That bloody cat again! Realised this morning that while we were making sure it was comfortable for the trip to Toowoomba, we forgot to pack something and left behind our extra step that makes the difference at our front door if we are on a less than level surface. It was a stepping step from the exercise department of Big W (cost a whole $20!). Went to the Kawana Big W today when we realised we need it and that it had been lost, more bad news, no exercise steps. Cindy the wonderful had one in her little home gym out there in her shed (much more expensive too) and has generously lent it to us until a suitable replacement can be found. Bugger that cat!!! Just got that step worn in. It was surprisingly just the right thing, not only the right height but also was exactly the same length of the caravan steps.
Woke early this morning and watched a mob of bush turkeys wandering around the caravan park. There was also ibis and willy wag tales as well as many other species of native birds. Quite a chorus between them.
We had dinner at Cindys again. The eldest daughter came home from dance class and gave us an impromptu dance display. Most impressive and very gymnastic as well. Our thanks to her. Tomorrow we are invited to dinner again but this time I need to take a casserole of some sort. That will keep me out of mischief. By the time I do that and put a Nice & Easy in my hair and paint my toe nails, my day should be used up.
Himself is going for a drive to Gympie to get a new element for our hot water service...we hope.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Monday, May 30, 2011
Monday...30 May 2011
We had a huge thunderstorm last night out at our little wayside camp. Bulk noise and bulk water. When we got up there was a fair size puddle under the van, and most of the ground around it looked fairly soggy. The bloke in the next van got himself bogged trying to leave the park.
A nice easy drive into Caloundra this morning, we were only 80kms out of town. Got in early and set up camp then Cindy and Steve came for coffee and took us out to lunch before we went to watch their eldest in his school tennis team play inter school tennis.
We had dinner with the family and came home fairly early to let them sleep. They have school and work tomorrow.....we don't!
Forgot to tell you, mostly because of that bloody cat, anyway not the point, the point is that on the day the cat found us, Himself went for a walk while I tried to take an afternoon nap. Actually fell asleep. Was woken by lots of loud voices after no more than ten minutes sleep. Got up, staggered out the door..... right into the arms of 18-20 Chinese tourists off a coaster tour bus. They had pulled into our little stop to use the public toilets and insisted they be allowed five more minutes to come and take photos of our little home. Guess they do not have many fifth wheelers in China!
They asked question after question, most politely and some very taxing ones about the load capacity and what we were using to power the van. They were told battery, generator, electricity or solar depending on the location and availability. The answer that most pleased them was the solar panel.
I have now gone to China on several video cameras as well as digital cameras as they just kept clicking. Some even posed in front of the van and some even insisted on posing with little old me.
I guess that was my five minutes of fame folks!!!!!!
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Sunday...29 May 2011
Right first up the blessed cat! After eating us out of house and home it curled up on my outside camping chair and went to sleep, we threw an old towel over it and it was still there in the same position still asleep at 8am this morning. It woke about the same time we started moving around and went off to do its business then came back and said, right, whats for brekkie? Some soft old bugger gave it a can of sardines and some soft old girl gave it water then milk. That all seemed to pass quality control, it all vanished rapidly.
Then we packed up camp and put the cat into a cardboard box and set off down the road. It did not like the box, meowed a lot, so I let it out and it she sat on my lap most of the way into Toowoomba, about 80kms. It was much happier that way and did not run around anywhere, just sat and panted and said meow a bit. We were not actually planning to go to Toowoomba, we were going to Kingaroy to see peanuts. Never mind. When we got to Toowoomba I rang the RSPCA and told them the story and they were happy to take it off us. I know someone will love it to bits. It is a beautiful animal. So all those worrying about the cat, the problem is solved satisfactorily. The RSPCA will get it vet treatment and then re house it.They do not put them down until they really have to and she is so cute someone will take her, just not us, we do not have room for an animal. I have been scratching all afternoon so maybe I have a few extra animals on board after all!!!!!!
Tonight we are in Kilcoy and tomorrow we go to Caloundra which is where our eldest daughter lives and three of our grandchildren. Will be wonderful to see them all again, and yes Steve you too!!!!!!
We are parked over the road from a motel which has a good sense of humor. It is a Moooootel.
Not sure why the cow has two wooden legs, maybe the owner is short of cash and needed to eat! One way to keep the customers from complaining about the freshness of the milk........
Then we packed up camp and put the cat into a cardboard box and set off down the road. It did not like the box, meowed a lot, so I let it out and it she sat on my lap most of the way into Toowoomba, about 80kms. It was much happier that way and did not run around anywhere, just sat and panted and said meow a bit. We were not actually planning to go to Toowoomba, we were going to Kingaroy to see peanuts. Never mind. When we got to Toowoomba I rang the RSPCA and told them the story and they were happy to take it off us. I know someone will love it to bits. It is a beautiful animal. So all those worrying about the cat, the problem is solved satisfactorily. The RSPCA will get it vet treatment and then re house it.They do not put them down until they really have to and she is so cute someone will take her, just not us, we do not have room for an animal. I have been scratching all afternoon so maybe I have a few extra animals on board after all!!!!!!
Tonight we are in Kilcoy and tomorrow we go to Caloundra which is where our eldest daughter lives and three of our grandchildren. Will be wonderful to see them all again, and yes Steve you too!!!!!!
We are parked over the road from a motel which has a good sense of humor. It is a Moooootel.
Not sure why the cow has two wooden legs, maybe the owner is short of cash and needed to eat! One way to keep the customers from complaining about the freshness of the milk........
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Saturday...28 May 2011
OK people I am angry! I am exceedingly angry. I am beyong describing how angry I am.
We left Goondiwindi this morning, had a simply wonderful drive down the road in the sushine to a little tiny place called Cecil Plains. Now we only stopped here because it was recommended to us way back at Moree by the people in the next caravan with the lovely little Jack Russell terrier..
It is a wonderful little free camp place in the middle of nowhere.
We made camp, then lunch, and took our lunch outside to sit in the sunshine. While we were eating out of the bullrushes beside the river, comes the most adorable ginger cat, all fluff and skin and bone. She (not pregnant) promptly fell over by the look of it in a dead faint. When it recovered, we called it and when she very timidly came to us we fed her some crusts off our lunch. She was starving! This poor cat has not eaten in a long long time. She managed a few crusts then water then a bit of ham. After a while (about an hour) the food must have given her energy, she killed and ate a finch. Then she came back into our camp and said rightyo you are my new humans I will stay with you..
What in Gods name am I gonna do with a cat???? I am not equipped to travel with an animal of any description! Have decided to check with the local constabulary to see if any one has lost her while free camping otherwise we need to find a way to take her to the big RSPCA place down near Calondra.
She has the very distinct mark of a collar on her but no actual collar, so wonder if someone lost her or god help us she was dumped!!!! OR she is part of the tragic aftermath of the inland sunami. Maybe she was washed down river in that awful wall of water, rememeber she will not drink out of the runnin g river beside where we are camped!
Tomorrow will be an interesting day, I will NOT leave camp until the problem has been resolved. Right now I am worrying because a truck has pulled in with a very large dog (pig dog ) wandering around and our new friend is under our van sound asleep on one of our chairs. If the pig dog finds her..........
We are camped beside the Condamine river beside a weir with the sound of the water flowing over a weir, lovely noise to go to sleep besdide.Well it would be if I was not so worried about the cat! and I do believe I was told that stress will make my shingles worse.........
Meantime we had a lovely time in Gundy, our very best thank you to cousin Beth (and Brian) for their help and hospitality, we had a lovely time. PS start being mean to us ........otherwise we will keep coming back!!!
Keith really enjoyed his day out in the cotton fields learning the process that makes millions of dollars a day. He even got to ride in a cotton harvester and he bought me home a whole cotton boll straight off the plant! It looks like a little bundle of cotton wool balls on stick. Most exciting.
