The One in Wollongong

The good thing about travelling is making random friends, and also the gumption that allows you to turn up on perfect strangers doorsteps and stay for the weekend! We put this to the test this weekend as we went to stay with Jessica's friend Nick and his fiancee Kristy. (I must add that he invited us to stay and we didn't turn up unannounced!)

We caught the train down from Central station and got off at Fairy Meadow (what an excellent name for a station) Here we looked at every moving car with interest waiting to see who was looking for two lost English Girls!

Before long Nick turned up, and put us at ease straight away. He drove us to his house via the beach and a quick tour of Wollongong. Here we met Kristy, and their little black labrador puppy Gus!

We drove up to the Thirroul art fair, then up to the Scarbrough hotel where we had a yummy lunch overlooking the sea. It's so nice to have a chilled out weekend!

After lunch we headed up to Bald Hill to watch the hang-gliders taking off, and for a good view of the coast and the spectacular Ocean Cliff Road - the new road which wiggles out over the sea.

We dropped Kristy back at the house and headed down the coast to Kiama - home of the blowhole, and then to the beach at Gerringong. Nick went in for a dip, and H and I sat and enjoyed the late afternoon sun.

We watched a father with his kids - who couldn't have bene more than about 8 years old. He was teaching them about swimming in the sea; picking them up and throwing them through the upcoming waves - teaching them to dive through them the way Joe had taught me at Bondi. I was envious of these children, being taught how to feel safe in the water and more importantly how to read the surf. They were body surfing the waves with more ease than I had with a board. I am already years behind on understanding the ocean... I will need a lot more practice before I can feel confident in the water here... and I'm a strong swimmer!

After Nick's swim, we drove to Gerroa and saw the 7 mile beach, a huge crescent of white sand - beautiful!

Back at the house we had a barbie and chilled out together. What a wonderful way of life these guys have down here!

The next day we headed down the beach and enjoyed a coffee, before catching the train back to Sydney. Turning up on strangers doorstops proved to be a big success, and hopefully even after only a day and a bit in their compnay, Nick and Kristy will now consider us friends! - Thanks for your hospitality guys!