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Day 88 (Friday 12th January 2007)
Today was another ghastly day of all-day driving. After two free nights in the Blue Mountains, we decided to head up the coast towards Byron and more importantly, a place with a shower!
Byron was a hell of a way away from us, so after hearing a few good things about it, we decided to embark on Coff's Harbour first. Whatever the cost we wanted to avoid going anywhere near Sydney, but still without our precious Australian lonely planet guide and armed only with some shoddy maps, the inevitable happened...we got lost!
We were hoplessly lost somewhere near Windsor, amidst acres and acres of farmland. There were a few rows of fantastic country homes and with no other option left to take, we had to stop and ask for help.
The wonderful retired couple who came answering our prayers, just added to the whole host of friendly, chartiable Aussies who have helped us along our merry way. Not only did they take us in their property and offer us drinks, they gave us an old street directory of Sydney and its suburbs, jotted down step-by-step roads and page numbers to follow, aswell as pulling the Merc out of the twin garage and escorting us to the main road where the journey began.
After getting the 'drive safely, and have a wonderful time' speech, they waved us off and sure enough, within 45-minutes we were right back on track. Unfortunately it did involve venturing back towards Sydney and yep, you guessed it, more bloody tolls! God you've gotta loathe that place!!
Now on the Pacific Highway, we saw signs for the 'Australian Reptile Park' (www.reptilepark.com.au) and after turning off and finding somewhere to park, we decided we had too many hours to drive and probably couldn't afford it anyway, so promptly left. Pitty, it looked pretty good!
From then on it was just driving, plus more driving, plus more driving. We followed the Pacific Highway along the coast, passing the cities of Swansea and Newcastle enroute. Sarah, who handles these long drives particulary well, was getting extremly agitated in the sweltering heat and by the time we hit Coff's, she was about to spontaniously combust...you try being in the car with Marc for 10.5-hours!!
We stopped briefly for a photo of the famous 'Big Banana', before checking into the Banana Coast Caravan Park for the night. It's full of hillbilly trailer park types who all seem to have a little community within the park - the 'permanents' they're known as!
We had a much-needed shower before going into the town for a Chinese (our first meal out since Ria and Dan took us to the flicks) and Sarah ate fried ice-cream for pudding...yum!
Day 89 (Saturday 13th January 2007)
We got up early and headed for Jetty Beach. We spent the day lazed around in the sunshine and swimming in the warmer water. We had some more naughty take-away food, this time a gorgeous bit of hoki for lunch.
Back at the campsite that evening and one of the hillbillies was happily playing away on his bongos! Then it rained for the rest of the evening, so once 'Billy-Bob' fleed the rain, we sat and ate our soup and pasta under the shelter!
PS Thanks for the quick update Selby...up the mighty Spartans!!
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