hornsea on tour

The 8 of us, The Van and The Interceptor rendez-voued in Coogee beach carpark for the start of our epic road trip from Sydney to Melbourne.  We had no plan other than a couple of recommended beaches.  I had taken one reccommendation from a fellow skateboarder that morning who had stopped me to comment on how nice my board was.  We got chatting and he began to tell me of a mystical beach, Steamers Beach.  He told me know one knew of it and proceeded to draw a map and directions on a paper napkin.  We parted company with him saying “Tell know one of Steamers, and don’t show anyone the map” Although it seemed like something out of the movie The Beach, the guy seemed deadly serious.  An hour later I shared the news with the Roadtrip crew Will, Toby, Carolyn, Katya, Harriet, Luke and Lisa.

First stop, Jervis Bay and Booderee National Park – also where the infamous Steamers beach was located.  We arrived too late to book a camping spot in the National Park but still we paid to go in.  After some exploring we decided the best spot to camp was at Brighton point beach, hopefully the ranger wouldn’t catch us.  We carted our camp gear through the bush down towards the beach, on route it was a scene similar to Jurassic Park, but without the dinosaurs.  Kangaroos and Wallabees jumped out and I’m pretty sure I saw a puma run past.  Luke informed everyone that a Kangaroos natural reaction when close to a human was to disembowel them, this filled us with confidence!

camp tramp

In the morning we woke up thankful the tide hadn’t washed camp tramp away.  We made tracks for Steamers – I’m keeping the exact location a secret ;)  The road ended and we had to park the vehicles up, we had a 3km walk through bush until we had a glimpse of the beach.

Once Steamers came into view it looked awesome!  Normally one of the best unknown surf spots on the east coast, but unfortunately we picked a flat day.  After a great day at steamers we made our way further south.  Darkness started to set in so we decided to stop, we stopped in Moruya; a small redneck town.  There was no sign of any campsites so we decided to stay in the local park despite the sign clearly saying, ‘NO CAMPING’.  I imagine this was the equivalent to us camping in Hall Garth Park in my hometown, Hornsea.  The bums had arrived!  For any other bums wanting some free camping here’s where it is; Moruya Riverside Park.

For the evenings entertainment we played blind chocolate roulette with some boxes of christmas present chocolate one of the girls had been sent.

Bright and early we ate breakfast, took a public toilet tap shower and got back on the Pacific Highway, next stop, Mallacoota.

Mallacoota would be our first stop in the territory of Victoria, where porn and fireworks are legal!

We arrived in glorious sunshine.  Mallacoota seemed like a cool little town, surrounded by beaches and the locals had a very laid back attitude.  We spent the rest of the day at the beach, surfing, skim-boarding and talking crap.  When it was time to leave the girls had the Interceptor to get back to camp whilst the boys had to walk.  I had my skateboard so decided I’d skate back on my own – for the first leg I thought it would be a great idea to hold onto The Interceptor’s wooden spoiler, this worked a treat until 2km later I hit a stone.  The Interceptor is a powerful machine and at the time we were probably going about 40mph.  I hit the deck, rolled about 20 times and eventually landed on my feet.  I stood up after eating road, I’d done some damage, grazes all over my back and ankles, blood everywhere.  Luckily the girls were on hand and took me back and fixed me up with some dettol.  I wont be car-skateboarding again, or for at least a while.

We liked Mal;acoota so much we decided to stay an extra night.  Another day of beach, banter and activities.

Next – after a long drive we arrived in Wonthaggi.  Another redneck town with nothing to do, but it was ideal as it’s a close distance to Philip Island, one place we had planned to visit.  We stayed at Coalfields caravan park, and lied about how many of us were staying to save around $5, we smuggled the extra people in hiding them in the back of the van.  That evening we had an awesome BBQ, homemade kebabs and salad – a real team effort, delicious!

In the morning we packed up and drove 15 minutes to Phillip Island.  The girls had read about Phillip Island in the Lonely Planet pre-roadtrip and thought it would be a great spot to stop.  Phillip Island, home to the smallest species of penguin in the world, ‘Little Penguins’ (Eudyptula minor).  We booked into Kaloha Campsite, again fibbing about the number of campers we had.  The campsite was a ten minute drive from the famous ‘Penguin Parade‘ – a protected site where people can view the penguins coming onto shore at sunset.  We all booked in for the Penguin Parade ($40) and just before senset arrived at the site.  We were all pretty disappointed with the setup, it was too much like a tourist trap for our liking.  Above the beach where the penguins came to shore each evening were two huge football stands which must hold about 1,000 people.  Still, it was pretty cool to see the little fellas come to shore just after sunset.  Tiny little things, about 43cm tall.

We head back to camp.  It was an EXTREMELY hot night, and we all struggled to get a good nights kip.  The next morning we learnt that is had been the hottest night on record in Victoria – a whopping 37C!  No wonder I felt like I’d pissed myself in the morning.

