Towards the end: the east coast

We were desperate to do another trip up the East Coast and try and get to Launceston again to visit my friend Anna, but I couldn't get in contact with Anna and we couldn't find anywhere to stay on the east coast, so things looked a bit grim.  We decided to just wing it; drive up for the day and see if we could find somewhere to stay, otherwise drive back.  We met up with Matt's brother and his family in Orford. 

 I'm a bit surprised by these photos as I remember it being freezing and windy and raining a bit...certainly not what is shown here, apart from the wind.  We had a bit of a wait for Dave and Chels, and just as we were about to leave, they showed up.

 So we drove up the coast with them and stopped at this beach on Great Oyster Bay (not sure of the name).

 It was seriously cold water (and air) but my boys just couldn't resist that gorgeous clean water.

After a trip to Kate's Berry Farm in Swansea, and a visit to my lovely Aunt, we headed further up the coast and met up with the rest of the family who were visiting Chelsea's Aunt in Bicheno.  On the way there, we dropped into a motel in Swansea and secured some (ridiculously expensive) accommodation for the night.  Dave and Chels took us to one of their favourite little beaches and the kids swam and played beach cricket while I had a lovely nap on the sand.  I did revive enough to take some photos...

 ...and dip my feet into the icy cold, crystal clear water.

 There was time for some silly photos back at the cars (Rosie was missing; staying with her grandparents for the week)

 ...before heading back to our motel which did have quite a nice view from the balcony...over the bowls club next door

An instagram special...I was borrowing Oscar's girlfriend's sunglasses to drive (she left them in his bag when they went to MONA in NYC in December

The next morning we met up with the others (who'd stayed overnight in Bicheno) at Spikey Beach, which isn't at all spikey, it's just near Spikey Bridge.

Spikey Bridge

 The water was, once again, ICY.  I did brave it and go in for a while: the waves were big and fun, but after Ella got properly dunked for the first time in her life and bit freaked out by it, we got out and spent hours trying to get warm again.  Kit stayed in the water for at least 1 1/2 hours.  The boy loves to swim.

We drove back later that day, and Matt flew out early the next morning.  I'm so glad we made the effort.  It really is such a special place.