Week 2 April 2001: Another trip this week visiting our daughter and family on the North Coast. We couldn’t travel by our usual route as a bridge had been washed away in recent heavy rain. This time we used the Oxley Highway. This is a beautiful drive but marred by a 50-kilometre stretch of very windy road, which takes you from the Tablelands to the coastal plain. This section of the road is not conducive to comfortable traveling if you are prone to travel sickness.
On a more positive note: We were pleasantly surprised to see that three National Parks have been created along the Oxley Highway. Mummel Gulf, Bago Bluff and Cottan-bimbang have all been dedicated in the last two years. For the record: Cottan-bimbang means Sticky Palm Tree in the local Aboriginal language.
Whenever we visit the coast it is mandatory to dip our toes and sometimes even as much our ankles in the sea. This time was no exception and we paid a visit to the beach near Old Bar, a coastal village. The main street of Old Bar is lined with Banksia Giant Candles. These tall shrubs are usually covered with large orange brushes. This Banksia is said to be a hybrid between Banksia ericifolia and Banksia spinulosa. Behind the beach there were forests of tall Banksia integrifolia with green-yellow brushes. On the Tablelands we have another sub-species of this large Banksia. On the way to Old Bar we passed through another new National Park. Khappinghat National Park is another recent addition to the NSW park system.
Visited a nursery and bought a Grevillea Kay Williams. This is another tropical hybrid to add to our collection. It is reputed to be a hybrid between Grevillea banksii and Grevillea Sandra Gordon and has large apricot blooms. This winter will be a testing time for some of our recently planted tropical and sub-tropical Grevilleas.
We left the coast, at the end of the week and headed back to the high country. Of course we stopped at another nursery. Picked up a few bargains here including two advanced Banksia serrata, the Old man Banksia. These plants were at least a metre high and were only $7 each. Also purchased a Grevillea baileyana. This species comes from tropical Queensland. Hopefully it will survive and thrive in a sheltered position at Yallaroo.