The Mud Map Blog: Sydney Trip 2014, Mapleton to Coffs Harbor

On the road to Coffs

Well after 3 pleasant nights at Lillyponds up in Mapelton it was time to hit the road and get to Coffs Harbor. Because it was going to be one of the longer travel days I had to pack the tent up with dew still sitting on it, normally I'd try and let the sun dry it off. Packing up a wet tent is a less than happy experience. It wouldn't be until we arrived in Sydney 4 days later that I would be able to dry everything out.

The drive itself was uneventful but we did take the time to stop off at a little place called Valla Beach. Kirsty and I were married here a few years back and I wanted to take a then and now photo.

Then
The Happily Married Couple, Valla Beach Lookout

Now
Back to the scene of the crime at Valla Beach Lookout with a plus one child

Looking down onto Valla Beach

My little girl Maggie.

Every road trip to Sydney we take isn't complete without a stop off at Ballina for lunch by the river. We've not stayed in the area but everyone I talk too knows a place nearby that kicks arse.

Lennox Head, Evans Head, Broadwater NP, Yamba, the list goes on.

On our next trip we'll spend a week or so checking it all out.

Some kind of magical flying fish at Ballina

Richmond River, Ballina

Fish & Chips by the Richmond River, Ballina

Maggie, Kirsty and Jack

Ballina

At Coffs we stayed with friends (Ali, Glenn, Luke and Baby Ben) and did a bit of tourist stuff. I really wanted to get up in the hills and tackle some 4wd trails, Coffs is renowned as a bit of a 4wd playground, but the weather turned on us and we had way too much rain to do any of the trails safely without a winch. Rover Trail came highly recommended as a medium to hard track to take on.
I still had a location in mind that I spotted on a 4wd Action 213 DVD. This was Pebbly Beach and it looked awesome so that satisfied my 4wd fix.
There is a tidal creek to cross to get into the campgrounds and this crossing I hear had claimed a few scalps over the years, we didn't have any issues crossing over but I could see how you could come unstuck if you weren't careful.

On the beach south of Pebbly Beach.

Driving into Pebbly Beach Campgrounds

The actual Pebbles of Pebbly Beach

Retracing our tracks to get off the beach.

Pebbly Beach, looking a bit wind swept.

On the way back from Pebbly Beach the battery and engine light came on, bugger it. I had no lights, no indicators or cabin light but the Pajero was still powering on, nothing for it but to retreat to home base and figure it all out in the morning.
As it turned out I had blown a fuse in the hazard light circuit which also disrupts the indicators, but on inspection the cable run that is tied at the bottom of the clutch bell housing had a few wires exposed and broken.
The damage must have been occurring slowly over time. The cables are taped together and then run through plastic conduit. Years of very slight oil seepage from oil changes had buggered the adhesion on the tape and the wires were loose inside the conduit, this combined with sand (I love my sand work) had an abrasive affect on the wire sheath which caused what you see below.

Poop Bugger Bum

It took quite a bit of detective work to find this break but laying under the car, on a very steep driveway, in the freezing rain, cutting out the crap wire and replacing it with new, with cold water dripping down on your face and also having a torrent of it run down your back, was the worst.
2 hours later the problem was fixed. Little did I know there was more to come as my alternator was about to shit itself. Never mind, time more sightseeing.