Pebbly Beach NSW. 18-20/02/2011

[Psimpson7]

Just got back from Pebby Beach.

Quick trip report!

Packed the car on Thursday evening and left on time, meeting DJHampson in Ormeau at 9am on Friday morning.

Headed south, planning to meet Louis and Trav at BP Chinderah.

Met up With Louis on the highway on the way there, and then Trav when we arrived. Grabbed some food and coffees, and were back on the road by 10am.

The next member pick up point was in Ballina, where we were going to meet up with Tod. He had moved slightly south by the time we got there however so we met up with him at Woodburn.

Last fuel stop was in Grafton, before we headed down toward coffs, before turning into the Yuraygir National Park.

About 10km or so in we grabbed a load of firewood from the pile and headed over the dunes onto the beach.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/505.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/506.jpg

The beach was almost perfectly flat so we could wizz along the 2.7km to the tidal creek that we needed to cross.

The change of depth of this is pretty amazing!

Louis and Denise crossing:

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/507.jpg

Setting up camp in one of the larger areas.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/03/1023.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/508.jpg

View from the campsite:

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/509.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/510.jpg

There wasn't a huge amount of shade around in the full sun, but by around 4pm the back corner of the campsite was nice and shady.

Most people went for a swim, before sitting in the shade for the afternoon. The water was really nice and warm.

Trav got the fire going when it got dark, and we had a nice evening doing very little!

Navron arrived with Mel, about 6pm or so, making it through the creek before it got too deep.

Next morning, and it was raining! although thankfully only slightly, and it stopped after about 9am. This was the only time the sun wasn't out all weekend.

Man of many talents, Louis, decided that we needed some shelter and set about with tarps and poles and created this:

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/511.jpg

Saturday, in between swims, a few of us wandered over to the headland for a bit of an explore.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/512.jpg

View from the top:

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/513.jpg

Rock pools the other side:

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/514.jpg

Meanwhile back at camp, we had a few visits from the local wildlife:

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/515.jpg

Kevin, Nina, and Leon arrived mid afternoon.

Few more swims including in the tidal creek. (chest deep at high tide and fast flowing)

Another relaxing evening, got a quick visit from the ranger, and paid the fees, then Trav lit another fire.

Everyone seemed to retire fairly early this time.

Awoke this morning to not a cloud in the sky. (the ranger had mentioned that it was going to be very hot today) He was correct!

We couldn't cross the creek until around 230pm so today consisted of more swimming, walking or fishing.

Tarping up Travs Disco just in case for the return crossing:

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/401.jpg

The other side:

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/516.jpg

Navron at Speed :D

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/517.jpg

Some local wildlife we spotted on the way out!

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/518.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/519.jpg

So we then headed home. Sam and I stopped in Brunswick and grabbed dinner at the Brunswick hotel.

Got home just after 7pm, and have washed the car once already!

Thanks to all who came.

Full attendee list is I think:

DjHampson - Dave
Extreme - Kevin, Nina, Leon
Aquarangie - Trav (on his second easy trip of the year already! what's going on!):D
Xbox - Louis, Denise
Rimmer - Tod, Sheridan, Finn, Pirrie (sorrry if I messed up the spelling!)
Zakros - Navron, Mel
Psimpson7 - Pete, Samantha.

Thanks all, hope everyone got home safely. We had a great trip.

[Presto]

Gutted we missed out on this one - hopefully this isn't a trend for the rest of the year!!

Looked Awesome! - Did anyone catch any fish?

[The ho har's]

Gutted we missed out on this one - hopefully this isn't a trend for the rest of the year!!

Looked Awesome! - Did anyone catch any fish?


We will slot this one in later in the year;)...

Mrs hh:angel:

[djhampson]

Just a few photos for now

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/498.jpghttps://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/499.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/500.jpghttps://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/501.jpg

These photos are of some cool slingshot toys that Nina brought along. They had a small LED in the bottom and small wings which made them spin back to earth. They kept the big kids entertained for a while :)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/502.jpghttps://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/503.jpghttps://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/504.jpg

More Pics (http://www.flickr.com/photos/djhampson/tags/2011021820pebblybeach/)

[x-box]

It was a great weekend!
A great spot and the pebbles on the beach fascinated me no end, but took it's toll on my feet pretty soon.....
Definately a spot worth visiting again, even if just to prove that there are fish! Unfortunately no fish of note were caught (in fact I got a big fat zero, Tod got a few though), but the signs/structure are there for some big pelagics if the conditions are right.
It was great to catch up with Kevin again - been many moons since we shared a campfire, and also good to meet Rimmer aka Tod and family (sweet kids!).
Trav looked like he might get soft just sitting around, but ample punishment was dished out to the xxxx and the fire bore the brunt of his wrath. Pete looked lost without a spanner in his hands, Dave took some great photo's and Navron did his best to drown his disco, but he's no match for Steinzy!
I'll put some pics up later, got a shocker at work tomorrow and the car needs another wash to get the salt river water out - so it might take a while!!