We left Goondiwindi this morning, had a simply wonderful drive down the road in the sushine to a little tiny place called Cecil Plains. Now we only stopped here because it was recommended to us way back at Moree by the people in the next caravan with the lovely little Jack Russell terrier..
It is a wonderful little free camp place in the middle of nowhere.
We made camp, then lunch, and took our lunch outside to sit in the sunshine. While we were eating out of the bullrushes beside the river, comes the most adorable ginger cat, all fluff and skin and bone. She (not pregnant) promptly fell over by the look of it in a dead faint. When it recovered, we called it and when she very timidly came to us we fed her some crusts off our lunch. She was starving! This poor cat has not eaten in a long long time. She managed a few crusts then water then a bit of ham. After a while (about an hour) the food must have given her energy, she killed and ate a finch. Then she came back into our camp and said rightyo you are my new humans I will stay with you..
What in Gods name am I gonna do with a cat???? I am not equipped to travel with an animal of any description! Have decided to check with the local constabulary to see if any one has lost her while free camping otherwise we need to find a way to take her to the big RSPCA place down near Calondra.
She has the very distinct mark of a collar on her but no actual collar, so wonder if someone lost her or god help us she was dumped!!!! OR she is part of the tragic aftermath of the inland sunami. Maybe she was washed down river in that awful wall of water, rememeber she will not drink out of the runnin g river beside where we are camped!
Tomorrow will be an interesting day, I will NOT leave camp until the problem has been resolved. Right now I am worrying because a truck has pulled in with a very large dog (pig dog ) wandering around and our new friend is under our van sound asleep on one of our chairs. If the pig dog finds her..........
We are camped beside the Condamine river beside a weir with the sound of the water flowing over a weir, lovely noise to go to sleep besdide.Well it would be if I was not so worried about the cat! and I do believe I was told that stress will make my shingles worse.........
Meantime we had a lovely time in Gundy, our very best thank you to cousin Beth (and Brian) for their help and hospitality, we had a lovely time. PS start being mean to us ........otherwise we will keep coming back!!!
Keith really enjoyed his day out in the cotton fields learning the process that makes millions of dollars a day. He even got to ride in a cotton harvester and he bought me home a whole cotton boll straight off the plant! It looks like a little bundle of cotton wool balls on stick. Most exciting.
From here we head to Kingaroy to see Peanuts growing, I can't wait, I used to think that they grew on a tree like walnuts. Now I know they do not but I want to see it for myself. And of course I want to taste test them.
From there we go to Dickie Beach Caravan Park just down the road from Cindy!!! YES, Whoopee.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Thursday...26 May 2011
Not a lot to tell today.
Himself drove back down the highway to Moree to go on a day trip thing that was to include a tour of a cotton gin. Tour was cancelled and they could not bother to notify the people who had booked it. Now why do they insist on getting your name and a mobile phone number when you book if they are not going to bother letting you know if they cancel something. Apparently Himself gave them a lecture on how to make a call to a mobile phone in a none too friendly manner after driving all that way in the early part of the day, having got up at sparrow fart, and all for nothing!
He went back to the Moree Caravan Park and said hello to the people we were parked next to when we were there. (Do not be fooled folks, that was just an excuse to visit their wee doggie for a pat and a cuddle!)Then he went out of town a bit to the Cotton Industry Field Days and came home loaded down with all manner of give aways and informative reading material.
I spent the day with his cousin who tried to get me a doctors appointment, no luck but maybe tomorrow, I need a refill of the antiviral pills I have been taking to ease the shingles. We did manage to get an appointment to have my nails redone so am feeling better about that. Now if only it also made my typing better..........
I hear also that the eldest grandchild got his L's today......way to go young man, you really are on a roll now.
The evening was spent eating beef stroganoff and watching hilarious UTube videos of Mrs Brown!!
Himself drove back down the highway to Moree to go on a day trip thing that was to include a tour of a cotton gin. Tour was cancelled and they could not bother to notify the people who had booked it. Now why do they insist on getting your name and a mobile phone number when you book if they are not going to bother letting you know if they cancel something. Apparently Himself gave them a lecture on how to make a call to a mobile phone in a none too friendly manner after driving all that way in the early part of the day, having got up at sparrow fart, and all for nothing!
He went back to the Moree Caravan Park and said hello to the people we were parked next to when we were there. (Do not be fooled folks, that was just an excuse to visit their wee doggie for a pat and a cuddle!)Then he went out of town a bit to the Cotton Industry Field Days and came home loaded down with all manner of give aways and informative reading material.
I spent the day with his cousin who tried to get me a doctors appointment, no luck but maybe tomorrow, I need a refill of the antiviral pills I have been taking to ease the shingles. We did manage to get an appointment to have my nails redone so am feeling better about that. Now if only it also made my typing better..........
I hear also that the eldest grandchild got his L's today......way to go young man, you really are on a roll now.
The evening was spent eating beef stroganoff and watching hilarious UTube videos of Mrs Brown!!
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Tuesday...24 May 2011
Happy birthday to my best friend, my sister Ellen.
The great aussie, Slim Dusty said, Looking Forward, Looking Back, we have come a long way down the track..... Yep I been doing a lot of looking inside today.
We have been living 'the dream' for one year today.
Hardly seems that long. I can remember with vivid clarity that first day on the road like it was yesterday.
So I guess this means some of you are out of the betting on how long before we give up and go back.!! Those who said we would be back in Perth for last Christmas were most definately wrong.
Today we packed up camp and moved from Moree to Goondiwindi, from NSW to Qld. Sunshine here we come. PS where did you hide it????
Not a very big drive, only 124kms so not much to do, but we did see the last F1-11 to ever fly in Australia on a truck being taken to a museum of some sort in South Australia. The truck had pulled up at a big truck stop at Boggabilla which is on the NSW side of the McIntyre River which marks the NSW/Qld border in this area. Pretty special.
Planes seem to have been the subject of the family lately. One son-in-law is moving to a FIFO job from an original on site position and we now also have another son-in-law who will be doing FIFO at the new Gorgon Gas Project. Congratuations to both.
The great aussie, Slim Dusty said, Looking Forward, Looking Back, we have come a long way down the track..... Yep I been doing a lot of looking inside today.
We have been living 'the dream' for one year today.
Hardly seems that long. I can remember with vivid clarity that first day on the road like it was yesterday.
So I guess this means some of you are out of the betting on how long before we give up and go back.!! Those who said we would be back in Perth for last Christmas were most definately wrong.
Today we packed up camp and moved from Moree to Goondiwindi, from NSW to Qld. Sunshine here we come. PS where did you hide it????
Not a very big drive, only 124kms so not much to do, but we did see the last F1-11 to ever fly in Australia on a truck being taken to a museum of some sort in South Australia. The truck had pulled up at a big truck stop at Boggabilla which is on the NSW side of the McIntyre River which marks the NSW/Qld border in this area. Pretty special.
When we arrived at Gundy we went straight to see a cousin and I spent most of the day chatting with her while Himself bought the caravan over to the caravan park and set it all up by himself.
Following a trip to the club for a after work drink with the cousins partner we came home to the van to cook and eat our celebratory dinner. We opened a bottle of Moet given to us at the start of the trip by a very good friend and thawed some prawns. Does it get any better???
Monday, May 23, 2011
Monday...23 May 2011
Up nice and early thanks to Himself who has an internal body clock second to none! I cheated and deliberately did not set an alarm last night, to be up early enough to take my pills, I figured one day of being lazy would not do too much harm to me or my shingles. But no, right in the middle of a perfect dream, tap tap thump!! He of course then rolled over and went right back to sleep.(No I am not going to tell you what the dream was about!)
