Day 9. June 28 2022. Port Macquarie and Sawtell

With no reason to stay in Forster unless we wanted to be soaked like an old doggy supporter in the outer at the Western Oval in the 80’s, we left early and headed to Sawtell, just south of Coffs Harbour. Called into Port Macquarie on the way, and decided to message an old friend to see if he was up for coffee. Nup, he was in Darwin in the middle of a 3 month trip! Good to have a conversation as we hadn’t spoke for a while, and very loose plans have been made to hopefully meet up as he comes back and we head to Darwin.

Recommendations are funny things. We all like to have positive confirmation if someone recommends something that we have already made our mind up on – new employee, a new show with some favourite actors, but how many of us take up recommendations out of the blue. So far we have taken two up. Brooklyn on the way out of the Blue Mountains, which was a great place for lunch and very scenic. Sawtell was recommended by a friend from my work, suggesting it was a little nicer than Coffs and we grabbed that recommendation sight unseen. What a winner. Great caravan park, nice cabin, top beach close by to walk on with great views. How many other recommendations have I missed because I was too cautious to take a chance on them? We are here to shake things up, so maybe I will be “accepting more offers”.

I have discovered that I am not a real rap for NSW pubs. After a walk on the beach, who wouldn’t like a sundowner while looking at the footsteps you have just left in the sand? The closest thing resembling a pub was on the main street, and it is more like a gaming den with mess hall. The RSL, the bowling club are all the same. The few towns we have called into and peeked into the pubs were all the same. A multitude of screens and sports games being played, and predominately blokes sitting in there with their schooners. I don’t mind a bet occasionally and each to their own – no problem – but where are the old country sea side pubs, with an outdoor area to sit in and take the view? If you don’t like it, you don’t have to go. So we didn’t, and we went back to the cabin and had a sundowner on our patio looking into the caravan park. Better than the bowlo.