Big Al having returned from Brisbane, we escaped from Sydney today.
The drive up the freeway towards Newcastle was illuminated by a wonderful display of wildflowers. White, yellow, pink, and purple blossom decorated nearly all the shrubs and trees at the side of the road. The wattle is just stunning and, with the other flowers, create as fine a display as you are likely to see in Australia. There is no "riot of colour" as seen in the northern spring because Australian native plants seem universally to exhibit a shy, retiring habit. Nevertheless, in a continent which has no seasons (other than "the wet" and "the dry") one must revel in what nature has to offer.
We had a minor but really embarrassing failure in the equipment in the truck. The latch in the bathroom door broke down and had to be removed. No replacement was available in Newcastle so we must wait for another to be sent from Sydney to us in Brisbane.
We checked out the caravan parks in Raymond Terrace but chose to drive on to Karuah. The park, which is on the shore of Port Stephens, is not quite under water but we are safely esconced on a solid concrete slab so we should survive the night even if it rains.
We'll make the next part of our journey to Brisbane tomorrow.