Spent the morning going through cupboards just rearranging and sorting and restacking, was actually trying to do a proper clean but the weather and company were against me. It rained last night, quite a bucketing apparently, I did hear rain, sort of sat up, said to self, its raining, then went right back to sleep, thus missing one hell of a storm so they all tell me. Very soggy outside this morning and our awning was squewiff, looked like it had been to the pub!
Talking of pubs, us and the couple in the next van, went to the pub just over the road from the caravan park today for lunch. Just another local pub but the food was OK and the company was very pleasant. Outside the hotel near the kids playground is a PNG Defence Force Dakota DC3. Bit of a talking point and very hard to miss when you have a plane that big parked at the front door. The exciting bit for the men was that they and any other responsible person can enter it and sit in the cockpit etc, every instrument is still in the thing, put a tank full of fuel in her and technically she could take off if she wasnt tied to the pub and rusting with old age.Fascinating.
We all played the pokies for half an hour and then came home as the folk next door had to take their car in for some repair work. After it came back from the repair shop, us girls took it to go shopping at the local supermarket. They are lovely people and they have the most precious little Tri-color Jack Russell dog called Mia. Mia does not bark and she is ultra smart, she can make humans do what ever she wants them to!! Her owners are from Tasmania and are on their way to work in Qld. Who knows one day our paths may cross again and while it will be nice to chat to Chris and Helen the big attractiion of course will be precious little Mia.
We all went down to the thermal pools again tonite, then came home and had home made apple crumble made with apples supplied by my sister and topping made and cooked by me in the turbo oven, cream supplied by Helen. Not quite perfect but the flavour was there.
Yesterday I used my food dehydrator to dry some sliced apples and today I did beef jerky. I am a very popular girl right now.
Tomorrow is moving day.....Gundy I think but lets wait to find out together.............
Spent the morning going through cupboards just rearranging and sorting and restacking, was actually trying to do a proper clean but the weather and company were against me. It rained last night, quite a bucketing apparently, I did hear rain, sort of sat up, said to self, its raining, then went right back to sleep, thus missing one hell of a storm so they all tell me. Very soggy outside this morning and our awning was squewiff, looked like it had been to the pub!
Talking of pubs, us and the couple in the next van, went to the pub just over the road from the caravan park today for lunch. Just another local pub but the food was OK and the company was very pleasant. Outside the hotel near the kids playground is a PNG Defence Force Dakota DC3. Bit of a talking point and very hard to miss when you have a plane that big parked at the front door. The exciting bit for the men was that they and any other responsible person can enter it and sit in the cockpit etc, every instrument is still in the thing, put a tank full of fuel in her and technically she could take off if she wasnt tied to the pub and rusting with old age.Fascinating.
We all went down to the thermal pools again tonite, then came home and had home made apple crumble made with apples supplied by my sister and topping made and cooked by me in the turbo oven, cream supplied by Helen. Not quite perfect but the flavour was there.
Yesterday I used my food dehydrator to dry some sliced apples and today I did beef jerky. I am a very popular girl right now.
Tomorrow is moving day.....Gundy I think but lets wait to find out together.............
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Sunday...22 May 2011
Happy birthday to my younger brother, Wally.
Today we slept in for a bit, then when we were up and ready we went down to the local Tourist Information Centre to find out what there is to see and do and when it all happens. Seems there really isn't all that much, well there is but we have done the type of tours they are offering. We will wait until we reach Gundy and get more personally organised tours!
Then it was off to the shops (well the ones that were open in a country town on a Sunday!) to buy me some swimwear so that I can go into the thermal pools. Apparently shops stock budgie smugglers all year round but they only stock ladies swimwear during summer and haven't you noticed dear, it's winter right now and way too cold to be wanting swimwear...............
I was able to purchase a lovely pink hat which looks crocheted but is actually made from paper in China. Still it will keep the sun off me and it seems Himself would prefer this hat to the brown leather Akubra type I have been using. It squashes up and crunches nicely to be stuffed under as seat just like the old one too!
Home again, and it was decided that my 'bathers' would consist of a black pair of shorts from Broome and a black camisole from Noni 'B!
In I went, floated around beautifully, nothing like the water to make one feel a little less heavy, that is until ones bottom persists in floating to the surface no matter how I hold the rest of me!!! Yes I know it also had something to do with trapped air in the pockets of the shorts but.............
Still it surely was the nicest bath I have ever taken and it will not take much talking to get me back into that water again tomorrow.
And I believe we may be doing lunch with our new friends from the caravan beside us which is also a fifth wheeler at the fairly large pub just over the road from the caravan park.
See you all tomorrow....hic.....taxi.......
Today we slept in for a bit, then when we were up and ready we went down to the local Tourist Information Centre to find out what there is to see and do and when it all happens. Seems there really isn't all that much, well there is but we have done the type of tours they are offering. We will wait until we reach Gundy and get more personally organised tours!
Then it was off to the shops (well the ones that were open in a country town on a Sunday!) to buy me some swimwear so that I can go into the thermal pools. Apparently shops stock budgie smugglers all year round but they only stock ladies swimwear during summer and haven't you noticed dear, it's winter right now and way too cold to be wanting swimwear...............
I was able to purchase a lovely pink hat which looks crocheted but is actually made from paper in China. Still it will keep the sun off me and it seems Himself would prefer this hat to the brown leather Akubra type I have been using. It squashes up and crunches nicely to be stuffed under as seat just like the old one too!
Home again, and it was decided that my 'bathers' would consist of a black pair of shorts from Broome and a black camisole from Noni 'B!
In I went, floated around beautifully, nothing like the water to make one feel a little less heavy, that is until ones bottom persists in floating to the surface no matter how I hold the rest of me!!! Yes I know it also had something to do with trapped air in the pockets of the shorts but.............
Still it surely was the nicest bath I have ever taken and it will not take much talking to get me back into that water again tomorrow.
And I believe we may be doing lunch with our new friends from the caravan beside us which is also a fifth wheeler at the fairly large pub just over the road from the caravan park.
See you all tomorrow....hic.....taxi.......
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Saturday...21 May 2011
Another lazy departure day, we made it out of the camp by 10am but only just, but to be honest it probably doesnt really matter to the people at that particular park. They are the most laid back friendly folk we have ever met.
Last nights entertainment was watching a young dad, (wife, two kids, around 20mths and two months!) trying to put up his brand new camper trailer type van/tent thingy. No manual and not a clue! Bits of metal and guy ropes and canvas all over the place. The final result sort of looked like it should, the canvas sagged in places but it must have held up, I did not hear any screaming overnight.
Today's big news: SUN, SUNSHINE, HEAT oh blessed heat again....I started in jeans and finished in cropped pants and lightweight tshirt!
Today we travelled through Narrabri to Moree, via the Pilligia ranges. Along the way we saw paddock after paddock of cotton crop either waiting to be harvested or just harvested and waiting to go to the gin which is what the mill is called that cleans the cotton bolls before they are sent to market and then onto the factories to be made into jeans for example.
While we are in this district we are hoping to be able to do a tour of a cotton gin and the largest pecan nut farm in the southern hemisphere is in the area and olives somewhere too, so could become quite busy here. Other crops grown include wheat, sunflowers, sorghum.
At this caravan park there are naturally occurring thermal springs which the park has harnessed into four pools. One is 35degrees celcius, the next one is 36c, then 37c and finally 39degrees celcius. One can get into any or all. The pools are very popular with the occupants of the park. Himself had a wonderful dip after dinner, and apparently we are shopping tomorrow for swimming attire for myself (my children and siblings can stop laughing anytime in the next ten years!) so that I too may enjoy the benefits of the spa.
Last nights entertainment was watching a young dad, (wife, two kids, around 20mths and two months!) trying to put up his brand new camper trailer type van/tent thingy. No manual and not a clue! Bits of metal and guy ropes and canvas all over the place. The final result sort of looked like it should, the canvas sagged in places but it must have held up, I did not hear any screaming overnight.
