Road Tripping ...

Looked up what day it is.
It’s Thursday.

Daryl picked me up at the entrance to the Park at 8.20am.
Surprised me by saying he is taking me to Yamba, slight detour before to go to Grafton.

On the way, we passed a turn off to New Italy.
How did it get that name?
In 1880, three hundred and forty Italians set sail for New Ireland near Papua New Guinea.
They were misled by the captain of the ship and one hundred and twenty-three died on board before the remainder were rescued by Australian seamen.
After recovering, they surveyed and claimed a 3000 acre parcel of land and set up ‘New Italy’.
Wow.

Yamba is about 109km from Woolgoolga up the Pacific Motorway.
Double lanes and an easy drive.
Daryl was explaining how they are building this motorway so occasionally we would be detoured back onto the single land highway.
But still, a beautiful day and great company.
Yamba is at the mouth of ‘The Big River’, the Clarence River.
Named after the Duke of Clarence as it turns out.
(We looked it up)
Discovered in 1831.
I can see why it is known as The Big River.
It is enormous.
It looks like the ocean.

They have constructed the road from island to island to island to cross the river and get you into Yamba.
Yamba is a small coastal town with a lovely beachy Main Street and 2 Lighthouses high on the headland.
There is a huge new bridge, really high in the air to allow for shipping.
Traffic on the old bridge would be stopped as the centre was raised for the ships.
The old bridge is still there to see.
Huge, huge old columns ... it looks stunning.
This was a very quick visit ... Emily and I have decided we are going back tomorrow.
Daryl just wanted to make sure I knew how lovely it was.
He was technically working.

Checked out the mouth of the river.
They have built 2 breakwaters that extend into the ocean.
These stop the silt build up and ships can travel down this enormous river to Grafton.
Beautiful.
Will let you know more tomorrow.

Onto Grafton, passing through a small town called Maclean.
This town has a proud Scottish heritage and every electricity pole has a clan tartan painted on the base of it.
Over 200.
And you can get a map and locate ‘your’ tartan if so inclined.

Into Grafton over the new bridge.
Runs parallel to the old one that is still in use
Looks amazing.

Grafton was the very busy port in the past as shipping was the most effective means of transport.
Times have changed and apparently, the population is declining.
Old building, great Main Street and, of course Jacarandas everywhere.
Unfortunately not in bloom yet.
Grafton have a huge Jacaranda Festival every year.
It has been cancelled this year due to corona.

Daryl went to see a client and I wandered the Main Street and parks.
Just an hour but lovely.
Then Daryl took me to see a huge old Hotel right on the edge of the Clarence River, at the end of the Main Street.
We went inside and he pointed out a photo showing the river level in the 2013 floods.
Have a look at the photo on the next blog.

Then a quick trip to Daryl’s favourite butcher and back to Woopi.
At camp by 1.30.
Daryl had more appointments in town.

Great road trip.
Loved all the sights!Read more