Off for the weekend with the ute and boat to Port Macquarie.

On the way at Taree we decided to take a tourist route inland, and then the adventure began. As the road became narrower we were confronted with a sign saying we should not take caravan trailers to Ellenabrough Falls, "our boat trailer will be fine", then there was the closed road sign "we will be right hopefully we will turn off before the road is closed". The road became narrower, gravel with very steep sides, fog became very thick, rain coming down and the ute in 4x4 it was like a mountain goat track through the rain forest and on several occasions we thought we should turn around but there was nowhere to turn the ute and boat! The kids became scared and there were a few choice words between Fidge and Tim about who chose this road. We eventually arrived at Ellenborough Falls and were pleasantly surprised. The falls were beautiful and being the second tallest single drop waterfall in the Southern Hemisphere at 200m was quite amazing. The walk up and down was well worth it with a yummy reward of all homemade pies and pastries, made with local produce.

For those who know Jess our dog from Tom Price we thought we saw a ghost. This dog was a true look-a-like of Jess with the same mannerisms, personality and breeding (and we thought she was a very rare native Pilbara breed — if you know what we mean). WOW. We all left feeling like we had just had had a treat of cuddling and patting special Jess (this dogs name was Mirander).

We then drove to Hotel Geoff and Sandra Kidd's house, parents/in-laws of our good friends Mel and Matt and grandparents of Jaz and Ben Harris from Tom Price. We all felt like it was seeing family as we had got to know Geoff and Sandra well in Tom Price over the years, Geoff had worked for Byblos and Sandra helping with the children, as well spending some Christmas's, Easters and birthdays together. On arrival we were welcomed with chocolates on our beds, and for Tim and Melrose slippers to wear and keep our delicate feet warm. The kids were entertained by hand feeding kookabarras and other birds and then Molly and Brutus the cow and bull over the back fence.

Saturday started off with heavy rain so a tour of the coastline in the car was the only way to go, by lunch it had fined up and we were able to have fish and chips at Cathie (pronounced Cat eye). With many road signs saying watch out for Koala's we decided to go and see the Koala Hospital along side Rotto House (a historic house in Port M). The koalas and their stories were amazing; one in particular being a 3 legged koala who had lost it when injured by a car (2nd time it had been to the hospital), rehabiltated to then fall out of the tree and loose an eye on the clothes line at the hospital. (Maybe it's a cat not a Koala). We then head to the breakwater at Port Macquarie. Watching black fish caught with seaweed was a first. This foreshore had a great feel to it with dolphins so Sunday it was a must to put the boat in. The score was one Taylor to Geoff and Archie and none to Fidge and Tim. Lotte was indulged with another Boost thanks to Sandra.

For lunch we headed to Little Fish Cafe and Tim discovered all the surrounding land, subdivision and vineyard was owned by Charlie Brothers relations of his. What a small world.