Today's big news: SUN, SUNSHINE, HEAT oh blessed heat again....I started in jeans and finished in cropped pants and lightweight tshirt!
Today we travelled through Narrabri to Moree, via the Pilligia ranges. Along the way we saw paddock after paddock of cotton crop either waiting to be harvested or just harvested and waiting to go to the gin which is what the mill is called that cleans the cotton bolls before they are sent to market and then onto the factories to be made into jeans for example.
While we are in this district we are hoping to be able to do a tour of a cotton gin and the largest pecan nut farm in the southern hemisphere is in the area and olives somewhere too, so could become quite busy here. Other crops grown include wheat, sunflowers, sorghum.
At this caravan park there are naturally occurring thermal springs which the park has harnessed into four pools. One is 35degrees celcius, the next one is 36c, then 37c and finally 39degrees celcius. One can get into any or all. The pools are very popular with the occupants of the park. Himself had a wonderful dip after dinner, and apparently we are shopping tomorrow for swimming attire for myself (my children and siblings can stop laughing anytime in the next ten years!) so that I too may enjoy the benefits of the spa.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Friday...20 May 2011
Before I forget again, one of our grandsons, (the eldest!) got himself a diesel mechanic apprenticeship this week, beginning on June 3. Well done and congratulations, you should be very proud of yourself young man. It will take heaps of seriously hard work to bring home that important piece of paper in four years time. We know you can do it.
Now back to me........
How time flies, seems like only yesterday we were here going south, now here we are back again only this time going north.
Woke up to warmer weather this morning in Peak Hill, I did put the heater on but only the little electric one for half an hour to take the chill off the air. We are in jeans and tshirts! By the time we hit Qld we should be back into shorts......yes yes.
Another nice easy day today. Lazy take off, last one out of the park. About an hour up the road we stopped for lunch at Gilgandra. Gilgandra calls itself the home of the Coooeeee. Had a lovely meal at a local cafe just near the visitor information place. Was a good choice but we really only went there as there was lots of good parking at the tourism place and the cafe was just over the road a bit.
Another hour up the road and over the Warrumbungle Range, big but not as scary as some of the hills we have crossed and the road is wonderful, but bumpy in places but wide and cut into hills as much as possible, we arrived again at Coonabarabran.
Today I noticed a couple of really interesting rural letter boxes. One was made from pipe and railway line and was shaped as a person sitting on a log reading the paper waiting for the mail..very clever. I have seen various interesting letter boxes along the way and I believe I vaguely remember hearing of a book that was published on just such a subject. The one that took my vote today was one that began life as a standard farm drum and became a dalmation dog. Really wished there had been the chance to stop and take a picture of that one. Brilliantly done, wagging tail, panting tongue, wobbling head and fairly new as the paintwork was still bright.
It is difficult to see these things far enough ahead to try to stop and of course the big rig cannot stop in three metres...particularly if you have a couple of Melbourne to Sydney trucks right up your back door at the time!!!
Perhaps one day we will pass it again.
Now back to me........
How time flies, seems like only yesterday we were here going south, now here we are back again only this time going north.
Woke up to warmer weather this morning in Peak Hill, I did put the heater on but only the little electric one for half an hour to take the chill off the air. We are in jeans and tshirts! By the time we hit Qld we should be back into shorts......yes yes.
Another nice easy day today. Lazy take off, last one out of the park. About an hour up the road we stopped for lunch at Gilgandra. Gilgandra calls itself the home of the Coooeeee. Had a lovely meal at a local cafe just near the visitor information place. Was a good choice but we really only went there as there was lots of good parking at the tourism place and the cafe was just over the road a bit.
Another hour up the road and over the Warrumbungle Range, big but not as scary as some of the hills we have crossed and the road is wonderful, but bumpy in places but wide and cut into hills as much as possible, we arrived again at Coonabarabran.
Today I noticed a couple of really interesting rural letter boxes. One was made from pipe and railway line and was shaped as a person sitting on a log reading the paper waiting for the mail..very clever. I have seen various interesting letter boxes along the way and I believe I vaguely remember hearing of a book that was published on just such a subject. The one that took my vote today was one that began life as a standard farm drum and became a dalmation dog. Really wished there had been the chance to stop and take a picture of that one. Brilliantly done, wagging tail, panting tongue, wobbling head and fairly new as the paintwork was still bright.
It is difficult to see these things far enough ahead to try to stop and of course the big rig cannot stop in three metres...particularly if you have a couple of Melbourne to Sydney trucks right up your back door at the time!!!
Perhaps one day we will pass it again.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Thursday...19 May 2011
Yes Yes I know I already blogged today, but that was really a catch up for the day before, which I missed due to illness and medication!!!
Today however has been a bumper day for us.
We packed up and left lovely Condobolin on the banks of the Lachlan river and tootled down the road about 60kms and stopped to visit a brother who is currently planting 20,000 acres of crop on one of the big stations in this area! What started as a quick hello at the front gate ended up with us stopping for lunch, big thanks to Carmen who got two extra to feed with little to no warning. Great to catch up with Hamish, like I said before it really is a small world. He lives in Victoria, we normally live in Western Australia and here we were having lunch together at someone else's property in NSW!
After lunch we went on to Forbes to collect an aerial we had ordered for our car to improve our mobile phone reception in some of the more out of the way places then we went to Parkes and just out of there we detoured to look at "The Dish", which we all know is the Australian radio telescope that had a very important part in the landing of man on the moon. Only 21kms north of Parkes and definately worth a look if you are in that area. Looking is free!!
We were lucky enough to be there when they were changing the angles of its dish, first it was flat like a pancake then when they moved it it was nearly standing on its edge. Most exciting to hear and see. Wonder what they were tracking......
Today however has been a bumper day for us.
We packed up and left lovely Condobolin on the banks of the Lachlan river and tootled down the road about 60kms and stopped to visit a brother who is currently planting 20,000 acres of crop on one of the big stations in this area! What started as a quick hello at the front gate ended up with us stopping for lunch, big thanks to Carmen who got two extra to feed with little to no warning. Great to catch up with Hamish, like I said before it really is a small world. He lives in Victoria, we normally live in Western Australia and here we were having lunch together at someone else's property in NSW!
After lunch we went on to Forbes to collect an aerial we had ordered for our car to improve our mobile phone reception in some of the more out of the way places then we went to Parkes and just out of there we detoured to look at "The Dish", which we all know is the Australian radio telescope that had a very important part in the landing of man on the moon. Only 21kms north of Parkes and definately worth a look if you are in that area. Looking is free!!
We were lucky enough to be there when they were changing the angles of its dish, first it was flat like a pancake then when they moved it it was nearly standing on its edge. Most exciting to hear and see. Wonder what they were tracking......
We continued on to until darkness made us think that perhaps it was time to find a resting place for the night and while we would have like to have made it to Dubbo, we have pulled into a small town called Peak Hill. Small park, cheap and cheerful and the park has drive through bays which always pleases us, means Himself gets an easy job of parking the big rig.
We have been reading the blurb they give you when you get to caravan parks and it seems this particular park has a fossil museum called The Big Fish Fossil Hut somewhere in the park, so we will look at it before departing tomorrow. Could be very interesting, and park patrons get free entry!
Tomorrow is Dubbo and maybe beyound. Have been trying to contact a very good friend there and all details I have are no longer valid, beginning to wonder if they have moved. Postscript to that comment, my friend has moved......to Townsville!
So it would seem we shall move further north than expected, I wonder where we will end up?
Thursday...19 May 2011
Not a lot to report. Has everyone noticed that when you are ill it seems to chew up your entire day just managing the illness and its side effects and treatment? Get up take pills which make me dopey (more than is normal!) then back to bed and sleep for several more hours. The days are flying past.
