Mount Warning update

Sunday & Monday
Yesterday morning, after a late and leisurely breakfast of bacon and eggs, we decided it was almost time for morning tea. There is a lovely little place called the Rainforest Cafe, just 50m up the road from the caravan park which we felt needed investigating...

The children found a "cosy corner" to sit and enjoy their mango smoothies and rich chocolate mud cake.  (I had moroccan orange cake with my coffee- mmmm!)

Admiring a fountain outside the cafe.

The rest of the day we spent relaxing and enjoying the lovely surroudings.  It was really a day of waiting, as we couldn't drive the car and couldn't even make any phone calls to get the ball rolling in regard to repairs.  Towards dinner time the children put on a "circus performance" for us, complete with trapeze artists and clowns.

Wonga Pigeon

I almost stepped on this python, but wasn't quick enough to take a photo before he disappeared among the rocks. It was the second time we'd seen him in the same spot, so I'll try to get a better shot one of these days if I can.  It's probably an eastern carpet python- they're common in the area.

The evening campfire was cut short when it began to rain heavily and we were all in bed early, listening to the rain beating on the roof.  Michaela and her Mum had decided to stay another night and when a loud clap of thunder woke me during the night I lay awake for a while working out how best to rearrange sleeping arrangements if their tent should leak!
This morning, however, we woke to a sunny blue sky.  The few remaining clouds soon dispersed when the sun came up, and by the time we had eaten breakfast the ground was dry again.

Found by Esther

After several phone calls- not the easiest task due to mobile reception cutting in and out and the need to use the pay phone to return missed calls- Philip had negotiated all the necessary arrangements with the RACV.  An NRMA patrol officer came to make an initial inspection and took the car to Murwillumbah.  There a transmission specialist assesssed the car as being "undrivable", which means that the problem is classed as a "breakdown" and is covered by insurance.  Furthermore, as we are covered by Total Care, the RACV has paid for an extra week's accommodation and a hire car.  They even arranged for a taxi to take Philip the 45 kms to Coolangatta Airport to collect the car (a nice new Camry).

Meanwhile, back at the ranch...
We played in the creek for a while, exploring some pools we hadn't discovered yet.  After a while Arthur suggested very sweetly that we should go for a walk, maybe as far as the Rainforest Cafe and back... It wasn't very hard to convince us- it was lunchtime, after all!  While we sat under big shady trees enjoying a gourmet sandwich and delicious coffee, we watched a mother olive bird (can you check if I'm right,Tim?) feeding its chicks in a nest above us.  The same creek runs through the grounds of the cafe, so we spent some time there before walking back for a refreshing swim in the pool.

Michaela amusing Arthur

"Mum, do you like my sculpture?"

Cleaning up our scraps at the cafe.

Performing

Another python, found while collecting pinecones for the fire- but once again hiding its face from the camera!

Our "guests" were originally planning to go home on Sunday but have decided to keep us company for a bit longer. It's such a lovely spot, and I think seeing us enjoying our holiday is a bit contagious! It's nice for Michaela to have a "brother and sister" for a few days, too.