Perhaps, just perhaps, the “Times they are a changin’”

Off for an early night – the rain? - still there but not as angry as before – I dread the morning – will the rain still be here when it is time to pack up? – I am sure Bet360 would not consider a bet against it!- relax – relax – 12 hours of sleep – arise to just a glimmer of sunshine – the spirits rise – at last a dry pack up awaits us – we approach the task with gusto – the stays are removed - the beds slide away – roof is lowered – oh hell! – the roof harbours a pond of water – the lowering is not perfectly even – a waterfall cascades down from the lowering roof – it sends a deluge onto the exposed mattress ends and upon the yet to be stowed canvas – Michael’s raised spirits are no longer raised – again he mutters loudly “I am over this!” – a terse Bernadette responds in kind “So am I!” - The remainder of the packing proceeds with hardly a word passing between them.

The magnificent Princes Highway is no longer magnificent! -  the dual carriage way replaced by a goat track peppered with kilometre after kilometre of road works broken only by the occasional short length of completed dual carriage way and short sections of old road yet to be compromised by roadworks – 80Kph is the norm for 300 kilometres from Port Macquarie to Yamba – copious use of fixed speed cameras ensure that the idiot over-takers do not inflict pain upon the other road users – the consequence is orderly traffic flow and a remarkably stress free relocation of our accommodations.

The sun has been allowed to have a modicum of influence on the weather and it smiles at us for the majority of the trip - We stop - lunch at “The Creek Café” – read our emails – we note that the readers of our blog continue to provide advice – their advice does little to cheers us – “Why, oh why are people so unkind Kamahl?” – All Trudy Whitty can contribute is advice that Wangaratta is experiencing wonderful drying weather at the moment - Appels suggests that we either get a new van or move into a hotel! – I assume therefore she means that in order to re-imagine the Hilton you actually need a “Hilton on Wheels!”- I think that indeed she may be right providing that “Hilton on Wheels” comes equipped with driver, chamber maid and concierge!

We arrive at the Iluka Riverside Tourist Park on the Clarence River – our expectations are low – we
 are expecting to tolerate the stay rather than to reap the personal rewards of a relaxing holiday - the sun is still popping in and out and the clouds are relatively high – the park is nice – nice indeed – our spot right on the Clarence River – the setup proceeds without incident save for the delays caused by the wild rabbit which is obviously use to being hand fed by the previous occupants of our site – our interest in her welfare slows our progress somewhat! – She is successful in convincing us that she should continue to be fed by the occupants of site number 16.

Out come the chairs and table – we sit under the awning looking out over the boat ramp past the Pelican that oversees the launching of the fishermen’s tinnies – clearly he is assessing the experience of each before deciding who he will accompany in their pursuit of tonight’s pan fried dinner – he watches three or four before picking his target – his avian friends obviously value his judgement for they too take up the pursuit of the targeted fisher.

This is nice – this is really nice - perhaps Bernie, just perhaps “the times they are a changin” – idiot – you speak to soon – the rain reappears – we scurry inside!

The weather ameliorates again such that providing a light umbrella accompanies you it is possible to wander outside to photograph the Pelican supervisor and the view from our easy chairs under the dubious protection of the awning erected by an inexperienced traveller.