August 11th...DAY 56

From the coast to the mountains today and what a change in temperature. After battling with the new section of the Pacific Highway, with so many round-abouts and over- passes we arrived in Coffs Harbour. It is now a big and very busy city. We sat on the Esplanade and watched the beach and surf in the last of the warm sun we would see today.

Travelling inland again took us through the mountains on the eastern side of the Great Dividing Range. The bush drive was steep and quite narrow. There were signs threatening that timber trucks could emerge but thankfully they did not. Eventually we came out at Dorrigo in time to eat our lunch. While we were there an old guy called Smokey Dunn came along and spoke to us about all the sites to see in the area and the best places to camp for FREE. As an old identity of the area he offered some interesting advise.

Ebor Falls on Guy Fawkes Creek

Tonight we are camped in the Cathedral Rock National Park at ‘Native Dog Flat’ camp site. It is quite high at 1270 metres elevation….snow gums grow in the bush so that is a tell tale about the temperature. We have already adjusted our layers of clothing and bedding. The half hour walk through the granite boulders near the camp site was great although few flowers are in bloom at this time of year.

Rather insignificant Urn Heath in bloom

It is exactly eight weeks today since we left Milawa.