South Coast, NSW

During the 2^nd week of April, we made our annual road-trip to the South Coast, NSW.  It’s a beautiful part of the country and we absolutely love our weekends here.  Our hosts are long-time friends of Mr.H with 2 little boys similar in age to Eloise and Eden.  They have a secluded house on acreage with 3 alpacas and the newest additions, 3 hens.

FRIDAY

After a busy work day which saw me traipsing around Sydney (and I got to step foot on US “Soil” by way of the US Consulate General) then spent a few hours actually in the office, we set out by car in the afternoon.  We had a fairly good run in with Eloise averaging “Are we there yet” at the rate of once every 32 minutes and 30 seconds.  Thanks to daylight savings, it was dark when we arrived so we had dinner, let the kids have a play and settled in for the night.

Neither Eloise nor Eden slept during the 3 hour drive which worked in our favour.  Eloise was tired and wanted to go to bed.  Eden needed a few minutes of back-pats.

SATURDAY

At first light, Eloise and Eden were up… I think it is the earliest Eloise has EVER been up!  And the earliest in a long time for Eden.  They were both excited to start the day.  From our room, the sun was rising and they could watch the alpacas and wallabies having their breakfast.

MissE Says the Darnedest Things: South Coast edition

MissE: Eden, his name is Wheel , as in cartwheel.

It’s really Will.

Checking for eggs (Eden supervising with his "coffee" (milk))

We tried to wait until after breakfast, but we were too excited to get outside.  So over coffees and milk, we let the hens out to collect the eggs (only 1 this morning) and handfeed them.  Eloise tried desperately to catch one but they were too fast (and she was a bit scared too).

Car loaded for the day, we went to Lake Burrill.  Our first adventure was through the water to a larger sandbar.  Eloise loved this.

After setting up on the sandbar, Eden splashed in the water and chased seagulls.  Eloise, Lachlan and the daddies walked across to explore further.  The water was so shallow!   There, Mr.H caught a crab!

Beautiful day

Catch of the Day: crab!

Lunch?

Later, we set out fish traps and lines and caught 3.  After very bravely patting the fish, Mr.E decided they were better off free and tried to free them several times.  In the end, we did let them go.  We also went snorkelling and surprisingly, it was well worth it!  The lake opens to the ocean (Tasman) and along the opening is large rock wall.  The school of fish and variety were amazing!  On my snorkel trip, we saw an octopus the size of a cantaloupe (rockmelon)!

On our walk back to the car for lunch, the hermit crabs were migrating from their homes to the water (mid-day swim).  Eden stopped for a look… but with hundreds them around him; I decided it was safer carrying him in case of pinched toes!

Eden vs the hermit crab

Soon it was a full house!  The men plus Eden played cricket while the kids played in the backyard (trampoline, slip n slide, chase the hens).  Eloise also finally caught the hen!  She was so proud of herself!

MissE and Lachlan slipin' and slidin'

My little cricket superstar bowling a spin ball for Daddy

As day turned to night, we built a bonfire to roast marshmallows and catch up pre-dinner.  In the evening, after a fun day the kids slowly dropped into sleep while watching movies.

SUNDAY

Today we got a bit more sleep but not enough.  Eloise and Eden were exhausted… we should have known what was going to happen today... Tornado Eloise!

WARNING:  THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH COAST, NSW.

EFFECTIVE THIS MORNING FROM 700 AM UNTIL 300 PM CDT. BE ON HIGH ALERT.

This morning, the hens laid 3 eggs which we then had for breakfast!  After a tractor ride on the property, the alpacas were fed (by hand!) and patted by the children, and then they watched the alpacas have their medicine (drench).   Go Mr.H!

Tractor fun!

Into the bush...

National Hug an Alpaca Day

The farmhands: Lachlan, Eloise, & Bella

Then off to horseback riding.  The children all took turns on 2 horses, Pinky and Abby.  They had a long ride, did a body turn on the horse and flagging… and trotting too (optional).  Eloise loved it!

Eloise and Pinky

Trotting

Flagging

MissE Says the Darnedest Things: South Coast edition

MissE: Mama and daddy, I don’t want to swim anymore.

Daddy: What do you want to do then?

MissE: Ride horses!

"Daddy, can I have a pony for Christmas?"

Eden is very good at trying new things.  After watching his friends on the horse, he wanted to try too.  He walked up to the gate, pointed at the horse and said “Try!”  Of course we let him!  He put on a helmet and off he went.  He did a good job but very quickly was “done”.  Maybe next year…

Eden on the horse (Abby)

My first horse ride!

Forget the horse, can I ride one of these???

For lunch, we had a picnic and swim again at Lake Burrill. 

WARNING: A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA. PERSONS iN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE TORNADOES.

Everyone was enjoying themselves when suddenly the thunderstorm broke.  Eloise, who was using the body board as a boat and seedpod as a paddle, set sail across the shallow waters.  It was slightly windier on this day, so she started to drift to the left.  She got scared and started to cry.  We told her to hop off and stand up; only when she did this a large bundle of dark seaweed came past and touched her leg.  She jumped back onto her boat and was inconsolable… and needed to be rescued.  She recovered after a while and played on the beach until it was time to head home.

WARNING: THIS TORNADO WARNING REPLACES THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING THAT WAS IN EFFECT FOR THE SAME AREA. 

Now spooked by the water, she refused to cross the small waterway to the car.  Screaming her 

“absolute hate” for the water, as Mr.H dragged her across it, she then refused to shower after swimming in salt water for the last few hours.  She is now screaming the shower water is too cold (keep in mind

she happily showered there yesterday).  

ALERT: THIS TORNADO WARNING REPLACES THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM

WARNING THAT WAS IN EFFECT FOR THE SAME AREA. A TORNADO WARNING

MEANS THAT A TORNADO IS OCCURRING OR IMMINENT. YOU SHOULD ACTIVATE YOUR TORNADO ACTION PLAN AND TAKE PROTECTIVE ACTION NOW. 

THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF

PRODUCING STRONG TO VIOLENT TORNADOES. IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS 

TORNADO...TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY!

After several threats of not being allowed in the car unless she showered, she finally showered while

continuing to cry.  An unfortunate end to such a good weekend, through tears she said her goodbyes

and thank-you while we said our apologies for Tornado Eloise, goodbye and thank you.

She fell asleep immediately and slept for a bit over an hour.  She woke up herself again.  Whew!  On

the other hand, Mr.E did not sleep for that hour instead opting to sing to the cows we passed (E-I-E-I-O) or play peek-a-boo with us.

Our annual road trip isn’t complete without a stop at Berry’s Famous Donut Van.  We all enjoyed the

brief stop to stretch our legs, enjoy a coffee and donut.  Eden smashed it, eating 3!  With donuts in his

belly, he slept all the way home.  Eloise was happy watching movies.

The next morning, a very sad looking Eloise was sitting in her room.  We asked her what was wrong.  She burst into tears and said “I just miss all my friends after an awesome weekend!”

I am already looking forward to next year… I love this annual road-trip, not just for the catch-up with

friends but for the chance to get away from the city: the fresh air, the space, the experiences with

animals, and the amazingly clear night sky.

Thank you to our wonderful hosts, The B Family!

(and again apologies for Tornado Eloise)