Was a big day on Tuesday. On Tuesday I made it out of bed and went down the street for lunch at the local cafe with the favourite aunt and uncle and then came home and slept for nearly six hours.
Wednesday I was up long enough to travel the 50kms out of town to the aunt and uncles property for lunch and a nice little visit then it was back into town, take some more pills and go back to bed. Three of my pills are taken every 8 hours but the fourth pill is taken every 5 hours. Very hard to keep track of when you are groggy from the illness and the effect of the various pills as well. Should not complain too much, they do not stop me hurting but they do take the edge off the worst of it all.
Tomorrow,, oops thats really later today now, we will be moving on, probably not too far as we are not sure how long I will be able to sit in the car but we will go as far as is possible. Cannot be in the sun if we cannot go northward. Was minus 3 in Condo this morning. And I know this because like now I am up in the wee small hours to take my pills!!!! Good health to you all.
Was a big day on Tuesday. On Tuesday I made it out of bed and went down the street for lunch at the local cafe with the favourite aunt and uncle and then came home and slept for nearly six hours.
Wednesday I was up long enough to travel the 50kms out of town to the aunt and uncles property for lunch and a nice little visit then it was back into town, take some more pills and go back to bed. Three of my pills are taken every 8 hours but the fourth pill is taken every 5 hours. Very hard to keep track of when you are groggy from the illness and the effect of the various pills as well. Should not complain too much, they do not stop me hurting but they do take the edge off the worst of it all.
Tomorrow,, oops thats really later today now, we will be moving on, probably not too far as we are not sure how long I will be able to sit in the car but we will go as far as is possible. Cannot be in the sun if we cannot go northward. Was minus 3 in Condo this morning. And I know this because like now I am up in the wee small hours to take my pills!!!! Good health to you all.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Monday...16 May 2011
My foster fathers birthday today....he is now 84...AND I missed calling him! Well maybe he will forgive me when I call tomorrow and explain that I was in hospital. When we were in Canberra I was complaining to everyone that my back was in permanent lock up cramp. Jolly painful.
We left Canberra and travelled to Forbes for one night then next day travelled onto Condobolin. Had a phone call from one of the foster brothers who wanted to know where I was, seems he had just passed us out there on the road going in opposite directions. Definately small world people.
Got to Condo and my levels of pain were not pleasant but I continued with the planned agenda, dinner at the local RSL club to see the favourite aunt and uncle again, and a couple of other relatives. Even got lucky as the entertainment was a group we had seen previously and liked. By the time we went home I was in severe pain so went to bed and when I got up in the morning it was way worse so took me down to the local hospital, they diagnosed shingles and tucked me into bed for a few days. Bulk pills later thet had the pain stopped but also had me being violently ill, seems I am intolerant to anything strong enough to stop any serious pain! Having thrown up their hands I was allowed to return to my previous pain levels and discharged. So now I have heaps of pills, none of which are actually going to fix my problem or pain but may let me continue to function whilst still muttering four letter words under my breathe!!!! Shingles take any where from a few days to a few months to work their way though the system, and guess what, they can return........
Another day or two here then hopefully on the road again to take my mind off the constant hurting.
We left Canberra and travelled to Forbes for one night then next day travelled onto Condobolin. Had a phone call from one of the foster brothers who wanted to know where I was, seems he had just passed us out there on the road going in opposite directions. Definately small world people.
Got to Condo and my levels of pain were not pleasant but I continued with the planned agenda, dinner at the local RSL club to see the favourite aunt and uncle again, and a couple of other relatives. Even got lucky as the entertainment was a group we had seen previously and liked. By the time we went home I was in severe pain so went to bed and when I got up in the morning it was way worse so took me down to the local hospital, they diagnosed shingles and tucked me into bed for a few days. Bulk pills later thet had the pain stopped but also had me being violently ill, seems I am intolerant to anything strong enough to stop any serious pain! Having thrown up their hands I was allowed to return to my previous pain levels and discharged. So now I have heaps of pills, none of which are actually going to fix my problem or pain but may let me continue to function whilst still muttering four letter words under my breathe!!!! Shingles take any where from a few days to a few months to work their way though the system, and guess what, they can return........
Another day or two here then hopefully on the road again to take my mind off the constant hurting.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Saturday, May 14
Funny thing happened on the way up north...slight detour to Condobolin to catch up on family.
Herself now spending some quality time in hospital. Should be out tomorrow and blog back up again.
Nothing too serious, just needs some heavy duty pain killers!!
Herself now spending some quality time in hospital. Should be out tomorrow and blog back up again.
Nothing too serious, just needs some heavy duty pain killers!!
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Wednesday...11 May 2011
Himselfs birthday
Many rang, some did not, wonder what your excuse was????????
Them who rang put a smile on his face......
He spent the day at the National War Museum/ Memorial probably tracking down his fathers and his fathers brothers war records. Three brothers joined up from the one family.
For dinner tonite our hosts cooked him a nice piece of eye fillet with a cream based mushroom and bacon sauce and baked potato with sour cream and tossed salad.....perfect. This was washed down with a good scotch and coke. And a game of euchre!, which of course he won. Smarty pants....
I spent the day fighting nature to wash and dry our clothes. Out side was sunny until you tried to hang washing then it was drizzle. Take the same washing inside and hang it in front of the Coonara heater and of course the sun shone out side!! I ended up using as bit of all. Outside for five minutes then inside in front of the heater for a bit then into the clothes dryer when available. By doing this for six hours solid I managed to get a lot of washing done and dry. Worn out at the end of it but at least I have a result. We have clean clothes.
I was babysat by the family border collie called Ellie, a very well behaved dog with impeccable manners who kept me company and insisted I was wonderful and that I gave the right amount of treats right up to the moment the kids came home form school then it was Kate, Kate who?
Tomorrow we are planning to move on, to where I am not sure, perhaps he will be inclined to tell me once we are on the road.....to somewhere....
Loved seeing our Canberra friends,,,but God I wish they lived somewhere it was warm!!!!!
Huge thank you to them for the guided sightseeing and for keeping us warm in such a harshly cold climate, we will return when we hear that the weather has warmed a bit.......
Canberra is a place every Australian should try to visit....fascinating place. Love all the natural bush that abounds here,every time you go anywhere it takes half to three quarters of an hour in travel due to the huge amounts of natural bush between suburbs. Canberra has a population below half a million yet it is more than 30kms wide, mostly because of the nature corridors between suburbs, no doubt there is public transport but I get the feeling you really need a car to get around. Everything is a long way from anywhere........Still it has the National this and the National that, one day you may need to know this.
Here is the centre of our government and from here big things happen that affect our daily lives. Without it we would have choas, sometimes with it we have chaos but being a democracy this is ok because if we want it badly enough we can change it. Now when did they say the next election was???????
Many rang, some did not, wonder what your excuse was????????
Them who rang put a smile on his face......
He spent the day at the National War Museum/ Memorial probably tracking down his fathers and his fathers brothers war records. Three brothers joined up from the one family.
For dinner tonite our hosts cooked him a nice piece of eye fillet with a cream based mushroom and bacon sauce and baked potato with sour cream and tossed salad.....perfect. This was washed down with a good scotch and coke. And a game of euchre!, which of course he won. Smarty pants....
I spent the day fighting nature to wash and dry our clothes. Out side was sunny until you tried to hang washing then it was drizzle. Take the same washing inside and hang it in front of the Coonara heater and of course the sun shone out side!! I ended up using as bit of all. Outside for five minutes then inside in front of the heater for a bit then into the clothes dryer when available. By doing this for six hours solid I managed to get a lot of washing done and dry. Worn out at the end of it but at least I have a result. We have clean clothes.
