Greetings from Yamba

[bob10]

Just about to go for a swim , then brekkie, then on to Maclean. What a great area. Have to take a photo of the pub in Maclean my mate owned once. Then on to Nambucca, Taylors Arms and a beer degustation. LG.

[ozscott]

The Italian joint just off the main street is one of the best anywhere. The one up on the hill opposite the pub is said to be excellent also but I haven't been. Great spot Yamba.

Cheers

[Toxic_Avenger]

I'll be meandering around that way in a few weeks time.

[bob10]

The Italian joint just off the main street is one of the best anywhere. The one up on the hill opposite the pub is said to be excellent also but I haven't been. Great spot Yamba.

Cheers

The Asian joint next door to the Italian up top is spot on. Just opposite up the road a bit is the Hole in the wall, a new place, does a great breakfast.

[Toxic_Avenger]

I was disappointed when the "2 fat men" burger joint closed and the mega burger died with it...
That was one epic burger- 4 eggs, 4 rashers of bacon, a giant pattie, I think there was a whole tomato on it and half a lettuce... It was the size of a large dinner plate, made on a custom bun. I managed to finish half for lunch with a mate, and didn't eat for a day after.
Are the blue / green pools at Angourie still OK to swim in?

[Disco-tastic]

Ahhh the blue/green pools were the best! Great times!

[ozscott]

Blue green algae ( 😃) pools still there. Cheers

[bob10]

Definitely going back to Yamba. Good feel about the place. Pleased to see Taylors Arm pub has plenty of beer. Got invited back over the hill to Bowraville, have to push on to Canberra, LG.

[bob10]

Spending the night at Long Jetty, watching the Socceroos. Got lost in Newcastle, one of NSW finest put us on the right track.The Nation's capital tomorrow. Will find out if the rumours of Federal politicians sneaking around in scary clown outfits is true. Some how I think not. They don't need outfits to be identified as clowns.

[bob10]

Navigation has been a doddle, so far. Except for Newcastle. I should have guessed any city that spawned the Johns' brothers would be complicated.Somehow, we strayed from the Pacific hwy. to find ourselves up at some Fort, and beaches. Running short of fuel, things were looking grim, but then I spotted an R.I.D. team, and immediately joined the que. The crusty old Sgt. looked like he wanted to say something important, but couldn't find the words. The constable, however, kept his nerve. After pointing out I had joined a R.I.D. que, and hearing my request to help stop me going around in circles, he did his duty, then gave me excellent instructions to send me on our way. Stout chap. The Sgt was last seen shaking his head, muttering something about Queenslanders. I can only think he was congratulating us on our recent excellent Origin victories. Onward to Canberra, and even more confusion, I'll bet.

[bob10]

Canberra. The Nations capital. First impressions, the whole place is set up on spin. Went to a tourist place, Gold creek, I think it was. It had a little village with an old school house, but it wasn't. Every building was a cafe or takeaway, a cheap and nasty imitation of an Australian village. A pommy pub, and an English garden, $40 entry to the garden. Don't try to get around without a GPS, the street signage is worse than Newcastle. Still, we saw what we came to see. Parliament house, one of the most magnificent buildings around, I reckon. We sat in on the senate, and the house of reps. heard the snowy haired & bearded Aboriginal senator talk on national security and democratic principles, and Nick xenophon [ not sure how to spell that] talk on the same. Both gave good speeches, clear and concise, to about 5 other senators. In the house of reps., some minister gave a long winded speech on changes to mariners compensation. Dry and boring, but it interested me.

The absolute highlight was the War Memorial. It's been about 40 years since I was last there, and what a change they have made. Magnificent. Stayed for the Last Post ceremony, Flying Officer Mitchell. School kids from Qld., NSW., and Tasmania were there and laid wreaths. A moving ceremony. Had dinner at the lime leaves Thai restaurant. Recommend it highly.

A highlight on the way in was a detour to a place called Collector. The Bush Ranger hotel actually. Under new management, built around 1860, started off as the Kimberleys hotel. Got its reputation when Ben Hall & his mates Shot dead Constable Nelson, 1865. A pub worth visiting.

[bob10]

Constable Nelson. RIP.

Samuel NELSON | Australian Police (http://www.australianpolice.com.au/samuel-nelson/)

[bob10]

Been busier than a ram in a rutting paddock. dropped in to Bowral to visit the Don's cricket club. A picture perfect place, Bowral, as a matter of fact, this whole area is. Amazing what some good rain does. Funny thing, the closer you get to Sydney , the bigger the dickhead factor in drivers is. Visited the rellies, now in Katoomba, the place is buzzing with tourists from all over, a good vibe here, every one for a good time. Did the steepest train ride in the World. Twice. Walked for about 3 hours, very tired now, but absolutely worth it.

Didn't know Katoomba town is over a massive coal seam, the railway was the way coal was bought up, in the day. Instead of catching the train back up in the end, and going across by trolley, we elected to walk all the way, up Furber steps,past the water fall. I ache all over. Went down to take photos of the three sisters after dark, they are lit up. Blowing a gale, it was freezing. GREAT!, 30 degrees in Brisbane, 8 degrees here at 6 0'clock at night. Jenolan caves tomorrow, then heading north. Where we belong.

[bob10]

Any one who comes up to this area would do well to read this article. It explains in relative lay-mans terms the geology of the Blue Mountains, which are not really mountains at all, but an uplifted dissected plateau. At least I now know why lapstone hill was so named.

http://coxsroaddreaming.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Geol-Blue-Mtns_CSB_edited.pdf

[bob10]

Had a look thru the Jenolan caves, Diamond cave to be precise. All I can say is...WOW. Many more caves to look thru, and we will down the track. Impossible to describe, you have to be there. On to Coffs Harbour, a little bit weird there. Plenty of shut businesses, lots of random youth wandering about. But still clean, a heads up was every window in the motel room had that piece of dowel, so the window could not be opened fully, from the outside. No problems, though. Then on to Byron Bay. What can I say, a young single persons paradise I expect. Lovely people, mixed up with some weird ones.

Had dinner in the RSL, cheap and good [ a heads up, in Katoomba, the local RSL has cheap good meals, at least half price the mainstream hipster joints charge. Heaps of trendy Europeans here, and don't the locals take advantage of them. ] The pub for me in Byron? the Railway, next to the old disused railway station, looks like they have incorporated the old rooms with the addition of a large area covered by a roof, beer garden, if you wish. Every one there looked like a local, and that's what I look for. I mentioned that it felt like the real Byron, and was told there were no back packers, or lunatics. When I pointed out the two indigenous drunks having a pretend fight [ no punch landed, lots of screaming] in the park opposite, I was told they were the floorshow, and every one ignored them. Reminded me of Darwin. Choice. I felt at home, relaxed, and SWMBO and I diddy bopped along with Bob Marley. Nothing stronger than white wine, and the locally brewed beer. And some laid back, happy people. LG