On the Road Again pt. 2

The next night was quiet and tranquil. Well it was until some moron on a dirtbike decided that he was going to go tearing through the forest in the middle of the night although, it was a nice change from the wombats shaking the car from the night before.  In the morning there was still no one on my beach so I sat and had breakfast and read till some people showed up. I then moved on and headed towards Eden.

A little later in the day I felt a headache coming on so I found a nice park to camp at that was far from the road but just above Eden. It was a perfect place to just wait out the pain. Next morning I went to the Killer Whale Museum.

This is Old Tom

Back in the day whales were hunted for their blubber to turn into oil for everything from bicycle lubricant to light. While this sounds sad I find it incredible that the men that hunted the whales were even successful. They would go after these huge whales in the little wooden rowboats, then one of the rowers would try and harpoon the whale when they got close enough. It must have been terrifying. The unique part of Eden’s history is the killer whales. They worked with the whalers to help them catch other whales in exchange for the killer whales’ favorite parts to eat (lips and tung). The killer whales would coral a whale into Two Fold Bay then send one of their team to alert the whalers and then lead the whalers to where they had the corralled whale for them to kill. Old Tom was the leader for this team of killer whales and sometimes he would even pull on the harpoon ropes to help out the whalers.

After Eden I went and spent the weekend in Noojee (beautiful rainforest where they have so many off roading tracks!). I started on a trail and was taking it slow when as I was crossing a bridge a kangaroo jumped out behind the guardrail and I had no time to stop; the kangaroo got hit. I was in shock but the kangaroo just kept going. I figured it was a sign that maybe I shouldn’t go off much further and made camp next to the river just below Toorongo Falls. The area is so cool. It has trails marked all over the place and even has special parking for motorcycle trailers. It is an off roaders heaven.

I spent my last night just south of Alexandra along side a river and next to some cows. There were some friendly fellow travelers and we enjoyed the evening talking over coffee. It was a perfect end to my week.

"It feels good to be lost in the right direction" -somebody

I was lost a LOST this trip but I found such beautiful places and had the road almost always to myself. It was such a strange and new feeling but it was also very nice.

Noojee Historic trestle bridge

On the road again pt. 1

 Yesterday I left Sydney and am now headed for Melbourne.   I found a beautiful spot to camp on a grassy field next to a lake. It even had ducks and wombats running around!  I thought it was perfect and I couldn't do better. Little did I know that night those cute little wombats would decide to ruin my night.

Turns out my car is the perfect hight for them to scratch their backs on. And let me tell you those things are strong! I thought someone was trying to scare my car was shaking like crazy but I couldn't find a culprit.  I got up the courage to get out of my car (it was very dark) and looked all around and it was like my car was just possessed and shaking on its own. Finally I figured out what was going on when I spotted the wombat.  I got it to go away but they kept coming back and it sounded like maybe they were even fighting over this prime back scratcher.

It was a long night.

This morning I headed down further south and found this amazing campsite near a secluded beach and I love it here to. It is like paradise.  I hope tonight the wombats don't find me!


"The world is big and I want to have a good look at it before it gets dark" -John Muir    The world is huge and so is Australia. This journey I am getting a good look at a lot of things and nothing beats experiencing it all in person and not through a tv screen. Besides, then I wouldn't have a wombat story.

On the road!

Today I took off for Sydney!

The plan was to leave this morning and get to byron bay and stay the night at a place just below there. Instead I went to Geoff's place to collect some things I had left and ended up staying longer than planned.  Luckily while talking to Geoff I had decided to not drive as far today and stop just south of the Gold Coast.

     The drive along the Pacific Coast highway was absolutely beautiful but since I had left a little later than planned I got stuck in traffic and didn't get to camp till after dark.  I went driving through back roads (because I get lost everywhere I go) and took some of the most beautiful roads I have ever been on through poring rain.

     Getting to the site looked like an easy place to park at first till I realized most of the places to park had been taken that were accessible due to the place being extremely muddy.   Luckily I found a spot and after using the restroom the German couple next to me were very nice and moved their van so I could get a better spot instead of being half in the mud.

     One of the reasons I had a late start was because I took a while in the grocery store buying food that travels well and is easy to cook. Thank goodness I did. Because once I got near my site I just wanted to be done driving.    The picture is of my lovely dinner.  It was as delicious as most camp meals are. Now to bed. Perhaps in the am I will take a picture of my campsite. From what I could see of my headlights I'm betting it is either amazing or a swampy mess.