The weather has turned a little unkind this week. Red Rock was a lovely 4 night stay. Took a few walks along the beach and up to the point. We had one day at the beach where I spent ages watching a lady who arrived in a wheelchair, was assisted into the water and her Labrador assistance dog spent an hour or two swimming and chasing sticks she had thrown. What a lovely rapport they had. It was lovely to watch.

Monday we left there and headed to Grafton. Unfortunately not jacaranda times as they have their festival al in October. Apparently some guy (a nurseryman and seed merchant) planted hundreds of jacarandas there in around 1879. After grocery shopping and visiting Bunnings (again - think weve been Bunnings hopping since we left), we then headed west on the Gwydir Highway to Canagia Bridge on the Mann River. Wow - great place! So pretty and easy to free camp alongside the river. We took a drive the next day further along the Mann River and back out on the Gwydir. Now we are led to believe that a convict had found his way over the Gibraltar Range and surveyed a road. For this he was given a pardon and became a free settler. He deserved his freedom. It’s a large range and would’ve been a huge effort. I think the highway was then opened in 1928. This highway joins Grafton and Glen Ines.

Two nights then at Mulligans in the Gibraltar National Park. There are some magnificent walks and amazing granite rock formations. We combined two walks - The Needles and The Tree Fern Walk - totalling 12 kms. The Needles were amazing balancing rock formations and the view was unbelievable. We were there in time to see a rainbow behind the rocks. The Tree Fern Walk was very different, walking through forests of amazing ferns and huge gums. A fair bit of up and down on both walks but so worth it. $6 per person per night in the National Park. Firewood was stacked in a shed not far from our camp and nothing ni er than a great red around the fire after a long walk. Thanks PL girls. Cheers!

Then it was on to visit John and Kerry Wall at Tenterfield. A small parcel of land - just under 10,000 acres! Had a great stay with them and drove around the property. It took nearly all day. Some very pretty places.