Rain, Rain GO AWAY!

This past week we have been camping in the pouring rain!

First stop was 2 nights at Dharug National Park near Wisemans Ferry. To get there we had to cross the Hawkesbury River on the car ferry and then set up camp in the rain.

We checked the information board to see what wildlife we might spot before heading out on the Grass Tree Circuit walk. There were quite a disturbing number of snakes living in the park. We least wanted to meet a brown snake but that's exactly what we did see. Luckily it was a juvenile and just slithered off.

The next day it was pouring with torrential rain again. Undeterred we hiked the 9km Old Great North Road World Heritage Walk. Its one of the only sections of original convict road left in Australia. You can download an app from the national parks website with films to watch at points along the way; unfortunately phones don't work that well with buckets of rain poured into them! We made do with the interpretive signs instead. At one point the road is very steep and narrow, amazingly people drove a horse and cart up it before deciding that it really was too treacherous and the convict road builders carved out an alternative route.

Hangman's Rock

We left the national park and headed off to meet friends and find civilisation at Umina Beach where they had water, electricity, flushing toilets and hot showers. Sadly they also had rain. Lots of it. We did manage some time on the beach, in the pool and at the new water park, playground and jumping pillow. Here's a picture that sums up the weather. Kids sheltering by the toilet block, holding their hands over their ears to block out the sound of thunder whilst watching the tents flood with 45mm of rain all dumped down at once.

You've gotta love camping!