On the road !

We did it !

We finally pushed out the door and made it on the road. A bittersweet and very rushed moment! After 10 solid days working on the Hilux, she was finally ready. We threw everything in the back and made it up the driveway. She’s carrying a heavy load! Reversing up the battle axe driveway took three attempts! She struggled but we got there with a run-up. We debated whether we should lower the suspension after having it jacked up back in February as she was sitting pretty high – we’re super glad we didn’t! Carrying around 800kg, the suspension just glides. Thanks again Paul at Phatbars.

First stop – Woolgoolga. A little beach side town just past Coffs Harbour. We arrived quite late but this caravan park didn’t disappoint. Hot showers and clean amenities. We were the only couple under 55, so I think that helped the cleanliness!

Our first night in the roof top tent – not bad at all! Our RTT is the Darche Panorama 2 – the slimmest in the range allowing us to avoid too much drag on the road. The downside to that is the mattress is pretty thin. However I’ve pumped it up with a MicroCloud mattress topper and it’s a game changer. Not bad at all! I’m still a little freaked by the ladder situation but I’m sure after 10 or so weeks, I’ll get used to it.

Morning broke and we had free bacon&egg roll at the camp ground and made it back on the road.

Our packing is pretty terrible currently – we have literally thrown everything into our camper. We’re hoping once we eat some food and organize our routine, it will be a bit easier. Clearly this is our “testing” phase!

Byron Bay is a special place to a lot of people, and I can’t believe how built up it is since I used to visit as a 20-something. “The Farm” which sits at the start of the Byron Bay turnoff, is an eco-restaurant full of produce and city-slickers seeking the hippy life. Horses, pigs, fresh veges fill the land and a gorgeous looking restaurant and bakery run by the boys at ThreeBlueDucks. The coffee is well worth the stop.

We hiked up to the lighthouse for the most easterly part of Aus, however as usual, it’s packed. We filtered back down the hill without parking and went to the nearest beach for a leg stretch. It is truly a special place our coast.

We drove up to Brisbane back in February, as mentioned above for our awesome suspension, and the roads albeit slow with roadworks were green and lush. I was almost in tears today watching the world go by in its most driest form. It’s painful. In 6 months what was lush, is now parched. The smoke haze was terrible from Byron to Brisbane. We know it’s been a dry winter in the city – and in the papers reading about farmers losing their lives to the drought is a harsh, but far away concept. But just seeing that small change in such a small about of time near our coastline, is a reminder that working the land can be a hard life. I can only imagine what it would be like further inland. And our sincere hearts go out to them.

Tonight we lay moon side at a great spot that opened just three weeks ago – Hangero, in Gunalda. 160 acres of private property they have turned into an eco camping area. We’ve got the place to ourselves tonight and the owners even started a fire for us before our arrival. For $10, it’s a bargain! We’re hoping to wake at 530 for the lunar eclipse in the morning – and then be on our way to Airlie.

Nite all.

The Cooks.