We had a great time in Candelo at our housesit, enjoying the animals and the property. Chris was able to make good use of the Foxtel, watching lots of sport and especially the soccer World Cup from Brazil on TV.
We explored the area, driving around the beautiful countryside with the green rolling hills that is the Bega Valley, a great area for dairy cows producing good quality milk and cheese products. We passed many fields of cows and sheep and had to smile every time we passed the field of camels not far from us. We have travelled all around Australia and not seen one wild camel, then we see them in a field in NSW!
We visited the Bega visitor centre next to the cheese factory and wandered around the small museum, watched a DVD about the famous Bega Cheese company and sampled many different cheeses.
We spent the Queen's birthday Saturday in Merimbula where there was a Jazz festival on and we met up with an old friend, Colin. We all enjoyed the parade and a good lunch while catching up on each other's news. Renate was in Tasmania with the grandchildren so we would meet up with her later. We are not normally big jazz fans, but it was good to see all the different groups getting together and enjoying their music.
We enjoyed a day at the races at the Saphire Coast Turf Club, a small country meet but a great day out. Sad to say it was not a profitable one as we lost on every race except one, not a fortune though as we only placed small bets.
Chris managed to get in a couple of games of golf with Colin while I hit the Op shop in Tathra and walked along Tathra beach before meeting up with the boys for lunch.
On Renate's return from Tasmania, we again spent time with these lovely people, originally friends with my parents after they all met during their trips around Oz, we are now continuing that friendship on. Colin and Dad were a crazy combination when they got together, sharing many a laugh and the odd drink! I'm sure our reminiscing over these few weeks have brought back good memories of both Dad and Mum for all of us.
As our weary but happy travellers return home it's now time for us to move on after spending Saturday evening with them. We left Candelo on Sunday morning after a quick round of farewells and biscuits and carrots for the dogs and horses, (Thanks again Mandy and Dayle, for sharing your home with us.) then a quick stop at Bega McDonalds to say goodbye to Colin and Renate before we were off again.
As we left the area, we discussed our experience of housesitting and decided it was something worth doing occasionally and works well for both parties. Much as we enjoyed it though, it confirms for us that we are definitely not ready to settle back into a house just yet! Still too much to see and do in this beautiful country. Having said that we do have two more housesits booked for September and October, these are nearer to family so lots of visits with grandchildren!!!!!!!!
From Bega we went the short trip to Narooma, where we stayed one evening and caught up with Dudley, (Trish was in Bali, - next time!) and then on to Huskisson where we caught up with Julie, an old work mate of mine and John and Lyn, who we met in Seaforth two years ago.
The time goes so quickly, it doesn't seem over two years since we set out on this adventure. I don't think there is a day that goes by when we don't appreciate how lucky we are to be doing what we are doing.
Now we are on the road heading to Minchinbury, just out of Sydney where we are getting the van serviced and a gas heater installed. We are not so keen on the cold nights in a van, and as we want to see all of Australia and not just follow the sun, we want to be warm!! We are hoping to spend a few months in Tasmania at some time and a heater will definitely come in handy there as well as in Victoria.
After Minchinbury, it's on to Caringbah to spend a few days catching up with old friends, workmates and neighbours before heading out to Gunnedah.