So here we are then, welcome to the Hudson blog, this details the 2 weeks i spent with Fran and Nig on their great big adventure.

Family Joffers

 The first few days we spent at the joffers family residence, i was welcomed from my flight with a nice 6k walk along the bay from mossman to manley, nice way to start the holiday, we ended up having a brief cold dip at Manley followed by a welcoming pint at the local bar. The next 2 days were spent kitting out the mac daddy wagan recently aquired by Fran and Nig, see below for a picture of the former white man’s carpet van. 

Mac Daddy Wagon

Monday we started the touring in earnest, a 2 hour drive up to “Katoomba Kens” in the Blue Mountains  (Hi its Ken at Katfalls mate..), lovely scenery but SOOO cold, i don’t think any of us realised how cold it would be and as soon as the sun set it was freezing.

Blue Mountains

Still at least it gave us a chance to wear all out clothes at once. Nig and Fran spent a night in their Ice box and i survived the night in my childrens 2 person tent.  

Childs Tent

Hot Water bottle anyone ?

The next day we hurried down to sea level again and thawed out. We drove the country roads on our way to Cessnock in the Hunter Valley, took in some great views and met our 1st Aussie Bush Turkey. Had lunch on the Hawkby River and saw our 1st road kill rooo. Wednesday was spent on an all day wine tour taking in 5 vinyards, Audrey Wilkins, Drayton, Peacock, Ivan Hoe and Misty Hills, before ending up a the smelly cheese where we bought some lovely blue cheese to enjoy at a later date… The day was a CORKER MATE and we had the pleasure of meeting the aussie version of Wanye and Waynetter, brilliant.. 

Hunter Valley

Thursday we drove up from Cessnock through Buladelah, picked up supplies and headed out to Seal Rocks camping reserve, right on the beach. We all had a bit of a crazy hour on the beach and ran around like kids, rode some waves and saw the 1st sting ray of the trip.  

Spot the difference pic 2

Spot the difference pic 1

Later in the afternoon we decided to go on a stroll to the lighthouse, only to be sent back by a vicious rabied dingo….lucky we had our sticks..

Get down shep

The next day we drove up to South West Rocks, stopping off at Forster for some shopping then took the coast road to the rocks, had an hour or so on the beach. Fran and Nig saw shawl of stingrays on thier romantic walk along the beach That evening we had a few games of air hocky and dr who pinball, Fran Exterminated us big time, maybe it was to do with Niges dodgey delli belly…

Saturday was planned as party night to celebrate f and n’s 6 months on the road, we drove up to Coffs Harbour full of anticipation of the famous Busking and Comedy festival We arrived early and went to the beach to catch some surf, it was too windy and fran was being beaten up by sand so went back to the pool. Walked for an hour into coffs to find some life, however not much of it to be found, no busking or comedy just 2 pubs and a curry house, did all 3 and then threw some shapes at the local disco. Nig did the running man and met a beefy bloke with a pink tshirt. The heavans opened that night, i had a very wet tent by the morning.

Two Hunks errrr....

Sunday we drove up the Pacific highwy (don’t be fooled by the name of this road, no Pacific to be seen anywhere on it…) to Byron Bay in the rain. Had a mighty angus mmmmm, arrived at the byron bay camping tourist park before hitting the beach where we were greeted by a kartwheeling nudist weirdo. A lovely meal of salmon and a few glasses of the wonderful Stanley Craddock wine followed.

 The next day was a rest day from driving (not that i did any..) We spent the day in Byron Bay, walking, swimming and looking round the town. Decided to have a nice evening out as Coffs had not been what we expected. Had a great meal ath the Fish Heads restaurant, ate far too much and ended the night with a gurning competition in a bar, Nig won with his Vampire pose.

Byron Bay

Tuesday we drove up the coast into Queensland, We spent the day frazzling at Wet and Wild , apart from parents we were the only people over 15 there. After we headed up to  the cooler Tamborine mouuntain to the formaly named campsite. We were able to have an open fire, Fran cooked in the dark and we ate round the fire, really nice place to stay.  

Wednesday we played a game of not so “crazy golf”, tiger hudson blew the field apart. Went for a rainforest walk to Witches Falls, just missed a massive thunderstorm before getting stuck in brisbane traffic on our way to newmarket campsite. Witnessed every travellers nightmare as some germans reversed their car into a porche on the capsite, did they have insurance… we will never know. Thursday we took the bus into brissi mate, went on to southbank, very much like londons, even a wheel, went on the the wheel as you do, then walked past the lagoon and to the botanical gardens before booking on the xxxx brewery tour. Very strange tour MATE, i’ll have a xxxx MATE. Sank a few free ales in the xxxx bar before heading home for my last night on tour  Finished off  the card game be had been playing over the past 2 weeks, nig came 1st with 6 rounds of golf, i was second with 5 and (sorry Frannnie) Fran came last with a big fat 0.

Warm those cockles

South Bank Lagoon

 And that was that, 2 fantastic weeks, thanks Fran and Nige for a wonderful time 

Goodbye snifff

Nige's winning pose!