Tuesday 14th February

Nancy was off to school with Natalie and Daniel before we got up at 8.15. Just as we finished showering etc Barry left to do his stint at the Police Station. Started ironing and packing before Nancy returned. Had a coffee with her before setting off.

Filled up as we made our way to the Monaro Highway and Cooma. Stopped at Gourmet Deli & Pie Shop in Bredbo for coffee. Looked really nice - watched the lady making some wraps for other customers.

Drove onto Cooma and through on the Jindabyne Road and went back to Heidi’s Austrian Restaurant at the Mount Gladstone lookout. Shared a lovely smoked salmon platter with a light beer.

Back through Cooma and on down the Monaro Hwy to Piper’s Lookout on the Brown Mountain. Stopped for a 5-minute photo shoot and stroll.

Carried on, stopping again at the Bega Overlook and then through Bega and on down to Tathra. Arrived at Robyn’s just before 4pm, let ourselves in and stowed our luggage, had a quick cup of tea and then drove down to the beach. Lovely weather with people swimming in the sea. Had a stroll along the beach and back, returning back as the clouds began to gather.

Went back up to the house and Robyn arrived about 5 mins afterwards and Len about 30 mins later. Sat on deck drinking beers, nibbling and chatting. Robyn then cooked and we sat at dining table chatting until bedtime. Great hearing about their trip round Denmark, Norway, Iceland etc.

 Wednesday 15th February

Slept quite soundly, despite the bellbirds and surf. By the time we were ready for breakfast on the deck Len had been for a swim in the ocean. Had a leisurely breakfast and then set off down the coast to Merimbula, pausing to see kangaroos in a paddock.

Started by going to Top Lake and walking along the boardwalk. Robyn and Len are great at explaining the flora and fauna, especially Len. We saw mangroves and some small crabs and then Len pointed out the army of tiny blue soldier crabs. They were fascinating.

Returned to the car and skirted the town to go to Bar Beach where we had coffee. Very sheltered beach out of the wind and popular with families. There were a few hopeful surfers nearby.

Drove down to Boydtown to see the old Seahorse Inn. Robyn and Len are disappointed at the recent makeover which has removed many of the old features, but not having seen it before we thought it was nice. Had latish lunch there and read about the old whaling days when the locals used killer whales to herd southern right whales into Twofold Bay. Ben Boyd had grand ideas of establishing a whole town and farming community here but nothing came of it.

We had hoped to go to the Whaling Museum in Eden, but were getting short of time, so headed back to Tathra. We went into  Quarantine Bay, for a look at the view and found some divers there trying to raise a sunken yacht. L&R’s friend Andrew was watching from his yacht, but we couldn’t attract his attention.  Back home we double-checked that the beach cafe wasn’t open for dinner and agreed we’d go back to Merimbula. Robyn and Len then took us to Kianinny Bay. This is a marvellous inlet on the south side of town. It’s completely sheltered and was absolutely calm despite the open ocean having a large swell. The water is crystal clear, and school children were having a class in the shallows.

We went down to the Wharf and had a cup of tea, and looked at Robyn’s friend’s art that is for sale in the mini-gallery in the Wharf building. Back home we had about an hour to spare before going out, and were able to check our email on Robyn’s MacBook.

Len drove us back down to Merimbula, and we stopped to look at some roos in a field on the way. Had time to look at the view at Short Point, and see some modern cabins there, before going to The Aquarium restaurant to eat. Fantastic meal (Duck for Les and Calamari for Anne). Drive back was a bit worrying as the road is notorious for kangaroo accidents.

Chatted with Robyn for a short while before going to bed - Len had gone back to his place to make an early start the next morning.

Thursday 16th

Got up early enough to chat to Robyn briefly and say our goodbyes before Robyn went off to work. She gets a lift, so it was probably easier to say goodbye to her like this than have prolonged farewells - not sure if she’ll come to the UK, so we may have to wait until our next visit until we meet again.

We got ready and packed and then around 8.30 we went down to the Beach Cafe for a lovely breakfast. It was great sitting by an open window overlooking the beach - glorious sunshine and views.

Back to the house and stowed everything in the car before setting off. We went to the shops and bought some postcards before going back down to Kianinny Bay. Robyn and Len had said we might see a ray there but there wasn’t one. Chatted briefly to the fishermen who were gutting their catch. They throw the fish guttings to the cormorants who swallow them whole. The cormorants don’t seem to be bothered either by the people or by the dogs that were running about. Again there was a class of schoolchilden having a lesson, and people swimming as well as fishermen setting off and returning.

Reluctantly set off for the trip back. Thought we’d better fill up locally and thought this might mean paying more for fuel. In fact, everywhere else we saw in the town was dearer. Had intended to take the coast road but in fact set off up the 18 to Bega. This was probably a good move in the long run. Strangely the satnav said that this would take us on unsealed roads and asked if we would accept this. We said yes. The ‘unsealed road’ turned out to be a 10m long section of carriageway repair where the surface had been removed.

We went up to Bega and then followed the Princes Highway all the way to Narooma. Interesting drive but we didn’t stop. Got to Narooma about 11.30, had coffee in the cafe that we’d been to previously overlooking the inlet and watched the pelican outside.

Carried on over the bridge and then took the road towards Dalmeny before doubling back down a side road to the waterfront to find the boardwalk that Robyn had recommended. Started off on the boardwalk and stopped to talk to some fishermen. They pointed out a huge ray going past and told us to go to the fish cleaning station as the rays hang around there hoping for scraps. We did this and were rewarded by having a group of three rays, each about 5ft wing span, come round several times.

Some fishermen came ashore from their small boat and we started talking to one. He showed us the large esky full of their catch and started gutting it. A pelican took the whole filleted fish when he discarded it. He actually asked if we’d like to take some fish fillets with us but of course we couldn’t keep them in the car for several hours.

From Narooma we set off for Bateman’s Bay but diverted off to Tuross Heads thinking we might find a beach front cafe. In fact there are no commercial properties on the waterfront where we went, so we ate at the Country Club/Golf Club - more calamari and flathead.

Back on the road we stopped briefly where the bridge goes over the Clyde River at Bateman’s Bay. We then continued virtually without stopping back along the King’s Highway to Canberra. We stopped briefly in Bungendore hoping for a cup of tea but everywhere was closing, so we just got an apple juice to drink in the car.