Satellite Dispatch / Onroad / Don's Epic Journey / #16

Date: Fri, 19 Aug 1997 12:51:23 +1000 (EST)
To: studio@toysatellite.org
From: Don Pattenden <dpattenden@pegasus.com.au>
Subject: Taree to Port Macquarie.

Hello folks,

Here I am in beautiful Port Macquarie, on a really beautiful day - clear blue sky, sunshine, so Seal Rocks seems a long way away. (I mean the experience I had there, not the place itself; wish I'd been there on a day like this!)

Actually I've been here a week already, staying at Flynn's Beach Caravan Park where I was very comfortable. $10 per night with a very well equipped "camper's kitchen, with roof (though open to the elements othersise), gas burner, sink & hot water, tables. Much better than most places. The gas burner was important because it saved me using my little Trangia - saved on metho!!

There's a lot to like about PM and I could rave on about it at great length, but I'll have to keep this short because once again I'm paying by the minute ($5 per 30 minues) and I'm already overspent for this fortnight. Besides, it is now after 4 PM in the afternoon, and when I've finished this I'm heading for another caravan park not far from the ferry I will be catching in the morning.

My original idea was to catch that ferry today, so I went through the motions of packing up, but because I've been here so long, and because I've done a lot of shopping, it took me hours to get organised. Same old story!!! It was 1:30 PM by the time I cycled from Flynn's Beach into the city where I had lunch in the sun then cycled down here to the Internet Shop in Settlement City. Crazy!!! No point in catching the ferry now, because on the other side (the "North Shore") I have a very rough road (with huge pot holes apparently) to contend with, though it's also very scenic.

So this must go down on record as my shortest day's ride so far -- just from the south side of the city to the north side, less than 5 km. Though come to think of it, my final day in Woy Woy, must take the cake when I actually moved from Joan's living room to Joan's back yard and put my tent up there.

While I think of it:-

I'VE DONE IT AGAIN!!!!!!!!
Silly me, I made the same mistake I made in Taree!!! I came here to this shop the first time just 24 hours ago to check my incoming messages, and would you believe I used the wrong floppy!!!!! I used the one I'd caried from Newcastle with outgoing messages still queued in the out tray, and before I knew it WHIZ!!!! Out they went!!!! So if you got an old message from me, for the third time, please ignore it!!!!!

As far as weather goes, actually it's been mostly like this (just glorious!!!) every day since I left Taree!!! But I deserved it after that soaking I got at Seal Rocks!

So I must confess, I've been REALLY SLACK and have been making the most of it -- making VERY SLOW PROGRESS and just grooving on the sunshine and the scenery.

Since leaving Taree it went something like this:-

(Haven't got time to look up dates)

Day 1.
(i.e. the day I sent you the previous instalment, just prior to departing) Left Taree at 3 PM (slack again!!) Made it OK to Coopernook State Forest before dark, with time to put my tent up. This was a "freebie" i.e. cost me nothing, but now showers, just pit toilets and tank water. Very nice though and the BIRDS WERE GLORIOUS, a continuouis symphony! Made a good change from the crashing of waves (which I've had almost every other night!)

It was so peaceful and tranquil there, I stayed a 2nd night. The mossies got me though -- had itchy legs for days!!

Day 3.
From Coopernook to Kew. That's where the turnoff is that goes to PM (via Laurieton & Bonny Hills). Stayed at a caravan park not far from the turnoff alongside Queens Lake -- quite beautiful. A change from the ocean once again, but different from the forest. The lake was like glass in the morning, with the sun reflecting on it, mist rising and a family of Pelicans gliding lazilyi past the jetty.

Day 4.
Another very slack day. Was intending to ride all the way to PM but couldn't bear to go past Bonny Hills it was just so beautiful! I pulled into the caravan park to inquire and promptly stayed 2 nights, my tent overlooking the ocean with a view all the way to PM. Then mornings were gloriously warm, and surprise surprise, no dew at all -- my tent was bone dry! Never known it to happen before!!!

A chance to get my washing done the next day.

Day 6 (last Wednesday)
Finally arrived in PM.

I'll have to leave it at that. Lots and lots more to tell you. I'll get a chance to catch up some time, hopefully.

Some personal messages (bear with me -- no chance to send individual messages)

Robin Gaskell.
Can understand your nostalgia re. the Taree area -- there's just so much to see and do here. I could easily spend 6 months or a year right here in PM! No wonder so many people come here to retire.

Maple St. P.M., 5/6G
Very glad to hear from you. Yes pleas write and tell me more about yourselves. I'm glad you're enjoying following my adventures. It's certainly a lot of fun, and it is worth riding up big hills with my heavy bike just to see so many interesting places.

Geoff Kelsey
I'm glad you're at last able to follow my progress; welcome to Cyberspace. No, no romantic episodes to report (so far!)

Jeannine,
Have asked Andrew to forward that message ("An Alaskan in Australia") hoping that he can do it more easily than I can. I'm not sure which floppy disk it's on at this stage.

Steve MacDonald
Sorry we were cut off. Not sure when I'll hit Kempsey at this rate. If the weather is good, I might camp a couple of times along the coast road, or stay somewhere 2 nights if it's pleasant. Or might stay one night at Crescent Head. But I will definitely call in at the ABC when I do finally get there.

Wish you could ALL come along with me. But the solitude is good too. I quite enjoy my own company. Some time I must tell you about the thoughts I have while riding.

Until next time,
Don.

PS I'll be calling in at the ABC when I reach Kempsey to make contact with Steve MacDonald there. He was good enough to send me a tape of an interview he did with a French cyclist who had been cycling all the way from Paris to Sydney; Steve caught him in the Kempsey area on his Darwin to Sydney leg. A very interesting interview!

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