[The ho har's]

Kevin was going down in noel..did they all go down in noel?...orr took the fender...the brakes were top in noel though...good job done by all:D

[Outlaw]

Great to hear the weather played nice... pity about the fish though :)

[Camo]

Awesome pics!

So bummed I couldn't make this trip.. was driving my new rangie back from Melbourne:D

Will have to go there sometime soon

Camo

[Presto]

We need pics CAM! :) ....you starting a new ride thread?

[dungarover]

Okay, my turn for a trip report, excuse the rambling on if I go off in a tangent, apoligies for the dodgy spelling in advance :(

Got up to a lesuerly start, packed Reg the D1 ES (yes I drove a Disco and it didn't break down all weekend, shock horror) as this was an easy trip the Rangie would kick my arse if I took it on a soft trip :eek: Arrived at the BP Chinderah at around 9:45 where Pete, Sam, Louis, Denise and Dave were waiting there wiating for me. I was off to the McDonalds line just to realise that i was in NSW so breakfast finished around half hour ago but me being me I was hungry so a burger was had with a cup of coffee to keep me going.

Once consumed, time to move on down the highway without too many issues. Got to Ballina and met up with Tod (Rimmer) in his 110 defender but he joined the line at Woodburn as Pete said as he had got a bit further ahead of us. Grafton was reached and us boofheads who drove V8's had to refill. Reg was doing well on the fuel economy (for a 15 year old V8 D1) but still it's a V8 and it's appetite for drinking fuelas much as me drinking XXXX so a top up was required. Whilts looking across the car park at the servo, a white V8 D2 once owned by a former club member appeard in my vision (was staring at me with his username on the back, starts with a b and ends in an s :angel:). The owner come up to me to say hello so a quick 2 minute yap and we were on our way.

Once through Grafton, Pete missed the first turnoff to pebbly beach but found the second one, blink and you miss it :eek: but we turned off onto the east but potholled road. A bit of dodging, weaving and the like and we made it to the turnoff where firewood was collected (what...did someonne mention firewood :firedevil::firedevil:) then once again we were on out way again :cool:

We continued along a bit of a sand track then onto the beach. The entrace had a slight drop-off but I had to remeber that the Disco had a spoiler still attached so gently does it. This was not a driving trip so damage wasn't an option especially in the 'nice' Land Rover :( We approached Station creek and it wasd dfoable but still had a deepish hole as you exit the creek but nudged the Disco through although it did start to splutter (bloody stupid spot for a ignition coil, Rangie spot much better :mad:) but after a couple of minutes it ran as per normal. I forgot the WD40 this time around along with a couple of other items, WD40 would have been hyandy (every V8 Rover should have a tin as standard for water crossings :().

We made it to the campsite but we could only find one spot which could fit out group. The only problem as Pete mentioned is that shade was a but on the light side and 4PM onwards was the best time, not much good for the rest of the day. Anyway, Pete and I had a bit of a look around for a better more shady spot but none of the other sites were too small to fit our half a dozen vehicles so the original spot was it.

Set the tent up, got the fire going and Navron arrived with Mel at around 6PM. After several beers and some banter around the campfire, more beer we all headed off to bed at around midnight or so.

Saturday loomed and I was feeling a tad on the second-hand side, had a few too many beers but a big hearty breakfast and a few cups of tea helped and after a couple of hours it was back to my usual self. The sun was unrelenting so it was off to the beach for a swim, made a hell of a difference to curbing the heat of sorts but the dreaded sunburn hit me pretty hard at this point, effects were to be sufferd later on. Louis tried his luck with the fishing rod, unfortunatlety the fish wern't biting this time round much to Louis disgust :mad::mad:

Some walked to the point near the beach, some sat in the shade and had a few beers (that was me :twisted:), some fished (Louis and Tod). About 1Pm Kevin (extreme), Nina and Leon arrived to stay the one night (brave choice, long drive though) who quiickly got tthere swags up and headed for the water as we all did. To be honest I'm not used to this 'relaxing' stuff on trips, usually up to my ankes in mud, trying to break the Rangie but that was not an option this weekend which is a pleasnt change but I am keen for some harder driving on future trips, anyway enough of that back to the trip report...

