Managed to make it through to Byron Bay today although the floods had closed the Pacific Highway in two places and forced us to detour. As a result we had plenty of time to listen to Aussie local radio and came to the conclusion that we had 2 options - we either chose a pop station where we listened to the same four records played endlessly or opted for a country and western station. Roger was initially keen to stick with the Country station in case we heard "...

Today we have made our way from Buladelah to Coffs Harbour travelling through some beautiful lakeland scenery. The weather has improved inland but the sea is still dreadfully rough and dramatic with incredibly high waves. Over rhe seashore hangs a thick sea mist which dissipates just a few hundred metres inland. We have passed a lot of evidence of flooding and storm damage with many trees blown down. The motorway is flooded between ourselves and Byron Bay whe...

It has poured continuously all day - just like a bank holiday back home. We have pressed on regardless and are heading towards cyclone Oswald which is moving south from Queensland and causing considerable damage and flooding as it comes. We should overlap tonight so have modified our plans to spend the night in a cabin by the sea and are instead more safely lodged in a motel hoping that the weather will be better tomorrow so that we can appreciate some of the b...

This morning we enjoyed a couple of further spectacular walks around the Blue Mountain look out spots. Roger took advantage of a daggy bush dunny but I preferred to keep my legs crossed! This arvo (afternoon for you Poms) we pushed on towards Hunter Valley through deserted roads and beautiful countryside, We broke our journey for a flat white at the Gum Tree Café at Boggy Swamp Creek, which was filled with Bogans and a bit intimidating. Actually saw o...

We have just spent three glorious days staying with George (an old friend of Roger's) and his wife Sue who live in a beautiful house on the side of a hill actually overlooking Sydney harbour, just a few minutes walk from the waterfront in Manly. They were brilliant and very kindly took us out on a spectacular tour of the north surf beaches and the Kuring-gai Chase National Park. On Friday we did the whole tourist thing and caught the ferry from Manly to Central...