Just before we left Phillip Island we decided we needed to cool down so went jetty jumping.

We later learnt that Phillip Island has a high record of shark attacks.  There is a high population of seals which draw sharks to the area.  We had been jumping into the water about 10ft from where a seal was bathing;

We made it out the water alive though, and better still we all survived the roadtrip.  We arrived in Melbourne later that day exhausted.  Lots of great memories and laughs, an awesome east coast roadtrip!


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After an intense week at the Peats Ridge festival we stopped at Shelley Beach for rehab on route to Sydney.  Shelley Beach is gorgeous – it felt pretty good waking up parked at the beach and having not been drinking the night before.  We tried to make up for the festival unhealthy living by going for a beach run and workout – bench pressing logs, curling rocks.

We met yet another extremely friendly Aussie, Kate, at the festival and she kindly invited us to stay at her apartment in Bondi Beach for our 5 day visit to Sydney.  She must have been drunk at the time, I don’t know who in the right mind would invite three smelly bums to stay in their apartment after a festival.

We arrived at Kate’s apartment and it was in a perfect location – free street parking for the van and a 5 minute walk to the Beach.

The following day we took a stroll round Bondi armed with Kate’s cute dog Harvey, a complete babe magnet!  Toby attempted to utilise this by holding the lead but had no success.

On the evening Kate took us to her local.  The Bondi RSL (returning servicemen’s league), pretty similar to an ex-serviceman’s club in the UK but only without out the old folks and doms.  Australia seems to have RSL clubs in every town and city.  It was more like a student union for the mid twenties, the one in Bondi anyway.

The following day Toby, Kate, Harvey and myself decided to do the east coast walk from Bondi to Coogee Beach.  One reason to see some of the coast the other to meet up with a travel buddy from my 2008 SE Asia trip – Canadian Carolyn!  We started at Bondi passing through Tamarama, Bronte, Clovelly, Gordon’s Bay finishing at Coogee Beach.  It took us just over an hour, the section of coastline is REALLY nice.  Packed with runners with awesome bods the walk is really geared up for people exercising with outside mini beach gyms scattered along the route.  We met up with Carolyn in Coogee and discussed how Will and I would kidnap her for the next part of our trip.

In an attempt to re-live my teenage years I decided to buy a skateboard, it was also a plan to try make myself look cooler in Bondi.  I purchased a new cruiser board in Bondi from;  Skateboard (Skate or Bon-Die 14, Hall St. Bondi Beach, 0291304336, Captain Billy’s Crab Shack).  5 minutes later I was on my arse round the corner, not coooool.

We began to get the feeling we had outstayed our welcome in Kate’s street when a resident shouted from their window at Will – “Oi ya bum! Stop living in my street!”.  It was time to move on.

Later – We met with travel buds and friends from home Katya and Harriet and school mates Lisa and Luke.  We arranged the mother of all Roadtrips, Sydney to Melbourne.  There were 8 of us, Will, Toby, Carolyn, Katya, Harriet, Luke, Lisa and myself.  We were to travel in ‘The Van’ and ‘The Interceptor’.

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After what should have been a 10 hour drive taking 15 we arrived at Peats Ridge in the Glenworth Valley just north of Sydney.  Our map reading skills and Aussie sign postings obviously weren’t too hot.  The festival setting was amazing – Right in the middle of the Glenworth Valley with a sweeping river through the whole site, surrounded by ‘bush’ (forest), mountains and wildlife.

We were to spend the next week at the Peats Ridge festival which was recommended to us by Aussie HODR volunteer Fern.  We opted to volunteer and had to work 4 shifts in order to get a free ticket.

On arrival I was convinced I had gone through a time warp and ended up at 69’s Woodstock.  Tie-dye clothes, dreadlocks, people on acid, girls with hair where it shouldn’t be – Welcome to Hippy-Ville!

We camped in the volunteer site and obviously didn’t fit in, looking like surf bums.  But we went with it and got into the hippy vibe soon enough – staying clear of the many drugs on offer; mum.  The hippies turned out to be really friendly and we met some really cool and interesting characters.

Obviously Will and I got far to drunk to make any of our work shifts (no bad Karma as we lost our ticket deposits and Peats Ridge is not a non-profit).

On day one we attended the opening ceremony, pretty cultural – a showcase of Aboriginal dance and tradition from the area, Glenworth Valley was once inhabited by Aboriginal people.  Later that day we stumbled on a car which was being raffled.  Toby, needing a car entered into the raffle investing $12.

One evenings events consisted of Will and I visiting the Bohemian Love Theatre, people were required to get naked before entering the tent – more drinks were needed so instead we went for Absinthe hour and then returned.  Most of the nakedness had finished, the show was a very bizarre experience ending with everyone dancing and throwing cushions.  I got a bit carried away (probably due to the absinthe) and decided to launch one at the lead singer on the stage, at 110mph it was heading straight for him when at the last second it swung and hit a backing singer square in the face – they were not amused.  We swiftly departed.

