggle with the wake up but finally we hustled off around quarter to five.  It was a little miserable and the drizzly rain continued for most of the service.  The kids really seemed interested and plonked themselves in the front row so they could see the marching veterans and current service men and women.  It was very interesting and amazing as it was also our first one also.  As the start of the 2 minute silence was announce and just a mere moment into it, Austin pipes up as loud as can be.  "Can we go home now?"  Bless his little heart.  He thought it was all over as it all went quiet.  After the service was completed we took ourselves off to Maccas for breakfast.  A little reward for getting up so early. 

Byron Bay

After breakfast we packed the car and took a day trip to Byron Bay.  Not expecting much weather wise as it was so dreary at Lismore but as we climbed the 40kms to Byron the sky opened up and the sun and blue sky shone through.  It end up a lovely day, the beach and lighthouse walk were superb.  Very busy though and a backpackers haven.

Heading across the border in the next day or so.  Kids can't wait.

Yamba

In the middle of sugar canes was our stop for the next couple of days.  We stay at a caravan park on Palmers Island on the Clarence River.  The setting was beautiful but it had rain and rain the last couple of days and the place was like a quagmire.  We spent the entire set up squelching around on the grass.  Yuck!  The rain continued on and off over the next 12 hours but the following day it fined up enough to so we could go and look around Yamba.  It was a good 10minute drive from the caravan park we were stay which was the only draw back on our location.  Yamba was a pretty town.  We drove around for a little while then went to the main beach where the kids had a play in the rock pools.  After their play we stopped at a fish'n'chips shop and ordered lunch and had it sitting by the river.  It was an enjoyable meal.  When we got back we had time for a quick dip which was freezing.  I hate pools with no heating.  Aaaahhhh!  This was our quick stay over at Yamba.  Next time I hope the weathers better and we stay closer to town.

 

Nambucca Heads

The trip to Nambucca Heads went well until we noticed that the petrol gauge was almost on empty.  We limped into a town just a few kms from Nambucca Heads.  We ended up putting 70.11lts in the tank...I've never put anything over 65lts in and that's pushing it to less than 10kms on the petrol remaining amount light.  I think we may have been running on fumes.  When we drove into Nambucca Heads we took a right turn one to early so Navi changed her route information so we could get back on course but unfortunately we turn onto the worst hill ever.  It was never meant to pull a caravan up and it was on a 20% gradient.  Oh heck not what we needed.  We did get up the hill but not before a little bit of cursing at me and the navman.  I tell you what I really miss, that is the old fashion maps that show you where you are going.  The navman really can give you a false feeling of where you are. Two hiccups so far today whats going to be the third.

When booking into the caravan sites we tend to tell them we only have two kids.  One of our cherubs are forgotten about just for the briefest of moments when we arrive at the office.  Nigel went in this time and booked and they asked Nigel how old the kids were after he paid and nearly slipped up.  I was in the car watching out the window when I noticed the kids roll down the windows.  I quickly asked them to shut the window but I think they were already looking over before we did get it shut.  Nigel got back in the car and then told us they had asked the age of the kids and looked out at the car.  Phew they had not notice... until the gate number didn't work so the office lady Janine came out to let us in then stuck her head in the window to say hello to the kids.  The game was up...we had been caught out but still nothing was said.   Shawn her partner then escorted us to our spot and asked about the kids as I quickly whisked them out of the car and to park.  Then Janine arrived again to tell us that the number was now working and if we needed anything else.  I tell you what...I think we will be caught out one of these days but hopefully not too soon.  For the next four days we spent there they asked us about our kids ages and how many we had at least 10 times.  I think they might have know we were travelling with more than we told them but hey anything to save some money and its crap that you have to pay for the kids anyway.  Well there's the three thank goodness the days over and we can get on with enjoying the warm sunny days and swim and play by the pool and beach.

When we finally pulled into the site and the management left us alone we started on our set up while the kids wandered around the camp area to see what was about.  The kids and I went off to the kids room to do the kids activity and Nigel continued the remainder of the setup on his own.   That day was the last of our dry days while at Nambucca Heads.  We woke the next morning to find that the day was cool and a little miserable.   A little miserable was an understatement.  It was so bad that only indoor activities were available to the kids.  It didn't take them long to get caravan fever and they were bouncing off the inside of the caravan like they were in wrestle mania.  Quick decision was made and we all headed for the movies to watch HOP.  The kids really enjoyed the get out and really watched what the Easter Bunny did.  I think they were hoping that they would see if he delivered any to children who live in caravans.  Bless their amazing, vivid, wonderful coloured little minds.  I wish mine was still like theirs.  In between going to the movies Jordan had made friends with a little girl and her parents had organised the RSL bus to collect them for tea.  So Nigel, the kids and I all hopped on board and went to the RSL club also.  When we arrived the place was packed.  There was not a table in sight and Nigel had to hover until someone finally got up and moved to the games room or the show.  We felt like vultures but it was the only thing that we could do to get a table.  We finally got all our meals which were huge and very nice.

