What a gorgeous day we awoke to on our 6th day at Dunns Swamp. There was not a cloud in the very blue sky. It looked like it was going to be a beautiful day, maybe a little hot.

We enjoyed a leisurely breakfast (anyone sensing a theme here?) and then our neighbours, Alwin and Anna, called by to say goodbye. They were heading off to Rylstone for a couple of nights and then to explore the Caperteee Valley. It made me chuckle when they said they wanted to wash the van. The first thing they did when they arrived here and set up on their site was to wash the van. I think it’s only very new!

We exchanged details with them and said if ever they come our way there’s room in our paddock to camp.

I loaded up our beach wagon with my kayak gear and headed off to paddle. My objective for the day was to make it to the dam wall. It was tough going at first into a head wind but it died off and soon I was around a few bends and past the Main beach and Platypus Point. A couple of times my phone went ping ping ping and on checking messages found one from Catie Douglas to say they planned to call in to see us on their way from Sydney to Dubbo. What a nice surprise! I replied I was paddling but I’d turn around and head back to camp and see them there.

I stopped off for a swim at main beach to cool off after my strenuous paddling and arrived back at Kangaroo Beach about 12.30. I had time to change and have a bite to eat for lunch. Rich had spent the morning reading and when I told him Douglas’s were calling in he was very surprised. They would be going out of their way to call in at Dunns Swamp and we felt very honoured.

They duly arrived in their 4WD with a trailer on the back accompanied by Catie’s friend Cherie. Catie, Cherie and a bunch of their nursing friends had just arrived back in Australia after a two week trip to Japan. We were looking forward to hearing about that!

They’d stopped in Kandos to pick up some salad rolls and a cake to have when they arrived and we all settled in under the awning to eat and catch up. The trip to Japan sounded like a fantastic one and we laughed as they described the toilets, the vending machines and funny signs. The countryside sounds really beautiful and they were amazed at how clean it was everywhere, even in the huge cities. We have a trip to Japan on our bucket list, hope we can get there one day!

They stayed for an hour or so and then it was time for them to head for home. Catie was looking forward to getting home so after hugs all round we waved them goodbye. What a lovely thing to do for us to come and visit us here at our camp at Dunns Swamp. It definitely took them out of their way home and made their trip a little longer.

It was a hot afternoon so I rode down to main beach for a swim and took the collapsable container to bring back some water. Richard went back to his book. There’s nothing like being fully immersed in cool water to bring your body temperature down and I remained cool for a long while. Back at camp I too picked up my book until it was time to cook something for dinner. It was bangers in onion gravy and mash for dinner and, as this is one of Richard’s favourites, he did enjoy it. We ate outside in the cool of the evening. It was too hot to bother with a fire. There was lots of small bugs flying around and I commented that I thought it might rain. We’ll see!