I was babysat by the family border collie called Ellie, a very well behaved dog with impeccable manners who kept me company and insisted I was wonderful and that I gave the right amount of treats right up to the moment the kids came home form school then it was Kate, Kate who?
Tomorrow we are planning to move on, to where I am not sure, perhaps he will be inclined to tell me once we are on the road.....to somewhere....
Loved seeing our Canberra friends,,,but God I wish they lived somewhere it was warm!!!!!
Huge thank you to them for the guided sightseeing and for keeping us warm in such a harshly cold climate, we will return when we hear that the weather has warmed a bit.......
Canberra is a place every Australian should try to visit....fascinating place. Love all the natural bush that abounds here,every time you go anywhere it takes half to three quarters of an hour in travel due to the huge amounts of natural bush between suburbs. Canberra has a population below half a million yet it is more than 30kms wide, mostly because of the nature corridors between suburbs, no doubt there is public transport but I get the feeling you really need a car to get around. Everything is a long way from anywhere........Still it has the National this and the National that, one day you may need to know this.
Here is the centre of our government and from here big things happen that affect our daily lives. Without it we would have choas, sometimes with it we have chaos but being a democracy this is ok because if we want it badly enough we can change it. Now when did they say the next election was???????
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Tuesday...10 May 2011
Well I couldn't blog last night, the blog was down for service or overfull or some such thing according to my knowledgeable guru! So now I have to play catch up.
Yesterday we started by delivering the hosts car to the dealership to have some unscheduled repairs done. He and Himself set out to go to somewhere and came to a halt when the temp guage on the Subaru went higher and higher! So we switched cars and went sightseeing.
We began by going to AMSA, for a personally guided tour and boy was that interesting. The work and detail that goes into finding anyone or anything like a plane or boat that is listed as missing is incredible and fascinating. Computer screens from one side of the room to the other, all with maps or other information on them. If you ever have to set off an EPERB or PLB you can relax knowing this mob are on the job. They can locate your beacon and have someone on their way to you very quickly anywhere in Australia, or its coastal waters. We had lunch then went past the Lodge and an area full of embassies to get to Questacon. Just us and a few hundred schoolchildren. Cannot complain, the place is designed to get children of all ages interesting in science and how things work and to ask lots and lots of questions. The entire complex is hands on with plenty of staff on hand to suggest ideas or ways to try to make things work. I went into the earthquake room and experienced a 5.2 shake. We saw lightning being made, tornados, tsunamis etc. Brilliant. Definately worth the money for the school camp/excursions.
Yesterday we started by delivering the hosts car to the dealership to have some unscheduled repairs done. He and Himself set out to go to somewhere and came to a halt when the temp guage on the Subaru went higher and higher! So we switched cars and went sightseeing.
We began by going to AMSA, for a personally guided tour and boy was that interesting. The work and detail that goes into finding anyone or anything like a plane or boat that is listed as missing is incredible and fascinating. Computer screens from one side of the room to the other, all with maps or other information on them. If you ever have to set off an EPERB or PLB you can relax knowing this mob are on the job. They can locate your beacon and have someone on their way to you very quickly anywhere in Australia, or its coastal waters. We had lunch then went past the Lodge and an area full of embassies to get to Questacon. Just us and a few hundred schoolchildren. Cannot complain, the place is designed to get children of all ages interesting in science and how things work and to ask lots and lots of questions. The entire complex is hands on with plenty of staff on hand to suggest ideas or ways to try to make things work. I went into the earthquake room and experienced a 5.2 shake. We saw lightning being made, tornados, tsunamis etc. Brilliant. Definately worth the money for the school camp/excursions.
Today we went to the Mint. I have been there before but I particularly wanted to go to the gift shop as I have been trying to get a set of christmas pudding money and every time I saw them in a post shop catalogue they had sold out, even working for the post office did not get me one of these sets. Today I finally got one!!! Oh and we had a look at the mint working hard making money for all of us to spend.
We went to the ANU (Australian National University) for lunch with our hostess who works there. Then we went to the National Art Gallery, and guess what, unlike a lot of other places in Canberra, the mint and the art gallery were free entry! Once again there was so much to take in, way too much for the little time we have. The gallery is one of those places you need to go to for a while every day or every week for probably a year to be able to take in everything in it. Still, undaunted we set off and covered a huge amount of ground, we are fairly sure we went into most galleries within the actual Gallery.
I got to sit in front of Jackson Pollocks "Blue Poles". I quite like it. Vibrant colors.
I saw paintings I was taught about in school, originals by Tom Roberts, Frederick McCubben, Claude Monet, Arthur Streeton, an entire collection of 26 Sidney Nolan paintings about Ned Kelly. I saw several paintings by Albert Namijira. I made the mistake of saying I liked a particular piece on sight and on closer inspection discovered it was by Yoko Ono... I saw work by Andy Warhol and Dahl and Picasso. Wow I saw some original Picasso's. Every time I close my eyes I see the colors and the sheer volume of work. I am hooked.
Next door to the National Gallery is the National Portrait Gallery but we did not fit that in to todays effort. Maybe another time.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Sunday...8 May 2011
Mothers Day!
Only minus 3 last night! We slept well, warm and snug BUT when it came time to get up I said I would be the one to get up and flick the switch on the under floor gas furnace.....alas......someone did not turn on the gas in our set up of camp on arrival in Canberra. So loving partner that he is, he crawled out of his snug little cocoon and went out into the big freeze to turn the gas on. Euraka we have serious warmth coming up the floor...for five minutes, then we ran out of gas in that bottle, necessitating another trip into the early morning cold to change bottles!!! The good news is that tomorrow morning no matter how cold it is we shall have heating.
Some of the host group were not feeling overly well this morning, seems they tried yet again to match Himself drink for drink last night......silly buggers! Today began with a cooked breakfast with lots of fresh brewed coffee, then we all went sightseeing again.
This time we went out to Cockington Green the minature village all done to 1/12 scale. Lots of work has gone into it.The attention to detail is astonishing, like even having Babe rounding up the sheep on the village green, and a streaker at the local soccer match.
When we left there we went across the road to the National Dinosaur Museum.
Love that everything here is called the National something.
At the dinosaur museum we saw all sorts of stuff. Lots of information about the evolution of dinosaurs. Some of the bones and petrified pieces on display came from Australia, most were from other countries. Seems we have a few bones lying around in the Roma area of Qld. Selected displays were touchable. Weird to feel you were touching a piece of rock that used to be part of a dinosaur all those millions of years ago. Definitely a must do for any family with children who like dinosaurs. Highly educational. The place has lots of children areas for enquiring minds to learn.
We did try to go to the next door pub for a quiet sit but alas it was quite full and had a wedding party about to sit down as well, so we elected to return to base for a cuppa. Right now most of the group are in the house eating chilli mud crab...very fresh, the crab was still moving when it came home from the market this afternoon! This will be followed by a crisp crackling roast pork with heaps of roast vegetables and gravy. We do it tough out on the road!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Only minus 3 last night! We slept well, warm and snug BUT when it came time to get up I said I would be the one to get up and flick the switch on the under floor gas furnace.....alas......someone did not turn on the gas in our set up of camp on arrival in Canberra. So loving partner that he is, he crawled out of his snug little cocoon and went out into the big freeze to turn the gas on. Euraka we have serious warmth coming up the floor...for five minutes, then we ran out of gas in that bottle, necessitating another trip into the early morning cold to change bottles!!! The good news is that tomorrow morning no matter how cold it is we shall have heating.
Some of the host group were not feeling overly well this morning, seems they tried yet again to match Himself drink for drink last night......silly buggers! Today began with a cooked breakfast with lots of fresh brewed coffee, then we all went sightseeing again.
