Tomorrow we are leaving South West Rocks, where we have spent the last three days exploring the area and enjoying being back on the road again.

We arrived on Tuesday after a quick stop off in Coffs Harbour and a reminiscent drive passed Nambucca Heads to find that there was hardly anyone in the caravan park, which at least meant that we could take up as much room as we liked! After an afternoon spent looking around the park and finding out what there was to do in the local area it was an early night in preparation of a busy day on Wednesday.

Wednesday morning arrived and the sun was out so after a quick drive around town (where we almost interrupted the Anzac day parade) we decided to explore the area through the medium of pedal power! We set off on our bikes in what we thought was the general direction of Trial Bay jail (only they spell it Goal out here!) to have another look around the area that we first explored some seventeen months ago.

The sun was out but it wasn't exactly hot so we were surprised to see just how many people were out camping and picnicking around the bay. There were even a few people on the beach, although most of these seemed to be mums and dads who had been dragged onto the sand against their will by their little kids and were now trying to get the kids out of the water without having to get wet themselves! We rode on a little further into the camping area where we found a small bench overlooking the beach, which seemed just right for our little luncheon that we had prepared.

After our short rest it was on up the hill to see what was around the corner and then it was up the track to the jail itself. As we rode past the stairs we spied a little dirt trail up the side that we were confident we could get the bikes up so off we went at quite a pace. It wasn't until just over half way that we realised that we were in the wrong gear and as our wheels started to spin we began to roll back and we had to jump off and push them the rest of the way up. Much to the delight of the people below who were now pointing and laughing at us!!

When we got outside the jail we could see for miles out across the water and this is one of many places along the coast that people can see whales migrating from the foreshore. As we were leaving for our return to camp we came across a huge kangaroo sitting by the side of the road having a good old scratch and not seeming to mind us being only a metre or so away. Just as well really as it would have barely been a contest had it decided to come after us!

Today we had planned a nice relaxing day on the beach to top up our already disappearing tans, but old mister sunshine had other ideas as he had decided to take the day off and the rain had begun. This wouldn't have been so bad as we were used to a quick downpour and then the sun coming out again, but this was New South Wales rain - the kind that drizzles for hours and hours and becomes days and days and sure enough, the rest of the day was spent inside the tent staying dry.

Tomorrow morning we are heading along the coast again towards Crowdy Bay for a couple of nights as we continue our journey south.