Nashua

Friday was wet when we packed up taking what we needed from the caravan for the house sit and putting the caravan in storage at Tweed Valley.  It wasn't the easiest packing as we had to contend with the rain and had many damp things which we would have preferred to leave stored in the caravan but had to take with us to dry out. To add to the planning Byron Bay had 250 mm of rain over night which had flooded some of the roads and bridges which we where to take to get to our house sit at Nashua.

We had planned to take the direct route from Bangalow only 10 min to the house but Sue had contacted us and the Nashua road bridge was under about 600 mm of water so we were given alternative directions via Newrybar towards Fernleigh and along the Booyong road to Nashua which took us at least a half an hour longer and we still had to drive through about 100 meters of water about 200 mm deep. Just as well we decided to store van as would have been interesting to say the least to tow van along these badly pot holed roads.

On arrival we quickly unpacked and Sue started to go through the requirements needed to look after the dogs, Henry and Jess. The next morning I wanted to get an item from Aldi in Byron Bay so I set off early and could take the road over the previously flooded bridge into Byron, and it still continued to rain.

A down poor in Byron which was flooding the parking ticket meters.

Henry & Jess were great dogs to look after, they both enjoyed their morning and evening walks, although at times we thought Jess had a bit of attitude and looked as though she was not enjoying it. We had a couple of different directions to walk all with various scenery and very pleasant. Henry and Jess had three meals a day which needed some preparation - toast and egg for breakfast, a bone before dinner of rice, vegetables (which Helen cooked) and a protein of either meat or fish.  We felt they ate better than us at times!

On our evening walks we would pass by some horses in the next paddock

The morning walk would take me up onto the range which looked west towards Lismore.

We spent a lot of time sitting out on the screened deck observing the rain forest.

Byron council is known for the potholes in their roads.

We took a drive into Lismore for shopping one day and the sky opened up when we arrived at the shops. That afternoon many of Lismore roads were closed due to flooding so we were lucky to finish our shopping and get back to Nashua. Heard on the news that the rain had put all the NSW bushfires out so that was good news although we were a bit over having rain every day!

Helen thought this was for her!!!

Lunch at the Bangalow Hotel, just happened to be Valentine Day, how good was I !!

Main street of Bangalow, check out the rainbow pants on the left.

Saturday morning farmers market behind the hotel at Bangalow

Border Ranges / Pottsville

After leaving Kooralbyn, Qld we decided to go back via the Border Ranges to Kyogle, NSW and stay at the show grounds. Travelled on Mt Lindesay Highway through Rathdowney, Mt Lindesay State Forest then turned onto Summerland Way through Grevillia, Rukenvale to Kyogle. Set up at the Show grounds around lunch time then I suggested we take a drive out to the Border Ranges, in particular I wanted to get to Pinnacle Lookout which we had observed from our house sit at Cawongla.  I thought it would be a spectacular view on a clear day, and today was sunny and looking good. Unfortunately I didn't look at the map close enough so we took the scenic route (or in Helen's words got lost!) via some lovely villages, Horseshoe Creek, Collins Creek and then through Lynchs Creek and up onto the range. This was a nice drive past Sheepstation Creek camp area and up to Pinnacle Lookout, unfortunately as we got closer to the top the sun disappeared and the lookout had cloud cover and even a light shower of rain.

From Kyogle you travel north and turn of into the Border Ranges to the Pinnacle Lookout

An easy walk from the car park to the lookout.

Unfortunately the cloud covered the view, could only see a few houses way down in the valley.

The next morning we packed up and went into Kyogle for a coffee at The Sugarbowl Cafe, a great coffee. Leaving Kyogle we first passed by John and Julies to pick up a temperature sensor I had left behind after the house sit, then proceeded down the range through Kunghur, Uki cutting across to Stokers, Burringbar, Mooball.  Turned onto Tweed Valley Way to Pottsville North Tourist Park where we had booked into for a week.  Was a nice drive down the range and with weather still humid I headed for the pool while Helen did washing.

Great Coffee at The Sugarbowl Cafe, Kyogle.

The first few days were great, we had some nice weather so I was able to get the bike out and go for a morning ride to Hastings Point to the north and towards Wooyung to the south. We drove to Currumbin Waters where we had breakfast cooked by Briony and on the Monday I went to Todd's and made some repairs to an old cruiser bike which needed some TLC. It was that hot I had to stop and go for a refreshing swim.  On the Tuesday the weather changed and the rain started, the humidity had gone and it was more comfortable but now we had to dodge the rain.

Briony had prepared and cooked a wonderful breakfast.

Curlew sheltering from the rain under our awning

Just rain and water everywhere

Todd checking out the rejuvenated cruiser bike

We managed to do a couple of drives and look around Pottsville before we started to prepare to put the caravan in storage and go to our house sit in the hinterland out from Byron Bay. Experienced torrential rain which didn't help when trying to pack things into the car in readiness for the housesit plus having to wind up a soaked awning.