Day three and four of my trip to visit a friend in Ulladulla resulted in us taking a morning walk followed by a brunch with other friends of mine who live close-by. We sat in a lovely cafe chosen by my friends, overlooking the ocean. It was such a lovely day with beautiful blue skies, families enjoying time together and us catching up after a long absence.
My friends kindly chose this particular cafe as not only did it have nice views but it also served vegan meals. Big meals too. They were huge!!! I certainly couldn’t eat all that was provided; sourdough toast (two pieces), roasted tomatoes, mushrooms, spinach, vegan bacon and sausages and chutney!
After brunch, Mandy and I walked back to her home and along the way I took the opportunity to check out the sculptures along the beachfront. One was created after the devastating bushfires of 2019/20 where a local artist brought together the community and created this large scale commemorative public sculpture. Embedded in the artwork are more than 1,200 ceramics of native flora and fauna, created at public workshops she facilitated. A rather interesting display with a lovely human touch.
The next afternoon we drove a short distance to Cuppits Estate, a local winery. The vineyard was first planted in 2003 and established in 2007 after there was enough fruit for the first vintage. Rosie the owner was the original winemaker and now her son Wally is head winemaker after learning winemaking in the Loire Valley in France. The winery hosts a very busy award winning restaurant, casual dining on the lawn or deck, a cellar door, wine tasting and a fromagerie founded in 2015 by owner Rosie following her travels throughout Italy and France.
Mandy and I ordered a glass of white wine each and fortunately for me the winery has a range of excellent white vegan wines. It was then time to sit out on the deck enjoying the lush green grass and vineyards before the sun set.
Time to leave this lovely winery and head back to Mandy’s as I only had one more night before I was leaving to return to Canberra. After a peaceful evening just watching TV, the next morning I got up early and packed to return home. The car trip is about two and a half hours so I decided to stop at a seaside town on the way home. Batemans Bay is an hour or so from Ulladulla and I had not been there for many, many years. It’s a location that many Canberrans go for weekends away and holidays.
I parked the car and went for a walk along the waterfront; a great way to enjoy the bay and the local birds. My walk took about an hour and by that stage I was ready to hop back into my car and drive home. Love going away but always enjoy coming back home!
I have known my friend Lyn for over thirty-five years so when she moved back to Australia from Canada I promised I would visit when they had built their new home. It’s exactly what I did a couple of weekends ago. The drive from Canberra to Ulladulla is exactly two and a half hours and is very pleasant.
The next morning we took a lovely walk with the dogs; through bushland and along the beachfront where the dogs jumped immediately into the water. It was about twenty-one degrees so no need for big jackets and gloves like I have to wear at the moment in Canberra.
The girls had booked a table for lunch overlooking the ocean at the Mollymook Golf Club but before we went there, we went to the local lighthouse where we walked along a pathway of interesting trees and shrubs to arrive at a viewing platform to see the ocean.
The views from inside the golf club were also very beautiful and it was here I saw my first whale (well a spout of water and a side fin) and a mum dolphin and her baby. Very exciting but no photos as it was too quick a sighting.
I really had a great few days with the girls as they are such great company and it was so nice to stay in their fabulous newly built home, but it was time to leave. I decided to stop at a lovely historic country town on the way home called Braidwood. I parked up one end of the main street and walked up and down both sides to check out all the shops and pick a nice cafe for lunch. There are some beautiful old buildings but wow it was so incredibly cold.
I decided on a warm and cosy cafe called Abion which was so pretty inside with its fresh vegetables on display as well as old aluminium cans and tins amongst many other things.
I ordered a really delicious coconut, sweet potato and split pea soup with a pot of peppermint tea and of course a small bowl of chips and sat on the old wooden bench before an old wooden table! A lovely environment to eat lunch on such a cold day.
And on the way back to my car I walk past more historic buildings and some street art next to a sign showing people their dogs cannot poop in the street!
Sue's Fabulous Travels 
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