Parrys Beach

Driving in to Parrys Beach camping area, the sign at the front of the camp ground says "go to caretaker". Nick and I jump out of the car and head towards small shack. There sitting waiting was an old lady. Once she had checked what the date would be in 3 days time (from the 20th March) on her calendar we asked her how long she'd been here for. Her reply "only 40 or so years", and her sun leathered skin and rough bare feet looked every bit like they had been here 40 years. We found a great spot nestled in a little corner to set up camp, there was a fire pit and peppermint gums all around us. We'd been told of the fresh produce that the farmers brought down to sell each evening. Picking pumpkin, potatoes, corn, chillies, tomatoes, onions, zucchini and capsicum fresh an cheap was fantastic.

Abbey soon knew her way around the campground and knew who everyone was and where they stayed ( there was at least 50 campsites). She passed by a couple one night on her bike and said to them "have you just arrived?" "yes we have" they replied "how did you know?" "oh cause I haven't seen you around that's why". Talk about more front than Myer - aghhh what am I to do with her?

The Backsons are here too, much to the delight of everyone. They arrived a few days earlier and went for an overnight hike. As families we all enjoyed visiting a meadery, where the adults tasted mead and the kids tasted different honeys, a brewery, and enjoyed many nights around the campfire.

Josh and Matt befriended a couple of grey nomads who were keen fishermen. They showed him how to fish off the rocks with a piece of plastic wall plug above the hook. They caught 100 herring in 2 hours, which Sara and I later filleted taking great care in removing every bone, and later crumbed and cooked. Talk about fish feast, I don't think I've seen the kids ever eat so much fish.

Although overcast we drove to Greens Pool, a natural pool at the beach formed with rocks. The water was crystal clear and the boys and Nick enjoyed snorkelling. From Greens Pool we walked to Elephant Cove. As you walked down the stairs the rock formations looked like the back of a herd of elephants looking out to sea, quite a spectacular sight. Then as you walked between a chasm into the cove standing to greet you was, as Abbey named it, "Alma the Elephant". We all enjoyed using our imagination looking at the shapes the rocks made.

Matt's become quite an avid twitcher. He loves spotting birds and at Parry's spotted some Mopokes. He has enjoyed reporting back to Uncle Jeremy his bird and wildlife finds on the trip so far, and looking up his bird book to check the species.