Day 12

We were reminded why we didn't want to be in to many caravan parks they start pulling out at about 6.30am. Did the washing and had a nothing day, Geralds still has his cold.

Booked in for Saturday night as well I have my flight tomorrow almost didn't do it. We also booked for an Opal mine tour on Sunday morning.

We are just back from our walk, guess where we walked to.......I bet most of you got it to an underground bar.

Everything in Coober Pedy is built on rock and gravel

Day 11

Fuelled up at Spuds Roadhouse. There were about a dozen or more and caravans parked there over night. Moved on to Lake Hart with water in it. Booked a flight over Lake Eyre for me on Saturday afternoon, Gerald didn't feel like it.

Booked into the Oasis Tourist Park Big 4,in Coober Pedy we did look at the Underground one but it was about a km out and we might have been a bit big. Anyway this one is one is in the town.

Coober Pedy roughly translated is white man underground.

Day 10

Not a good start to the day Gerald has 'man' flu and isn't impressed as he had two flu injections before we left. He didn't like it when I told him the don't give injections for 'man' flu. Filled up with gas here. Then on to Port Augusta where we stocked up on food and grog. Then North my word its flat with the very occasional hill. Decided to spend the night at Pimba at Spuds Roadhouse. But first we went to Woomera and looked at the museum....excellent. There are so many empty houses there its a pity that they can be used for something.

Day 9

26 May 2009
Thanks Merilyn the diary you gave me sits beside me and I use it to jot down notes as we go along. I usually try to update this each day when we stop, Gerald check out where we may go tomorrow. We seem to go further that we plan but as we have been in this area before we only stop and look at what we missed before.

Anyway left our camp at about 10.30am. Bit chilly this morning and we found that we had no diesel in the heater, there must have been an air lock because the indicator said we were full. The landscape is very flat but there are heaps of wind farms. Anyway down into to Adelaide, now there are some hills, and out the other side to a car park at the back of the White Horse Hotel where I constructed a Red Wine Stew for the Dreampot

We were going to stay at Port Wakefield, stayed here before at a little motel on the highway. This time we drove in and looked about down to the wharf watched some boats come in.

Still early so we moved on and we say a train, so Gerald day was made. I liked the look of the Crystal Brook free camp it had a big tick in the book. Going into the Crystal Brook the train drew along side and I got the camera and the driver waved and gave us a toot. And of course the is now no free camp so we are in the caravan park $18 with power.

Day 8

25 May 2009
Left the park at 10am got some gas and then took my first "big" photo. The big Lobster at Kingston SE.

We were parked next to a couple from Ulverstone last night they are only going as far as Adelaide.

Stopped at Miningie Cheese Factory, just our luck they had a working open day yesterday, but it was still very interesting. Then up to the lookout for lunch. But the three free camps mentioned in the Camps book are now not available there were new signs 'Its the Law' 'No Camping', so we didn't spend any money there and moved on to a free camp near Tailem Bend. Gerald had his TV so all was well.

Day 7

24th May 2009
It rained last night and is a bit drizzlery today but not cold at all. We are trying to decide where to move to we really need a dump point so its Beachport of Kingston, we will look at both.

We are both sitting with our laptops Gerald's has the TrackRanger going plotting our route and I am fine tuning my Nomad Notes so when I get internet service I can download this.

Well we are here in Kingston SE in a caravan park where we can get water use their power and use their dump point, still drizzlery but looking at the sea which is very flat.

The flies are really pain, Gerald is after them as I type almost sprayed my wine not good. We have netball and motor racing on the TV switching between them. More fly spray, better go for a walk and close up the bus.

Day 6

23rd May 2009
At last I have been able to catch up on my journal entries. Well the basics are there now I will have to go back and fill in the details. Thanks Pat for the sticky notes there are bits of yellow paper sticking out of all different books.

Yes the locals were right the wind has picked up but we still might stay another day the view is lovely even if the water is a bit rough and the fishing boats are dancing on their anchors. I don't have intenet access here so posting all this will have to wait till we get near Robe maybe tomorrow.

Got the Dreampot (www.dreampot.com.au) out and cooked Beef Strog with rice. Went for a walk along the beach and just had a veg out day. The Strog turned out well and the extra rice I made into Sushi, for tomorrow for me Strog for Gerald

Day 5

22nd May 2009
Left at 10 am Gerald thought it was 11am, he had put his watch forward instead of back when we crossed into SA. Lots of wind farms. Once again we didn't want to go too far so we are in a little town Southend. Its a forshore camp but we have been told its been beautiful all week but the wind will get up tomorrow.

Gerald got a surf rod, reel and gear for $90 so after we had a walk along the beach he assembled it and I did the washing.

Day 4

21st May 2009
Left Port Fairy at 11.15 we were going to stay another night but after asking when we check in were there any restrictions about running the generator and told there were none, when we put it on for three mins to cook the toast a man came and looked at us and went off to the office we think and then the camp ute came round and looked at us then I get a phone call from the office telling us they don't allow generators.

So we are heading to Mt Gambia. At Yamba we say heaps of wind farms. We wanted to find a Wollies in Mt Gambia and Geralds pretty good he took all there streets I didn't have clue where we were going, I don't think he knew either, but he found us a Woolies. The girl at the check out was excellent she let us pay in three separate lots so we could get a few fuel vouchers. Then I had to go back for the things I had forgotten when we had gone shopping.

Didn't want to travel much further so we thought Tantanoola sounded like a nice little place with two free camps. One was right opposite the pub nice but a bit exposed couldn't find the other one but did find a very nice grassy spot with horses for company. Had a nice BBQ for tea. Gerald got his Sat dish out so we Central Seven for our news, thankgoodness we decided to head west the poor people in SE Qld and NSW with all the floods.

