SYD2BNE Day 2
I am not in a rush. In the morning I did my domestics – that is washing clothes. That is simple for me given I have so few. The ‘girl’ in the Laundromat was chatty. She was clearly looking forward to heading to the beach later in the day. Apparently the “ swell looked good”.
I rode past the City Beach and Nobby’s – she was probably right. What would I know (?), I am from Canberra.
Good Lunch and Chat
I headed to the foreshore to catch the ferry across to Stockton. The foreshore is a bit buzzy. I decided to have lunch at one of the cafes. There was large group of people clearly having a work Xmas Lunch. Interesting and not very interesting things are said at such events. This was not the exception to that rule. A fat bald bloke who was in the Army ‘needs to take a good look at himself’.
As I was about to leave, bloke took a close look at my bike. He came over to my table and started to chat. He was a fellow cyclist. It was an interesting chat – anyone who owns a bike with a Thorne Frame, Rolhoff gears, and bought the same for his second wife, deserves and few minutes of my time. He is looking to start a cycling business. I hope it goes well for him.
Big Ship
I finally caught the ferry to Stockton. As to be expected the ferry had to dodge a large coal ship. That industry is driving the city and region.
I finally got on the bike for some real riding. The road to Nelson Bay is not the best for cycling – but there are no other options.
Expensive Camping
I checked into the One Mile Beach Camping Ground – AUD 46 per night. That is a lot more that my tent is worth.
The place is starting to fill up with the summer tourists – families with young kids. A quintessential Australian summer holiday – surf, fishing, beers over the BBQ and arguments with the missus where the tent should be pitched. A line from the bloke who’s family was setting up next to me was a classic – “If you think that the tent should be in a different place, you set it up – and you explain to the owners of the place why Spot 47 was not acceptable this year despite the fact we have been in the place for last 5 years”. He walked off in the direction of a group standing around the BBQ.
Quiet Cafe
I walked to a café next to the camping ground. As I walk in, two people left. No one else came into the place during my meal.
I chatted with the Café owner. He told me that he was from Cyprus and had been in Australia for 27 years. He still had a very strong accent – proving again that your accent is fixed once you are 12. He told me that it had been a really quiet winter and was hope that the summer will be better. It seem that the high AUD has impacted the domestic travel industry really badly. I am not sure the recent fall in the currency will make to much difference.
Back in the Tent
Crawling into the tent felt like coming home.
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