50 - Batemans Bay

The decision was made that rather than go direct to Canberra, we made arrangements to catch up with more friends, that we met a South West Rocks. Mike & Kerry were making their way down the coast and have intention to circumnavigate OZ via the coast.

So we made a booking at one of the Big 4 sites where Mike & Kerry were booked into just to the east of the main town of Batemans Bay.

Like all places we visit, some you warm to, and others you don't. Well BB was one of those places I just couldn't warm too. Sure the park was four and a half star, and had all the goodies, apart from the fruit loop parked opposite us....I guess they are the breaks when in a park environment.

Anyway moving along we caught up with Mike & Kerry, and come happy hour we were joined by another two couples.....with the inevitable more drinkies and great cheers.
Later that evening we had a meal with Mike & Kerry retiring around 11pm.

In the afternoon I went across to the beach for a swim and a walk. Didn't particularly like it. Water was dirty, windy and the sand was quite ordinary as well. I think the beaches at Congo and Narooma has just spoiled me.

The Beach at the CP.

This is us with Mike & Kerry. Don't know what happened with the colour

We only stayed one night at Batemans Bay, as we needed to get up the Clyde Mountain range on our way to Canberra. I had been told by many of the horrors of climbing the Clyde...with the most recent being "I saw a vehicle catch fire, half way up the Clyde." So you can imagine all these horror stories playing over and over again in my mind, especially with a 36 y.o. motor vehice, pulling an over weight 12 y.o van up the steepest mountain range on the east coast OF Oz......FEEEEEEERK!!!!!!!!!

So with stomache in mouth we left Batemans Bay, and just over the bridge heading north we turned west towards the Clyde Mountain. Saying a few prayers, our mission was about to begin. So with very little to say to the bride, the Val was away. We climbed and climbed. The Val took the climb in its stride, only dropping down a gear on some of the more steepest sections. Checking the temperature guage, all normal...that's a good sign. After what seemed an eternity, the road seemed to flatten out and I said to myself, if that was the Clyde, what a push over. I was about to say to the bride, "give me something hard to do".........luckily I didn't cause stage 2 of the Clyde was about to begin.

Now looking at the forth coming hills, we knew this was going to be the test. So once again with heart in mouth, we set forth for stage 2 of the Clyde Mountain. WE were ready the Val was ready..so lets go!!!!!!!!

Climbing, climbing, climbing, climbing.....now the Val was working overtime. On many occassions we were back to 1st gear, just crawling along, but the Val kept pulling. The temp guage was slightly up, but all in all the val just took the climb inits stride. Even the hairpins where one could loose the momentum in 1st gear, the Val powered on, and on.

Finally we made it....Phew!!!!!!!!!!!, what a relief....the mountain was kind to us, the Val and the RetroLiner. Forward Ho to Canberra was the call, with a brief stoop at a rest area at the top of the mountain.

Next post Canberra.

The Val and the bride taking a well deserved break at a free camp area on top of the Clyde. The bride didn't even start smoking again after that episode.