Friday, December 2, 2011
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Tuesday...29 November 2011
Ok so this morning the boys were up bright and early to finally finish the shed. This is the shed they built last year and completed this year and then decided to add an extension to......
Great idea until the metal merchant only sent half the steel order then mucked them around for another two weeks on back order. Then the carrier thought they may not mind waiting a few more days because this would mean he did not have to take his fuel guzzling truck out of the shed until he had a few more big orders to deliver, well no mate, we want it yesterday please!
So after waiting two weeks they got the final bits needed yesterday and then went like the clappers to finish this shed ahead of our planned departure today and the rain the weather bureau promised for today too. They nearly made it but the wind and light beat them last night and they had to put off two bits of steel and a couple of screws until today. But lo and behold it is finally finished and it is a work of art and testament to the engineering skills of these two tired tradesmen, who are mightily pleased with themselves as they should be. And no rain!
Quick cuppa and then it was time for us to hit the road.
First stop was the local dump point where we found two girls travelling together and by the look of it living in their el cheapo bomb of a car. They were parked next to the dump point near a public toilet building where they had apparently done their washing by hand and had a bit of a top and tail themselves. We asked if they were going to be long as they were blocking our access to the dump point. No no they said, we will move straight away we were nearly ready to go now anyway. So they shut the boot, jumped into their car .........and jumped right back out again. Seems the car keys were now locked inside the boot!!!
They searched their entire car. They had freshly washed and wet underwear hanging from the back door windows, they had more washing laid along the back window ledge, they had bags of groceries on the floor in the back along with cooking pots and rubbish bags and clean clothes and hand bags and laptops and assorted female bits all over the backseat along with beach towels and bikinis. There was more 'stuff' in the front passenger seat well. How these two even fitted into the car remains a mystery. However there they were, not going anywhere and blocking our access to the desperately needed dump point.
Himself fiddled and tried all manner of normal ways to open the boot. He was eventually triumphant when one of our many car and caravan keys wriggled just the right way opened their boot and there was the missing car keys but how they found anything in that boot is beyond me. Neither girl owned a bag or suitcase, all their clothes had been thrown higgldy piggldy loose into the boot which was full full full!!!!!
Never mind, they left, and we were able to unload some seriously unwanted excess baggage of our own and be on our way.
Now would be a good time to mention the wonderfully relaxing time we had in Kalbarri. Our friends were great hosts and really looked after us. Our thanks to them.
We had a late lunch in Geraldton and came on down to Dongara by mid afternoon. The wind was quite blowy the entire 250kms. It seems to have settled down a bit as I write but it is still technically blowing out there even now.
Took forever to find my high school girlfriend here in Dongara, she had gone off to do some shopping with another of her friends. However when we did catch up with her she insisted on cooking us dinner which was very nice and served with some nice wine. Her two dogs were well behaved while we were there which surprised her. We will drop in again tomorrow on our way down the road again.
Great idea until the metal merchant only sent half the steel order then mucked them around for another two weeks on back order. Then the carrier thought they may not mind waiting a few more days because this would mean he did not have to take his fuel guzzling truck out of the shed until he had a few more big orders to deliver, well no mate, we want it yesterday please!
So after waiting two weeks they got the final bits needed yesterday and then went like the clappers to finish this shed ahead of our planned departure today and the rain the weather bureau promised for today too. They nearly made it but the wind and light beat them last night and they had to put off two bits of steel and a couple of screws until today. But lo and behold it is finally finished and it is a work of art and testament to the engineering skills of these two tired tradesmen, who are mightily pleased with themselves as they should be. And no rain!
Quick cuppa and then it was time for us to hit the road.
First stop was the local dump point where we found two girls travelling together and by the look of it living in their el cheapo bomb of a car. They were parked next to the dump point near a public toilet building where they had apparently done their washing by hand and had a bit of a top and tail themselves. We asked if they were going to be long as they were blocking our access to the dump point. No no they said, we will move straight away we were nearly ready to go now anyway. So they shut the boot, jumped into their car .........and jumped right back out again. Seems the car keys were now locked inside the boot!!!
They searched their entire car. They had freshly washed and wet underwear hanging from the back door windows, they had more washing laid along the back window ledge, they had bags of groceries on the floor in the back along with cooking pots and rubbish bags and clean clothes and hand bags and laptops and assorted female bits all over the backseat along with beach towels and bikinis. There was more 'stuff' in the front passenger seat well. How these two even fitted into the car remains a mystery. However there they were, not going anywhere and blocking our access to the desperately needed dump point.
Himself fiddled and tried all manner of normal ways to open the boot. He was eventually triumphant when one of our many car and caravan keys wriggled just the right way opened their boot and there was the missing car keys but how they found anything in that boot is beyond me. Neither girl owned a bag or suitcase, all their clothes had been thrown higgldy piggldy loose into the boot which was full full full!!!!!
Never mind, they left, and we were able to unload some seriously unwanted excess baggage of our own and be on our way.
Now would be a good time to mention the wonderfully relaxing time we had in Kalbarri. Our friends were great hosts and really looked after us. Our thanks to them.
We had a late lunch in Geraldton and came on down to Dongara by mid afternoon. The wind was quite blowy the entire 250kms. It seems to have settled down a bit as I write but it is still technically blowing out there even now.
Took forever to find my high school girlfriend here in Dongara, she had gone off to do some shopping with another of her friends. However when we did catch up with her she insisted on cooking us dinner which was very nice and served with some nice wine. Her two dogs were well behaved while we were there which surprised her. We will drop in again tomorrow on our way down the road again.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Sunday...27 November 2011
Nearly time to leave this sleepy little crayfishing town, getting too comfortable!
Honestly if it wasn't for the constant wind I think this place could rate as the perfect town to call home. The weather is always nice, we have only had two serious days of rain in the two months we have been here and two days of excessive heat that required turning on the air conditioner to remain comfortable. It has whales romping in the bay during the season while they come and go to their breeding grounds up past Broome. The crayfishing fleet is always good for some fun watching them come and go through the mouth of the river as it rushes into the Indian Ocean. The locals are friendly and laid back, the stores supply all the requirements of the town and its constantly changing tourist population. The service can be a little too laid back at times but you get that in the country!
We are booked into a park in Perth beginning December so need to make an effort and move sometime this week. When we actually do move will decide what we can and cannot see between here and Perth. I would have liked to visit all the other little sleepy villages along the coast but may yet have to do a full days drive and go straight through to Perth to be there in time for our booking.
We will miss our friends here, they have been so hospitable and welcoming, it makes being comfortable so much easier, but so much harder to leave and continue our travels. Who knows, maybe one day they will join up with us somewhere out int he Big Paddock.
Honestly if it wasn't for the constant wind I think this place could rate as the perfect town to call home. The weather is always nice, we have only had two serious days of rain in the two months we have been here and two days of excessive heat that required turning on the air conditioner to remain comfortable. It has whales romping in the bay during the season while they come and go to their breeding grounds up past Broome. The crayfishing fleet is always good for some fun watching them come and go through the mouth of the river as it rushes into the Indian Ocean. The locals are friendly and laid back, the stores supply all the requirements of the town and its constantly changing tourist population. The service can be a little too laid back at times but you get that in the country!
We are booked into a park in Perth beginning December so need to make an effort and move sometime this week. When we actually do move will decide what we can and cannot see between here and Perth. I would have liked to visit all the other little sleepy villages along the coast but may yet have to do a full days drive and go straight through to Perth to be there in time for our booking.
We will miss our friends here, they have been so hospitable and welcoming, it makes being comfortable so much easier, but so much harder to leave and continue our travels. Who knows, maybe one day they will join up with us somewhere out int he Big Paddock.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Wednesdsay...23 November 2011
Nice warm day in Kalbarri today, nudged the 40 mark! Wind blew a gale this morning but was stiller than a millpond this arvo.
The boys worked through the heat today as they are getting the remaining pieces of the shed on todays truck.......Well that was the plan. Truck time came and went and no delivery!
Quick call says no no we are not sending the promised parts until Friday now. Will point out this is the second delay from this supplier. Was originally expecting this steel last week but got put off until today and now its been put off again until end of the week, probably next week. Sooooooo frustrating for the lads. They have gone hammer and tongs to finish this little job and what a shame it is not going to be done and it is not their fault.
Also waiting on good old Australia Post to deliver parcels that were sent out of Qld last week. We have emails saying they are at Kalbarri but Kalbarri say it is a scam email. Interesting that we are expecting two parcels and have received two emails.....One hopes these parcels will eventually arrive. Himself will be most unhappy if they do not arrive.
Soon be time for a major overhaul of the outside of the caravan ready for the trek to Perth. We are looking a tad tired and travelled. I would like the entire van to be scrubbed and polished while we have access to equipment to reach all parts of it. Then we would be fresh and ready for the road again after xmas.
Next year we plan to tour the south west of WA and then trek on over the Nullabor and do a zig zag along the Murray River before heading back up north when the weather turns cold.
So much left to see, lets hope our health allows us to complete our plans.
The boys worked through the heat today as they are getting the remaining pieces of the shed on todays truck.......Well that was the plan. Truck time came and went and no delivery!
Quick call says no no we are not sending the promised parts until Friday now. Will point out this is the second delay from this supplier. Was originally expecting this steel last week but got put off until today and now its been put off again until end of the week, probably next week. Sooooooo frustrating for the lads. They have gone hammer and tongs to finish this little job and what a shame it is not going to be done and it is not their fault.
Also waiting on good old Australia Post to deliver parcels that were sent out of Qld last week. We have emails saying they are at Kalbarri but Kalbarri say it is a scam email. Interesting that we are expecting two parcels and have received two emails.....One hopes these parcels will eventually arrive. Himself will be most unhappy if they do not arrive.
Soon be time for a major overhaul of the outside of the caravan ready for the trek to Perth. We are looking a tad tired and travelled. I would like the entire van to be scrubbed and polished while we have access to equipment to reach all parts of it. Then we would be fresh and ready for the road again after xmas.
Next year we plan to tour the south west of WA and then trek on over the Nullabor and do a zig zag along the Murray River before heading back up north when the weather turns cold.
So much left to see, lets hope our health allows us to complete our plans.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Saturday...19 November 2011
Update on the broken one....she will be having surgery next week which involves the words screws and wires!!! Fingers crossed it solves her problems and her body can heal itself.
We are now at the pointy end of the school year and reports are arriving of grandchildren covering themselves in glory by bringing home some of the awards on offer. Well done to all the grandkids, I am sure they have all tried their hardest and deserve to feel proud of their efforts. I am sure their parents are very proud of them all.
Now the rest of todays blog is about food......Or more precisely the force feeding of ourselves by our cruel and mean hosts. While we have been here they continue to cook up a storm and ply us with all sorts of life threatening concoctions. Weber roasts, BBQ steaks, pizzas, fish, chicken, pork, lamb, beef, seafood, kebabs, stirfrys, casseroles, rissoles, gravies, toasted sandwiches, salads or five vegetables with every dish.
Yesterday was cheesecake AND an apple custard dessert cake with clotted cream and then today our hostess went in for the kill. Today she made CHOCOLATE CHIP PIKELETS! We have to leave here. We will waddle down the driveway and hope like hell our car can carry the excess weight. If you see a news item about grey nomads broken down from overloading it will surely be us......
We are now at the pointy end of the school year and reports are arriving of grandchildren covering themselves in glory by bringing home some of the awards on offer. Well done to all the grandkids, I am sure they have all tried their hardest and deserve to feel proud of their efforts. I am sure their parents are very proud of them all.
Now the rest of todays blog is about food......Or more precisely the force feeding of ourselves by our cruel and mean hosts. While we have been here they continue to cook up a storm and ply us with all sorts of life threatening concoctions. Weber roasts, BBQ steaks, pizzas, fish, chicken, pork, lamb, beef, seafood, kebabs, stirfrys, casseroles, rissoles, gravies, toasted sandwiches, salads or five vegetables with every dish.
Yesterday was cheesecake AND an apple custard dessert cake with clotted cream and then today our hostess went in for the kill. Today she made CHOCOLATE CHIP PIKELETS! We have to leave here. We will waddle down the driveway and hope like hell our car can carry the excess weight. If you see a news item about grey nomads broken down from overloading it will surely be us......
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Tuesday...15 November 2011
Heard sometime long long ago that once you learn to ride a bike you never forget how to ride a bike!
This may be true, but my first born will need training wheels again when she gets back on her bike. Today she had a close call with a car while on her bike. The good news is that she is alive. The bad news is that she has broken something in or near her left elbow and will need to visit a specialist to see if she needs surgical help to repair it. Meantime she is in in plaster and heavily drugged as the pain is apparently quite intense. Poor thing. Just as well she was between jobs as this will surely slow down her typing speed.......
Meantime, back in Kalbarri, the boys are still finding little projects to work on. Today they put a louder horn in our ute. Not sure why or if it was even necessary but no doubt Himself will have several really good reasons for a bigger louder horn!
The whales are heading south for the summer which is very considerate of them as the crayfish fleet began the new season today. Their white pot marking bouys are clearly visible from our lookout point on the beach, and the boats are coming and going through the mouth of the river.
The wind has been a bit rough this last couple of days and the water has changed colour from bright blue to dirty green and back again. Watching the changing ocean is a fascinating hobby. So much to see.
This may be true, but my first born will need training wheels again when she gets back on her bike. Today she had a close call with a car while on her bike. The good news is that she is alive. The bad news is that she has broken something in or near her left elbow and will need to visit a specialist to see if she needs surgical help to repair it. Meantime she is in in plaster and heavily drugged as the pain is apparently quite intense. Poor thing. Just as well she was between jobs as this will surely slow down her typing speed.......
