Devon Holidays 2014

So, whilst not quite the Australian Adventure - Devon still holds a very big place in our hearts with lots of childhood holidays there for both Mark and I, and a couple with our children too.   Our camping destination for our Summer Holidays 2014 was to be The River Dart Country Park, near Ashburton and right on the edge of Dartmoor.   A full itinerary of activities of course were scheduled in, including visits and days out with my Mum and Dad, meeting up with Marks Mum and Dad and also a long weekend with our good friends 'The Banners'.  The holiday was to come to an unexpected early close due to an unfortunate epidemic of the Noro Virus on our campsite, which meant we went home on Wednesday instead of the Saturday - but thankfully did not get infected which was very welcome!!

Our last full day in Oz, back to Sydney 16th Jan

So our last full day in Oz was going to be a travelling one, leaving Hamilton Island to head back to Sydney. We took one last look at that amazing view from our balcony at The Reef View and headed off to the airport.

Jayne was able to capture the changing landscape as we headed South, from the islands of the Whitsundays through to Sydney

How ironic that once again our view of Whitehaven beach was obscured by cloud!

The North Sydney beaches

And finally over the city

We decided to get the train into the city which was quick but not particularly cheap, although it did help us get our bearings

And finally to our City view apartment on Pitt Street, Emma and Will soon made themselves at home

We didn't have much time before heading off to meet the Robins Family in Darling Harbour for a well deserved Curry.....mmmmmm!

It was as if the Children had never been apart

Followed by a trip an Icecream parlour AD knew of....he had never been there before though....' Hello Mr Two Scoops'....was how they greeted him....! (OK they didn't really but he had two scoops and we all only had one....so he deserved that!)

We thought the children were quiet

But soon realised that quiet does not necessarily mean behaving, Will and Charlie were having a smear as much Icecream around our face as is possible competition

.....the difference between boys and girls.....you gotta love em!

Finally a long goodbye, with The Robins heading for home

 and us heading of for some final tourist shots

Then a long walk round to Circular key for the all important bridge and opera house nighttime shots

Oh and it was a Full moon for our final night, although I'm really not sure how I got the others, maybe less light pollution?

A wet final day on Hamilton Island...well it is the start of the Monsoon season 15th Jan!

Well our planned excursion to Whitehaven and Chalkies Beaches was not to be, thwarted by 1M swells at the southern end of Whitsunday Island we ended up having to accept that we had been lucky          during our time in the tropics and the weather had been 'kind'. So anyway a slightly less 'blog able' day than we had panned but still some amusing moments to note.

A pool day became very competitive under mummy's control with a competition to see who could land  seated on the inflatable

Unfortunately both of them could and she couldn't so the competition was fairly short

Then it was Will's turn for the Zinc face paint competition, I said he needed to run around the pool shouting ' you may take our country.....but you'll never take our FREEDOM'.... Apparently I was the only one that could see the Willian Wallace (aka Brave Heart) reference!

Then it was off to the afternoon Crafts event...and maybe one final picture in front of a tropical island scene.....

Hoop spinning on the arm became very competitive, I almost dropped Williams Fruit Kebab!

However Emma won the hoop prize

With a final trip to the face (arm/hand) painting table, Emma's hoop spinning was rewarded with....' Can you tell what it is yet' a beautiful Dolphin

The highlight of the day had to be a trip the Asian inspired restaurant Coca Tua although the weather had other plans again

Jayne became very excited by the dessert

Which Emma and Will thoght was very funny 

The weather had one final surprise for us, with a final round of heavy rain and wind which threatened to swamp the diners, of course I leapt to the rescue

Finally as it was our last night in a very wet paradise one final round of cocktails in the Outrigger bar was needed

Back to Sydney tomorrow for one last meal with the Robins and then back to Blighty.....who were the people exiled never to return to old England.....I think they may have had the last laugh!

A pool day for our little fish 14th Jan

Another chance for our two little fish to practise their underwater skills, although I was persuaded to buy a very 'cool' ......(according to Will) Surf board inflatable

Hmmm coffee and cocktails waitress service by the poolside ..... Skinny cappuccino, no chocolate thanks!   I could definitely get used to this!!!!

It has been great to see Emma's underwater skills develop and Will's confidence increase during this holiday, such a shame we don't have the climate at home to enable us to enjoy this type of activity more

All this swimming appears to have exhausted Emma

Although she appears to have enjoyed it...

She even had the energy to do some brother rescuing

I think they both had fun

The afternoon was then back to the arts and crafts

A Dinosaur ...apparently!

Much more lady like..

William's Dino Jedi cape....because 'All Jedi's have capes'....

Emma on the other hand went for a pictorial representation of our Oz trip

They both looked great