18 -19 September 2025

18 September 2025

Sale to Inverloch

Up betimes to have a good look around Sale (where, as a lad, my paternal grandfather worked for a few years before returning to Bothwell, Tas.)

A photograph of and taken by my paternal grandfather (centre) with his brother (L) taken in Bothwell about 1915

We went to where the Sale Public Cemetery was said to be to look at the "Napper graves" (see 17 September) but the cemetery had disappeared - the land is now apparently some sort of property development!

The clocktower in the Sale Mall had not disappeared!

All that remains in Sale of Cobb & Co, the legendary Australian stagecoach business 

The Port of Sale which only exists because of the 2.4 kilometre canal to the Thompson River.

See:

https://heritage.engineersaustralia.org.au/wiki/Place:Port_of_Sale

Arrived at Inverloch at about 3.00pm and checked in to our accomm.

Nothing further to report.

19 September

Inverloch to Dromana

Up betimes to have a bit of a look around Inverloch in the hope of spotting old Soaks Bloke* Viv Chopping who now resides at Inverloch. Unfortunately, a bit like the Sale Cemetery, he too seems to have disappeared!

Headed off for Dromana on the Mornington Peninsula stopping off at Kilcunda to take in the views and a very daring rock fisherman...

Arrived at Dromana and had a look at the beach and some colourful Boatsheds...

and a very adventurous windsurfer...

before checking in to the "Dromana Beach Getaway" for 2 nights.

* a former player with the University Associates Rugby Club, Hobart.

16-17 September 2025

Tue 16 September 2025

Moruya to Eden (via Bermagui)

Up betimes to finally say farewell to Moruya after the Ellington was fully restored to health the previous day. 

To be honest, a total of 5 days in Moruya was, I think, at least 3 days too long!

We decided to make our way south by way of the Princes Highway found ourselves in the tiny town of Central Tilba which seems to have set it's face against modernisation - "The warm smell of colitas rising up through the air" ( see "Hotel California")

.    The Dromedary Hotel, Central Tilba

                The Tilba Bakery

.               Tilba Leather Store

         The Central Tilba Post Office

After a short diversion to Broadwater on the Merimbula River to view a pelican or two, 

almost by accident we ended up at Bermagui - which enabled us to belatedly  "celebrate" the 11th Anniversary of Mrs P's unforunate accident in 2014 at the Bermagui Blue Pool which resulted in her breaking both of her wrists!

.          The Blue Pool at Bermagui

After having croissants and jam at the Eurolicious Café at Bermagui we leisurely made our way to Eden for the night 

17 September 2025

Eden (NSW) to Sale (Vic)

Up betimes at the centrally located Coast Motel at Eden to make our way to the Victorian town of Sale where one of the Prop's ancestors married someone called Charles Napper in about 1880. It was about a 5 hour drive so we didn't stop to take pictures. Lunch at Lakes Entrance (where we stayed on the 7th of September) so you can look at the pictures that we took that day if you like.

A picture of the Tadpole's odometer taken on 7th September 2025 - may he rest in peace.

13-16 September 2025

 On Friday afternoon I had contacted Eurobodalla Toyota to advise them that a warning light was showing on the dashboard of the the Juke (which Michael O'Farrell has kindly suggested should now be called "The Ellington") and that the "climate control" display was blank. 

At their suggestion we then drove from Batemans Bay to Moruya so that the problems could be investigated but having arrived at about 4.00pm, there was insufficient time to resolve the problems so we reluctantly agreed to return the "Ellington" on the following Monday.

Sat 13 September 2025

Batemans Bay to Moruya

Up betimes to drive to Moruya and to eventually check in to the Hive Motel at Moruya only to find that, due to what was described as "an electricity leakage" the power supply to the hotel and nearby area would be interrupted from 9.00am until 3.00pm on the following day, Sunday.

On the way to Moruya we stopped off for morning tea at the Surf Beach Café just south of Batehaven

And Malua Bay

And Tomakin

And Broulee

And Moruya Heads

Sun 14 September 2025

Moruya to Tuross Heads and back.

Having grown up in Albury (NSW) Mrs P spent most of her childhood Christmas holidays with her family at Tuross Heads catching fish and swimming. Accordingly, we decided to re-visit Mrs P's childhood - given that there was no electricity at our motel! 

So, up betimes to make our way to Tuross Heads which, according to Mrs P, is now unrecognisable from how it was in the late 1950's and 1960's.

