The 10-hour automotive journey to paradise

If you develop up in south-western Sydney, there’s no seaside to name your personal. When I used to be rising up, the closest we got here to a neighborhood seaside was the infinite sands of Cronulla. Even then we had been known as westies.

So our annual household vacation to South West Rocks on the NSW North Coast was the one time of the 12 months once I might get a style for what it will be wish to stay close to the ocean.

While faculty associates and their households headed for the close by glamour of The Entrance, annually, for causes greatest identified to my mother and father, we made the 10-hour journey to the pristine shores of Horseshoe Bay, an idyllic and guarded seaside providing every little thing a rising household might want for.

And sure, it was a 10-hour drive again within the days earlier than the Pacific Highway improve. I keep in mind it effectively: up earlier than daybreak and piling into the again of the automotive with my siblings, with the pillow from my mattress for consolation and my mom armed with the mandatory luggage of lollies for the journey, hoping we might not less than make it midway up the coast earlier than I began feeling automotive sick.

My dad all the time insisted on driving, and my mom advised me in later years she made a degree of packing his fishing rod final in order that on arrival he might head straight to The Creek whereas she and my aunt began the arduous process of unpacking every little thing.

Those holidays are inextricably linked with reminiscences of my cousins. Eight youngsters throughout two households, we had been a largely cohesive bunch with a spread of pursuits that in some way dovetailed right into a two-week break of salt, solar, sand – and fishing. Each 12 months my mom and my aunt booked us into adjoining vacation houses, sight unseen, a few of which had been probably not worthy of the identify. But the more serious situation they had been in, the extra we cherished them.

Indeed, I nonetheless have an abiding love of frangipani timber and their fragile flowers as a result of there was a mature specimen planted within the entrance backyard at one of many much less luxurious residences we stayed in.

Over the course of a fortnight, days took on a straightforward rhythm. Beach within the morning, with a Splice or Choc Wedge from the milk bar to entice us out of the water for the stroll dwelling.

Horseshoe Bay was not simply the place I learnt no matter watercraft expertise I’ve, from primary physique browsing to how you can spot a rip, it was additionally the place I fell in love with rock swimming pools, these magical mini-worlds of sunshine and color crammed with lovely creatures just like the slow-moving periwinkles, soft-tentacled sea anemones and the occasional crab or starfish. I appreciated that endurance was its personal reward in these environments, in order that the longer you sat nonetheless, the solar warming your again, the extra could be revealed to you.

A swim was all the time accompanied by sandcastle building. Often a collaborative effort with my cousins Cassie and Robert, the pièce de résistance was creating one thing structurally sound sufficient to resist tunnelling via and the creation of a moat. A eager builder, I took plenty of satisfaction in my skill to assemble a great sandcastle, full with foraged shells and driftwood.

One 12 months a whole stranger, not a lot older than me (however definitely greater), stomped throughout my work as I reached the ultimate levels. I can nonetheless see my mom chasing the vandal midway throughout the seaside after I ran to her in tears. In that second I had by no means cherished her extra.

Later within the afternoon, after lunch, we walked right down to The Creek to throw in traces for fishing.

There was a strict hierarchy at The Creek, with ladies and youngsters removing the sand on one facet and males on the opposite, fishing for leatherjacket among the many rocks. I by no means did get the knack of fishing however took some delight watching my cousin Robert annoy his brothers, whose expertise with a rod and reel had been far superior to mine. Each time they efficiently landed a fish he would rush over and solid his line in, hoping that lightning would strike twice. Naturally, this usually resulted in tangled traces and exasperated cries of “Robert!” earlier than my aunt or my mom set to work calming teenage boys’ frayed nerves and patiently untangling traces, fish and, often, individuals.

If it was late sufficient within the day we’d see dozens of soldier crabs marching throughout the sand, having neatly lined up the little balls of sand they’d created whereas setting up their burrows, taking care the place we walked.

It all looks like such a very long time in the past now, as a result of it’s. We stopped going to South West Rocks simply as I used to be ending main faculty, I believe partly as a result of my older brother and sister had different distractions as they reached maturity, as did my cousins. Despite options from household I’ve by no means been again, maybe as a result of I don’t need to break the spell.

Sadly, my expensive cousin Robert died manner too younger at 21. My reminiscences of the place are so sure up with him I can solely think about returning there could be anticlimactic. I hear, nonetheless, that whereas it’s gone via vital improvement it’s simply as lovely as ever, welcoming new waves of holidaymakers annually. And I’m glad.

These days we drive previous the turn-off for South West Rocks, heading additional north, creating our family traditions. Thanks to these freeway upgrades, nobody will get automotive sick.

There is one factor to remind me, although – a mature frangipani tree in my yard. Sometimes, if I shut my eyes and breathe in, I’m virtually again there.

Robyn Willis is the Lifestyle editor for the Herald.