I'm watching David cook up our dinner on the campground BBQ and a resident Kookaburra has just swooped down, inches in front of my face, to sit on a nearby branch... eagerly awaiting a bit of sausage, I suspect. Laugh all you like Mr K, you'll not be having my dinner!

And so it would seem we have gone back to where we started ten years ago: traveling around Australia in a campervan (an idea which David believes to be a romantic trip down memory lane ...).
 
Grand Pacific Drive
 
Yesterday, we said goodbye to Sydney* and my family, collected Thomas** -- our home away from home for the next two weeks -- and set off down the scenic coastal road towards Melbourne. And it has been breathtakingly beautiful.
 
<<< Oooooohhh, Mr Kookaburra has just dive bombed a couple of other campers and got away with a piece of their dinner!>>>
 
What was I saying? Ah... We've stopped at lookouts offering views over craggy headlands and sheltered coves resting against a backdrop of fertile farm land; held our breath as we drove over a very windy cliff road, litterally canter-levered over the sea; eaten ice cream (covered in hundreds and thousands, of course) while we watched, what can only be described as a flock of, technicoloured hand-gliders taking to the air; and taken a child-like pleasure waiting for the whooOOooph of the Kiama Blowhole. 
 
Historic harbours and Homesteads
 
Campervan aside, I am in seventh heaven. David is hanging in there. We've stopped and pottered around three picturesque townships, all sporting parades of heritage listed cafes, galleries and antique stores. At least, the buildings themselves are heritage: often a mixture of art deco style brick builds or the traditional Queenslander homestead with their tin roofs and wrap-around verandas. Inland, both Berry and Kangaroo Valley were very quaint -- I can see now why they're considered bait for the Sydneysiders, who flock here on weekends. We stayed in Kiama, a seaside town with a cute little sheltered marina... And, to David's amusement, Aussie's who are completely incoherent but who finish their sentence with 'O' ***.
 
<<>>
 
Talking of Aussie wild life, we rocked up at our camping spot today only to find ourselves relegated to the next door space, as a Kangaroo was happily ensconced in ours. 
Anyway, Better eat my dinner now before more Kookaburras arrive!
 
 
 * Yes, I know, I haven't blogged about Sydney. And I should. I forget that although Sydney is just home to me, it's glamorous to my readers; so watch out for our 'Sydney highlights' post.
 
** The guys who own the Spaceship campervans name their vans :)
 
*** one of David's running jokes is that all Aussies abbreviate word down the slang ending in 'o': Davo (David), Garbo (garbage man), Avo (afternoon), rego (car registration).. I could go on.