Meantime, back in Kalbarri, the boys are still finding little projects to work on. Today they put a louder horn in our ute. Not sure why or if it was even necessary but no doubt Himself will have several really good reasons for a bigger louder horn!
The whales are heading south for the summer which is very considerate of them as the crayfish fleet began the new season today. Their white pot marking bouys are clearly visible from our lookout point on the beach, and the boats are coming and going through the mouth of the river.
The wind has been a bit rough this last couple of days and the water has changed colour from bright blue to dirty green and back again. Watching the changing ocean is a fascinating hobby. So much to see.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Saturday... 12 November 2011
Still in Kalbarri, wondering what the poor people are doing!
We spend each day doing a few household chores or a project with our hosts, then we sit on their back patio listening to the water trickling in their newly installed water feature in their newly planted back garden, having happy hour while we watch their 7mths old puppy chewing on his bone and listen to the wind blowing through the palms in our yard and the surrounding properties. Life is in harmony......
One day soon we will have to move as Perth is calling but we will be back......not sure yet when that will be but visiting here is so relaxing and so welcoming that we cannot stay away.
We spend each day doing a few household chores or a project with our hosts, then we sit on their back patio listening to the water trickling in their newly installed water feature in their newly planted back garden, having happy hour while we watch their 7mths old puppy chewing on his bone and listen to the wind blowing through the palms in our yard and the surrounding properties. Life is in harmony......
One day soon we will have to move as Perth is calling but we will be back......not sure yet when that will be but visiting here is so relaxing and so welcoming that we cannot stay away.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Saturday...5 November 2011
Well the new stove and range hood are finally installed in our caravan and they look awesome. The boys really put out for this project. The result is seamless and looks like it has been there forever. Some of the time taken was waiting for the local tradie (gas plumber) to show up and connect the gas fitting. So there it is all done and all legal.... Well done boys, great job! They even cleaned up behind themselves which impressed me even more.
Our hosts had a sparky come during the week to hook up some bench lighting in the kitchen/dining room and it took our hostess and myself ages to pick up the mess he made! There was electrical wires and bits of wire all over the kitchen bench and on the floor. He had us make him a cuppa at the end of the job, but then went on his merry way without even asking for a dustpan.
The men are thinking of going fishing sometime soon and we hope they enjoy themselves as they have definately earnt themselves some time out after all the hard work they have been doing.
Now that they are finished making messes I should get my act together and give the inside of the van a seriously good clean. Might as well do what I can while I have access to a good vaccuum cleaner and plenty of line space to wash things like a woollen underlay and car seat covers.
Nearly time for us to be heading on down the track. I hear there is only 6-7 weeks till xmas......
Our hosts had a sparky come during the week to hook up some bench lighting in the kitchen/dining room and it took our hostess and myself ages to pick up the mess he made! There was electrical wires and bits of wire all over the kitchen bench and on the floor. He had us make him a cuppa at the end of the job, but then went on his merry way without even asking for a dustpan.
The men are thinking of going fishing sometime soon and we hope they enjoy themselves as they have definately earnt themselves some time out after all the hard work they have been doing.
Now that they are finished making messes I should get my act together and give the inside of the van a seriously good clean. Might as well do what I can while I have access to a good vaccuum cleaner and plenty of line space to wash things like a woollen underlay and car seat covers.
Nearly time for us to be heading on down the track. I hear there is only 6-7 weeks till xmas......
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Tuesday...1 November 2011
Melbourne Cup Day! Well done Duneden. As always the horse I picked has yet to finish....
Weather has improved heaps. Been in the early to mid thirties for the last few days. Nice and sunny, which is doing the newly laid lawn and nice new garden plants heaps of good. There has been a fairly stiff breeze as well and this is upsetting some of the plants. Fingers crossed they live.
The shire building inspector came yesterday and approved the shed the two boys built last year and finished this year. So that is another thing ticked off the to do list.
The sparky came today and finished hooking up the air con in our hosts bedroom, nice timing, it was rather warm today.
Himself has been back to Geraldton and bought a new stove and rangehood for our caravan and he and our host are busily convincing it to fit. Will be rather swish when they get done. Hats off to them as they continue to work in trying conditions and now it is getting a bit warm in the van during the day. I keep reminding them there is an air con but they are not turning it on.
The ocean today was smoother than silk, not one single ripple to be seen anywhere, such a pretty sight.
Weather has improved heaps. Been in the early to mid thirties for the last few days. Nice and sunny, which is doing the newly laid lawn and nice new garden plants heaps of good. There has been a fairly stiff breeze as well and this is upsetting some of the plants. Fingers crossed they live.
The shire building inspector came yesterday and approved the shed the two boys built last year and finished this year. So that is another thing ticked off the to do list.
The sparky came today and finished hooking up the air con in our hosts bedroom, nice timing, it was rather warm today.
Himself has been back to Geraldton and bought a new stove and rangehood for our caravan and he and our host are busily convincing it to fit. Will be rather swish when they get done. Hats off to them as they continue to work in trying conditions and now it is getting a bit warm in the van during the day. I keep reminding them there is an air con but they are not turning it on.
The ocean today was smoother than silk, not one single ripple to be seen anywhere, such a pretty sight.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Saturday...29 October 2011
Blasted public holidays, long weekends etc!
The boys have been doing all sorts of stuff since our trip to Geraldton on Wednesday. They have knocked out an inbuilt brick bbq and replaced pavers and put up a tempory fence until they can fetch some more earth to fill in the hole where the bbq used to be. When they get done with that project you will not be able to even tell there had been bulky brick bbq built into the patio. It was blocking the view of the wonderful new backyard and its marvellous water feature so it simply had to go....!!
Then they started on a kitchen renovation in my caravan. Well it started as a simple vent cover over the exhaust from the rangehood that somehow dropped off somewhere down the road and morphed into a total kitchen unit rebuild.
Today they got up nice and early and headed off back down to Geraldton, (196kms each way) to buy a new stove that is actually a stove top and griller, no oven as we have one like that and do not use it. They were planning ot get a nice new rangehood to match the new stove too. But alas, when they got there they were greeted with a sign on the gate saying the place was closed for the entire three day weekend.
Now I am personally not too surprised, it is WA after all and we all know that WA stands for Wait Awhile!
Cannot believe that a caravan supply shop would be closed on a long weekend, after all if you are ever gonna need a caravan supply and repair shop would it not be on a bloody long weekend??
When do these people think that the average caravan owner is likely to breakdown? While they are parked in the shed between trips or during holidays or long weekends??? The logic defies reason.
So now I have a caravan with bits all over the place while we wait until the place opens on Monday and either go back down or take the chance and have them send the new bits up on a truck and hope like hell they get it right......(bet they don't!)
If and when they get the nice new stove etc then I will have a couple more drawers for fitting things into thus making life in my kitchen so much easier. Bring it on.
The boys have been doing all sorts of stuff since our trip to Geraldton on Wednesday. They have knocked out an inbuilt brick bbq and replaced pavers and put up a tempory fence until they can fetch some more earth to fill in the hole where the bbq used to be. When they get done with that project you will not be able to even tell there had been bulky brick bbq built into the patio. It was blocking the view of the wonderful new backyard and its marvellous water feature so it simply had to go....!!
Then they started on a kitchen renovation in my caravan. Well it started as a simple vent cover over the exhaust from the rangehood that somehow dropped off somewhere down the road and morphed into a total kitchen unit rebuild.
Today they got up nice and early and headed off back down to Geraldton, (196kms each way) to buy a new stove that is actually a stove top and griller, no oven as we have one like that and do not use it. They were planning ot get a nice new rangehood to match the new stove too. But alas, when they got there they were greeted with a sign on the gate saying the place was closed for the entire three day weekend.
Now I am personally not too surprised, it is WA after all and we all know that WA stands for Wait Awhile!
Cannot believe that a caravan supply shop would be closed on a long weekend, after all if you are ever gonna need a caravan supply and repair shop would it not be on a bloody long weekend??
When do these people think that the average caravan owner is likely to breakdown? While they are parked in the shed between trips or during holidays or long weekends??? The logic defies reason.
So now I have a caravan with bits all over the place while we wait until the place opens on Monday and either go back down or take the chance and have them send the new bits up on a truck and hope like hell they get it right......(bet they don't!)
If and when they get the nice new stove etc then I will have a couple more drawers for fitting things into thus making life in my kitchen so much easier. Bring it on.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Wednesday...26 October 2011
Up early, (6.30am) for the trip to Geraldton. Two cars, two couples, one very small dog. Doggy went to puppy day care for the first time. Big occasion. I think our hostess was happy I told her about doggy day care. Not sure if puppy was! Dragged the lead going in.....
Anyway we did the medical test stuff which was the purpose of the trip, then went shopping. Naturally the boys headed for Bunnings. The girls did the Bunnings thing complete with coffee at the little shop next to the kids playground, then we walked down the road to She Bunnings, (without entering!) and went to the Better Pets store next door. Couple of purchases latter we went and did a major grocery grab and after picking up the puppy we headed for home, down the road 1.5hours.
It rained off and on for most of the day then really bucketed down just as we were trying to load the groceries in the cars ready to come home. Of course we all got wet, some more than others. On the way home the rain was so heavy at times that seeing the road become a misson and depended on how good your eyes were! When we got back to Kalbarri, wouldn't you know it, bright sunshine and blue skies and whales romping out in the the bay.......grrrrr!
Puppy was reluctant to leave day care, not sure yet if tired or scared of the smells in the reception area of the vets that day care is attached to. He has been quiet since we got home. Because he was so good he got some new toys so this could explain his tiredness.
Early night for everyone.
Tomorrow will be a big day planting the plants bought and building all sorts of stuff with assorted goodies purchased today.
Anyway we did the medical test stuff which was the purpose of the trip, then went shopping. Naturally the boys headed for Bunnings. The girls did the Bunnings thing complete with coffee at the little shop next to the kids playground, then we walked down the road to She Bunnings, (without entering!) and went to the Better Pets store next door. Couple of purchases latter we went and did a major grocery grab and after picking up the puppy we headed for home, down the road 1.5hours.
It rained off and on for most of the day then really bucketed down just as we were trying to load the groceries in the cars ready to come home. Of course we all got wet, some more than others. On the way home the rain was so heavy at times that seeing the road become a misson and depended on how good your eyes were! When we got back to Kalbarri, wouldn't you know it, bright sunshine and blue skies and whales romping out in the the bay.......grrrrr!
Puppy was reluctant to leave day care, not sure yet if tired or scared of the smells in the reception area of the vets that day care is attached to. He has been quiet since we got home. Because he was so good he got some new toys so this could explain his tiredness.
Early night for everyone.
Tomorrow will be a big day planting the plants bought and building all sorts of stuff with assorted goodies purchased today.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Monday...24 October 2011
Its raining!
The garden project is mostly completed. The water feature is in place and operational, the plants have been bought and put in around the water feature and the bag of mulch, probably half a tonne, has been put in around the various plants and water features etc.Honestly they bought this huge bag of mulch that had to be delivered by a truck and came on a pallet and it still was not enough to completely mulch the entire back garden which consists of garden bed two sides of the back yard along the fence line. Meantime the newly planted lawn is starting to shoot so in the next week or so we will have a lovely new lawn to relace the desert that currently consumes the backyard after the removal of a huge tree and its highly invasive roots. Progress.
The boys are onto batch #2 in the shed and are very pleased with themselves as to the outcome of batch #1!!
The fridgee came today and plumbed in the air con for the hosts bedroom, all we need now is a sparkie to plug it in and make it work.
On Wednesday we are off to Geraldton on a day trip to buy a few bits and pieces.
The garden project is mostly completed. The water feature is in place and operational, the plants have been bought and put in around the water feature and the bag of mulch, probably half a tonne, has been put in around the various plants and water features etc.Honestly they bought this huge bag of mulch that had to be delivered by a truck and came on a pallet and it still was not enough to completely mulch the entire back garden which consists of garden bed two sides of the back yard along the fence line. Meantime the newly planted lawn is starting to shoot so in the next week or so we will have a lovely new lawn to relace the desert that currently consumes the backyard after the removal of a huge tree and its highly invasive roots. Progress.
The boys are onto batch #2 in the shed and are very pleased with themselves as to the outcome of batch #1!!
The fridgee came today and plumbed in the air con for the hosts bedroom, all we need now is a sparkie to plug it in and make it work.
On Wednesday we are off to Geraldton on a day trip to buy a few bits and pieces.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Saturday...22 October 2011
I know I have been slack! Too busy being retired to work at the computer to write stuff most of you do not read anyway....lol
The water feature is up and gurgling, complete with assorted lighting. It looks amazing.
Today the host and hostess went to the local nursery and acquired several assorted palms and ground covers to plant around it. By the time they are done it will be as good as anything you have seen on the tv!
Should anyone get bored, there is a one tonne bag of mulch waiting to be spread around the garden and dug into the sandy soil to create a nice home for the new palms etc
The men built a special sand box for the dog. This particular breed are very very fond of digging, so rather than have it dig up the entire yard, it now has its very own sand pit for digging purposes. All we have to do is train it with treats to dig only in the you beaut new sand box built and designed specifically for this dog to dig!!!
Dinner tonight was awesome...it was going to be steak and salad and ended up being toasted cheese slices. We began happy hour and somehow it just morphed into a minor little Saturday night party for four! When we did finally feel peckish it was way too late to bother with dinner so we had simple toasted cheese slices instead, YUMMY!
The water feature is up and gurgling, complete with assorted lighting. It looks amazing.
Today the host and hostess went to the local nursery and acquired several assorted palms and ground covers to plant around it. By the time they are done it will be as good as anything you have seen on the tv!