This time we went out to Cockington Green the minature village all done to 1/12 scale. Lots of work has gone into it.The attention to detail is astonishing, like even having Babe rounding up the sheep on the village green, and a streaker at the local soccer match.
When we left there we went across the road to the National Dinosaur Museum.
Love that everything here is called the National something.
At the dinosaur museum we saw all sorts of stuff. Lots of information about the evolution of dinosaurs. Some of the bones and petrified pieces on display came from Australia, most were from other countries. Seems we have a few bones lying around in the Roma area of Qld. Selected displays were touchable. Weird to feel you were touching a piece of rock that used to be part of a dinosaur all those millions of years ago. Definitely a must do for any family with children who like dinosaurs. Highly educational. The place has lots of children areas for enquiring minds to learn.
We did try to go to the next door pub for a quiet sit but alas it was quite full and had a wedding party about to sit down as well, so we elected to return to base for a cuppa. Right now most of the group are in the house eating chilli mud crab...very fresh, the crab was still moving when it came home from the market this afternoon! This will be followed by a crisp crackling roast pork with heaps of roast vegetables and gravy. We do it tough out on the road!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Saturday...7 May 2011
Took our time packing up, finally getting on the road to Canberra just after 10.00am. Only 60kms down the road so no rush. Nice easy drive. Did not take long till we were here and parked in our friend Johns driveway. Lunch was lovely lamb patty hamburgers, absolutley wonderful.
After lunch our friends took us on a spot of sightseeing around the area. We began with a trip up Black Mountain to the iconic Telstra tower from which you have 360degree views of Canberra. Wonderful views, steep winding road to the top! But that view.....stunning
After seeing that and learning heaps about the layout of our nations capital, we went back down the mountain to the National Botanic Gardens. Heaps to see and learn there too. All sorts of plants, even had a bottle tree! Then it was on to Yaralumla, which is our Governer Generals residence. Just as well Quentin Bryce was not at home as I would have had to decline an invition to afternoon tea after stuffing myself with yummy cake at the tea rooms at the Botanic Gardens. Whilst we did not get too see the GG we did see the kangaroos that inhabit the gardens of Yaralumla. Nothing like having your own wildlife to impress all those visiting dignitries!!!!
We walked along a cycling track near Yaralumla and saw part of Lake Burley Griffin that is on the side of the gardens of Yaralumla. Then we came home and had the most hilarious evening playing a game called Jenga, if you don 't have this one in your game cupboard, do go get it. Deceptively simple, frustratingly complex, will keep kids and adults thinking for hours.
Friday, May 6, 2011
Friday...6 May 2011
There you go. Made it out of Benalla in one piece. No we were not the first or the last out of the caravan park. Love the way they do free pancakes at 9.00am every day, jam, maple syrup, cream etc. Very nice. But no way am I staying for another day. It was 3 degrees last night!
Was asked if I was taking the boring freeway or the more scenic route today. We took the boring freeway but we found it so interesting, have never been on this road, it was not here last time we came this way. So much to see. Must say I found the number of roadside stopping points very pleasing if a little confusing. They are every 20kms or so but they all say truck parking. None of them say cars or caravans. Does that mean the cars cannot stop at all or does that mean caravans must not stop either????? We took a chance and pulled into one for lunch and no-one challenged us.
We passed a sign that said 'Holbrook the submarine town', both of us thought that was a bit sus as Holbrook is about as inland as you can get, no sea this side of the Great Divide. Thought maybe there was a factory making submarine parts. Too late we found out they have an actual submarine buried in their town scenic gardens!!! Missed that one, could not stop or do a U turn. On the to do list for next time we pass that way. We also decided not to bother going into Gundagai as we had been there once before. However just as the song promised, 5 miles out of Gundagai there was the Dog on the Tuckerbox!!!
Having duly stopped and paid homage to the famous icon of Australian folk lore we continued up the highway to Yass where we have made camp just 60kms from Canberra.
We will wander into town tomorrow and see if our friend has returned from his trip to NZ. Hope so, it will be nice to see him but we are not wanting to hang around too long, they are talking overnight temps around zero or even into the minus range, thank goodness for the under floor heating in this van......
Was asked if I was taking the boring freeway or the more scenic route today. We took the boring freeway but we found it so interesting, have never been on this road, it was not here last time we came this way. So much to see. Must say I found the number of roadside stopping points very pleasing if a little confusing. They are every 20kms or so but they all say truck parking. None of them say cars or caravans. Does that mean the cars cannot stop at all or does that mean caravans must not stop either????? We took a chance and pulled into one for lunch and no-one challenged us.
We passed a sign that said 'Holbrook the submarine town', both of us thought that was a bit sus as Holbrook is about as inland as you can get, no sea this side of the Great Divide. Thought maybe there was a factory making submarine parts. Too late we found out they have an actual submarine buried in their town scenic gardens!!! Missed that one, could not stop or do a U turn. On the to do list for next time we pass that way. We also decided not to bother going into Gundagai as we had been there once before. However just as the song promised, 5 miles out of Gundagai there was the Dog on the Tuckerbox!!!
We will wander into town tomorrow and see if our friend has returned from his trip to NZ. Hope so, it will be nice to see him but we are not wanting to hang around too long, they are talking overnight temps around zero or even into the minus range, thank goodness for the under floor heating in this van......
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Thursday...5 May 2011
When it is moving day, we are not the ones who get up at 6.00am and be on the road by 6.05am. No we wake at whatever time we naturally awake, perhaps sometimes helped by outside noises, such as school buses being revved loudly before departing to carry the little terrorists to their place of education.
Then we prepare ourselves for the day and then eventually we make moves to pack and stack our gear ready for the days travel. Today after all the above and a quick trip up the road to check yet again yesterdays handywork at the cemetery and to refuel the car, we finally got on the road at lunchtime. Now this is not as bad as it sounds as we then travelled just on 100kms to Benalla and parked up at the one and only caravan park this town has.
We then spent the afternoon sitting in the sun watching the gliders being towed up to begin their graceful descent. Must have been a good day for thermals as we saw at least 15 tows. Perhaps Benalla has one of its many gliding competitions on. It is the gliding centre for Victoria.
Benalla is also famous for its rose festival. They grow seriously good roses in this town.
While I was not born here I was raised here so I am always pleased to return. It is interesting to see what has changed since my last visit.
About the time we gave up expecting visitors and poured our first drinks for happy hour, the folks arrived!!
Was lovely to see them and to be able to show them our caravan. All comments were positive, this is good. Had told them all about it and even showed them photos but the reality was apparently bigger and better than the original perceptions. And Aunty Jean (bless her) bought me a current copy of the local paper, very welcome gift. When I can I shall play catch up reading what has been making news around here. They also bought some home grown green beans. Most welcome. I put some into our dinner tonight.
Tomorrow we head toward Canberra. Apparently it was minus 3 there last night!!!!! Made the news as the coldest May night ever recorded in Canberra. Well I guess hell has frozen over after all.........
Then we prepare ourselves for the day and then eventually we make moves to pack and stack our gear ready for the days travel. Today after all the above and a quick trip up the road to check yet again yesterdays handywork at the cemetery and to refuel the car, we finally got on the road at lunchtime. Now this is not as bad as it sounds as we then travelled just on 100kms to Benalla and parked up at the one and only caravan park this town has.
We then spent the afternoon sitting in the sun watching the gliders being towed up to begin their graceful descent. Must have been a good day for thermals as we saw at least 15 tows. Perhaps Benalla has one of its many gliding competitions on. It is the gliding centre for Victoria.
Benalla is also famous for its rose festival. They grow seriously good roses in this town.
While I was not born here I was raised here so I am always pleased to return. It is interesting to see what has changed since my last visit.
About the time we gave up expecting visitors and poured our first drinks for happy hour, the folks arrived!!