The day lumberd along, apart from sunbrun and FBR I was in a good place. The fire was started and once again, banter, beer and not nessacarily in that order was flowing but it was a more subdued and an off to bed early at around 9PM.

Sunday was upon us, no hangovers this time but the sun was out early unlike the day before, cooked breakfast once again but I was a shade hugger this time after getting torched by the sun on saturday. Most enjoyed the water and beach but the creek was a safer optoion I was told after the surf was a bit savage at this point. Whilts most were in the water I was slowly packing Reg a bit at a time to not try and get even more torched by the 30 plus degree sun but at around 2PM we made the dash for the creek whilts the tide was still low. The only problem with this great place was the tides dictated when you got in or out but it's worth the drive to get there and enjoy this great part of the world.

Reg once again splutterd through Station creek, Navron had to be the showoff for the weekend giving his Disco a giant saltbath (thank **** it's your Disco not mine :angel:) but we all made the drive back down the beach, onto the track on the way out with a detour to the big dumpmaster bins to dispose of ourt rubbish. Once we made it to the Pacific Hwy we all pretty much went out own way home. i made a dertour of the ballina KFC and had to fill the tank in Reg again and made it home roughly about 7PM.

Thanks to Pete and Sam for the alid back but enjoyable weekend. The heat was a bit much for me as was the sunburn, would prefer it in a cooler time of the year myself but it's summer so time to take my cement pills and HTFU :twisted::twisted::twisted:

Trav

PS - FBR, stands for 'fat bastard rash' :eek:
PSS- Disco still suck even though Reg was faultless with it's air con and leather electric seats :cool:

[Presto]

Great report Trav!

I was very surprised at this picture and expected you to be trying to drown a disco rather than saving it!!:wasntme:



Tarping up Travs Disco just in case for the return crossing:

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/401.jpg

[extreme]

It was a great trip to Pebbly beach even if it was only an over night stop.It was good to enjoy the company of people we have already met and people we've just met for the first time. Thanks to the trip leader and a special thanks to X-box for showing us the more scenic way home.

P.S. Mrs Ho har as time was of a premium we went down in the fender.

Here are some photo's

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/380.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/381.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/382.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/383.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/384.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/385.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/386.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/387.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/388.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/389.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/390.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/391.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/392.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/393.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/394.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/395.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/396.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/397.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/398.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/399.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/400.jpg

[x-box]

As promised a few pics of the weekend..... was a great trip!

Full moon rising over the horizon - from the camp
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/307.jpg
Evening campfire banter
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/308.jpg
Aptly named Pebbly Beach
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/309.jpg
Have I mentioned pebbles?
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/310.jpg
Hell on bare feet after a day.....
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/311.jpg
cute little buggers...... :p
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/312.jpg
A really great spot for a weekend
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/313.jpg
This little ditch was the source of much amusement, and pain for a few drivers and passengers :o
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/314.jpg
Passing through :cool:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/315.jpg
Temptation, but Trav stayed faithful to his possum :p
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/316.jpg
Moon rising on night 2
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/317.jpg
Not a bad view from the campsite - full moon
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/318.jpg
Part of the camp
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/319.jpg
Rimmer (Todd) and family (nice fender by the way)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/320.jpg
Extreme's fender - another fine specimen of the marque
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/321.jpg

That's all from me, thanks to all the campers for a very pleasant and enjoyable weekend.
Did anybody mention that it was hot? :o ;)

[Scallops]

Looks like a top spot, fellas! Great photos - I'd like to go there sometime too. :)

[The Fish]

Looks like a great spot, I was very keen to come on this trip but unfortunately I was rostered on for work.

Louis I thought you might have taken your kayak down to try your luck with some palegics.

[x-box]

I would have Dan, but I won't go out alone on the ocean - it's just too dangerous, especially in an unknown place like that. Having said that, there must be some awesome fish there! There are islands and shallow bommies where we could see the waves breaking in the ocean - perfect for pelagics to hide....... If i had a companion I would go