Should anyone get bored, there is a one tonne bag of mulch waiting to be spread around the garden and dug into the sandy soil to create a nice home for the new palms etc
The men built a special sand box for the dog. This particular breed are very very fond of digging, so rather than have it dig up the entire yard, it now has its very own sand pit for digging purposes. All we have to do is train it with treats to dig only in the you beaut new sand box built and designed specifically for this dog to dig!!!
Dinner tonight was awesome...it was going to be steak and salad and ended up being toasted cheese slices. We began happy hour and somehow it just morphed into a minor little Saturday night party for four! When we did finally feel peckish it was way too late to bother with dinner so we had simple toasted cheese slices instead, YUMMY!
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Tuesday...18 October 2011
The local council finally came around to collect the stuff on the verge. They had a tip truck and a front end loader. We filled two tip trucks and then they came back with a tree muncher thingy and picked up the branches from the tree we cut down, that filled another tip truck! And they left behind the tree stump., apparently it was too big for their mulching machine!
The boys fitted a new stove and range hood to the second house and the pest man came and sprayed the yard, our caravans and drive way for all sorts of uninvited beasties. He put some ant killer in our van and they came from every where to partake of the poisonous feast. Makes one wonder just how many ants have been hitching a free ride with us! The hard part of the day was keeping the dog inside so that he did not lick the spray stuff until it dried.
The boys are constantly disappearing into the shed to check the bubble bubble toil and trouble that is brewing in the mash barrel. Apparently when it stops bubbling it is time to put it in the actual still and distil pure alcohol......Very exciting stuff, I beleive.
They spent the afternoon digging a trench in the backyard for the wiring for the water feature our hostess wants in the back corner of the yard.
Our hostess and myself spent the day beading off and on between meals. We created two rather nice necklaces between us.
Oh and it rained off and on all day!
The boys fitted a new stove and range hood to the second house and the pest man came and sprayed the yard, our caravans and drive way for all sorts of uninvited beasties. He put some ant killer in our van and they came from every where to partake of the poisonous feast. Makes one wonder just how many ants have been hitching a free ride with us! The hard part of the day was keeping the dog inside so that he did not lick the spray stuff until it dried.
The boys are constantly disappearing into the shed to check the bubble bubble toil and trouble that is brewing in the mash barrel. Apparently when it stops bubbling it is time to put it in the actual still and distil pure alcohol......Very exciting stuff, I beleive.
They spent the afternoon digging a trench in the backyard for the wiring for the water feature our hostess wants in the back corner of the yard.
Our hostess and myself spent the day beading off and on between meals. We created two rather nice necklaces between us.
Oh and it rained off and on all day!
Monday, October 17, 2011
Monday...17 October 2011
Happy Birthday Kim.
Yesterday we had the weirdest fog thing happening. It was still hanging around at 10am and floated past like smoke and was real misty, we could feel it on our skin. We went down to look at the ocean and river and could not see either of them for the fog.
The boys finished the shed project at last yesterday. Very pleased with themselves they are!
(It is a great shed for the car and caravan.)
Today the girls took the dog for a walk down to the beach lookout while the boys set up the hosts still!
His wife bought him a still kit as a gift. Now she no doubt thinks that one day he will make her some beer, but the boys can hardly wait for their first batch of hooch, or whatever it is you call pure alcohol, to be ready. They were measuring everything very very carefully. I gather they do not expect nor accept failure!!! I think it will be very interesting to see how this whole thing works.
Yesterday we had the weirdest fog thing happening. It was still hanging around at 10am and floated past like smoke and was real misty, we could feel it on our skin. We went down to look at the ocean and river and could not see either of them for the fog.
The boys finished the shed project at last yesterday. Very pleased with themselves they are!
(It is a great shed for the car and caravan.)
Today the girls took the dog for a walk down to the beach lookout while the boys set up the hosts still!
His wife bought him a still kit as a gift. Now she no doubt thinks that one day he will make her some beer, but the boys can hardly wait for their first batch of hooch, or whatever it is you call pure alcohol, to be ready. They were measuring everything very very carefully. I gather they do not expect nor accept failure!!! I think it will be very interesting to see how this whole thing works.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Saturday...15 October 2011
Drove a car today, first time in nearly a year! While we have been on the road, Himself does all the driving as I will not try to drive our huge rig. And even when we are unhitched I will not drive as I cannot judge the size of our ute for parking etc.
Today I drove a standard sized Toyota 4x4, easy as apple pie. Was not too sure of the length of it for parking purposes but was a lovely vehicle to drive. The hostess and I only went to the shops but it was a huge leap in our freedom. No more waiting until the men get through with their stuff before we can go to ths shop to make them all sorts of yummy dinners. Tonight we had chicken, beef and prawn kebabs with a potato dish that was tossed in lemon and rosemary. Scrumptous.
Today I drove a standard sized Toyota 4x4, easy as apple pie. Was not too sure of the length of it for parking purposes but was a lovely vehicle to drive. The hostess and I only went to the shops but it was a huge leap in our freedom. No more waiting until the men get through with their stuff before we can go to ths shop to make them all sorts of yummy dinners. Tonight we had chicken, beef and prawn kebabs with a potato dish that was tossed in lemon and rosemary. Scrumptous.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Friday...14 October 2011
Today was reasonably quiet. The boys drilled a hole in the master bedroom wall to allow the completion of the installation of the split system ready for summer. All they need now is a fridgie and a sparkie and bingo, all will be done. They also completed the clean out of the not really little shed. More boxes have found their way to the verge for the council clean up. By now the entire town should be aware that this is the best place to go for bargains and wonderous chuck outs!!!
Then they put up some of yesterdays metal delivery by adding bits to the shed project. Right now they are attempting to set up a surround sound system, having received a replacement master control which arrived by courier today.
Earlier today the resident puppy went digging again.Attached is him disappearing down a muddly hole.
Then they put up some of yesterdays metal delivery by adding bits to the shed project. Right now they are attempting to set up a surround sound system, having received a replacement master control which arrived by courier today.
Earlier today the resident puppy went digging again.Attached is him disappearing down a muddly hole.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Thursday...13 October 2011
Today the boys settled for cleaning out the shed. Mind you as fast as they put it on the verge it vanished. Our host put some computer stuff including an old unwanted laptop out inside a box before lunch and it was gone by the time we ate our egg toastie!!! Overnight the set of seven white plastic patio chairs disappeared, they threw back the eighth as it was white but a different style! Someone pulled up and asked if we would mind if they took the old washing machine for spare parts and today the neighbours asked then took the blower/vac and some unwanted pots for plants. Gotta love a council clean up!!!!! Wonder what will disappear tonight???
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Wednesday...12 October 2011
So what did today bring?
Today we ripped out a Hills Hoist! It too now resides on the verge along with the rest of the unwanted things waiting for collection. The boys dug up the clothes line and cut it off way down deep in its hole with an electric tool. While they were at it they cut the pole we found that had been left by the last home owner when they removed their Hills hoist!
Then, while they were in the mood and winning they removed the brick chimney attached to the old BBQ in the backyard which is no longer used. Between the tree, the clothes line and the chimney they sure have improved the view in the backyard. There is much more sunlight in the yard and the yard seems to have grown overnight now that there is so much more usable space.
While we were at it we have cut off the overhanging branches from the tree next door that was scraping against the roof and keeping our hosts awake, and then we tidied up the side part of the house, taking away a couple of barrow loads of tree droppings. Them and some unwanted pots have also found their way to the verge. To top it all off a massive old tv was added to the pile out on the verge. There is nothing wrong with the tv but the owners have got a nice new slimline tv and no one not even charity want the big bulky one. So out it has gone!
Meantime we are waiting for a delivery of metal to complete the original shed project from last year. The list of things to be done is slowly but surely being whittled down! Those waiting for the shed stories will have to wait a bit longer!
The days are rushing past, will we get it all done????
Today we ripped out a Hills Hoist! It too now resides on the verge along with the rest of the unwanted things waiting for collection. The boys dug up the clothes line and cut it off way down deep in its hole with an electric tool. While they were at it they cut the pole we found that had been left by the last home owner when they removed their Hills hoist!
Then, while they were in the mood and winning they removed the brick chimney attached to the old BBQ in the backyard which is no longer used. Between the tree, the clothes line and the chimney they sure have improved the view in the backyard. There is much more sunlight in the yard and the yard seems to have grown overnight now that there is so much more usable space.
While we were at it we have cut off the overhanging branches from the tree next door that was scraping against the roof and keeping our hosts awake, and then we tidied up the side part of the house, taking away a couple of barrow loads of tree droppings. Them and some unwanted pots have also found their way to the verge. To top it all off a massive old tv was added to the pile out on the verge. There is nothing wrong with the tv but the owners have got a nice new slimline tv and no one not even charity want the big bulky one. So out it has gone!
Meantime we are waiting for a delivery of metal to complete the original shed project from last year. The list of things to be done is slowly but surely being whittled down! Those waiting for the shed stories will have to wait a bit longer!
The days are rushing past, will we get it all done????
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Tuesday...11 October 2011
Wow what a day! There is four very very tired people tonight.
The day began with putting unwanted stuff out on the verge ready for the big council pick-up next week. Then there was a discussion about a tree in the backyard.
It was one just like we had in our yard up north, and just like that one, it was preventing the lawn from growing due to its ability to block out the sun and the leaves that drop from it are extremely acidic and it wrecks the soil under and around the tree. So of course... IT HAD TO GO!
Himself got the job and armed with a set of steps and a saw, off he went. In very short time the yard was covered in tree branches which our hostess and myself set to removing to the verge. Meantime Himself swapped saw for axe and chopped up the bigger branches. He then dug up the humungus tap roots and cut them with the axe and then he and our host used a block and tackle to pull the main truck out of the ground. Then they used the chainsaw to chop up the trunk and bingo....no more tree. Simple really.
The whole time this was happening the family puppy was locked in the house to prevent him escaping through the open backyard gates through which we were dragging tree branches to the verge.
When our hostess had raked up the mess and filled in the holes, the puppy was finally allowed out to explore the new backyard. He was a bit timid initially but soon got the courage to check it out and then he started digging in the soft soil around the old tree trunk area.
Once he started it was hilarious watching him, he looked like he intended to dig all the way to China. The hole got bigger and deeper by the minute. We had a hose running and he was picking that up in his little mouth and taking it to his hole and when it filled with water he would drag it somewhere else and go back to digging in his hole. He was covered in mud, wet to the bone and happy as a puppy could be digging in the yard. Yes Yes I know, pictures....when I remember to get the camera out of the car that has not been started since we pulled up here.
Yesterday the men went to Geraldton to do a spot of shopping for all those things that come under the heading of secret mens business in the hosts car as they needed to take the trailer too. They were gone all day and when they got back they were fairly tired. It is 150km each way.
Wonder what tomorrow will bring?????
The day began with putting unwanted stuff out on the verge ready for the big council pick-up next week. Then there was a discussion about a tree in the backyard.
It was one just like we had in our yard up north, and just like that one, it was preventing the lawn from growing due to its ability to block out the sun and the leaves that drop from it are extremely acidic and it wrecks the soil under and around the tree. So of course... IT HAD TO GO!
Himself got the job and armed with a set of steps and a saw, off he went. In very short time the yard was covered in tree branches which our hostess and myself set to removing to the verge. Meantime Himself swapped saw for axe and chopped up the bigger branches. He then dug up the humungus tap roots and cut them with the axe and then he and our host used a block and tackle to pull the main truck out of the ground. Then they used the chainsaw to chop up the trunk and bingo....no more tree. Simple really.
The whole time this was happening the family puppy was locked in the house to prevent him escaping through the open backyard gates through which we were dragging tree branches to the verge.
When our hostess had raked up the mess and filled in the holes, the puppy was finally allowed out to explore the new backyard. He was a bit timid initially but soon got the courage to check it out and then he started digging in the soft soil around the old tree trunk area.
Once he started it was hilarious watching him, he looked like he intended to dig all the way to China. The hole got bigger and deeper by the minute. We had a hose running and he was picking that up in his little mouth and taking it to his hole and when it filled with water he would drag it somewhere else and go back to digging in his hole. He was covered in mud, wet to the bone and happy as a puppy could be digging in the yard. Yes Yes I know, pictures....when I remember to get the camera out of the car that has not been started since we pulled up here.
Yesterday the men went to Geraldton to do a spot of shopping for all those things that come under the heading of secret mens business in the hosts car as they needed to take the trailer too. They were gone all day and when they got back they were fairly tired. It is 150km each way.
Wonder what tomorrow will bring?????
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Sunday...9 October 2011
Tonight I will tell you about the Killer Grasshoppers of Kalbarri!!!
The other day I was playing in the backyard with the previously mentioned long haired daschund belonging to mine hosts. I went a bit too close to one of the bushes in their garden and a massive grasshopper just as big as the ones we used to have up north, jumped out of the bush and landed on my head with the not unexpected screaming and yelling and face slapping and growling by me. I am not very happy when one of them lands on me, for a start the shock is massive and then there is the actual size of the awful things. They hurt when they hit! I put that experience down to myself invading its territory.
Now, my host owns one of those ebook thingys and generously downloaded the lastest John Grisham novel for me (at a grand cost of A$10!). Bliss, I had a whole book to read by one of my favourite authors and in a format I am most taken with. So there I was sitting outside at the table on their patio enjoying the fresh air and sunshine of Kalbarri, reading my extremely engrossing book, when out of nowhere one of those massive grasshoppers flew at me and landed on my face!. It was so big it fitted from my forehead down to my mouth and had a leg on each of my cheeks. I, of course, screamed blue murder and proceeded with the time honored face slapping and dancing around yelling words like ewww, grrr, yukk.....etc. The damned beast eventually departed, to be blasted into the next world with help from the sole of my hostesses croc sandal.....lol. There I sat muttering about how dare it scare me and goodness me, fancy it coming from nowhere and landing on my face. Next thing I know, I was dripping blood! The mean spirited beast bit me on the nose and drew blood and its legs scratched my cheek and also drew blood...NOT HAPPY JAN.
