After a very wet day in Dorrigo yesterday (14th) we decided to get away early 8.00am and not attempt to do the Dorrigo National Park walk. Just too wet. We have had rain all day today. (15th) But a good chance for us to slow down. Just heard on the news that this rain is not going away until the middle of next week. They have had such wet weather.Getting back to yesterday. I didn’t do my blog last night as it was a long day for us as I will explain. We had heard that due to heavy rain there had been a slip on the main highway coming down to Coffs Harbour from Dorrigo. Our host yesterday tried to get us to take the higher inland route which would take 30mins longer as the highway has been closed. As we wanted to spend a little time in Coffs Harbour we thought that the detour shouldn’t be too long. Wrong, bad move, this so called detour was around 30kms long but when we turned off had no idea how long it would be. Started off on sealed road, and as the road started to get narrower PT said hope this doesn’t turn to metal surface for the rest of the detour. Right, that’s exactly what happened but we had no choice but to keep going. It was such hard driving conditions for PT so much concentration not knowing what’s coming around the next corner. The Aussies don’t slow down and it was quite dangerous as we had rain as well. A lot of traffic on this little narrow back road with all the highway traffic on it. Finally we got on to sealed road just before the Town of Bellingen back on the main highway. We stopped just outside of Bellingen, had a coffee and scones in the building of the original old Butter Factory. It is now a restaurant and museum with all the old machinery lying around the garden. Then back on the road to have a look around Coffs Harbour. About two hours later got back on the highway and headed for Evans Head where we are staying at the Reflections Holiday Park for three nights. Leaving here on Saturday Morning via a quick visit at Viv and Ron’s place, then having a night at a motel near the airport to fly out on Sunday. Although we weren’t driving all day it was very tiring having to cope with the big detour, hence no blog last night.
As we were leaving Dorrigo, just down the road from where we were staying was this area full of abandoned old trains. Some looked so old that they had collapsed in the middle. There were rows of them. They were all fenced in so couldn’t get close to them. Probably too dangerous for people to climb over them.
Going down over the Dorrigo Mountain before our detour. That wasn’t the easiest drive as very twisting. Our host told us to look out for two small waterfalls right on the side of the road.
Terrible day weather wise. A lot of low clouds. Some were very low right down in the valley. We seemed so much higher than the clouds. Didn’t have a chance to get a photo now where to stop going over the mountain,
Second waterfall went under the road down into the valley. As did the top one.
Just took a photo out of the car window of the cloud in the valley as we couldn’t stop.
We have now come to the detour off the main highway. At this stage we didn’t have a clue how long it would be and in what condition it would be in buy PT did ask them but they weren’t going to tell much just said you’ll be right mate just take it easy. Little did we know , oh
gosh after the twisty road going over the mountain then this, about 30km nightmare of a road.
We started off on this not bad but narrow country road thinking not too bad.
Then it got narrower.
But very pretty.
Then this fast bugger coming towards us wasn’t going to slow down making us stop right over on the muddy verge.
Then hit this rough, unsealed, and narrow section probably for a good twenty kms. Still can’t believe we shared this with the highway traffic.
Really hard driving especially when one should be on the main highway.
Someone had to pull over and wait as nobody else was going to.
Finally came back out on the main Highway in the middle of Bellingen. Didn’t see much of town just went straight to the old Butter Factory, as I said now a restaurant, museum pieces everywhere and a few little shops.
The Old Factory building
This was one of the small shops on the complex. The owner. of this shop made all this beautiful wood furniture etc. especially some fantastic big dining tables. Unfortunately it wouldn’t fit in my suitcase so ended up with a wooden plater board. That’s all I bought in Oz. Too busy to go shopping.
Some of the gardens around the old building.
Seen that name somewhere……looked like a big old hot plate cooker.
Hi…my friend
PT sitting back waiting for his coffee and scones. Very yummy.😋 we sat outside terrace area of the old Butter Factory.
I used the restrooms and this is like the old washing tubs like our grandmothers had in their laundry in the days when they did all their washing by hand.
Inside the restaurant in the Old Butter Factory.
Outside of the Old factory. Time to get on the road again to head down to Coffs Harbour to have a look around.
Arrived in Coffs Harbour and spent a couple of hours there. Drove around the little inner Boat Harbour.
Then went out to the huge breakwater at the harbour entrance I just love the colour in these big boulders you see them everywhere in these areas, a little big to take them home🤔
Just approaching the breakwater which protects the harbour to walk to the end to be at the entrance of the mouth of the river.
Looking over the water to where the entrance is on the right.
Just amazing how big and wide this breakwater is. The big golden boulders on the inner side and these huge big concrete blocks protecting the outside where the big waves come in crashing against them. They all have big rings of steel on top of the blocks which would have been used to lift them up in to position. We noticed that these rings are now all corroded so they wouldn’t ever be able to be lifted again. Walking along to the end which is 500m long each way. The open sea on the other side of this very high wall was coming in with these huge swells crashing against the concrete blocks. I didn’t seem to get a photo of it only this below video.
Looking back to the beginning of the walk
Looking back.
Looking out to the point.
Right at the end now looking over the entrance to the other side.
Showing how these big blocks have been stacked up on top of each other to the make this high wall.
We are now back at the begging of the walk looking over to the island, we are now back on shore where it is very calm.
OK Dave and Jen took me back 39 years ( I think) hasn’t changed but I notice the business is up for sale, we have just left Coffs Harbour now straight to Evans Head Reflections Holiday Park.
I don’t remember this little guy but you may.
Had a pit stop at a Roadhouse off the highway. Not many people would take this photo, but I did.
Finally arrive at Evans Head. After a lot of rain the sun shon on us as we entered town.
One of the best cabins in fact the best cabin on a par with Grace Cottages in the country at Uralla. The difference is this cabin is very modern and the cottages were more quaint and traditional but both as good as each other but in different ways.
Open the door and saw this and said Wow
Note the kitchen inside and the outside kitchen on the balcony. BBQ on the left.
Looking from inside back across the patio area.
Doesn’t have the best view in the park some are closer to the water. They are built on an angle to the river so you can get a view of the river looking out of the kitchen as well. You can see the river looking from the balcony.
Looking out from the balcony. Not sure why the lawn is so bad in front of us the rest of the lawns along the front row of cabins look good
I was lucky not long after we arrived here the sun came out long enough for me to get these photos just as the sun was starting to go down.
That’s the end of what we did yesterday. Hence didn’t have the energy to do my blog last night for the first time on the trip.
As it rained most of the day today we went for a quick drive to see where we were. Had a spell with no rain but still no sun. Took a couple of photos but hope to see the area better tomorrow if we get a glimpse of the sun. So hopefully I can post some photos of Evans Head tomorrow.
Finished the day with a BBQ on the outside kitchen. The wind had dropped so made it a little more comfortable .
Cooked by PT
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