Sydney and Central Coast of NSW
Vietnam was a wonderful experience and pretty full on, so the more relaxing part of the trip begins here, in our favourite country. Arriving in Sydney we couldn’t wait to get out and hit the town. We try to stay in a different part of the city on each visit, so this time we were near Central station, convenient for our train journeys. Although on the edge of Chinatown, we found a little Spanish area, a cultural centre and several authentic tapas restaurants (For those who know Sydney – corner of George and Liverpool Streets). We couldn’t resist a change from Asian food and weren’t disappointed.
Walking back to our hotel we noticed the Shark Hotel – attracted by the name, we had a look inside. There was a busy karaoke night in full swing, and although we increased the average age in there by several years we stayed for a few drinks. Two British lads in their twenties performed a difficult Eminem number really well, so we got talking to them. They had met picking Bowen mangoes up in Queensland while backpacking around and had settled in Sydney. Jack and Chris didn’t seem to be planning to return to Kent and Coventry anytime soon!
Next day we took the train to Warnervale on the Central Coast, to spend four lovely days with our friends Aid and Ed who have recently bought a new house in Gorokan. This is the sixth time we have experienced their great hospitality – although they have moved all over the country (Melbourne, Palm Cove, Brisbane, The Entrance....) we always track them down! Thanks Aid for suggesting we make the trip by train rather than car – the journey is spectacular in parts as the line cuts through mountain passes then hugs the edge of the scenic Hawkesbury River.
We had arrived in NSW toward the end of a heat wave with temperatures of over 40 degrees, so Aid and Ed’s lovely pool got lots of use and I was delighted to find that Crocky the inflatable crocodile, an old friend from Palm Cove, had survived their various house moves.
The following day we were all invited to lunch at our friend Sue’s. Sue, like Aid, was at school with me in Ruthin and emigrated in the seventies. Last year she had a new house built in Kellyville Ridge in the Western suburbs of Sydney and it was really good to see her happily settled in her new home. Lunch was very convivial – we renewed our acquaintance with Sue’s friends Marion and Richard, and were pleased to meet Patrick and Jose Carlos for the first time.
There was a big drop in temperature and some heavy rain the next day. Aid and Ed had taken us to the beach resort Terrigal for lunch, and the sudden cloudburst sent everyone scurrying for shelter. The poor waiters were like drowned rats trying to roll down plastic sheeting to protect the outside eating areas, but the whole place was soon awash and we all huddled inside till it had passed over.
The Central Coast is a lovely area, with miles and miles of beautiful surfing beaches. The weather stabilised the following day and Aid took us to Soldiers Beach then on up the coast to Newcastle for lunch.
Our time with Aid and Ed went too quickly, as always. We enjoyed a lovely last dinner together in the aptly named Ocean View restaurant, overlooking the coast, and then it was back on the train to Sydney the next morning.
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