 

 

Day Trip - COFFS HARBOUR

We decided that regardless of weather we were going to Coffs Harbour to visit the Porpoise Pool and the Big Banana.  The drive up to Coffs was fine with a little drizzle but once we turned into the road leading to the Porpoise Pool we were hit with a deluge.   This continued for a least 30 minutes so we were a little soaked watching the snake man as his tarp overhead was full of bulging water patches.  Next we wandered around to the dolphins and played ball with them for ages and were able to touch them gently on their backs.  We watched the dolphin show which was fantastic and during the show I was picked to feed the dolphin.  That was a little exciting as I never get picked out of a crowd to participate.  After the show you could get a dolphin kiss and a seal kiss.  Jordan was lucky to be given two big kisses.  One from a gorgeous little seal and the other from a dolphin.  I was given a wet kiss from the dolphin.  So cute!  After our lunch we ventured to the Big Banana.  We did the Banana tour which told us the history of the banana plantations in Coffs.  We took the token photos then head back to Nambucca.

 

The following day the kids got to have a go on their first slip'n'slide.  They had no idea what it was as having a drought for 10 years and no use of sprinklers stops all of those fun toys.  They got the hang of it quickly and had an absolute blast.  They spent the next part of the day in the pool and on the pedal cars until the weather closed in on us again.

 

 

We packed up and gotten on the road right on 10am.  Which is unsual for us.  As we left Nambucca in our dust I realised i had made a huge mistake.  "I left the bloody washing on the line".  At the first available spot Nigel pulled up and we unhitched the caravan.  I then left Nigel and the van on the side of the road while the kids and I went back to collect the washing...A couple of minutes down the road, Austin lifted his head and said innocently "Where's Dad?"  I said "With the caravan".  He swung his head around and could not believe the caravan was not there.   He wanted to know why I had left and were we going to pick him up again.  I jokingly told him.'NO!' but that made him a little worried.  So I told him the truth.  That put a smile back on his face.  So fifteen minutes later with all of our washing now loaded and the caravan hitched back on and Nigel back in the drivers seat we set off again.  Off to Yamba for two nights.

Port Macquarie

During our quick stay at Port Macquarie we visited Ricardoes Tomatoes & Strawberries.  We had morning tea.  Fresh strawberrie jam, scones and delicious fresh strawberry shakes and hot coffees for Nigel and myself.  That's one thing I miss alot is coffee with the girls.  It  just not the same with a man.  They do not understand small talk and banter...lol...After our lovely treat we went on a tour of the tomatoe and strawberry farm and found out some interesting tips.  Carolyn these are for you...I know how your tomatoes faired last year so these tips might help.  Firstly you have to shock you tomatoes into think they are going to die.  So if they have more than twelve leave branches from the base.  Pull them off and the tomatoe goes into survival mode which means it will bear more fruit.  Smart little tomatoes.  The other is if you are having problems with afids and little pesky bugs use a diluted water & detergent mix.  Sunlight is the brand they say is the only one you use and is readily available in supermarkets.  1 part to 10.  Good luck tomoatoe lovers I know your crops will be great next year.  Don't forget we will be broke and in need of a feed so fresh tomatoes would be great......LOL.  After the tomatoes we head for the strawberry farm and even had a chance to pick our own.  2.5kgs later we finally took off for our next adventure. 

Off to Timbertown.  A replica village of the 1800's revolving around the wood industry.  The Bullock display was excellent and the bullock driver was a real character.  He was such a typical bushy and someone you could image driving the bullock teams back in those days.  Austin got to ride on large a draught horse.  He was very high off the ground but he loved every moment of it.  Jordan tried to crack a whip and came very close and Kaleb was branded with a cattle iron, with the letter D.  Can anyone guess what it stands for?  It was an interesting tour and we learnt a few new things about the Port Macquarie region. 

 

The following day we took it easy around the caravan park.  Nigel had noticed a backpacker cutting her partners hair the day before hand and in passing wondered if she would cut his.  So while in the showers I ran into the French backpacker and asked her if she would like to make some money and cut Nigel's hair.  She was more than happy to do it so I ran back and told Nigel.  And as you could imagine.  Nigel loved his French hairdresser.  He even said that he thought she did a great job with his hair.  And as Carmen can attest to this... his hair is very difficult to cut.  Nigel's French encounter will be one to remember.

Off to Nambucca Heads next.