Rope swings, tubing and new friends

Bellingen, Australia

Our one night in Bellingen by the river and mountains became three nights. The river beckoned and we went swimming, tubing and swung on the high rope swings - standing on the high bank, grabbing on to the thick rough rope's knots, flying out over the river and dropping in. As it's summer down under the air is filled with the lush scent of flowers.

We've been staying in a family cabin with our own bedroom and two other Aussie families - all with our own bedrooms, sharing and kitchen, living room and big porch. One of the families has kids around our kids ages including another 11 year old girl, two younger boys and a baby sister. All the kids really hit it off and we've all been having so much fun together - going to the rope swing as a group, swimming together, cooking meals at the same time and more. Making connections like this is a highlight of travel.

The family we've been hanging out together is from Tasmania, an island that is part of Australia but south of the mainland, and moving to a new town on the mainland up north. Bellingen is a stop on the way up for them.

Twenty years ago, on Paul's last round-the-world trip, he lived and worked in Tasmania in a town called Loon River. The town is so small the family from Tasmania asked Paul if he knew Ian from Loon River. Well the only Ian that Paul knew was one starting a post and beam house. Turns out Ian just finished the house!!!! How small world is that!!

Today we are leaving the mountains and heading back to the coast for sun and surfing - perhaps Byron Bay or maybe Noosa - we'll see where the road takes us.

All the best,

Jackie