The Philippine Attack On Port Stephens! (Part 1)

It was an idea born a some weeks ago! "Why don't we all head off for a camping trip somewhere".
Great idea! I haven't been camping for many, MANY years and to head bush with some of our best friends, it would have to be awesome.
But where to go?
Many ideas were tossed around with Canberra and Port Stephens becoming the front runners.
No prizes for guessing which of these won. Porn and alcohol just weren't enough to entice woman to Canberra and we couldn't think of anything else it had to offer :-)

I knew it was to be an adventure early in the piece. A check of the BOM site the night before revealed the likelihood of torrential rain continuing for the entirety of our stay.

Not a great prospect, but it would allow much gossip and eating time for us all.

The BOM website wasn't exaggerating about the rain!

23-04-2008

"Agghhhhhh the alarms going and its only 4am - what the heck is going on"?

A convoy of white!

Thats right, we are off to Port Stephens. Slowly we get our tired rears into gear and start the frantic last minute packing of the car in preparation for departure.
Toothbrush? Check!
Camera? Check!
Tanduay? Check!
Camera? Check!
Adobo? Check!
Camera? Check!
Pera? Check!
With everything in order we headed to Annabelle's place to meet them, then on to Ron and Gina's so they could complete the north bound convoy.

Ana and Latrel (spelling likely wrong)!

First port of call on the trip was Nobby, near Newcastle and at the mouth of the Hunter River.

End of the breakwall at Nobby! Not a warm morning!

It was breakfast time and out came the Philo spaghetti and apple juice as we settled down to gorge our faces before taking on the walk out along the breakwater (built many years ago to protect the port area of the Hunter River from the rough seas of the Pacific Ocean).

Thankfully the rain held off for both brekkie and the walk, although only Ronnie and myself made it to the end of the breakwall (the woman chickening out and staying back on the beach).

Anyone remember what blue sky looks like?

The walk is thoroughly recommended.

Hmmmmmm OK! Perhaps a rethink?

Great views of Newcastle, the ocean and also passing shipping. It has lots to offer the history buff and even the railfan foamer is catered for with some visible remains of long forgotten railways.

Yeah - I have a thing for photographing ships as well!

Alas it was time for a visit to the good ol Nobby dunny and departure for wetter points to the north!

What a strange bloke - he tried for a good 10 minutes but couldn't push this concrete block off! We thought about helping him, but many asylum escapees carry knives with them.