It was a cool place to see in the new year; an all day drinking session with lots of bands.  New Years day the car raffle was drawn, and yes.. the Tobster had the winning ticket!  He was over the moon, he had bagged himself an old shit Toyota Camry.  Not only was it old and shit but it was heavily moded; Go Faster stripe down the middle, Rear spoiler (A wooden fence post nailed to the boot) – the car was a corker!  We believed it was modeled on the car from Mad Max so it was named – The Interceptor!


People quickly left the festival site and we hung around till the late afternoon when just about everyone had gone.  It was time to scavinge.  We routed through bins and piles of rubbish.  Will and I added to The Van’s itinerary; tent, 2 tarps, rope, a chair, and a hammock.  Toby the pikey on the other hand got a full kitchen set, orange juice, wine, snacks, chairs, a sarong and much more!

Peats Ridge Festival was very different to any festival I’ve been – we ended up loving every minute of it and were sad to leave.  We also discovered some new artists we like; Passenger and The Jezabells.

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The Van

30/12/2009

byron to peats ridge

Our plan was to be in Peats Ridge (1hr30 north of Sydney) for the Peats Ridge Festival on the 27th December.  We needed transport to get there and a place to sleep at the festival so we had to get it before Christmas to be sure we would have a chance of making the festival.

As soon as we arrived in Byron we were scoped out some vans, within 24hours we found what looked like our ideal Van on Gumtree.

It was based in Brisbane.  Toby, Will and I quickly hired a budget car (Toyota Yaris) to drive up to Brisbane from Byron.  The plan was to buy the van the same day and drive back the evening before Christmas Eve.

The French owners met us in the centre of Brisbane.  We were instantly taken by the van – it looked sweet and drove really well.  Most importantly on the test drive it turned a few hot girls heads.  We agreed on a figure.  I tried to make the payment by wire over the telephone but found I couldn’t do it internationally despite being told the previous day I could; thanks Alliance & Leicester.  We couldn’t seal the deal that day so we stayed the night in hope we could come up with the money the following day.

Being French the couple didn’t offer us the van to sleep in for the night in their drive.  Instead we had to find a residential street where we could park overnight – we were to sleep in the Yaris, all three of us!  It was a horrible night, we barely slept and when we did a drunk man woke me trying to steel my tshirt which I had hung on the window for sunshade.

The next morning I eventually managed to get the money by doing a cash advance from a Westpac.  We dropped the cash and picked up the Van!  We arrived back in Byron late on Xmas eve with our new wheels, the new van felt like the best Christmas present ever!

The Van‘ will now be our new home.  We will sleep in it, eat in it and party in it – with the odd drive between places.  It’s official… we are now Gypos.

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Byron Bay – Christmas

29.12.2009

Byron Bay – the town where everyone seems to have awesome golden beach tanned bodies, they couldn’t be fitter.  Surfer babes everywhere – paradise!
We arrived in Byron and checked into where the rest of the gang were at; Nomads Hostel.
(Nomads – One of the most blingin’ hostels I’ve ever stayed in!  Immaculate, modern, spacious, brand new. [...]

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Australia – Gold Coast

22.12.2009

My second trip to Australia!  In 2007 I had a 3 week holiday with ex girlfriend Maria and family.  A great holiday, we traveled to Brisbane with a trip to Fraser Island and then spent time in Sydney.  My overview was that the places I saw were very similar to England, especially the architecture – [...]

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Bali – Kuta Beach

20.12.2009

The second time Will and I had traveled to Bali.  The first time we travelled the majority of the island but this time we decided just to stick with Kuta Beach.

Kuta Beach has a pretty bad rep with a lot of experienced travellers and surfers.  It’s very commercial, overcrowded, the surf isn’t good and the [...]

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Padang – devastation

11.12.2009

Returning from our paradise island adventure we spent the next few days in Padang to catch up on a bit of work.
I became used to seeing the earthquake damage in Sungai Geringging.  Padang was something different, it was on a completely different scale.  Obviously being a city many larger buildings were damaged and destroyed.  Padang [...]

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Pagang Island – paradise

09.12.2009

Our journey to Pagang Island started at Lake Maninjau.  We heard about the Island from a local Maninjau guy, as soon as we heard the details we were sold.  A deserted island with no inhabitants (other than two island guardians), white sand beach, crystal clear blue water.  It sounded like one of the most exciting travel [...]

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Lake Maninjau

05.12.2009

On our departure of the HODR crib there was a large volunteer gang keen for another Bukittingi trip.  Will and I fancied somewhere new so instead we headed for a short stay on Lake Maninjau which is 16km from Bukittingi.  Lake Maninjau has an area of 99.5km², being approximately 16km long and 7km wide – [...]

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