We arrive in what could only be described as a picture perfect destination. Forster NSW, Reflections Caravan Park to meet up with the travelling West Australians, The Clark’s. A little history about our friends…having embarked on the “lets see a heap of Australia trip” they left WA travelling across the Nullarbor Plains stopping along the way to sightsee, visit us in Sydney for a short time and move on…. 6 weeks on they had gone no further than a quick weekend in the Blue Mountains and a drunken week in the Hunter Valley preferring to potter around in ” Clarky time” at our home lovingly known as Greens Acre. That’s as far as they made it before flying home to WA for various family gatherings, leaving the caravan parked at the home of our friends who now seem to have become a caravan parking station for all of us.
They return to stay and begin their trek again. This time we are supposed to join them but due to the billabong/bloody big pool being built in our back yard we are being held hostage by various tradies who never turn up when you want them to. The West Australians head off again with a promise from us to meet them along the way so we can commence our first extended sojourn into Glamping. They make it as far as Port Macquarie. This trip has taken 2 stops and 2 weeks but that’s Clark time. We decide to do a test run trip choosing Forster as our First destination…..The West Australians only an hour away turn back….we meet again.
What can I say about meeting great friends who have come back to assist with your first set up…. It was awesome to set up your chairs….oh wait the husband forgot to pack the new chairs…this requires husband 1 & 2 to run off to Bunnings…a fantastic place where males and females alike get over excited by gardening implements and tools…unless you are my husband who cannot see the joy in strolling the aisles looking for things he will never need which frustrates husband number 2 no end. They arrive back with chairs and hose connections which somehow we seem to have misplaced but will require another Bunnings excursion at a later date.
Chairs set up, wine poured, cheese being shared, the West Australians introduce us to the Northern Beaches nomads, husband 3 laughing at husband one as tent pegs to secure the awning are unpacked in a shinning new bag complete with tags. Husband 3 recommends that husband one rub the bag in the dirt so he doesn’t look like such a dick. The ritual of greeting each other continues with more wine beer and general tips on how not to look like a complete idiot so people don’t know you are a newbie.
The sensible Northern Beaches nomads retire but not us. We all settle for Asian Fusion and a walk in sub zero temperatures to get there. The restaurant is packed, the cocktails are flowing, pink ones, salt encrusted green ones, brown ones followed by the ” I think I will have another one to go” one. Somehow the wines and beer in between seem quite sensible to have with dinner. Lots of thirty somethings wearing floral (is that back in) we comment on their behaviour and continue to have more green ones. Oh look, when did everyone leave and take the loud 30 somethings with them, the bands gone as well, oh well, one for the road. We head back to the warmth of our air conditioning in the cubby house and decide champagne is a great idea.
Now let me tell you, the 30 something’s may have had no dress sense, poor shoe choices but I’m sure that when they woke up in the morning they didn’t look and feel like 50 year olds trapped in an 80 year old body. We always make the mistake of jumping out of the gate full steam ahead forgetting our slow recovery time (we’ve done this before). We resolve to learn from our mistake and never drink again……..done in, day one.
Caravanning in Heels 