Land of the little people!
Arrived at 7.30 and had to extract the bikes ourselves (cost $40.00 to transport this time) and put them back together at the terminal. Thankfully it was daylight this time! Cycled onto the water front and went in search of the camp site which was 5 km up the road. We passed an ACA site which looked busy and decided to try the next site next to the Eco centre 1km further on. It looked a little less busy and had a lot of families which was preferably to groups of young men singing at 3.00 in the morning. Not that we now always assume the worst! We pitched the tent between two families and rode back into town for breakfast. Hired a car for 2 days (for the following days trip onto the peninsular) and had a wander along a beach to blow the cobwebs away from the previous sleepless night. Walked back into town and decided to go for a
quick bite to eat as we were desperate get back for a good night’s sleep. When we got back to the tent the 'quiet' family next to us were having the only car stereo club session' on the site…..it was so loud we couldn’t actually hear ourselves speak. It was the type of stereo usually purchased by 17 year olds and occupy the entire boot space. With rib cages vibrating we started taking the tent down. Large spots of rain started to fall but luckily we didn't have to struggle in the dark. The family had kindly erected mobile floodlights which attracted a variety of insects and moths. Unfortunately, as soon as they fluttered into the air space above their roaring fire, they fizzed and floated up into the night air along with the sooty debris of local trees and shrubs! The father sat feeding his fire, shouting at his kids (and any passing kids) and generally not caring about anybody else but himself. At 10.30 we found ourselves cycling out into a dark, and now wet, Saturday night with nowhere to stay. We cycled the streets and tried over 11 different hostels, hotels and hosterias until the 'The Grand Palace Hotel' came to our rescue just before the heavens really opened. At one time it must have been very grand but now it was a faded, jaded memory of its former self. The high ceilings were still there but the rooms were stark and white washed with furniture which showed years of stains, scrapes and knocks. It was the perfect escape from the smoke and noise. Clean hot showers, clean sheets and smiling friendly staff (despite being past midnight) helped us wind down. Camping was, unfortunately, becoming a lottery! We slept extremely well!
The unfriendly bus for bikes
Don't do it!!