Sooooo.....warning Will Robinson....if you go out into the outdoors in Kalbarri at this time of the year beware the dreaded oversized locust type grasshoppers.
The other day I was playing in the backyard with the previously mentioned long haired daschund belonging to mine hosts. I went a bit too close to one of the bushes in their garden and a massive grasshopper just as big as the ones we used to have up north, jumped out of the bush and landed on my head with the not unexpected screaming and yelling and face slapping and growling by me. I am not very happy when one of them lands on me, for a start the shock is massive and then there is the actual size of the awful things. They hurt when they hit! I put that experience down to myself invading its territory.
Now, my host owns one of those ebook thingys and generously downloaded the lastest John Grisham novel for me (at a grand cost of A$10!). Bliss, I had a whole book to read by one of my favourite authors and in a format I am most taken with. So there I was sitting outside at the table on their patio enjoying the fresh air and sunshine of Kalbarri, reading my extremely engrossing book, when out of nowhere one of those massive grasshoppers flew at me and landed on my face!. It was so big it fitted from my forehead down to my mouth and had a leg on each of my cheeks. I, of course, screamed blue murder and proceeded with the time honored face slapping and dancing around yelling words like ewww, grrr, yukk.....etc. The damned beast eventually departed, to be blasted into the next world with help from the sole of my hostesses croc sandal.....lol. There I sat muttering about how dare it scare me and goodness me, fancy it coming from nowhere and landing on my face. Next thing I know, I was dripping blood! The mean spirited beast bit me on the nose and drew blood and its legs scratched my cheek and also drew blood...NOT HAPPY JAN.
Sooooo.....warning Will Robinson....if you go out into the outdoors in Kalbarri at this time of the year beware the dreaded oversized locust type grasshoppers.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Thursday...6 October 2011
Well I have been super lazy and very naughty taking so long to blog again.
No real excuse, we got to Kalbarri and I have been busy playing catch up with our hostess and her husband and meeting their new puppy. He is a miniature long haired dachshund who is not quite 6months old. An beautifully natured animal and fairly intelligent. He is on a learning curve as he was not acquired until he was already four months old.
Various people in the house take him for his walks in groups or individually, poor little thing has been quite tired lately, probably worn out from all his walkies. Those of us less fit creatures make do by playing chasy games and tug a war with various toys to contribute to the fitness and of this very sweet animal. Pics will eventually be posted, but I keep forgetting to get our camera out of the car!
Tonight we entertained our hostess's niece and her family with a Weber leg of lamb with all the usual roast vegetables and gravy. Extremely yummy! No scraps on any plates or left overs for the puppy.
Once again the two men have been busy with a list of jobs around the place, which will include the completion of the previous shed project from our last visit. Unfortunately the host has been unable to finish the job as his back packed it in on return from his own caravan trip, during which they went up the coast to Darwin then down the Centre to Pt Augusta then over the Nullabor back to Esperance and into Perth, finally making it back to Kalbarri about a month ago.
No real excuse, we got to Kalbarri and I have been busy playing catch up with our hostess and her husband and meeting their new puppy. He is a miniature long haired dachshund who is not quite 6months old. An beautifully natured animal and fairly intelligent. He is on a learning curve as he was not acquired until he was already four months old.
Various people in the house take him for his walks in groups or individually, poor little thing has been quite tired lately, probably worn out from all his walkies. Those of us less fit creatures make do by playing chasy games and tug a war with various toys to contribute to the fitness and of this very sweet animal. Pics will eventually be posted, but I keep forgetting to get our camera out of the car!
Tonight we entertained our hostess's niece and her family with a Weber leg of lamb with all the usual roast vegetables and gravy. Extremely yummy! No scraps on any plates or left overs for the puppy.
Once again the two men have been busy with a list of jobs around the place, which will include the completion of the previous shed project from our last visit. Unfortunately the host has been unable to finish the job as his back packed it in on return from his own caravan trip, during which they went up the coast to Darwin then down the Centre to Pt Augusta then over the Nullabor back to Esperance and into Perth, finally making it back to Kalbarri about a month ago.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Friday...30 September 2011
So yesterday I forgot to mention that when Himself went fishing he spent the first hour and a half out on the water watching a group of whales play, about 50m from the boat. There was a mother and newborn calf and a junvenile possibly last years baby and another two adult whales in this little pod and they romped and played happily for some time then the mother whale swam off and the others followed her.
Today we were up early and got away from Carnarvon by 9am which meant we were able to reach Kalbarri (480kms) by mid afternoon. We stopped at a free camp on the side of the road for lunch then pushed on to Kalbarri. It was a long exhausting drive.
So lovely to arrive and see our friends again. They always seem pleased to see us! We have spent the afternoon/evening playing catch up and will no doubt do lots more chatting in the days to come.
Along the way today we were very taken with the variety and abundance of wildflowers visible at the edge of the highway. All sorts of plants from woody bushes to tiny individual blooms and so many colors. Australia is stunning during wildflower season.
We saw grevillias, banksias, heath type bushes. Some looked like the famous Geraldton Wax, and the colors ranged from white and some silver grasses to stunning reds and yellows and some blues and orange and purple and hot hot pink to the yellow of wattles and the deep yellows of banksias. It did not seem to matter where you looked it was one big carpet for miles of color and shape. Simply stunning.
As I sit writing this I can hear the surf crashing onto the beach, what a beautiful noise........
Today we were up early and got away from Carnarvon by 9am which meant we were able to reach Kalbarri (480kms) by mid afternoon. We stopped at a free camp on the side of the road for lunch then pushed on to Kalbarri. It was a long exhausting drive.
So lovely to arrive and see our friends again. They always seem pleased to see us! We have spent the afternoon/evening playing catch up and will no doubt do lots more chatting in the days to come.
Along the way today we were very taken with the variety and abundance of wildflowers visible at the edge of the highway. All sorts of plants from woody bushes to tiny individual blooms and so many colors. Australia is stunning during wildflower season.
We saw grevillias, banksias, heath type bushes. Some looked like the famous Geraldton Wax, and the colors ranged from white and some silver grasses to stunning reds and yellows and some blues and orange and purple and hot hot pink to the yellow of wattles and the deep yellows of banksias. It did not seem to matter where you looked it was one big carpet for miles of color and shape. Simply stunning.
As I sit writing this I can hear the surf crashing onto the beach, what a beautiful noise........
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Thursday...29 September 2011
Last day in Carnarvon. Tomorrow we move onward to Kalbarri or as close to as our day allows.
This morning one of the permanent residents of this caravan park invited Himself to go fishing on his ex-crayfish boat. They went 0.6 nautical miles off shore near the town jetty and this is what Himself bought home. It was caught on the turning tide.
This morning one of the permanent residents of this caravan park invited Himself to go fishing on his ex-crayfish boat. They went 0.6 nautical miles off shore near the town jetty and this is what Himself bought home. It was caught on the turning tide.
It is a Mulloway, Kingfish, Dhufish, depends on what state you live in as to what it is called.
Length was 1050mm, you guess the weight!.
He also caught a 12ft Tiger shark and a 6ft Hammerhead and a 3ft Black Tip, all were released as too active to reel in!
He had himself a reel-ly good time. Most pleased with Himself. Best fish he has ever caught. We looked back at his big charter boat catch from Exmouth last year and it looks like a sardine compared to this one.
Tonight we are going out for dinner with the wonderful folk in the farm next door. Looking forward to that, they are nice people. Himself will miss his daily walks over the fence to see what is happening.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Sunday...25 September 2011
Sitting in the caravan park watching the activity around me. People make fascinating creatures to watch. Only two models but so many varieties!
There are the early morning risers who are up and have all their days chores done before 7am. Mum has been to the laundry and has taken most of the space on the communal washing lines. Dad is washing the car and putting water all over other peoples sites even though the park has rules on the washing of vehicles. Other early risers are up and packed and on the road by 7am. I often wonder to myself what time this lot knock off for the day. Are they the ones we see checking into caravan parks at 8am? Or do they drive all day and only stop when they run out of light and the fear factor kicks in regards the local native wildlife putting dents in their much loved brand new 4x4?
Then there are the sleepy heads who never surface until the park is nearly empty from the days departures. They sit in their camp relaxing, reading the paper and drinking coffee. I think I know which ones have the right idea......
Watching as people pack up their camp on departure day can be interesting. Some have a set routine and go about it quietly and confidently. Others rattle and bang and double up on each others jobs and get in quite a lather. They all head off down the road happily enough although I have seen some very tightly crossed arms and thin lip lines!!!
The last van to be put beside us had three blue heelers! They left yesterday and many around them heaved a sigh of relief. They were noisy dogs and wanted to tear a leg off anyone who passed that van. The owners idea of being in control of their animals at all times was to chain them to the car and yell at them from inside the comfort of the van when they were barking. It is people like that who make it so much harder for anyone else travelling with pets.
The sky today is a dirty grey blue black..... Will it rain?
There are the early morning risers who are up and have all their days chores done before 7am. Mum has been to the laundry and has taken most of the space on the communal washing lines. Dad is washing the car and putting water all over other peoples sites even though the park has rules on the washing of vehicles. Other early risers are up and packed and on the road by 7am. I often wonder to myself what time this lot knock off for the day. Are they the ones we see checking into caravan parks at 8am? Or do they drive all day and only stop when they run out of light and the fear factor kicks in regards the local native wildlife putting dents in their much loved brand new 4x4?
Then there are the sleepy heads who never surface until the park is nearly empty from the days departures. They sit in their camp relaxing, reading the paper and drinking coffee. I think I know which ones have the right idea......
Watching as people pack up their camp on departure day can be interesting. Some have a set routine and go about it quietly and confidently. Others rattle and bang and double up on each others jobs and get in quite a lather. They all head off down the road happily enough although I have seen some very tightly crossed arms and thin lip lines!!!
The last van to be put beside us had three blue heelers! They left yesterday and many around them heaved a sigh of relief. They were noisy dogs and wanted to tear a leg off anyone who passed that van. The owners idea of being in control of their animals at all times was to chain them to the car and yell at them from inside the comfort of the van when they were barking. It is people like that who make it so much harder for anyone else travelling with pets.
The sky today is a dirty grey blue black..... Will it rain?
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Thursday...22 September 2011
Still sitting in Carnarvon enjoying the weather. Gonna stay a bit longer. Too cold down south to go that way and too lazy to turn around and go back up north!!!
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Sunday...18 September 2011
Still in Carnarvon. Doing lots of nothing. Weather has been glorious, but having said that, today it is blowing a gale. Our little caravan is rocking in the wind and we have had discussion on the merits of buying a underskirt for our van which would prevent wind coming under it into the sitting/patio area.
Owing to the angle of the setting sun here in Carnarvon, Himself will be visiting the local swag maker to find out if we can have a sunblock made at a reasonable price tomorrow.Weather has been generally very good but today was cool and windy and we are hoping it was a one off, otherwise we may have to consider moving north again towards Exmouth or Coral Bay! Just when we thought we had found paradise!!!! Mind you it is much nicer here than in Broome where it had begun to warm up big time. Our last few days there was 36c. Here it is around 28c and cool overnight making sleep a definate instead of a maybe.
We were given some zucchinis yesterday by the bloke who market gardens the paddock next to our caravan park, so I have spent the last two days making zucchini slice to freeze. Yummy.
Owing to the angle of the setting sun here in Carnarvon, Himself will be visiting the local swag maker to find out if we can have a sunblock made at a reasonable price tomorrow.Weather has been generally very good but today was cool and windy and we are hoping it was a one off, otherwise we may have to consider moving north again towards Exmouth or Coral Bay! Just when we thought we had found paradise!!!! Mind you it is much nicer here than in Broome where it had begun to warm up big time. Our last few days there was 36c. Here it is around 28c and cool overnight making sleep a definate instead of a maybe.
We were given some zucchinis yesterday by the bloke who market gardens the paddock next to our caravan park, so I have spent the last two days making zucchini slice to freeze. Yummy.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Wednesday...14 September 2011
So yesterday we left Point Samson and detoured to Karratha to sign some papers, then it was out on the road again. We travelled via Nanutarra to Barradale where we parked up for the night in the free camp along with only 15 other vans. Usually there would be heaps but it is now the end of the season and only a few stragglers are left to return to base down south or make the mad dash up over the top back to Qld before it becomes way too hot up north to make travel bearable!
While we were there Himself went for a walk, as he often does and discovered a truckie broken down at the entrance to our free camp area. It was a Mack truck! This is important as Himself would not put himself out for just any old truck........lol This one had a lovely yellow (CAT) engine in it so was worthy of inspection by our Hero of the North West. He checked it out then came back to camp to ask me where I kept the assortment of corks I have accumulated from much dedicated wine drinking along the way. With two champagne corks in hand he went back and fixed the broken truck and astounded the driver/owner. The truckie suggested that Himself would make a good mechanic, leaving Himself laughing as he explained he already was a diesel truck catapillar mechanic. He fixed it with one cork and gave the owner the other as a spare!!!! Now that is roadside service........
Today we left Barradale and travelled south to Carnarvon. Along the way we had to slow down for an entire family of emus to cross the road. Mum, Dad and five chicks. Cute really.
