We recently hosted our first Central Coast visit with BMCS’s joining the 5 Lands Walk an annual event which has been held since 2006 in the Central Coast on Darkinjung Country. An extraordinary community event that was originally inspired by the famous Cinque Terre hiking trail on the Italian Riviera.
Then on the Sunday our group walked parts of the spectacular Bouddi National park lead by Bruce and Sandra.
Some of us camped some were billeted and some made their own arrangements for accommodation, it was a great weekend and destined to be repeated!
Thanks to Jenny A, who has shared her experience with us. A big thank you to Sandra and Bruce, Bernadette and Rushira for billeting and being a big part of the weekends activities. A big thank you to Bruce and Sandra for planning our walk on the Sunday and a thank you to all who joined us.
It was really wonderful to connect with so many people interested in the Camino while walking on the Saturday. With shells and our BMC Badges prompting many conversations with other walkers, with shouts of “Hola” and “Buen Camino” we bumped into people who have walked with BMC in the past or have walked a Camino and were excited to connect with other.
It was wonderful to see the Camino Spirit bobbing up and down on the paths between MacMasters and Terrigal.
Story from our novice camper, JennyA ……
……The call went out. Our end of month June walk was going to be on the Central Coast joining in the 5 Lands Walk on Saturday 24 June with our Camino friends making it a weekend event. There were three options: camp, be billeted with Central Coast Camino friends or find your own accommodation.
This novice camper decided that being together at a camp site sounded like fun – despite the fact of never owning a tent! New tent and sleeping mat purchased and off to Terrigal I headed. Jen M had arranged access to the Girl Guides campsite and 12 of us pitched our variety of tents there – they came in all shapes and sizes! The campsite was well set up with great cooking and bathroom facilities. Once the campsite was established in the growing dark, it was time for drinks, nibblies and lots of catching up on the adventures so many people had recently returned from. A 20 minute walk into Terrigal saw us sitting outdoors for our dinner before returning to our campsite for another gathering in the kitchen area.
Luckily for us there was no rain and the temperature stayed at about 10 degrees so we were snug in our sleeping bugs and under the doonas so many brought along. Camping in winter? Who would have thought I would do that?
The morning brought stories of a leaking hot water bottle! Not much fun there though there was laughter. Nothing could dampen the happy atmosphere of the weekend After breakfast we left at different times to get the bus to MacMasters beach where we joined the rest of our camino friends for the walk through Mac Masters, Copacabana, North Avoca, Avoca Beach and into Terrigal on a glorious 20 degree day. Along the way there were sculptures, art displays, musical entertainment, food, whales, dolphins and spectacular views. And great camaraderie.
A gathering of about 20 culminated the walk with drinks at the Crowne Plaza before heading off to get dinner organised. Everyone came and contributed to a bbq back at the campsite and again it was great to be a part of such a happy bunch of people sharing so much together.
Time then to sit around the campfire once the non campers had departed. Up early on Sunday as we packed up after breakfast and headed off to Bouddi National Park for a great coastal walk organised by Sandra and Bruce, followed by a wonderful lunch before we all headed home.
It was a unanimous vote to join in this again next year. Would I camp again? Definitely, as for me this was a highlight of the weekend – and besides – I do have that new tent!
Thanks so much to the organisers and the committee.
Jenny A.
