Friday 20 September 2013 – Visiting

We were awake pretty early this morning and had a slow start to the day, tidy up the van, rearranging a few things, then having a cuppa and a read before going up the street to raid the hole in the wall.

Back at camp we had lunch then got ready for our afternoon and evening outings.  First we drove about five minutes to Max and Mary’s place at Umina where we were made very welcome and visited for about two hours.  We had a good catch up, and it was good to see that they are both very well.  We left there a bit later than we intended – as of course you get caught up with extra conversation, etc., and it was probably about ten to four when we left there.  As we were supposed to be at Bateau Bay at 4 o’clock, and it is about 30 - 40 minutes drive depending on the traffic, I rang Fran to let her know that we were running a bit late.

The roads weren’t too busy going our way so we made pretty good time and were there by 4.30.  And we were in for a surprise!  Gary met us out the front of his house, and Fran opened the door to greet us, and there beside her were Caroline and Grant – their friends who were also on the Canada trip back in 2005!! As soon as I had rung Fran the other day and we had arranged to go up there and go out for tea, they had rung Caroline and Grant who live at Oyster Bay in Sydney to see if they were able to come up, and they were here for the night.

It was really good to see them all, so of course we talked non stop, catching up on the news, then later went into The Entrance to their favourite Italian Restaurant for dinner. We all went in Gary’s car and he took us on a bit of a cooks tour of the area (slightly after dark, but that was okay) on the way to the restaurant.  We had a beautiful meal – I couldn’t eat all mine, but it was yummy.  We got back to their place at about ten, and after looking at photos and remembering people from out Canada trip, we said our goodbyes at about half past ten and got back here at a bit after 11.  We’re really glad we caught up with them as we seemed to just pick up where we had left off last time we saw them.

Grant, Caroline, Dawn, Fran, Gary and Grant

So that brings an end to our three night stay here at Ettalong Beach.  Tomorrow we move further south and we intend to stay at Sanctuary Point.