We also saw a bloke pushing a barrow northward. One way to get fit I suppose. Usually we pass at least one young asian male push bike rider. Today we passed a bike rider but he was greyer than either of us and looked Australian..
The other thing we noticed today was the proliferation of wildflowers along the road. Lots of Sturts Desert Pea and native grevillias and some lovely pink ground cover type flowers. Also heaps of white clumps of a grass type flower.
We are in the Wintersun caravan park in Carnarvon and are thinking of staying at least a week. We will see how things go tonite and tomorrow and make a decision then. To the right of us we have a blue heeler, to the left of us we have a rotty! Today was 28 and tomorrow is gonna be 29. It is supposed to drop to around 9 overnight so sleeping should be no problem. If all is as expected we will stay longer.
While we were there Himself went for a walk, as he often does and discovered a truckie broken down at the entrance to our free camp area. It was a Mack truck! This is important as Himself would not put himself out for just any old truck........lol This one had a lovely yellow (CAT) engine in it so was worthy of inspection by our Hero of the North West. He checked it out then came back to camp to ask me where I kept the assortment of corks I have accumulated from much dedicated wine drinking along the way. With two champagne corks in hand he went back and fixed the broken truck and astounded the driver/owner. The truckie suggested that Himself would make a good mechanic, leaving Himself laughing as he explained he already was a diesel truck catapillar mechanic. He fixed it with one cork and gave the owner the other as a spare!!!! Now that is roadside service........
Today we left Barradale and travelled south to Carnarvon. Along the way we had to slow down for an entire family of emus to cross the road. Mum, Dad and five chicks. Cute really.
We also saw a bloke pushing a barrow northward. One way to get fit I suppose. Usually we pass at least one young asian male push bike rider. Today we passed a bike rider but he was greyer than either of us and looked Australian..
The other thing we noticed today was the proliferation of wildflowers along the road. Lots of Sturts Desert Pea and native grevillias and some lovely pink ground cover type flowers. Also heaps of white clumps of a grass type flower.
We are in the Wintersun caravan park in Carnarvon and are thinking of staying at least a week. We will see how things go tonite and tomorrow and make a decision then. To the right of us we have a blue heeler, to the left of us we have a rotty! Today was 28 and tomorrow is gonna be 29. It is supposed to drop to around 9 overnight so sleeping should be no problem. If all is as expected we will stay longer.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Monday...12 September 2011
Up early to go the 40kms into Karratha this morning for Himself's 9am appointment! While he did that I scouted around and found a hairdresser with a vacant appointment for today, go me.
So I got my hair cut, ultra short of course (lasts longer between cuts and makes it less urgent to find a salon in unfamiliar territory) and he got the tax office sorted. Life is good.
We did lunch at Maccas and got some groceries ready to hit the road again tomorrow. Carnarvon here we come........
We will free camp tomorrow night, probably at Barradale as Carnarvon is a big haul and I see no reason to push that hard that far.
So I got my hair cut, ultra short of course (lasts longer between cuts and makes it less urgent to find a salon in unfamiliar territory) and he got the tax office sorted. Life is good.
We did lunch at Maccas and got some groceries ready to hit the road again tomorrow. Carnarvon here we come........
We will free camp tomorrow night, probably at Barradale as Carnarvon is a big haul and I see no reason to push that hard that far.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Saturday...10 September 2011
Oh Oh St Kilda just bombed out of the finals..........
Meantime we packed up and moved this morning from Roebourne to Point Samson! A Whole 19 Kms down the road but light years in actual reality. We have checked into the you beaut new caravan park called The Cove, only been here a couple of years, charge like a wounded bull but ever so nice. Ocean views.
Meantime we packed up and moved this morning from Roebourne to Point Samson! A Whole 19 Kms down the road but light years in actual reality. We have checked into the you beaut new caravan park called The Cove, only been here a couple of years, charge like a wounded bull but ever so nice. Ocean views.
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| The view |
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Thursday...8 September 2011
Well we have had a massive day.
We left Broome on Tuesday morning and travelled to Pardoo Roadhouse and parked for two nights. Was nice to be back and it is still very surprising to see so much grass in the middle of nowhere. Sadly like most things the price has gone up dramatically. Hardly worth the current price when you have to put up with the sound of the generator 24/7!!
This morning we set out super early thanks to the wind that has been belting the north west for the last three days and while it took a rest overnight it returned literally with a bang at 4.30am this morning waking us with the banging it made when it arrived in our little caravan park. We left Pardoo before 8.00am and headed towards Port Hedland. 20kms from Hedland we hit an official police road block. Us and about 300 of our nearest and closest friends in cars, trucks and caravans spent more than 5 hours parked up on the side of Highway 1 waiting for a massive bushfire with a front of about 15 kilometres to cross the highway and burn its way to Port Hedland! They had to evacuate at least one aboriginal community and there was a mine in its path too as we saw the mine equipment being used to help fight the fire.
It was later than expected but we decided to head for Roebourne and stay here a couple of days while we catch up to our planned booking in Point Samson.
We had planned to stay in or around Port Hedland but it was going to be bedlam there when the convey behind us of waiting vehicles which stretched back down the road about 4kms arrived and started pulling into the various servos or shopping centres to get fuel and food. I handed out water bottles to some in the waiting queue as they had run out and were planning to top up when they got to Hedland and of course it was a bit warm out there with no shade and a roaring fire to help keep every one nice and toasty on an already warm day.
So here we are in downtown Roebourne. Weather is relatively mild as I type this but will be interesting to see what tomorrow brings.
We left Broome on Tuesday morning and travelled to Pardoo Roadhouse and parked for two nights. Was nice to be back and it is still very surprising to see so much grass in the middle of nowhere. Sadly like most things the price has gone up dramatically. Hardly worth the current price when you have to put up with the sound of the generator 24/7!!
This morning we set out super early thanks to the wind that has been belting the north west for the last three days and while it took a rest overnight it returned literally with a bang at 4.30am this morning waking us with the banging it made when it arrived in our little caravan park. We left Pardoo before 8.00am and headed towards Port Hedland. 20kms from Hedland we hit an official police road block. Us and about 300 of our nearest and closest friends in cars, trucks and caravans spent more than 5 hours parked up on the side of Highway 1 waiting for a massive bushfire with a front of about 15 kilometres to cross the highway and burn its way to Port Hedland! They had to evacuate at least one aboriginal community and there was a mine in its path too as we saw the mine equipment being used to help fight the fire.
Once the police deemed it safe we were escorted through the fire by them and a fire truck, very smoky and a bit scary as there was still flames visible beside the road, however we were all more than ready to be on our way and as far from that little show as possible.
We had planned to stay in or around Port Hedland but it was going to be bedlam there when the convey behind us of waiting vehicles which stretched back down the road about 4kms arrived and started pulling into the various servos or shopping centres to get fuel and food. I handed out water bottles to some in the waiting queue as they had run out and were planning to top up when they got to Hedland and of course it was a bit warm out there with no shade and a roaring fire to help keep every one nice and toasty on an already warm day.
So here we are in downtown Roebourne. Weather is relatively mild as I type this but will be interesting to see what tomorrow brings.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Sunday...4 September 2011
Fathers Day.
Still in Broome. Still not doing a lot.
Went to the Courthouse Markets this morning. Been there, done that. Nothing I needed.
Last nights Speedway was cancelled, not enough competitors!
The Shinju Matsuri (Festival of the Pearl) is normally held early to mid August. So far this year it hasn't even started. We are wondering if they are trying to take it back to Broome people only, as we are the last tourist van left in our caravan park and by the look of the numbers around town the other six parks are just as empty, so there is no one left to go to all the events they hold except the locals. It is not making sense. We finally got to be here when it should be on and will still miss it. Will not be attempting to see it again. Am over it now.
We are definately leaving here on Tuesday, heading further south. We will stop off at Pardoo (no phone or internet reception) for a couple of days then on to Point Samson for a few days so that we can pop in to Karratha and do our tax for this year.
Still in Broome. Still not doing a lot.
Went to the Courthouse Markets this morning. Been there, done that. Nothing I needed.
Last nights Speedway was cancelled, not enough competitors!
The Shinju Matsuri (Festival of the Pearl) is normally held early to mid August. So far this year it hasn't even started. We are wondering if they are trying to take it back to Broome people only, as we are the last tourist van left in our caravan park and by the look of the numbers around town the other six parks are just as empty, so there is no one left to go to all the events they hold except the locals. It is not making sense. We finally got to be here when it should be on and will still miss it. Will not be attempting to see it again. Am over it now.
We are definately leaving here on Tuesday, heading further south. We will stop off at Pardoo (no phone or internet reception) for a couple of days then on to Point Samson for a few days so that we can pop in to Karratha and do our tax for this year.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Thursday...1 September 2011
Still in Broome, still doing heaps of nothing. So relaxed we have extended our time here until next week. Missed the Opera Under the Stars last weekend, not enough time to get tickets and get organised, bit of a shame I suppose. Opera is not my thing but it surely would have been worth a look at such a different type of entertainment.
Yesterdays camp visitor was a stumpy tail, one of those lizards that look the same at the head and foot ends. It has a burrow under the tree of a site near us.
Tomorrow night is speedway. Cannot miss it, the track is right next door to the Caravan park, we heard some of the bikes practising today and had dust for afternoon tea!!! Will probably wander in and take a look.
Not sure but I think this weekend is also grand final time in the local footy.....might be interesting if we can find it.
Weather is still nice and warm, but we are apparently having some seriously heavy fog early in the mornings. Thought we were having really light showers but according to BOM it is heavy fog. Weird!
Pity it isn't killing the midgies that are biting and marking me top to toe. Life is becoming one big scratch and of course not a single bite on Himself. They are so fine they are getting inside and feasting on me in my sleep as well as making being outside a misery. Not a single mosquito anywhere just these tiny tiny specks of dust that bite. Mongrels.
Yesterdays camp visitor was a stumpy tail, one of those lizards that look the same at the head and foot ends. It has a burrow under the tree of a site near us.
Tomorrow night is speedway. Cannot miss it, the track is right next door to the Caravan park, we heard some of the bikes practising today and had dust for afternoon tea!!! Will probably wander in and take a look.
Not sure but I think this weekend is also grand final time in the local footy.....might be interesting if we can find it.
Weather is still nice and warm, but we are apparently having some seriously heavy fog early in the mornings. Thought we were having really light showers but according to BOM it is heavy fog. Weird!
Pity it isn't killing the midgies that are biting and marking me top to toe. Life is becoming one big scratch and of course not a single bite on Himself. They are so fine they are getting inside and feasting on me in my sleep as well as making being outside a misery. Not a single mosquito anywhere just these tiny tiny specks of dust that bite. Mongrels.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Tuesday...30 August 2011
Done a whole lot more of nothing. The weather has improved to 35c!
Went into town for a look at Chinatown this morning, had fish and chips for lunch. Went and got my nails painted a nice bright purple...
We had a visitor this morning, a frilled neck lizard that lives in the park and considers our site and the couple around us to be his own personal hunting patch. Himself threw a couple of crickets in his direction and he happily chomped into them. Wouldn't raise his frill though. Guess we not that scary to him!
Went into town for a look at Chinatown this morning, had fish and chips for lunch. Went and got my nails painted a nice bright purple...
We had a visitor this morning, a frilled neck lizard that lives in the park and considers our site and the couple around us to be his own personal hunting patch. Himself threw a couple of crickets in his direction and he happily chomped into them. Wouldn't raise his frill though. Guess we not that scary to him!
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Saturday...27 August 2011
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| Cable Beach |
Life is soooooo hard in Broome!
Been doing more of the nothing stuff, we sit outside the van in the 33c weather enjoying the breeze and the nice warm air. Every so often someone will wander past and stop for a chat otherwise we sit in the peace and serenity and watch others going about their holiday.
Couple of younger ones over the drive from us had a night on the town last night and came home late and noisy but did eventually quieten down sometime past one oclock.
There are heaps of fifth wheelers in Broome, the one next to us pulled out yesterday on the way to spend four months at a certain Perth park so no doubt we will bump into them again.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Thursday...25 August 2011
So what have we done? Nothing, that is called slipping into Broome time!
The beauty of Broome is that there is very little to do and all day to do it in. We drove around town, took a look at Cable Beach, yep it is still there, the sand is still whiter than white the sea is still bluer than blue, the pretty people still litter the beach area covered in sunscreen and very little else....status normal.
The beauty of Broome is that there is very little to do and all day to do it in. We drove around town, took a look at Cable Beach, yep it is still there, the sand is still whiter than white the sea is still bluer than blue, the pretty people still litter the beach area covered in sunscreen and very little else....status normal.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Tuesday...23 August 2011
Well we have been to Derby. We went down to the wharf and had a look at the tide......
When the tyre place opened on Monday morning Himself wandered in and after doing most of the work himself (as the owner had wrecked his back over the weekend), got four new tyres on the F250 and put the four tyres off the car onto the caravan. So now we have Cooper tyres on both the car and the van. He is fairly pleassed with himself as the bloke at the tyre place was so grateful for the sale and the help he gave us a seriously good discount which made the tyres cheaper than they would have been in the city.
Our luck continued when I rang the Broome Caravan Park to ask when they were likely to have their first vacancy knowing that at this time of the year everything in Broome is booked solid. Seemed they could fit us in for as long as we liked beginning today...wonderful. So here we are in downtown sunny Broome enjoying the pleasant 33c weather and trying hard to speed up enough to slip into Broome time!!!! More information on how we are coping when we have had time to take a look around and see if there have been any changes since we were here last year.
Important note: THE best fish and chip shop in the north west is for sale. Hope it gets a good owner and is not shut down.
