We arrived at Dora Point which is in Humbug Point Nature Park. Even though it was cold with drizzling rain on and off we were very excited to be finally on the East coast! Our drive from Devonport to Dora Point was beautiful! We had windy roads thru national parks and the drive from St Mary's to St Helen's was breath taking, amazing views from the road looking far down to the forests. We also drive thru Bingalong Bay and from what we saw from the car we couldn't wait to get back there to explore. It had white sand beaches with blue seas stretching for miles and also had huge rocks hugging the coast which had amazing orange staining on the rocks. I know why they call it the 'Bay of Fires'. Anyway we arrived pretty late in the arvo and set up camp at an awesome spot, huge area and close to toilets and beach access. Marty made a quick campfire for the girls to cook marshmallows on and we sat around with all the wildlife coming to sus us out, wallabies and ring tail possums. We headed to bed earlyish as the bloody rain started, b*****!!
Today the girls woke excitedly today as the Woods were coming to camp with us for a few nights, finally after two months of trying to camp it would finally be happening!! Hopefully nothing bad happens this time like the last time we tried to camp (their cruiser got injured!). Anyway they weren't coming till after tea so we decided to head into St Helens and do some jobs. We did five loads of washing, did some groceries and also had a hot shower at the amenities block by the pier (this would become our best friend whilst staying here). We then headed back to camp and had lunch then relaxed for the day, it had been a while since we had done nothing and l think we needed it. We went down to the beach and the girls had a blast playing on the huge rocks and boulders on the beach. The water was pristine, clear but cold. We had our tea and then headed off for a little walk when we saw the Woods arrive. The girls ran to their car so excited to see their mates again. We helped them set their tent and stuff up whilst the kids took to doing what they know best, playing, then we sat around the campfire and cracked a bottle of wine open and chilled out. Well it seemed to go down well and before Amanda and l knew it we had polished off two bottles of wine and a bottle of champagne!! Amanda fell asleep after being amusing for some of the night and l tried to hold a conversation with Mark but just slurred my words, Marty had gone to bed already. Amanda suddenly woke and went and had a squat in the bushes then was off to bed, we did the same.....
Awoke the next day surprisingly well, felt great except for a headache. Made everyone my famous pancakes for breaky under the awning as it was raining again!! We then went and did some groceries in St Helen's to do us for the next few days and whilst shopping Amanda faded fast! We decided chips sanga's were on the menu for lunch so we headed down to the pier and had delicious chip and relish sanga's, instant hang over cure. Amanda came back to life, slowly.... In the arvo we headed off for a drive up the north east coast to Eddystone Point in Mount William National Park where we were saw a huge lighthouse and also went to the shore where the kids enjoyed climbing on the orange stained rocks. Apparently the orange staining is due to the minerals from the ocean reacting with the rocks. Great arvo but we were all so knackered from the night before. We headed back to camp and fired up the campfire as l was going to cook Angie's apricot chicken in the camp oven, l had made some minor adjustments to the recipe so was anxious at how it would turn out. The bloody rain started again, annoying light drizzle on and off!! Anyway, we ate under the awning again. Everyone loved the apricot chicken, even the kids!! We finished off with cooked marshmallows again to the kids delight. The kids also wanted a sleepover so we split them up with Jake and Meg in our tent and the girls in the Woods. They were so excited and settled surprisingly quick. We did the usual of sitting around the fire talking crap and having giggles, Amanda and l had a dry night while the boys had a few beers.
Today we woke to some sunlight, yay!!! Amanda cooked us some bacon and eggs for breaky, with her homemade relish of course, yum!! We then had a relaxing day doing some scenic drives along the coast. Tasmania east coast does have pristine beaches and glorious coast lines. We end up at Bingalong Bay beach and were taking a walk along the sand, put our feet in, too cold for me. The kids enjoyed playing in the sand burying their feet and legs when Amanda said we should go for a swim. Well l suddenly said why not and l started to strip off. We had no bathers so the pants were off, Amanda still looking at me like l was joking. I took my jumper and bra off then Amanda cottoned on that l was fair game. So off her jumper and bra comes, kids strip off to the knickers and jocks and off we run looking like baywatch babes...is not the kids of course....lol. We bloody reach water and up we run to our knees then the brain registers how bloody cold it is. Oh well why stop now, we're half way in may as well keep going. In we dive and dunk our heads while the kids enjoy the waves. I stand up realise that my bloody nipples are standing out like dogs balls and without a bra on there near pointing down south, so l cup my breasts and look like a bigger idiot. We get into the spirit of things and destruct the kids and give a quick boobie flash to Marty and Mark on the beach. I then turn it up a notch and flash my bear ass to signal full moon. Amanda and l nearly wet ourselves laughing but then enjoy crashing thru the waves and attempt to body surf, lol... The kids had the best time, do glad we jumped in. After all the excitement we head back up Thr beach to get changed at the car and l realise that we have to walk past all these people in our knickers and braless shirts, l again cup my breasts and hide the rest of me behind our crumpled up clothes! Marty and Mark find this amusing.... We head back to camp and Amanda has become inspired by the camp oven and decides she's gonna cook us a beef curry in the camp oven. After a whole she gets distracted and we all pick up the slack of stirring the pot. The rice is forgotten and is a tad overlooked, but none of this matters because, oh my lord, it was absolutely delicious. Made such a pig of ourselves, had to have two servings even though we were stuffed from the first. So l will be definitely be cooking the one again, loved it. We couldn't believe that we had also decided to have apple crumble also. Didn't know how we were gonna fit it in, but we couldn't let food go to waste, so down the hatch that went too. We couldn't move. The kids loved the apple crumble and Jake said l could cook for him anytime... Another night by the camp fire and the kids were beat so settled without any rot. A few brush tail possums decided to come out for a peak and next thing we knew Mark was up and chasing them round with a shovel, apparently he doesn't like them!! Lol. No contact was made but we didn't see anymore after that!!
The next morning l woke and went and said good morning to Mark and he was saying how much of a down pour it was last night. I hadn't heard a thing, didn't think it had rained. Next minute Amanda appears out of the tent carrying a bucket a third full of fluid. Mark informed me that bucket is full of Amanda's pee and that's what he was talking about when he said it had down poured!!! Amanda chucked the urine out into the bushes whilst we all laughed hysterically at her trying to be inconspicuous with her bucket piss!!! She tried to get me to promise not to put this in the blog but l told her this was definitely a blog moment!!! Anyway, after the laughter died down we decided to head off for a morning swim as the Woods had to pack up to go home today. It was a bit rough at the beach where we were camped so off we went to Bingalong Bay again. This time we were in our bathers. Marty was the only one not coming in, don't think he will swim in Tassie at all, too cold he reckons. I mean don't get me wrong, it is cold, but after that initial contact with the water and it taking your breath away, it then just becomes refreshing!! It's no QLD ocean but who can be picky when the water looks so inviting and picturesque! After our swim we headed into St Helens to pick up Boo's schooling that Fi had sent over, thankfully it had arrived. So with that, we headed back to camp to pack up to move on. After packing up we said another farewell to Amanda, Mark, Charlotte and Jake as they were heading home to Devonport. We will gladly see them again before we head back mainland Australia. Then we headed into St Helen's for our last hot shower for a while, before heading off towards Freychinet National Park, our next camping spot for the next three nights........
Bell Xxx