cheap camping Grafton | Somespacetobreathe

“Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass…It's about learning to dance in the rain.”

― Vivian Greene

It was Monday morning. We had a flat battery and our seven week house sitting stint had been cancelled before it had even started due to the poor health of one of the owners. The flat battery was an easy one to correct as our camping neighbour was happy to give us a jump start. Not having a place to live for seven weeks was another issue! We saw the quote above in a shop window in Ballina and decided to start dancing, heading south from Lismore towards Port Macquarie where I needed to be on Friday for an interview with the Department of Education.

Our first two camp sites were cheap, colourful and slightly surreal. Grafton Greyhound Racing Club Caravan Park was our first stop where a dog show was about to start. We woke to the site of fluffy dogs with ribbons in their hair like the one below!

Prices for two people: $17 for an unpowered site. $23 for a powered site. Toilet and shower block. hot showers. Fluffy dogs with ribbons not guaranteed!

We had ANOTHER flat battery in the morning and this time it was the greyhound track caretaker's tractor that came to our rescue!!!

Maggie went straight to an auto electrician and returned to the road with a new battery and a new solenoid and starter button to manually engage the glob plugs before starting.

Our second surreal camping experience was at The Coff's Harbour Showgrounds.

The show was about to start and walking down a deserted side show alley in the morning in our pyjamas towards the shower blocks really put a smile on our faces!

Our breakfast spot in Coff's harbour.

We liked this graffiti in the town centre

We stayed an extra night in Coff's as we had been invited to dinner by Kate, Allan and Renee, our friend Kel's family. We used the extra time during the day to make some new curtains for Maggie. It is amazing what a secondhand donna cover, a pair of scissors and some pegs can do.

Relaxing in the local parks

Park beach

We returned home from an amazing dinner and even better company to our first free camping night in a vacant block near the marina. It did have 'no camping' signs everywhere but our fellow travellers assured us the locals had just agreed to allow free camping for no more than two nights and they just hadn't got around to taking the signs down.

Despite the new curtains we were up very early and had the chance to enjoy the beautiful morning light.

This road sign made us giggle as we headed further south!!!!!

We were slightly jealous of this gorgeous VW van in Scott's Point.

Bonny Hills Holiday Park outside of Port Macquarie was our next stop. The words of wisdom outside the office door seemed to be speaking to us!

Our site had amazing views and we could hear the sea. It is not so noticable in the photos but we needed to make sure the handbrake was on and needed to adjusts the seats before we went to bed so the blood did not rush to our heads. Mental note: next time park sideways!

We found the very crowded local pub just in time for the last quarter of the Anzac day showdown at the MCG and were two of about four people watching it. Go the Bombers!!!! The full moon was amazing on the way home!

We were up early again for coffee at the surf life saving club….

And enjoyed a walk on this beautiful beach…………..

Lunch was in Port Macquarie by the river.

I have never stepped straight out of a camper van to attend an interview before. I have also never had an interview at such a random time…………………. 2:11pm!!! The interview was a success and I now have my approval to teach in NSW………the first of many hurdles to getting a job here!!!

House sitting job in Lismore??? What house sitting job? We are enjoying our freedom and our chance to dance in the rain!

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Dancing in the rain!

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