When the tyre place opened on Monday morning Himself wandered in and after doing most of the work himself (as the owner had wrecked his back over the weekend), got four new tyres on the F250 and put the four tyres off the car onto the caravan. So now we have Cooper tyres on both the car and the van. He is fairly pleassed with himself as the bloke at the tyre place was so grateful for the sale and the help he gave us a seriously good discount which made the tyres cheaper than they would have been in the city.
Our luck continued when I rang the Broome Caravan Park to ask when they were likely to have their first vacancy knowing that at this time of the year everything in Broome is booked solid. Seemed they could fit us in for as long as we liked beginning today...wonderful. So here we are in downtown sunny Broome enjoying the pleasant 33c weather and trying hard to speed up enough to slip into Broome time!!!! More information on how we are coping when we have had time to take a look around and see if there have been any changes since we were here last year.
Important note: THE best fish and chip shop in the north west is for sale. Hope it gets a good owner and is not shut down.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Saturday...20 August 2011
Wow, lots has happened since last entry. To begin with, remember the scenic flight? Well they originally said we would have to wait until Thursday to get on a flight, unless we could be ready in two hours for that particular day. We took the there and then offer.
On Thursday one of the scenic flights gave a bit more adventure than the tourists paid for.
It fell short of the runway on landing and crashed with one pilot and six paying passengers. They are all ok, but were ferried to the local Kununurra hospital to be checked out. They are very very lucky people. The official reason is being given as engine failure on landing.......hmmmmmm. All I know is I am glad we took the earlier flights as there was no way I would have gotten in to any plane after that event on the Thursday!!!! Or to quote Himself, I would be still screaming hysterically even now if that had been me....
Well done the pilot who did well enough no matter what the reason to have seven people walk away from that one. To quote a saying I once heard...Any landing you walk away from is a good one!
So on Friday we packed up and left Kununurra, we went further than planned and ended up in a free camp at Mary River. Getting in and out of that particular camp was a bit hairy as it involved crossing a causeway over running water in the Mary River and the bitumen on the road is badly broken up and full of shakes and shudders to cross. But once on the other side there is a huge camp beside the river and us and about fifty other caravans made camp for the night. Would have been really really good if the people with the four loud dogs bothered to keep them quiet. They made camp right near the one and only toilet and every time some one went near the toilet building the blasted dogs all set up barking and growling. Up early this morning to continue southwards. We discussed our options along the way and decided to pop up to Derby for a look as we had not been here before.
Along the way we went through Fitzroy Crossing and it must have been footy finals time or they are really really into their Saturday footy. We started passing groups of indigenous folk waiting beside gateways a good 150kms out from town, they were all obviously waiting for a pick up of some sort. When we got to Fitzroy Crossing every man and his dog and his mother, mother in law and picinniny were coming out of the bushes and wandering around town in the direction of the town oval and they were all excited and talking about their teams. One was Tigers and the other team was the Crows. No idea who won but golly they were excited. We got fuel and got to hell outta there, one surely does not want to be in an indigenous town after a hotly contested footy match!
Ninety kms from our destination there was an ominous bang from one of the caravan tyres. It blew to bits and took parts of the side of the caravan with it! I walked back along the road and removed the debris of the shredded tyre off the road and found the broken bits and picked them up, maybe somewhere along the way we will pass someone who can fix it. Any one know how I can remove the black marks from the white sides of the caravan? Himself changed the tyre and we came on into Derby but being the weekend we have to wait until the tyre shops open on Monday to get it fixed.
The caravan park we are in is over the road from the local Tyrepower business. So close.......
Anyway along the way I found out where the Curtain Airforce Base is, so I guess the day was not a waste. I am sure there will be other things to see and do here too. Apparently Derby has the biggest tides anywhere in the world, they can go to 11 metres and we are parked right near the beach next to the tidal mud flats. Should be worth a look if we are around when the big tides happen.
On Thursday one of the scenic flights gave a bit more adventure than the tourists paid for.
It fell short of the runway on landing and crashed with one pilot and six paying passengers. They are all ok, but were ferried to the local Kununurra hospital to be checked out. They are very very lucky people. The official reason is being given as engine failure on landing.......hmmmmmm. All I know is I am glad we took the earlier flights as there was no way I would have gotten in to any plane after that event on the Thursday!!!! Or to quote Himself, I would be still screaming hysterically even now if that had been me....
Well done the pilot who did well enough no matter what the reason to have seven people walk away from that one. To quote a saying I once heard...Any landing you walk away from is a good one!
So on Friday we packed up and left Kununurra, we went further than planned and ended up in a free camp at Mary River. Getting in and out of that particular camp was a bit hairy as it involved crossing a causeway over running water in the Mary River and the bitumen on the road is badly broken up and full of shakes and shudders to cross. But once on the other side there is a huge camp beside the river and us and about fifty other caravans made camp for the night. Would have been really really good if the people with the four loud dogs bothered to keep them quiet. They made camp right near the one and only toilet and every time some one went near the toilet building the blasted dogs all set up barking and growling. Up early this morning to continue southwards. We discussed our options along the way and decided to pop up to Derby for a look as we had not been here before.
Along the way we went through Fitzroy Crossing and it must have been footy finals time or they are really really into their Saturday footy. We started passing groups of indigenous folk waiting beside gateways a good 150kms out from town, they were all obviously waiting for a pick up of some sort. When we got to Fitzroy Crossing every man and his dog and his mother, mother in law and picinniny were coming out of the bushes and wandering around town in the direction of the town oval and they were all excited and talking about their teams. One was Tigers and the other team was the Crows. No idea who won but golly they were excited. We got fuel and got to hell outta there, one surely does not want to be in an indigenous town after a hotly contested footy match!
Ninety kms from our destination there was an ominous bang from one of the caravan tyres. It blew to bits and took parts of the side of the caravan with it! I walked back along the road and removed the debris of the shredded tyre off the road and found the broken bits and picked them up, maybe somewhere along the way we will pass someone who can fix it. Any one know how I can remove the black marks from the white sides of the caravan? Himself changed the tyre and we came on into Derby but being the weekend we have to wait until the tyre shops open on Monday to get it fixed.
The caravan park we are in is over the road from the local Tyrepower business. So close.......
Anyway along the way I found out where the Curtain Airforce Base is, so I guess the day was not a waste. I am sure there will be other things to see and do here too. Apparently Derby has the biggest tides anywhere in the world, they can go to 11 metres and we are parked right near the beach next to the tidal mud flats. Should be worth a look if we are around when the big tides happen.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Wednesday....17 August 2011
Entry #2 for today, make sure you read down to the first entry for today, which is actually yesterdays happenings entered late!!!
Ok today we drove over to Wyndham.
When we arrived we drove to the port. There was a small cruise ship but access to the wharf was blocked so had to admire it from the roadside. The boat was the Orion which tours from Broome to Darwin to Bali and return. Most of the action at the Wyndham port these days is the export beef cattle trade. Wyndham used to have a huge meatworks but that was sold off and then burnt down and finally shut. Now there is only the cattle and bauxite being shipped from Wyndham.
The highlight of any trip to Wyndham is a must do trip to the Five Rivers Lookout. The road to this lookout is 3.7km of very steep winding road and can be a bit hairy but oh boy the view!!!
From up there you can see The Durak River, The King River, The Ord River, The Pentacost River and the Forrest River all running into the Cambridge Gulf which is the inlet that Wyndham sits in.
Ok today we drove over to Wyndham.
When we arrived we drove to the port. There was a small cruise ship but access to the wharf was blocked so had to admire it from the roadside. The boat was the Orion which tours from Broome to Darwin to Bali and return. Most of the action at the Wyndham port these days is the export beef cattle trade. Wyndham used to have a huge meatworks but that was sold off and then burnt down and finally shut. Now there is only the cattle and bauxite being shipped from Wyndham.
The highlight of any trip to Wyndham is a must do trip to the Five Rivers Lookout. The road to this lookout is 3.7km of very steep winding road and can be a bit hairy but oh boy the view!!!
From up there you can see The Durak River, The King River, The Ord River, The Pentacost River and the Forrest River all running into the Cambridge Gulf which is the inlet that Wyndham sits in.
Then we bounced 25km out a dirt road to look at the famous Prison Tree. This is a huge Boab tree. In the early years of settlement the police used the hollow centre as a prison to hold prisoners during the wet season when they were unable to transport them to the jail in Wyndham because the roads were under water. Himself had no trouble getting in but quickly discovered that getting out again was a touch tricky which is no doubt why they used it to hold prisoners!!!
We also stopped and looked at the Moochalabra Dam which is the water supply for Wyndham and we went through the Museum which was full of fascinating information about the history of the town. We also learnt about the Koolama which was bombed by the Japanese during WW2 in 1942 and after it limped back to Wyndham, it sank 40m from the jetty and is still there.
We were going to have a quick look at El Questro on the way home but ran out of time. Never mind we will take a look next time.
Wednesday...17 August 2011
Missed yesterdays blog. Too darn tired!
We went out to the Ord Dam or Lake Argyle and toured the area, drove over the spillway wall etc. It really is very beautiful out there. Water everywhere.
Then we came back into town and took a scenic flight with Alligator Airways in a small 6 seater plane that left Kununurra and tracked out over the vast irrigation fields of the Ord River Irrigation Project to Lake Argyle and we flew over the entire length of it, seemed to take forever. Lake Argyle is 23 times bigger than Sydney Harbour and during the wet season it can be 64 times bigger. It is classified as an inland sea. And it is all man made!
From there we passed over a couple of cattle stations and had a view of the edge of the Tanami Desert and arrived at Purnululu National Park, better known as the Bungle Bungles.
We landed at the Bungle Bungle airstrip to collect a couple of passengers and when we got back in the air we circled the Bungles for 15 minutes looking at places like Cathedral Gorge and Piccaninny Creek and Echnidna Chasm. Stunning.
On the way back to Kununurra we flew over the famous Arygle Diamond Mine, just another mine from the air but the diamonds in that mine are the highest quality in the world. Quite a big day and three hours in a tiny little plane with no room to stretch legs or even move around is rather tiring.
We went out to the Ord Dam or Lake Argyle and toured the area, drove over the spillway wall etc. It really is very beautiful out there. Water everywhere.
From there we passed over a couple of cattle stations and had a view of the edge of the Tanami Desert and arrived at Purnululu National Park, better known as the Bungle Bungles.
We landed at the Bungle Bungle airstrip to collect a couple of passengers and when we got back in the air we circled the Bungles for 15 minutes looking at places like Cathedral Gorge and Piccaninny Creek and Echnidna Chasm. Stunning.
On the way back to Kununurra we flew over the famous Arygle Diamond Mine, just another mine from the air but the diamonds in that mine are the highest quality in the world. Quite a big day and three hours in a tiny little plane with no room to stretch legs or even move around is rather tiring.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Monday...15 August 2011
Best wishes to our youngest and her husband as they begin the next phase of their life.
Yesterday, after I had done my blogging, Himself went down to the creek behind the caravan park at 5pm when the park people feed the local crocs. He got to offer the two visible crocs a slab of steak attached to a flexible hook. Who is a lucky lad? Hand feeding crocs now! I was not in attendance so no pictorial proof. What a shame.
Today we moved to Kununurra. Nice easy trip of only 225kms, broken by a mandatory stop at the border check point. They are really sweet out there. Twice now we have come through this check point and the first thing they do is write down your vehicle rego, and twice now as soon as they see that WA number plate they say "Welcome Home". One wonders if they welcome others to the state and encourage them to enjoy their visit, but when you have been wandering in the wilderness being told welcome home is a bit like that moment you get onto the Qantas jet on the return trip to Oz, feels like you are home already!
We have parked up at the Kununurra showgrounds, nice quiet site that only takes big rigs and those with pets that cannot go to the non pet caravan parks in town. We are parked under lots of shady trees which is good as the weather is around 34c.
Went down town and got the printed info on all the tours available here. As I said to Himself one is only limited by the size of the bank account when choosing tours to do. We are looking at a flight to the Bungle Bungles and I would like to do the Argyle Diamond Mine Tour.......sigh, its not high on his list......lol.
Himself wants to go fishing for the barramundi on the Ord River, not high on my list....lol.
Perhaps we will do another trip out to the hoochery too. We also want to do a day trip to Wyndham. They say there is not much to see there except the five rivers lookout. Sounds good to us!
Stay tuned, the end result may be interesting!
Yesterday, after I had done my blogging, Himself went down to the creek behind the caravan park at 5pm when the park people feed the local crocs. He got to offer the two visible crocs a slab of steak attached to a flexible hook. Who is a lucky lad? Hand feeding crocs now! I was not in attendance so no pictorial proof. What a shame.
Today we moved to Kununurra. Nice easy trip of only 225kms, broken by a mandatory stop at the border check point. They are really sweet out there. Twice now we have come through this check point and the first thing they do is write down your vehicle rego, and twice now as soon as they see that WA number plate they say "Welcome Home". One wonders if they welcome others to the state and encourage them to enjoy their visit, but when you have been wandering in the wilderness being told welcome home is a bit like that moment you get onto the Qantas jet on the return trip to Oz, feels like you are home already!
We have parked up at the Kununurra showgrounds, nice quiet site that only takes big rigs and those with pets that cannot go to the non pet caravan parks in town. We are parked under lots of shady trees which is good as the weather is around 34c.
Went down town and got the printed info on all the tours available here. As I said to Himself one is only limited by the size of the bank account when choosing tours to do. We are looking at a flight to the Bungle Bungles and I would like to do the Argyle Diamond Mine Tour.......sigh, its not high on his list......lol.
Himself wants to go fishing for the barramundi on the Ord River, not high on my list....lol.
