The last two days of driving have been exhausting, but beautiful. We said our goodbyes to Boof and Nic and were on the road by 10am, a bit later than wanted but oh well. We were off to Angie and Rod's, our Cape York mates who live in Mulgoa, just outside Sydney. It was a 1100km drive and we pushed it out in two days. If you ask Marty it was two days of driving that could have been done quicker if we stuck to the highway, but we had done that drive so many times l thought another way would be more interesting on the eye. And that it was, an awesome drive thru the Great Dividing Range. It was beautiful with rolling green hills and awesome horizons of mountains and cliffs and national parks, and amazing historic little towns along the way too. Marty was huffing and puffing alot at every hill we had to climb in the Nissan, the brakes got hot s few times!! The mountains where do steep that we had to climb them in first gear and decent in second so as not to pick up too much speed. We stopped over for the night and a rest stop at Wollomombi, just outside of Armidale. We got there around 7:30pm, had some two minute noodles for tea and then hit the sack. We will definately come back to this area and spend more time here, it had a lot of free camps near crystal clear rivers, and as l said the landscape was amazing!!!!
We finally got out of the hills the next day around lunchtime and were back on the highway, arriving at Rod and Angie's in the late arvo. We were all so excited to see one another, big embraces all round. We were also treated to a welcomed surprise with "the crazy Germans", Barbara and Martin also from Cape York, rocking up for a short stay before they head home. It was an awesome reunion of half of the "Frenchmans Crew" and the next few days were great. The girls were so excited to see everyone, they adore them all so much. We stayed for five nights and it was such a whirl wind. The property was superb, It backs onto the Blue Mountains and has a stunning view of Sydney. It's so quiet, except when we had the quad bikes out!! They had two kid sized ones which the girls hooned around on, even Meg was doing it on her own by the stay. Angie also had her nephews over for a few nights, Jayden and Talen, and they all were stuck together like glue, they all had so much fun.
Angie and Rod took us on a tour of there property on the quad bikes. It was one of the most beautiful, tranquil places and one of the scariest times in our lives. Marty and l had Boo on our quad and she was sitting in front of me, l was driving and Marty was on the back. We has just finished spending time at this lookout that had high cliff faces overlooking a river and mountains, and were getting on the quad and heading off. I drive forward and tried turning around when all of a sudden the accelerator was on full throttle and all we saw was this cliff edge getting closer. It was seconds that felt like minutes, but a tried to turn the quad and we were heading for trees, better than cliffs l thought!!! I worked out it was Boo's leg that was pushing on the accelerator, so moved it off quick smart just meters from the tree! Marty and l both had our hearts in our throats and reckon we both saw death lol!! Poor Boo was so upset, about the bloody dog nearly getting hit!!! Anyway, we continued on our drive thru the bush with no more events thank god!!!
On Thursday night we decided to head into the city and Angie and Rod took us to Kings Cross to see the famous Coke neon sign. The Germans babysat the girls, l don't know who was more excited!! Anyway, after two hours in the train we got to 'the cross', at bloody 11:30pm. We had a couple of drinks, took a photo in front of the coke sign (not what l thought it was gonna be but cool anyhow) and walked down the streets a few times. We were indecisive about going and checking out a titty bar, so in the end missed out (bit of a regret). Was weird, we were all a bit flat and were time restricted l suppose as last train ran at 1am. I was also thinking about the bloody two hour train rode home all night, mightn't have helped my mood. 'The Cross' was cleaner than l expected. Thought there would be more drugs, hookers and gangs around than what we saw. Apparently it's cleaned up alot and is now more about the night clubs than buying drugs on the streets?!? Anyhow, we had to make a choice, tack the 1am train or pay for a taxi home (around $200!), choice easy, train it was. So after a chicken burger, few drinks, and hour and a half total and our 'kings cross' experience was over, so we thought. Long story short, there was no train!!!! So we caught a bloody taxi, $170 later and we were home. Rod picked up the bill, awesome bloke, thank you!! We got back home around 2:30am, sober and a bit disappointed with the evening. But as Angie says, it's all about experiences, no matter the outcome. Got to live her positivity hey.....
The next day was planned for the beach, for Rod and German Martin to go paragliding. Unfortunately it was too windy but we still had an awesome day. They took us to Kiama to a blowhole, looked cool how the water blew up in this hole in the rocks. We had delicious fish and chips by the marina. We then went and caught up with a few of their friends in the park, which then took us to the "pad lock bridge". So cool, it is a walk way bridge that had hundreds of different pad locks on it which love ones had put there, engraved with their love message. The story is that you put this love pad lock on the bridge, throw away the key in the ocean and your love for one another is forever together forever.... Beautiful story. At night fall Angie and Rod took us all to a surprise. All we knew all day was that it had to be dark and is the best kept secret in Sydney, hence why l won't tell you where it is. Anyway she lead us into this old train tunnel, we dodged to water, them turned off our torches and looked up. What we saw was spectacular, thousands of glow worms, it looked like stars in the sky, so amazing. Well worth the long day of driving. After marveling in this place for a whole weave our way home, the girls snoring in the back of the car, arriving home at midnight. Was such a great day, definatley a highlight of our visit here.
Our last day turned out to be the lost relaxing and was fun too. Some of Angie's family came over and we ended up starting to have a drink session that started at 12pm and finished at 10pm. Was great fun, food, wine and company brilliant!!
It had been so great to see Angie, Rod, Barbara and Martin again. Wasn't awkward, was old friends catching up like we hadn't left one another. Miss them already but know in our hearts that these are friends for life and people that will forever be in our lives.
Good times must end so another can begin, so after an awesome brunch we were off again. We said our goodbyes and were back on the highway again, next stop a surprise visit to Dusk, Peter, Jackson and Liams. So excited to be seeing them, will be a two day trip to get there. The next month we will be catching up with our friends, the Gronows, Herezo's, Mckay's, Earls and of course Harvey! Also sorting a few loose ends out and the van before heading to Tasmania on the 29th of January........were we are delighted to have found out that we will be catching up with the Woods!!! Fantastic times ahead.......
Bell Xxx