26 October, 2025 06:43

Rainy morning view from “the bedroom”. Actually, the bed. Woke at 3, again in the dark at 5. Rain started an hour ago, intermittent now. Glorious.

1.39PM

On the south side of this rest area the sites are closer. Back from Narooma and a quick visit to Mystery Bay, around 1PM, all north side plus ‘my’ old’ spot were taken. I have this one, but my door and sleep aspect looks straight onto this and them into the van. And then there’s noise potentially. Others could handle it but not me. Those things have generators and air conditioners and big TVs, and usually little yap control freak dogs. So a coffee in the spot and on to Moruya, I think.

It’s not bad, but it too easily could be.

2.45PM

This place to myself; no creep, too, which frees the vibe wondrously. Just excellent.

Why bother with the strange stress of spots at Bodalla State Forest?

It’s an extraordinary place once you’re settled in a certain no one can ruin your stay. But because it’s so coveted and the spots are designated and that they vary, top notch to slopey and problematic, there’s a distinct unpleasant redux to animal vibe.

Here instead is a free for all, and no spot better or worse intrinsically (better or not so for personal requirements though) so nothing is coveted, speaking for productive travellers that is.

Let’s see how long my being hassle free lasts.

5 PM approx

Oh no. A bloke in a swag set up before I left, here for two days, is here again. He sets up in the right hand side counterpart to the creep, spread out all over the place, dog that smells everything.

If he’s a permanent it means I can’t use that bin. I don’t like how these people use prime areas, stopping others from using the best spots (I don’t) and setting the vibe, heavy and burdensome, and the visual amenity, ugly, and forcing people to go around them to use the bin – there’s no way anyone would try to eat there with them, so using the only covered table and seats is out. It’s just so imposing. Imposing themselves on the place and all visitors.

If they were considerate it would be different -:there’s an entire grounds they could move into (although they shouldn’t, and should come and go and give the place a break) but they takeover the central area and prime position utterly unnecessarily. A tent can set up well away.

It’s horrible. I can’t wait to get the final car fixes, windscreen and linkages, all paid for, and get right away moving around.

And then of course it hurts to see people down and out.

And lastly this: This bloke has set up his chair – in a completely empty rest area – directly at me in the van. Truly horrible.