Wed, 22nd Apr, 2015 Swimcart Beach Campground, Bay of Fires Conservation Area

Overcast bleak morning but no wind. 15 degrees. Oh well, can’t be a perfect paradise all the time.

A ray of sunshine tries to light up the sea.

Watched all the news about the floods in NSW – hope all our friends and relatives there are safe. Now it has started raining here too.

Quiet morning in the van doing my blog uploads and researching caravan heaters!!

Headed out for a drive to check out the other camp areas in the Bay of Fires. Went into Cosy Corner South that we had walked up the beach too the other day. Nice camp area.

Then drove a bit further up to Cosy Corner North – separated by a creek. This is a very nice area too but not on the beach as much as we are at Swimcart. Though this spot would be good as you can walk down to your own little bay but it is a bit shaded for us who need sunshine!!

Further up the road is Sloop Reef which isn’t in my Camps 7 book. It goes out onto the point where the ‘ship’ rock and other rocks go out like a ‘reef’ into the sea. Nice quiet area, only room for a couple of camps though. Looking back at Sloop Lagoon (you can camp around that).

Also Taylors Beach (no camping on that beach) which goes all the way up to ‘The Gardens’.

Got some photos of the ‘orange’ rocks.

Looking to the point.

Steve reckons from here the ‘ship’ rock looks more like the ‘finger’.

Will have to come back on a sunny day for a better photo of the orange rocks and the blue sea and white sand.

Zoomed in on ‘The Gardens’ beach homes.

There was a gap between the boulders and the sea was surging up through it like a ‘blow hole’.

Drove across to the other side of the point to Seatons Cove and we look back to Swimcart Beach.

Drove along Taylors Beach, only low scrub here with spots to park for the day but very windy. At the other end of the beach is another lagoon – The Big Lagoon.

Drove through the houses at The Gardens – some old beach shacks, others very expensive homes. There is also farmland for Black Angus cattle. Parked at the end of the road to walk out to the viewing platform. Put on the big jackets as the wind is strong and cold.

To the left is a little cove with ropes to tie the boats too.

Then further north over the Bay of Fires area to Ansons Bay and Eddystone Lighthouse.

Zoomed in on the lighthouse.

This area was named by Lady Jane Franklin in 1835 when she came to Georges Bay with her husband, Sir John Franklin. Lady Jane rode her horse from Georges Bay to this area and finding acres of wildflowers, she named it ‘The Gardens’. Unfortunately it is all farmland now but I did find one pretty flower.

Looking out to sea then back around to the south to the other end of the Bay of Fires area, Binalong Bay.

Steve noticed the quartz view running through the rocks.

Wandered down to the little cove. Steve looking for shells.

Some crazy fisherman.

We then walked out to the rocky area, cute little pool.

How different from yesterday and me being in bikinis to today looking like I am at the South Pole.

But we are still happy to be free to enjoy it all.

Stopped at the top of the rise for great views back to Binalong Bay – might have to do this again on a sunny day.

Back to the van for a hot lunch to warm up. It is 17 degrees but the wind makes if feel a lot colder. Put the generator on to charge the laptop and we then watched a movie – hard life. I googled Rocky Horror Picture Show as I saw it on Sunrise that it is on in Sydney. It will be finished there by the time we get back but then it is on in Melbourne. We might book some tickets as it would be great to see. Texted Roz to see if there are any ‘bad seats’ at the Comedy Theatre so had a great texting chat with her.

Headed off again to the south, the wattles are in bloom and Steve is starting to sneeze. Not sure if it is connected but will dose him up on Garlic & Horseradish just in case he is getting a cold.

Drove into the other camp areas, Jeanneret Beach that we walked to the other day then into Grant’s Lagoon which had plenty of room but no beachfront. This is the boat ramp.

Kept driving into Humbug Point Nature Recreation Area. There a few camp areas around here and walks along the edge to the different points. Will come back and do them when it isn’t raining. Wherever they have made it a ‘Day Use’ area there is a picnic table (some in the bushes!!) and a turn around area and then a walk to see the views!! Followed the road around into Binalong Bay where there was a good viewing platform, again to use on a sunny day as the rain has started again.

Further around was Moulting Bay where the campground it on the other side of Georges Bay. Walked down to the water. This is the Training Wall and the mouth.

Back down the Bay.

Back to the van for happy hour, though in the van – no fire and stars tonight. Jon rang to say our Van Rego had arrived so will fix that up. All good at home. Starting to cool off at last.

Rang Steve & Wendy for a chat then Suzanne to see how her Birthday went. Quiet night watching TV.