6 November 2012 - Shady Willows Holiday Park, Batemans Bay, NSW

I heard several showers of rain during the night but thankfully it has remained dry since. We were gone by 9.30 am despite the late 11 am check out time, and headed out to the coast continuing up George Bass Drive instead of following the Princes Highway, a route now travelled three times in the last few days. While this road follows the coastline, it is far enough inland for views of the sea to be screened by bush and small beachside communities. We pulled into Mossy Point and drove along the surf beach of Broulee. There we saw dozens of surfies readying themselves to take on the waves; the roadside an informal changing area. Broulee is particularly well known to the surfing enthusiasts; the waves run well even when all else is calm.

Back on the road, we pressed on north. 

On the map, I noted a walking track out to Burrewarra Point just south of Guerilla Bay. “Do you want to go there?” asked Chris.

“Yes, but only if you are willing to drive in and risk a poor turning place,” I responded.

“But do you want to go?” Chris insisted.

“Well yes, but if it is steep or difficult, it is your fault not mine, since you have agreed,” I insisted.

And so we did turn off and travel the short distance up to a parking spot. The views of the shore both north and south were obscured by dense scrub, and the tight parking spot was difficult to even turn around to leave. And leave we did, without even checking out the walkway. I promised to not suggest any further detours from our route to Batemans Bay and we continued on without event to soon arrive at this caravan park. Our coastal route had cost us ten kilometres more than the direct highway, and we were now wiser than before; discovery of the coastal spots was better done without a caravan in tow.

This camp is tucked in a hollow just off the main highway, unpretentious and pet and senior friendly. With a Senior card, a discount of 10% is available; I am not sure if any discount is offered to pet owners.

We set up, lunched and drove down into town. I was hoping to find one of those hair cutting franchisees in the shopping mall and I was duly rewarded. However, today, at least in Batemans Bay, it is “Hairdressers’ Picnic Day”. Well of course, it is! Melbourne Cup Day! I can well imagine a great bevvy of silly girls all dressed to the nines in their fascinators, minis and stilettos, getting even more silly on flutes of cheap champagne and squealing with delight as the horses head out of the starting blocks on the big screen. Do I sound jealous? No, not at all. It is twelve weeks since my last haircut and I was in the zone!

We returned to camp after a quick wander down to the river edge to admire the delightful shoreline, all promising walks in the days ahead, and put the kettle on for a cup of tea. Cup in hand we watched the Cup on our television, first having picked three horses each. Mine were chosen for silly reasons such as the jockey being named Olivier as is my younger son and another because I recognised the owner’s name. None of our six horses came anywhere near the front; mine came 11^th, 18^th and 23^rd respectively. 

We watched the presentations and felt sorry for Charles and Camilla who in the past three days have travelled from Papua New Guinea to Longreach and now today sweltering in their finery at Flemington Raceway. Jetlag and not being acclimatised to the Australian heat is not at all to be envied!