 The famous One Tree Point still exists but what was once a small village has now grown into something of a mini-metropolis - and much else has changed.

The once pristine beach at Tuross Heads is now littered with burnt gum trees which, following devastating bushfires in 2019 were washed down the Tuross River by floods in 2021 and are now regularly carried away and re-deposited on the beach.

We then made our way to a café which, in Mrs P's childhood was "Nossiters Boatshed" where boats could be hired and bait purchased. Nowadays it's all cappuccinos and cake!

The former/current Nossiter's Boatshed

Mon 15 September 2025

Moruya

Up betimes to have a look around Moruya while yet another power outage took place between 4.30 pm and 9 00pm!

     Seals (not me) in the Moruya River

A seal sunning himself on the banks of the Moruya River

.          The Moruya Courthouse

Not much else of interest that we could find.

11 - 12 September 2025

11 September - Moruya to Kiama

Up betimes to leave Moruya in "The Juke" our newly acquired motor car. The Juke is comfortable, drives well but is nearly 30 years younger than the Tadpole and therefore lacks experience - and it doesn't provide the occasional overnight accommodation!

We took morning tea at the Mollymook Beach Hut at Mollymook after previously passing through Mogo, Batemans Bay and Ulladulla.

         The Mollymook Beach Hut

Then on to Kiama via Fisherman's Paradise, Jerrawangala, Tomerong, Falls Creek (not the one in Victoria), Nowra, Bomaderry and Jaspers Brush.

The Kiama (Alan) Blow Hole - an impressive sight

Spent the night in Kiama and on the way back from dinner we passed "Parsons Ladies Funeral Directors (incorporating Stan Crapp Funerals)"

             Crapp Funerals in Kiama

12 September - Kiama to Batemans Bay

Up betimes to check out of Kiama Motel 617, the street address of which is 123. So, either this is the 617th motel constructed in Kiama OR there is another explanation.

Made our way in The Juke to Cathedral Rock which, by comparison with the Organ Pipes on kunanyi, pales into insignificance.

Cathedral Rock. An 1828 painting would suggest that the height of some of the "spires" have since been much diminished.

Then on to Gerringong to take morning tea at the Sea Vista Cafe. 

The Sea Vista Café - evidently named due to the very fine vista of the sea available therefrom

Then on to Lake Conjola to view not just the lake but also the very fine coastal views. 

One of several very fine coastal views

Not to mention the excellent and beautifully painted public toilets which cater to "Ladies", "Gents" and "Ambulant Unisex"

The quite splendid public conveniences at Lake Conjola

Finished the day at Lincoln Downs Resort at Batemans Bay. 

9-10 September 2025

           DEATH OF THE TADPOLE!

           Pambula Beach to Moruya

Up betimes to leave the very satisfactory accommodation at Pambula Beach intending to head north via the coast.

     Pambula Beach - very satisfactory 

Had we known what was soon to happen we might well have stayed where we were!

After a serious navigation error made by the Prop (he instructed Mrs P to enter our destination as Cowra instead of Nowra) we soon realised that we were heading west instead of north. 

But worse was yet to come.

Stopped for an early lunch at Narooma after which changing gears in the Tadpole became increasingly difficult. By the time we reached the outskirts of Moruya changing gears was almost impossible. As (bad) luck would have it we managed to limp in to the "Eurobodalla Toyota Service Centre" in 3rd gear.

IT WAS HERE THAT THE TADPOLE DIED!

The very kind staff at Eurobodalla Toyota gave theTadpole the once over and determined that the slave cylinder for the clutch was leaking badly and that the master cylinder was also looking very dodgy.

With limited options we arranged for the Tadpole, which was now un-driveable, to be moved by tow truck to a nearby caravan park for further consideration of the aforementioned limited options.

With no-one in Moruya (or nearby Batemans Bay) apparently able to undertake repairs within the next fortnight - even assuming that the necessary parts were still available for this 38 year old vehicle - we decided overnight to let the Tadpole rest in peace and to purchase a replacement vehicle to continue our journey, which still has 2 weeks to go!

And that is what we did!

The replacement vehicle - not the Tadpole but, it is to be hoped, somewhat more reliable. (We were not allowed to keep the ribbon.)

The Tadpole - being taken to its final resting place

Very sad to say goodbye to the "Taddy" but for some years now we were fully aware that something like this was likely to happen. 

We first purchased the Tadpole in 2003 to drive around Australia to watch the 2003 Rugby World Cup but after 23 years it is finally time to say goodbye!!