Eden Escape

We’re home from a lovely long weekend at our friends beach house in Eden.

A few days immersed in salty air and water have recharged our batteries, leaving us ready to face the first week of the new school year. Cocora Beach was as beautiful as ever...calm and quiet save for a few raucous seagulls. We spent Friday afternoon swimming in the shallows.

Both boys are competent swimmers now and loved learning how to body surf in the teeny waves that seemed to sigh rather than crash into the shore...although they seemed to think they were monster waves that elicited squeals of excitement with each approach. 

On Saturday, after another morning at the beach, we lunched at the Seahorse Inn on the opposite side of the harbour and explored Quarantine Bay on the way home. We came across the largest stingrays I’d ever seen in the wild. They were feeding on the fish offcuts tossed back into the water by fisherman. It was fascinating to watch. Jack was keen to befriend the older boys fishing off the boat ramp, eagerly helping one chap with his catch of mullet. He so desperately wanted to be like the big kids and seemed so little and next to them.

In the afternoon Shannon napped and I curled up with a book and a glass of wine, listening to Harry tinkling on the piano and Jack in the garden vainly attempting to catch a lizard. 

Dinner Saturday night was at Drift in Snug Cove. 

We hadn’t tried it before but it’s a confirmed favourite now! The decor and atmosphere were fun and family friendly, with a view looking onto the wharf. The boys settled on mini cheeseburgers and fries while the Husband and I indulged in the house platter and a dozen oysters, half Kilpatrick and half Chilli, Ginger and Lime. They were utterly, UTTERLY divine, washed down with a refreshing mojito and glass of rose.

Sunday’s drive home along winding country roads was a bit of a revelation to me. I’d always thought the rolling green hills around Candelo were pretty but it struck us for the first time that it was the area and community we both want to eventually move to. Finally we can put a location into our long term dream. Hurrah! 

Normally we would drive straight through the tiny town as it’s not very far from Eden, but this time we stopped for coffee at the Candelo General Store and Cafe and I’m so glad we did. It’s utterly gorgeous and serves the best coffee and cake.

I’m always so completely chuffed (though never surprised) whenever I come across vibrant, thriving hubs in  rural communities. 

This long weekend was such a lovely way to round out the school holidays, time to dive back into the fray of school and routine. 

xx Em