Under the Stars Again!

I reminded myself in this post what fun it is to sleep under the stars.

I inspired myself to sleep outside under the stars for my birthday.

Last weekend I again slept under the stars on the way to Sydney. It’s about a 9 hour drive from my house to my friend’s home in Sydney so sometimes I stop over at a place called Bretti Reserve. For you more local Aussies, it is at the bottom of the Big Hill as you drop from Walcha to Gloucester. Fabulous countryside. Very scenic route. Not much traffic. Rare to encounter trucks.

This is a public reserve where you can camp next to a crystal clear stream. Arriving late at night isn’t a problem as during non-school holidays there are just grey-nomads (retired people who have become travelling nomads in their camper vans). There is always room for a car and a swag!

Looking back down to Bretti Reserve from the entrance road

The lovely rolling hills above Bretti Reserve

On the way to Sydney it was freezing cold – about -3C (according to the car thermometer). There was ice on my swag when I woke up.

Brrrrr…….. frost on the end of the swag on the way down to Sydney. It was cold getting up before the sun rose!!

Swagging it at Bretti Reserve on the way to Sydney. The main creek is about 15m from my swag.

Last night the sky was crystal clear. The moon was out. There weren’t so many stars due to the moon being nearly full (tomorrow – Wednesday – it will be full) but it was so nice lying in a warm swag being lulled to sleep by the burbling of the stream and all the noctural birds and insects.

It was very fresh getting up this morning but not frosty. My ankles turned blue I’m sure as I had a quick wade in the stream – the crystal clear waters were so enticing. I’ve camped here in the summer heat – the creek’s cooling waters are such a relief from the summer’s heat. I was hoping this would be the case as I went paddling this morning!! Whoops! It’s winter time!!

It was really lovely being able to be out in nature and sleep under the stars, after a few days in Sydney. It’s fun going to Sydney but boy – all the traffic and people and squashiness of the city are a little stressy after Coolatai!!

My swag on the way home – no frost this time!!

My shoes and drink bottle tucked up in the corner of my swag. It was relatively warm this morning so it was nice to go without shoes and walk on the grass and the rocks.