Go to gaol... don't pass go

I think we have finally settled into holiday mode. Amber was up early and on the jumping pillow with the other camp kids. I got up more leisurely, made eggs for breaky, followed her into the pool to watch the kids swim, then relaxed with a cuppa.

At about 10am we took off to go see the Trial Bay Gaol which was fascinating. Not, in my opinion, as kid-friendly as Dubbo Gaol because there was no re-enactment component, but interesting buildings and a good self-guided tour brochure. This building was built to house prisoners who completed capital works, namely built a sea wall (which disintegrated in the first storm). It was later used to inter German Australians in WWI. They were allowed out during day hours to work (overseen) then back in at night. These ‘prisoners’ grew their own veggies, were paid for their skills and even had a very vibrant theatre company. Surprisingly, after the war, most of them were sent to Germany and only 300 managed to repeal this exportation.

Next stop was the Smoky Cape lighthouse. A beautiful structure which we wished we had been able to enter. Tours only depart twice a week and we hadn’t arrived on the right day. It was a lovely view from the point, however, and would be a magic spot when the whales pass through.

Amber was keen to get back to her new friends so we bought a couple of bread rolls and headed back for lunch and a play. I sneaked a little nap then, mid afternoon, we lifted the kayak off the roof and paddled along the creek and out to a very shallow lake. Our new friends hired a canoe and joined us, but one of their children got scared and they backed out. The lake was magical. A large expanse of water lined with native grasses, with fish jumping regularly. Before we got to the vast opening we saw an osprey, kingfisher and heron. Then, the lake revealed a huge flock of pelicans and black swans with cygnets. How wonderful it was to have this lake to ourselves. We could have been in a number of top wilderness areas in the world!

More playing... then dinner and back to the gaol for carols by candlelight. I have never sung in a gaol, so we couldn’t miss this opportunity. It would have been better if the songbooks given out had included songs that were actually sung by the choir, but that’s being picky. What had been a very ordinary weather day had turned into a spectacular evening and orange sunset.

Ah, the camping life for me... Amber is in bed, I can hear the wind in the trees, muffled voices across the campground. It takes me back to my own youth... the only thing missing is the hissing of the gas lantern!