Mmm Bop

If we hear another Hansen song....well it will be too soon! From Gloucester to Gloryvale via Thunderbolt's way, named after captain Thunderbolt himself. Gloryvale camp was a lovely place, nestled next to the river, quiet and relaxing, even managed to fit in a swim. Then the gloriousness was shattered with the arrival of our lovely campsite neighbours. They were fully deserved of their titles - the king and queen of bogans (and offspring in tow too!). After the same CD (featuring Mmm Bop and the Bitch song just to name a couple of our favs) was played at a kabillion dbs for the third time we packed up camp at 8.30pm and sodded right off up the road to Bretti camp. Bretti looked more like a mobile home and caravan nirvana on the side of a river but it was much quieter despite the over population. On to Walcha continuing up Thunderbolt's way and camped just out of town at Apsley falls. The falls were impressive but we went to bed more excited about the fishing prospects of the river leading upto the falls. The new day came and went without any fishy tales to tell. There are no fish in the river, well not that we could find anyway. The camp ground was great though and we ended up having two nights here despite the poor fishing. Then up to Maree's birth place Armidale, not a bad spot really but the lolly shop near St Mary's school could not be located. From Armidale we continued with the touring route as recommended by Damon, along the waterfall way. We camped one night at Hyatt Flats and managed to bag a couple more trout (4 browns and a rainbow for Bronson and 2 browns for Ruth). The road in was a little hairy but Lulu carved it up. The next two nights and Australia Day were spent at the next camp ground Wattle Flat on the Styx River. No fish caught but we had a relaxing couple of days swimming, drinking cider and listening to JJJ's hottest 100. Now we find ourselves on top of a mountain overlooking Coffs Harbour. We had the afternoon in town poking about the marina and walked out to Muttonbird island (not that it's really an island anymore) and encountered a couple of turtles frollicking in the briny sea. Brons even managed to wrangle a Blue Tongue in true Steve Irwin style! We are now waiting for the sun to come up tomorrow so we can go fishing in the Coffs Harbour Creek, we called in to a tackle store to get the low down on where the fish are biting and we were put on to some flathead and mangrove jack hot spots. Oh and we saw the big banana, it was big and bananaery.

For the record the bass fishing trip to Gillies Creek tally:

Damon 2

Rob 1

Ruth 1/2

Brons no comment!

P.S. Weather has been bloody great. Solar system is working it's arse off!