Day 1- Coffs Harbour

We are only doing short trips to make it easier on the boys (and so easier on us) so we only went as far as Coffs Harbour today. We are only staying one night but now that i have seen the caravan park i wish we were staying longer- Split Solitary Beach Holiday Park- It's bloody beautiful! We are right on the beach. And i mean RIGHT on the beach. There is a wall of trees so it's totally safe for the kids but i would be surprised if we were more than 100m from the beach.

Took us a while to get the van sorted cos we just threw stuff in there this morning and had piles and boxes and baskets of stuff to sort through (some how i ended up with six clothes baskets!!) but we made time for a swim in the pool, a quick play in the park and, after dinner, we wandered down to look at the beach.

Here's my first go at a slower shutter speed (only hand held) to get some water motion. Upped the ISO to help out cos it was on dusk. Did some noise reduction in Photoshop but will admit i just took a guess at how to do that! I'll have to read up on it when i get a chance.

Sapphire Beach, Coffs Harbour.

finally! we are on our way

it feels like we have been trying to head off for AGES! It really hasn't been. After all, we only made the decision to do this about three months ago. But with us moving out of our house when we put it on the market, and then back in again when it sold so quick, and then trying to move into the van when we went to Sydney but having to come back to the house to clear it out and then having planned to leave a week ago but not being able to get the finances in order soon enough and delaying a day, then two days and then a full week!!! Finally, we have made it out of town.

It actually worked out well with us not leaving so soon as we got to stay with Tim's parents about 10 days or something and it was just great for the kids, and really nice for Tim and i with family popping in all the time for a visit and a coffee (or beer).

But i think we said 'goodbye' to family about three times when we thought it would be the last time we'd catch up... only to still be hanging around like dirty socks three days later. They turned up this morning to make sure we really did bugger off.

Here are the kids in the truck and ready to go. And our odometer for the start of our big lap!!!