Perhaps we will do another trip out to the hoochery too. We also want to do a day trip to Wyndham. They say there is not much to see there except the five rivers lookout. Sounds good to us!
Stay tuned, the end result may be interesting!
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Sunday...14 August 2011
Rough night, couldnt sleep, too hot with blanket, too cold without!~!!
Packed up camp and have moved.
Nice trip along the Victoria Hwy which is beside the Victoria River in places.
We have pulled up for the night at Timber Creek.
Middle of nowhere but just that little bit too far to Kunnunura.
We will go there tomorrow.
Packed up camp and have moved.
Nice trip along the Victoria Hwy which is beside the Victoria River in places.
We have pulled up for the night at Timber Creek.
Middle of nowhere but just that little bit too far to Kunnunura.
We will go there tomorrow.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Saturday...13 August 2011
Happy Birthday to my BB.
So pleased you are having this birthday. In fact very pleased you are here for this one, considering things could have been much much worse.
Look after you, be kind to her, and do your exercises.... I will be popping in again next year to see how you are going.
Nice lazy day in camp today. In fact we are so comfortable here that we have been discussing whether to bother packing up tomorrow and moving. Would be so easy to settle down and stay put for a while.
Beautiful weather, soft breeze, open country to look at, whats not to like? We even have some animals for company!!!
So pleased you are having this birthday. In fact very pleased you are here for this one, considering things could have been much much worse.
Look after you, be kind to her, and do your exercises.... I will be popping in again next year to see how you are going.
Nice lazy day in camp today. In fact we are so comfortable here that we have been discussing whether to bother packing up tomorrow and moving. Would be so easy to settle down and stay put for a while.
Beautiful weather, soft breeze, open country to look at, whats not to like? We even have some animals for company!!!
Friday, August 12, 2011
Friday...12 August 2011
Today we went on a tour/cruise of three of the gorges in the Katherine River system. It took four hours and required getting out of each boat and walking over the rocks to the next gorge and the next boat waiting.
To get there we had to go back into town and turn onto the Nitmiluk National Park road and travel for
30kms, avoiding all sorts of things along the way. Seems it must have been pension day this week!!! All forms of interesting groups and individuals along the streets, in the streets, sitting on the footpaths etc...
Once out at the gorges area we parked as instructed by the Information place in town where we purchased our tour tickets, and wandered into the Information place to make sure we were in the right place only to be told we could continue down the road and park right near the boat ramps instead of having to hike over to it from the main building 600mtrs away! Not a good start but we duly moved the car to the nearer park and stood in line in the blazing sun for more than half an hour waiting to be called to our boat. Golly it was hot and I did have a hat on, just hot and humid and the air was impregnated with the smell of the bats roosting in the trees beside the river. Thousands of them, I first thought it was a half dead tree with black leaves until someone told me it was bats. Phewwwww.
To get there we had to go back into town and turn onto the Nitmiluk National Park road and travel for
30kms, avoiding all sorts of things along the way. Seems it must have been pension day this week!!! All forms of interesting groups and individuals along the streets, in the streets, sitting on the footpaths etc...
Once out at the gorges area we parked as instructed by the Information place in town where we purchased our tour tickets, and wandered into the Information place to make sure we were in the right place only to be told we could continue down the road and park right near the boat ramps instead of having to hike over to it from the main building 600mtrs away! Not a good start but we duly moved the car to the nearer park and stood in line in the blazing sun for more than half an hour waiting to be called to our boat. Golly it was hot and I did have a hat on, just hot and humid and the air was impregnated with the smell of the bats roosting in the trees beside the river. Thousands of them, I first thought it was a half dead tree with black leaves until someone told me it was bats. Phewwwww.
Anyway we eventually got on the boat and it was worth the wait, such stunning scenery and the local parks and wildlife boys driving the boat and doing the commentary really knew their stuff. We learnt all sorts of facts and history of the Katherine area and its local tribes and how they have leased this area back to the government so that everyone can get to see and admire the beauty of the land.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Thursday...11 August 2011
Shocking night in Darwin last night, very very steamy. Kept waking up sweating.
Up nice and early at 7am to pack camp and move. Finally on the road by 9.30am. Such a shame really as the weather while we were in Darwin was wonderful, so barmy but that last night was like Darwin was saying to us that it was time to go...
Stopped at Pine Creek for lunch, Himself found a mini museum of old mining equipment and railway stuff. Pine Creek has had a chequered past depending on what mineral was found and mined. It began when gold was discovered by the builders of the overland telegraph line from Adelaide to Darwin. Over the years several other minerals have been mined in the area depending on the market.
Onwards to Katherine arriving early afternoon. We went straight into the Information Centre and booked for a three gorges tour tomorrow beginning at 1pm. It goes for four hours so best I remember the sunscreen and a hat!!!
We took someones advice and went the extra mile to check into the Manbulloo station homestead caravan park which is 9 kilometers outside Katherine on the road to WA. Pretty little place beside the Katherine river. It is a working cattle station so we got up close and personal with some of the residents.
Up nice and early at 7am to pack camp and move. Finally on the road by 9.30am. Such a shame really as the weather while we were in Darwin was wonderful, so barmy but that last night was like Darwin was saying to us that it was time to go...
Stopped at Pine Creek for lunch, Himself found a mini museum of old mining equipment and railway stuff. Pine Creek has had a chequered past depending on what mineral was found and mined. It began when gold was discovered by the builders of the overland telegraph line from Adelaide to Darwin. Over the years several other minerals have been mined in the area depending on the market.
Onwards to Katherine arriving early afternoon. We went straight into the Information Centre and booked for a three gorges tour tomorrow beginning at 1pm. It goes for four hours so best I remember the sunscreen and a hat!!!
We took someones advice and went the extra mile to check into the Manbulloo station homestead caravan park which is 9 kilometers outside Katherine on the road to WA. Pretty little place beside the Katherine river. It is a working cattle station so we got up close and personal with some of the residents.
Not sure why but cannot access my own blog to reply to comments! So yes it is a Brahman and it is a BULL, a very big bull who enjoyed being scratched and rubbed by Himself at the fence next to the water trough.....
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Wednesday...10 August 2011
Just home from dinner at Tracy Tavern. Interesting place, nice meal, very busy during dinner. Such a shame the brother in law was unwell and unable to join us. Do hope his health improves. Our thanks to Himselfs sister and family for a lovely visit.
Tomorrow we leave Darwin. Down the track to Katherine again.
Tomorrow we leave Darwin. Down the track to Katherine again.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Tuesday...9 August 2011
Census night!
Went out to Palmerston today to do a spot of shopping but after going all that way was unable to get anything on my list......typical.
Maybe I will have better luck tomorrow in town.
Dinner tonight at his sisters, apricot chicken, yummy.
We are taking them out for dinner tomorrow night.
Got home from all that to find a census form on our caravan steps so I guess we will be counted after all.
Went out to Palmerston today to do a spot of shopping but after going all that way was unable to get anything on my list......typical.
Maybe I will have better luck tomorrow in town.
Dinner tonight at his sisters, apricot chicken, yummy.
We are taking them out for dinner tomorrow night.
Got home from all that to find a census form on our caravan steps so I guess we will be counted after all.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Sunday...7 August 2011
Went out to his sisters for tea on Friday night, lovely meal as always. Did very little yesterday. Himself went out on mens business with his brother in law on Saturday morning. I did the housework, well I was going to do the housework until I found my vacuum cleaner flatter than a pancake. Somehow the switch had been left on..... Never mind I put it on the charger and sat down and did nothing but watch the activity here in the caravan park. Caravan parks can be fascinating places if one takes the time to sit quietly and just watch!!!
Today we have been into the CBD of Darwin to join the crowds strolling the Mall. I bought swim wear for the first time in 30 years. Thank goodness I will never have to do that again! Stressful.We did lunch at a nice little eatery in the Mall and then came home. We are going out to his sisters again for tea tonight.
Had a series of messages last night from the eldest brother of my Benalla mob. Him and his wife are in Broome and are going into Karajini and Tom Price and wondered if I was likely to be home......lol. Ended up calling him for a chat as he must have missed the 'we have retired and left town' message in his Christmas card a couple of years ago!!!! They are hoping to make it to Perth before a recently bereaved uncle leaves on an overseas trip with friends later this month. He was telling me that another of his uncles and another of his brothers with wives and caravans etc, are also out here on the road in the big paddock. Maybe we will run into some of them. That of course will depend on what pace they are travelling at versus our stop start progress towards the west. We have paid for a week in Darwin, the weather is perfect and our air conditioner is working so it matters not how hot it gets. Right now it is 31c and drops down to 22 or thereabouts overnight. Have packed the doona away and we are sleeping under a cotton sheet only. Lovely.
Today we have been into the CBD of Darwin to join the crowds strolling the Mall. I bought swim wear for the first time in 30 years. Thank goodness I will never have to do that again! Stressful.We did lunch at a nice little eatery in the Mall and then came home. We are going out to his sisters again for tea tonight.
Had a series of messages last night from the eldest brother of my Benalla mob. Him and his wife are in Broome and are going into Karajini and Tom Price and wondered if I was likely to be home......lol. Ended up calling him for a chat as he must have missed the 'we have retired and left town' message in his Christmas card a couple of years ago!!!! They are hoping to make it to Perth before a recently bereaved uncle leaves on an overseas trip with friends later this month. He was telling me that another of his uncles and another of his brothers with wives and caravans etc, are also out here on the road in the big paddock. Maybe we will run into some of them. That of course will depend on what pace they are travelling at versus our stop start progress towards the west. We have paid for a week in Darwin, the weather is perfect and our air conditioner is working so it matters not how hot it gets. Right now it is 31c and drops down to 22 or thereabouts overnight. Have packed the doona away and we are sleeping under a cotton sheet only. Lovely.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Friday...5 August 2011
Had a nice big sleep in! Instead of getting up before 7am I rolled over and slept until 9am....go me!
Did the washing, will be nice to sleep in clean sheets. Then we went to local shopping plaza place and I got a pedicure and manicure, so nice to have tidy nails again. Came back to camp and took the washing off the line, made the bed and went to Keiths sisters place for dinner. Her two girls who live here in Darwin dropped in, was so lovely to see them and their families. Had a nice BBQ dinner with salad and a glass of wine while watching St Kilda beat the Freo Dockers. Gotta love Friday night football.
Did the washing, will be nice to sleep in clean sheets. Then we went to local shopping plaza place and I got a pedicure and manicure, so nice to have tidy nails again. Came back to camp and took the washing off the line, made the bed and went to Keiths sisters place for dinner. Her two girls who live here in Darwin dropped in, was so lovely to see them and their families. Had a nice BBQ dinner with salad and a glass of wine while watching St Kilda beat the Freo Dockers. Gotta love Friday night football.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Thursday...4 August 2011
Left Kakadu and moved on to Darwin. Got here mid afternoon. Being Thursday we went into town to the Thursday night markets at Mindl Beach. These markets are an iconic part of Darwin. They only run from April to October during the dry or tourist season. Everybody gathers at the beach and watches the magic of a territory sunset then its back to the stalls. Even local Darwin people drop in for tea as there are so many food stalls and just about every type of cuisine is catered for. There is all types of Asian available and Indian curries and Italian pastas, there is even a stall called the RoadKill stall. Their motto is you kill em we grill em!
We will stay a few days, visit with his sister and then be off again.
We will stay a few days, visit with his sister and then be off again.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Wednesday...3 August 2011
Today we were due to move toward Darwin but instead added another day to our stay and drove into Jabiru. Seen one mining town seen em all! Well actually this one is very very different. We asked directions to the bottle shop. Seems you can drink all you like at any of the several licenced premisis in town but no one can buy take away alcohol. Part of the governments clean up program.
So here we are, middle of nowhere and just as well we are not dying of dehydration. We have heaps of soft drink and even a bottle or two of wine but no beer!!!! Himself has gone off to the bar in our caravan park to sit and drink a beer.......poor love, he will probably have himself a wonderful time chatting to other parched travellers as they try to decipher the governments logic.
I will just sit here writing the blog listening to the group of camper trailer campers that just came in. They sound loudly happy.
The other thing we did today was to drive out to Ubirr Rock. It is out near the border to Arnhem Land. You walk for a kilometre and climb a lot of rocks and you end up on top of the NT with 360degree views of the magnificent countryside in this area of Australia.
At Ubirr you can see a range of different art styles and how new paintings are often superimposed over older ones. Most of the paintings in the main gallery are from the freshwater period meaning they were done in the last 1500 years!
I climbed to the top of the Ubirr rock, the view was wonderful. Lots of green floodplains and some water visible. I would not have made it up or down without help from Himself. My agility is limited. Am glad I made the effort. Very much doubt I will be climbing such rock faces for much longer.
So here we are, middle of nowhere and just as well we are not dying of dehydration. We have heaps of soft drink and even a bottle or two of wine but no beer!!!! Himself has gone off to the bar in our caravan park to sit and drink a beer.......poor love, he will probably have himself a wonderful time chatting to other parched travellers as they try to decipher the governments logic.
I will just sit here writing the blog listening to the group of camper trailer campers that just came in. They sound loudly happy.
The other thing we did today was to drive out to Ubirr Rock. It is out near the border to Arnhem Land. You walk for a kilometre and climb a lot of rocks and you end up on top of the NT with 360degree views of the magnificent countryside in this area of Australia.
At Ubirr you can see a range of different art styles and how new paintings are often superimposed over older ones. Most of the paintings in the main gallery are from the freshwater period meaning they were done in the last 1500 years!
Himself was most taken with the various rock formations and vegetation in this part of Kakadu.
