Eden's newest attraction - a chocolate river!

Eden, NSW 

Sunday 3rd April - Tuesday 5th April

After leaving Orbost it seemed like we were driving into the eye of the storm. The rain was teeming down and the sky was grey and foreboding. It was a long drive as the conditions were terrible and visibility was so poor. We had to stop several times as the road was down to one lane due to earlier landslides. We also came across a recent landslide with police directing the traffic slowly around the debris. It was interesting (and slightly scary) seeing how full and fast flowing all the rivers and creeks were when we crossed them. There were even 'waterfalls' occurring all along the side of the road, as water gushed down. We found out the next day that many areas on the drive were flooded later that afternoon, and the road was closed, so we were lucky we left when we did.

We finally arrived at Eden early afternoon. Thankfully the weather eased for the afternoon, and we got to enjoy the beach that the caravan park was located next to. The storms from the last few days had caused exceptionally big waves, so the beach was laden with 'treasures' which the kids enjoyed scouring through (especially Jackson who found lures and other fishing equipment).

The storms had also turned the creek near the caravan park, and the ocean it ran in to, brown from all the mud being washed down. It looked like melted chocolate and we all imagined what we would do if it was actually a chocolate river (there were lots of references to Augustus Gloop from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!).

Some highlights of our time here:

-Jackson's excitement at catching a ray off at the Eden wharf

-Watching the kids enjoy the beach for the first time on the trip

-The warmth of the ocean up here – so different to the beaches on the southern part of Vic that we normally swim in, they are always cold!

-Being able to have our coffee looking out to the ocean, just a short stroll from our van

-Having some sunshine after A LOT of rain

Jackson doing an Augustus Gloop impression and drinking from the 'chocolate river'.

The rain had turned the rivers and the ocean a muddy, 'chocolate' coloured brown.

At the Eden wharf on the first stormy evening

Jackson and the shovelnosed ray he caught off Eden jetty, he was super proud of his effort.

Emilia and I took a long walk along Long Beach while the boys fished.

Having fun in the sand - notice Jackson's addition of 'humps'.

Playing in the beach at the caravan park on the first afternoon

Their expressions are priceless

Exploring the beach near the caravan park

Balancing act

One of the interesting things Jackson found on the beach - a dead baby ray.

The driftwood teepee Jackson and Emiila worked on during our time in Eden (photo credit - Jackson)

Some sort of sea worm we found washed up on the beach.