Was lovely to see them and to be able to show them our caravan. All comments were positive, this is good. Had told them all about it and even showed them photos but the reality was apparently bigger and better than the original perceptions. And Aunty Jean (bless her) bought me a current copy of the local paper, very welcome gift. When I can I shall play catch up reading what has been making news around here. They also bought some home grown green beans. Most welcome. I put some into our dinner tonight.
Tomorrow we head toward Canberra. Apparently it was minus 3 there last night!!!!! Made the news as the coldest May night ever recorded in Canberra. Well I guess hell has frozen over after all.........
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Wednesday...4 May 2011
Spent today at the cemetary. Fascinating place.
Himself did a spot of upgrading and renovating of the graves of my dad and my dads parents who are side by side in adjoining plots, for which myself and my siblings are grateful and very happy with the end result. Big thank you to Himself from all of us.
Had a lovely time here visiting with my sister and my BB who lives around the corner from my sister. Have had a lot of visitors as well. For a quiet little country town this place sure is busy. Most pleasing to see the progress BB has made since his stroke. My sister has plans to start travelling soon so am hoping to catch up with her and her husband somewhere in the big paddock...........(For the uninitiated that is the great outdoors of Australia!)
Big thank you to our hosts for the parking space and use of their facilities, particularly enjoyed the happy hours, the dinners and the nice warm heater!
Moving day tomorrow. Not sure where we will spend tomorrow night but we will be heading in the general direction of Canberra to visit a friend for a few days
After that just a general move northward to follow the warm sun.
We LOVE to show off our caravan.
Am wondering about putting a RFDS tin at the door and asking people to put a gold coin donation in the tin to see inside our caravan. Could nearly pay for a new plane by now for the number of family, friends and strangers who have had the 'guided tour'.!!!!
Will think on it.
Himself did a spot of upgrading and renovating of the graves of my dad and my dads parents who are side by side in adjoining plots, for which myself and my siblings are grateful and very happy with the end result. Big thank you to Himself from all of us.
Had a lovely time here visiting with my sister and my BB who lives around the corner from my sister. Have had a lot of visitors as well. For a quiet little country town this place sure is busy. Most pleasing to see the progress BB has made since his stroke. My sister has plans to start travelling soon so am hoping to catch up with her and her husband somewhere in the big paddock...........(For the uninitiated that is the great outdoors of Australia!)
Big thank you to our hosts for the parking space and use of their facilities, particularly enjoyed the happy hours, the dinners and the nice warm heater!
Moving day tomorrow. Not sure where we will spend tomorrow night but we will be heading in the general direction of Canberra to visit a friend for a few days
After that just a general move northward to follow the warm sun.
We LOVE to show off our caravan.
Am wondering about putting a RFDS tin at the door and asking people to put a gold coin donation in the tin to see inside our caravan. Could nearly pay for a new plane by now for the number of family, friends and strangers who have had the 'guided tour'.!!!!
Will think on it.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Tuesday...3 May 2011
Still here. Weather during the day is warm and sunny. Cools down rapidly once the sun sets but so far we have managed to keep warm overnight. It really is lovely weather during the day. Clear blue skies and some real warmth in the sun. I really enjoy sitting outside the caravan just soaking up the warmth.
Yesterday I went to see BB with laptop in hand and we spent the afternoon looking at pics of my trip and the family.
Today Himself is off fixing the lean on dear old dad and his parents at the local cemetry. My sister and I feel we are very lucky to have him to do this for us. Neither of us has the strength to lift heavy slabs of concrete and complete the necessary earthworks while balancing the slab! Big thank you from both of us.
I have been entertaining again today. Some more locals I know popped in to say hello and look at the caravan. These people went over the top and through Karajini on their last lap of Australia a couple of years ago. Much to talk about.
Some of our chat was about the funny things we have seen on the road. We agreed that once you think you have packed for a trip the last thing into the bagagge should be your sense of humor. Definately cannot leave home without it! Us girls talked about meeting other ladies in the shower blocks of caravan parks at 6.00am applying their make-up and blow drying their hair, in their immaculately ironed 'just so' clothes! Wonder what part of Camping 101 they missed......
Meanwhile their men are making mugs of themselves posturing and posing while hitching up for the day, usually not very successfully!!! Might start making rough notes, there must be a book hidden somewhere in their behaviour.
(Yes, yes I would include our own faux pas)
Himself was in Shepparton yesterday and got me some more pics of the cows which are all over public gardens in both Shepparton and Mooroopna. The Jelly Bean cow was in Mooroopna. Here are a couple of the Shepparton ones. They are certainly eye catching.
Yesterday I went to see BB with laptop in hand and we spent the afternoon looking at pics of my trip and the family.
Today Himself is off fixing the lean on dear old dad and his parents at the local cemetry. My sister and I feel we are very lucky to have him to do this for us. Neither of us has the strength to lift heavy slabs of concrete and complete the necessary earthworks while balancing the slab! Big thank you from both of us.
I have been entertaining again today. Some more locals I know popped in to say hello and look at the caravan. These people went over the top and through Karajini on their last lap of Australia a couple of years ago. Much to talk about.
Some of our chat was about the funny things we have seen on the road. We agreed that once you think you have packed for a trip the last thing into the bagagge should be your sense of humor. Definately cannot leave home without it! Us girls talked about meeting other ladies in the shower blocks of caravan parks at 6.00am applying their make-up and blow drying their hair, in their immaculately ironed 'just so' clothes! Wonder what part of Camping 101 they missed......
Meanwhile their men are making mugs of themselves posturing and posing while hitching up for the day, usually not very successfully!!! Might start making rough notes, there must be a book hidden somewhere in their behaviour.
(Yes, yes I would include our own faux pas)
Himself was in Shepparton yesterday and got me some more pics of the cows which are all over public gardens in both Shepparton and Mooroopna. The Jelly Bean cow was in Mooroopna. Here are a couple of the Shepparton ones. They are certainly eye catching.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Sunday...1 May 2011
Mayday....Official Start of the Dry Seasonn in NT...
Had a busy couple of days. The mob has grown and we now have several new blog readers. Welcome aboard.
Some of these folk took the time to come out and visit us and our caravan this weekend . We thank them all for their comments (mostly good!). We love our mobile house but we always enjoy hearing what others think of it.
When we first arrived here, Himself took the front door apart and took the window out of it into Shepparton and got a new piece of glass fitted. Looks good. My sister and I went to Kyabram to do a spot of shopping and stopped off at the cemetary on the way home to visit our dad. Poor old dad has a lean up in the after life very similar to the lean he used to have on the way home from the pub every Friday night when he was with us. We need to do a spot of earthworks to straighten him.
We went to the local on Friday night for Happy Hour, met some of the locals, watched THE wedding on the big screen, and the footy on the small screen! and rounded that off with pizza from the local shop.
Yesterday we had visitors all day and then went into town with a large group of family to the Chinese Restuarant for dinner. Thank you to all that came.
Had a busy couple of days. The mob has grown and we now have several new blog readers. Welcome aboard.
Some of these folk took the time to come out and visit us and our caravan this weekend . We thank them all for their comments (mostly good!). We love our mobile house but we always enjoy hearing what others think of it.
When we first arrived here, Himself took the front door apart and took the window out of it into Shepparton and got a new piece of glass fitted. Looks good. My sister and I went to Kyabram to do a spot of shopping and stopped off at the cemetary on the way home to visit our dad. Poor old dad has a lean up in the after life very similar to the lean he used to have on the way home from the pub every Friday night when he was with us. We need to do a spot of earthworks to straighten him.
We went to the local on Friday night for Happy Hour, met some of the locals, watched THE wedding on the big screen, and the footy on the small screen! and rounded that off with pizza from the local shop.
Yesterday we had visitors all day and then went into town with a large group of family to the Chinese Restuarant for dinner. Thank you to all that came.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)