On our return journey we stopped off at Cahills Crossing which requires a permit to cross as the other side is Arnhem Land and no one may enter without permission from the aboriginal owners. While admiring the river we noticed some extra 'logs' floating up and down. Yep we spotted three and some backpackers insist there was actually four, but one was submerged just near the end of the boat ramp that most of us were standing on to take our pics!!
So tomorrow we pack and move toward Darwin. (maybe)
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Tuesday...2 August 2011
Wow, what a stunning country we live in.
Out here in 'Never Never Land' when you drive down the road through Kakadu there really is not much to see, well there is a whole lot of nothing, red dirt, roads and stumpy trees. But this morning we took a cruise on the Yellow River which is part of the South Alligator river system and saw the views that have made it onto a dozen travel shows around the world. After the 'wet' this whole place is one big flood plain teaming with wildlife of all sorts.
On a two hour cruise this morning we saw so many crocodiles, probably 30 at least, all in their natural habitat. Some were sunning themselves on the river bank, some were swimming in the river right next to the boat. Rather large creatures when you get that up close and personal to them!
The young ranger driving our boat would nudge it into the edge of the river so that we could see anything of intrest really easily. The second ranger on board was one of the local Kakadu tribe and he was pointing things out for us to see. His eye sight was amazing. When we pulled in to the bank to see one particular crocodile he pointed out a snake in the branches of the tree we were next to! None of us had thought to look up above us at that particular point, we were all concentrating on the crocodile on the river bank.
We also saw wild horses, feral pigs and so many magnificent bird species that the bird watchers on board were nearly beside themselves. We saw the so called jesus bird as it is able to walk on the leaves of the water lillies without sinking so looks like it is walking on water, hence its name. We saw a pair of white sea eagles, beautifully majestic sitting on a tree overhanging the river.
We saw whistling ducks, cop that, a duck that whistles instead of quacking! And of course we saw the jabiru, the iconic NT symbol. Big birds of a similar size to brolgas and cranes.
There was a whole heap more, kingfishers and finches and magpie geese and plovers and on and on it went.
One of the stunning sights was a particular type of water lilly that grows to enormous size. The leaves were a good two foot in diameter and the flowers were just as big and came in blue, pink, lilac, white. Stunning.
The commentary included information on the various ways the local tribes use the river system like one huge supermarket. The ranger said there are more fish in the rivers of Kakadu than the total of the water systems of Qld, NSW and Vic combined. No wonder the territorians are always going fishing.
Out here in 'Never Never Land' when you drive down the road through Kakadu there really is not much to see, well there is a whole lot of nothing, red dirt, roads and stumpy trees. But this morning we took a cruise on the Yellow River which is part of the South Alligator river system and saw the views that have made it onto a dozen travel shows around the world. After the 'wet' this whole place is one big flood plain teaming with wildlife of all sorts.
On a two hour cruise this morning we saw so many crocodiles, probably 30 at least, all in their natural habitat. Some were sunning themselves on the river bank, some were swimming in the river right next to the boat. Rather large creatures when you get that up close and personal to them!
The young ranger driving our boat would nudge it into the edge of the river so that we could see anything of intrest really easily. The second ranger on board was one of the local Kakadu tribe and he was pointing things out for us to see. His eye sight was amazing. When we pulled in to the bank to see one particular crocodile he pointed out a snake in the branches of the tree we were next to! None of us had thought to look up above us at that particular point, we were all concentrating on the crocodile on the river bank.
We also saw wild horses, feral pigs and so many magnificent bird species that the bird watchers on board were nearly beside themselves. We saw the so called jesus bird as it is able to walk on the leaves of the water lillies without sinking so looks like it is walking on water, hence its name. We saw a pair of white sea eagles, beautifully majestic sitting on a tree overhanging the river.
We saw whistling ducks, cop that, a duck that whistles instead of quacking! And of course we saw the jabiru, the iconic NT symbol. Big birds of a similar size to brolgas and cranes.
There was a whole heap more, kingfishers and finches and magpie geese and plovers and on and on it went.
One of the stunning sights was a particular type of water lilly that grows to enormous size. The leaves were a good two foot in diameter and the flowers were just as big and came in blue, pink, lilac, white. Stunning.
The commentary included information on the various ways the local tribes use the river system like one huge supermarket. The ranger said there are more fish in the rivers of Kakadu than the total of the water systems of Qld, NSW and Vic combined. No wonder the territorians are always going fishing.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Monday...1 August 2011
Happy birthday to all the horses.......
Guess what? Guess what?
I just ticked another huge one on my bucket list. Right now I am sitting slap bang in the middle of Kakadu. How good is that?
Gotta love getting away from it all!!!
Man in his natural environment, complete with mobile phones and working internet.......
We left Mataranka nice and early and travelled to Katherine with only one small stop to top the tank with the contents of the jerry can. Never mind, we only miscalculated by 50kms.
Life appeared as usual in Katherine. Some going about their business working hard, the rest sitting around the parks under trees waiting for the bottle shops to open.
We got groceries and fuel and hit the road again.
Came up to Pine Creek and turned onto the loop road that runs through Kakadu and comes out on the way back to Darwin. We had to stop at Mary River Roadhouse and pay $25 per person for a 14 day pass to enter Kakadu, then it was on to Cooinda which is where we have camped for the next two nights. From here we are taking a two hour crocodile spotting cruise in the morning on the Yellow River which is part of the South Alligator River. This is not the famous jumping crocs tour but I will be happy to have a nice quiet little trip.
Guess what? Guess what?
I just ticked another huge one on my bucket list. Right now I am sitting slap bang in the middle of Kakadu. How good is that?
Gotta love getting away from it all!!!
Man in his natural environment, complete with mobile phones and working internet.......
We left Mataranka nice and early and travelled to Katherine with only one small stop to top the tank with the contents of the jerry can. Never mind, we only miscalculated by 50kms.
Life appeared as usual in Katherine. Some going about their business working hard, the rest sitting around the parks under trees waiting for the bottle shops to open.
We got groceries and fuel and hit the road again.
Came up to Pine Creek and turned onto the loop road that runs through Kakadu and comes out on the way back to Darwin. We had to stop at Mary River Roadhouse and pay $25 per person for a 14 day pass to enter Kakadu, then it was on to Cooinda which is where we have camped for the next two nights. From here we are taking a two hour crocodile spotting cruise in the morning on the Yellow River which is part of the South Alligator River. This is not the famous jumping crocs tour but I will be happy to have a nice quiet little trip.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Sunday...31 July 2011
Today we travelled from Daly Waters to Mataranka, not very far, only a couple of hundred kms. Was thinking on the way how novel it is that we are being overtaken by the huge three trailer road trains they have here in the Territory. Funny seeing them out the right hand window instead of the left! We are not travelling as slow as a Winebago but we have our nominated best speed for fuel economy and where road conditions allow we tend to stick with it. Now I am not saying we are slow enough to watch the grass growing beside the road but it is nice to see things clearly instead of one big blur.
Yesterday we topped a small hill and the view was incredible. The horizon was so far away you could nearly see tomorrow.
Instead of going into the caravan park in Mataranka township we turned off and came out to the Mataranka Homestead caravan park which is right beside the Mataranka Thermal springs. The main spring is called Rainbow Springs and it pumps water out at 30million litres/day at 34c which then runs down to the current thermal pools and then on into the Roper River. We took a walk down to the river and spotted a couple of freshwater crocodiles sunning themselves on a fallen tree trunk hanging into the river. As there are only freshwater crocs in this river you are allowed to swim. Hmmmmmm I think maybe NOT. On the way back from the river there was a rustle in the undergrowth and yep, snake. I saw a small brown beast, Himself says it was not brown but olive and that he had read a sign during our walk through the bush that said the snakes you see are harmless green tree snakes which inhabit the area because of the massive colonies (200,000) of red wing fruit bats that live here.
Enough of the walking through bush for me.......
Himself has been off walking the suggested 1.2km trail through the bush to another pretty spot then back again and is now sitting in the thermal pool relaxing after all his hard slog. I am watching other campers setting up their camps.
Tomorrow we head further north.
Yesterday we topped a small hill and the view was incredible. The horizon was so far away you could nearly see tomorrow.
Instead of going into the caravan park in Mataranka township we turned off and came out to the Mataranka Homestead caravan park which is right beside the Mataranka Thermal springs. The main spring is called Rainbow Springs and it pumps water out at 30million litres/day at 34c which then runs down to the current thermal pools and then on into the Roper River. We took a walk down to the river and spotted a couple of freshwater crocodiles sunning themselves on a fallen tree trunk hanging into the river. As there are only freshwater crocs in this river you are allowed to swim. Hmmmmmm I think maybe NOT. On the way back from the river there was a rustle in the undergrowth and yep, snake. I saw a small brown beast, Himself says it was not brown but olive and that he had read a sign during our walk through the bush that said the snakes you see are harmless green tree snakes which inhabit the area because of the massive colonies (200,000) of red wing fruit bats that live here.
Enough of the walking through bush for me.......
Himself has been off walking the suggested 1.2km trail through the bush to another pretty spot then back again and is now sitting in the thermal pool relaxing after all his hard slog. I am watching other campers setting up their camps.
Tomorrow we head further north.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Saturday...30 July 2011
Another good day!
Left Threeways nice and early, well early for us at 9am ish. Stopped for lunch along the way at one of the wayside camps. Quite a pretty little place and well set out but we were determined to continue to Daly Waters. Daly Waters is one of the iconic little places in Australia that everyone should come to at least once in their lives. Middle of absolutley no where but such a fascinating place. \
We came here originally in 1992 on the way to somewhere else. We dropped in at 8am in the morning and the barman said help yourself I am going to bed! Apparently they had had quite a night the night before and the last jackaroo had left at 6am! The owner quit and went to bed sometime earlier and left them working an honour system at the bar and surprise surprise the till balanced!!!!!
Today we booked into the caravan park owned and operated by the Daly Waters pub (not here in days gone by) and strolled to the pub at happy hour. They toss a coin to halve the bill during happy hour. We called heads and won so only paid for Himselfs beer, my wine was free. This was accompanied by a bloke singing with recorded accommpanyment. Bloody good. You also had the chance to dine on Beef and Barra on the BBQ. We gave it a miss but it did smell good.
The bar at the Daly is reknown for its collection of memorbillia beginning with bras which began collecting during WW2. Hanging from every place are donated bras, quite a collection and actually a hanging history of the bra over the years. Also pinned everywhere are banknotes of every country. This pub is a museum of natural history of the inventivness of Australians to begin a collection. The bar has the bra collection, the money collection and the first know thong tree too. Scattered around the bar are all sorts of items of clothing donated or left behind along with art works and other bits and pieces as people who were determined to be remembered have left things claiming their place in history. Truely a fascinating place.
Tomorrow we move on towards Katherine and eventually Kakadu.
Left Threeways nice and early, well early for us at 9am ish. Stopped for lunch along the way at one of the wayside camps. Quite a pretty little place and well set out but we were determined to continue to Daly Waters. Daly Waters is one of the iconic little places in Australia that everyone should come to at least once in their lives. Middle of absolutley no where but such a fascinating place. \
We came here originally in 1992 on the way to somewhere else. We dropped in at 8am in the morning and the barman said help yourself I am going to bed! Apparently they had had quite a night the night before and the last jackaroo had left at 6am! The owner quit and went to bed sometime earlier and left them working an honour system at the bar and surprise surprise the till balanced!!!!!
Today we booked into the caravan park owned and operated by the Daly Waters pub (not here in days gone by) and strolled to the pub at happy hour. They toss a coin to halve the bill during happy hour. We called heads and won so only paid for Himselfs beer, my wine was free. This was accompanied by a bloke singing with recorded accommpanyment. Bloody good. You also had the chance to dine on Beef and Barra on the BBQ. We gave it a miss but it did smell good.
The bar at the Daly is reknown for its collection of memorbillia beginning with bras which began collecting during WW2. Hanging from every place are donated bras, quite a collection and actually a hanging history of the bra over the years. Also pinned everywhere are banknotes of every country. This pub is a museum of natural history of the inventivness of Australians to begin a collection. The bar has the bra collection, the money collection and the first know thong tree too. Scattered around the bar are all sorts of items of clothing donated or left behind along with art works and other bits and pieces as people who were determined to be remembered have left things claiming their place in history. Truely a fascinating place.
Tomorrow we move on towards Katherine and eventually Kakadu.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Friday...29 July 2011
Humungous day! From Mt Isa to Threeways.......
Anyway we got here, and here being nowhere really, just where the road comes from Qld with a choice of going north to Darwin or south to Adelaide, hence the threeways.
Now as I was saying we got here at 5pm ish absolutely exhausted. My bottom was numb from so long in the car!
He says it was not his intention to go so far.....yep we have all heard that one more than once in our lifetimes haven't we????
Never mind we are here now and safely off the road, and hey can't be all bad, I have internet connection.
Tomorrow we head up the road in a northerly direction with a plan to go to Pine Creek and turn right and head for Kakadu. Seems we are going to take a look at one of Australias biggest parks. It is probably full of gorges!!!
Anyway we got here, and here being nowhere really, just where the road comes from Qld with a choice of going north to Darwin or south to Adelaide, hence the threeways.
Now as I was saying we got here at 5pm ish absolutely exhausted. My bottom was numb from so long in the car!
He says it was not his intention to go so far.....yep we have all heard that one more than once in our lifetimes haven't we????
Never mind we are here now and safely off the road, and hey can't be all bad, I have internet connection.
Tomorrow we head up the road in a northerly direction with a plan to go to Pine Creek and turn right and head for Kakadu. Seems we are going to take a look at one of Australias biggest parks. It is probably full of gorges!!!
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