Peter@70: Family Day

Saturday was the family only day - a time to relax and unwind from the hectic but very enjoyable celebration day. The youngsters had plenty to keep them busy between the pool, the spa, the tennis court, the billiars table ... In the afternoon, Keiran and I set out on a photographic expedition. The Hampden Bridge crossing the Kangaroo River is a wonderful structure, and not far away is Cambewarra Lookout, with its family connection.

Young boy and girl in spa; boy has a soap suds crown

Flynn and Tia enjoying the spa. Tia was piling the suds on Flynn to make his crown. So Flynn. Then he submerged and it all washed away - dethroned so easily.

Kangaroo Valley Township

Kangaroo River from small weir at township

The Kangaroo River was flowing quite well in this scene looking up river. Major flow it is not, but then the trees suggest it is not a river subject to regular large flows.

The Hampden Bridge is the only surviving suspension bridge from the colonial period of New South Wales. Opened in 1898, it replaced the 2 span timber truss bridge of 1879. The latter was destroyed by a flood shortly after the opening of the current bridge. The water flow was enormous, as the river level was the underneath of the suspension bridge deck!

The northern end of the Hampden Bridge. Note that this bridge has a timber span, and the beautiful stone towers to carry the cables. Also there is a maintenance platform underneath the bridge, which appears to be undergoing significant repair work.

You meet the nicest people while walking over the bridge! Kelly with Lily stopped in the middle to have a chat. There were no other cars approaching, so that was fine with us.

The bridge in action - pedestrian traffic is allowed on both sides, and traffic is one direction at a time - there's a stop sign at each end, and crossing is "by negotiation".

Cambewarra Lookout

From the township it was onwards towards Nowra, but only as far as Cambewarra Lookout, a 7 km detour off the main road.

We walked past the closed tea house onto the balcony on the "view" side. The operators (I think the site is leased rather than owned) were on the balcony enjoying the view.

The wide angle view from the balcony. Nowra is about centre of the scene; the Shoalhaven River (into which the Kangaroo River flows) runs off to the left and into the Tasman Sea. Alas, even with some manipulation of the image, and using a polarising filter, the scene is hazy. Jervis Bay can be seen on a clear day, but not today.

We bought up the subject of our family connection to the tea house. My mum's sister-in-law's (Aunty Dot) sister and her husband - Daph and George Willmott - operated the tea house in the 1950s. Alas, at this time, I did not know their surname, so although the operators knew many of the names of previous owners, we were not able to sort it out.

A closer view of the plains below Nowra on the Shoalhaven River. The little peak on the far left is Coolangatta Mountain; Nowra is just off the right hand edge.

A closer view of the lower reaches of the Shoalhaven, and the community of what is probably Greenwell Point.

The time had come to return to Camp David and prepare for dinner. Tonight it was at the Thai restaurant just near the Hampden Bridge, but across the river from the township of Kangaroo Valley. The meal was delicious, and there was a great area outside for the youngsters to burn off their energy until dinner was ready. The maitre d' was quite happy with the outside burning off of energy, and seemed to anticipate our needs - almost before we did. Well recommended.