We had a nice breakfast, including homemade bread at our AirBnB. The weather this morning was still rubbish and it continued raining most of the day with a constant 17 degree temperature.
We set off and drove south. Cathy our host had told us about kangaroos at Sussex Inlet and I formed the intention of finding some wild kangaroos as any beach or walking activity was rained off.
First stop was at the town of Huskisson on Jervis Bay. Due to the rain we parked up and walked around the shops, had a coffee and as we walked back to the car we talked about how easy it was to park up near the centre without having to pay for parking.
We got to the car and Janice found (would you believe it) a parking ticket!!! The offence was heinous. I had not parked with my rear to the kerb (at a 45 degree angle). I was at a 45 degree angle but nose in. The fine was 108 dollars!!! Needless to say I am reversing all the good impressions I gave about Australia until the ticket penalty is withdrawn.
I tried to recover my composure and drove further to see the whitest beach in the world. It is Hyams Beach, also on Jervis Bay.
Next was the quest to see wild kangaroos. The guidebook told us that hundreds of kangaroos were roaming around the township of Sussex Inlet near Conjola National Park. We had our lunch by the inlet and saw nothing more than a pelican.
In my frustration I decided to drive through the National Park thinking that we would be more likely to see a kangaroo. We drove along a rough bush track which seemed to be ok at the start but after a couple of kilometres it became a very loose surface not suited to our hired Hyundai. After a section of very loose wet sand on a downhill section we came to a water filled creek. I was feeling distinctly nervous about our situation as I knew that a) I couldn't turn the car around and b) if I could turn around the car wouldn't get back the way we had come. I stopped and checked the creek out. I took my shoes and socks off to see how deep it was. I judged we could get across but I was still unhappy about the track on the other side and I knew we hadn't even got half way along the track. Janice wasn't keen on the situation either, she even missed the opportunity to take a picture of me wading in the creek.
I managed to get through and we got to the end of the track. Relief.....it was like we had discovered a new blowhole! The car looked a bit sad. We nearly lost the excess insurance on the hire car!
We hadn't seen any kangaroos either.
Janice took over the driving, I don't think she was impressed by my navigation!
We went straight on to Batemans Bay. I actually saw a kangaroo in a field as we drove but I can't prove it with a photo. We recreated the sighting later in the evening.....
We checked into our motel called Corrigans Cove. It is a nice hotel just outside the main town, overlooking the coast. I got straight on the New South Wales website to ask for leniency for the stupid parking ticket. We walked on the beach nearby and the sun started to shine for the first time today.
We found another small empty beach for an evening walk
Finally we went back to the motel to sample some Aussie Red and watch the cricket test match between Australia and Pakistan. Pakistan are struggling in the first innings at 73 for 8 wickets and are still 356 runs behind the Aussie first innings total.
Now that I have changed my early Australian impressions, I must add that Aussie licensing rules are no good either. Booze is sold in 'Bottle Shops' not supermarkets and they are expensive. Aldi supermarkets seem to sell a limited amount of alcohol and they are nice and cheap compared to the Bottle Shops but they can't sell alcohol after 6pm. We tried to buy some booze after 6pm and came away with only a bar of chocolate.
What a fickle character I am. A bit of sunshine tomorrow and my opinion could change again.
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