Day 3

20th May 2009

Left Wye River at 10.45 continued on along the Great Ocean Road. Had lunch at the Lock Ard Arch. We have travelled up through the Great Otway National Park a bit rainforesty..new word...We keep comparing the scenery to places in Tassie

Several Victorians were concerned that we would have trouble with our bus along the Great Ocean Road. It had nothing on the Sidling, Weldborough or Elephant Pass, heaps of pull off for the slower vehicles.

Eventually found a caravan park in Port Fairy, the lady was very helpful when we were checking in.

Day 2

19th May 2009
Left our cabin at 6.00am and had breakfast. We were off the boat by 7.20am and headed to my cousins at Williamstown. We had brought our GPS system TrackRanger but the new receiver had only arrived the day we left. We had to get Ty the comp wiz to get it all installed and working on the old laptop. We got away from there at 12.45 and headed for the Great Ocean Road perfect day. We were going to stay at Anglesea there was a lovely spot with shops just across the road, but free camping is not encouraged and the caravan park showed in the book from $35 to $65 and we wouldn't be using any of the services. So we didn't get our chook for tea or breakfast from the bakery in Anglesea. We moved on to Wye River the caravan park by the beach was closed for winter and there was another one but it had boom gates etc., not for us on our first night. One of the girls at the shop directed us to a large empty carpark. TV is ok. Gerald hasn't even bothered with his dish, he is busy with the new GPS system. So here we are facing each other with our laptops.

Day 1

18th May 2009
Well its finally arrived time for our big adventure. Left Bridport at 12.05 and headed into Launceston and fueled up, then on to Ulverstone to say goodbye to the family. We arrived at Devonport at 6.30pm only had to wait about 10 min be fore we were waved onto the Spirit. I was amazed at all the caravans and motorhomes waiting to get on about 30. Had tea in the Waves and then went and watched a movie. That filled in a bit of time, then back to our cabin and set the alarm of 5.30am as we were told that we were in the first group to get off the boat.

14th May 2009

Only three days to go. Fixed up the insurance on the house have to pay a little bit extra after 90 days but get a rebate on the car as it wont be used. We are still waiting for the antenna for the navigational system. Every now and then I think of something to put in the bus so I wander out and put it in. We seen to have heaps of room, but I suppose on Sunday night it will be pretty full.

We have had the bus serviced and got new filters and oil to take with us. We got an extra expandable water tank Gerald has fitted it under the bed and by using gravity it will fill the main tank when needed.

2nd May 2009

We have been looking for a GPS system to go on the laptop. We got a system called Trackranger but we still have to wait for the GPS receiver to come as our Navman hasn't got HMEA. Now I will have to go and read about all the tips and hints I can find. I have also brought Nomad Notes to keep records of our trip and expenses.

24th April 2009

That's it the factory have told us we have reached quota this morning and we finished. So we have booked the boat we are off on the 18th May, its so exciting

April 2009

Won't be long before the spuds will be finished and we will be able to book on the boat. I have been reading all the blogs I can about travelling round our beautiful country. I have purchased a Dream Pot and I have been testing out some of the recipes.

Easter 2009

Wow got four days off for Easter so we headed to Ansons. Just vegged out after working 12 hour shifts on the spuds. Went wood hooking and helped burn out some stump on the block. Did get a chance to use the camp oven. You really can't beat a meal cooked like that.

March 2009 Carlton Surf Carnival

Went down to Merilyn and Johns at Acton and spent two nights there. Gerald helped John set up his satellite dish for his caravan. Down to Carlton Beach where Jack (Alexander) was competing. On the way down we noticed water on the kitchen floor we couldn't understand where it was coming from. Gerald had installed a roll out BBQ so we used that each night for tea the weather was quite mild. But now the water had soaked the carpet up near the driver's seat. Gerald and Mandy decided that it might be the toilet leaking but after much investigation it was found that the outside shower connection had split and was leaking. So that was closed off and we know why the water didn't seem to last and why the pump kept activating. Up to Jill and Arthur's for the night. On the way home we caught up with Lorraine and Francis at Campbell Town at the caravan park. There were six other vans there and all were from Queensland.

Musselroe Bay February 2009

Down to Musselroe next with three other camping family's in their vans. Once again the wind blew up, we had our awning in but Bill had to get up through the night and pull his down and unfortunately his dinghy blew away and it was found by a fishing boat.

It turned out to be a sad trip Holly must have been bitten by a snake because when we got home she kept throwing up and died on the Sunday night.
RIP HOLLY

Ansons Bay

Our next adventure was down to visit friends at Ansons Bay. And what a trip down it was. It was blowing so hard that our awning came loose and all we could do was tape up the strut's with 100 mile an hour tape. It wasn't till the next day we could pull it out and roll it up properly thankfully no real damage

Sloop Rock

We (grandsons Jake 16 yo,Jack 12yo,Gerald and myself)headed off to St Helens and stopped at Scottsdale for supplies and then Derby for lunch couldn't stop in the designated area had Holly (dog) with us. On to Sloop Rock where we had had a family shack for years and even though the boys had been there when they were very small, I wanted to show it to them again. We were only suppose to be there for two nights but the boys enjoyed swimming and boarding in the lagoon that we stayed another night. We did run short on water with all the showers the boys had. Anyway it was a successful trip. Lucky we had the vacuum cleaner to get rid of all that black sand.

8th January 2009

Day 6

Up at 6 am and had breakfast. Forth off the boat and on our way to Mandy’s at 7.10am. Picked up Jake and Jack and on the Rosemary and Tony’s. Left there about 10am on to Launceston Maccas for lunch and filled LPG at Mowbray. Home at 1pm. Holly wasn’t too sure she barked and backed away until Gerald spoke to her.

7th January 2009

Day 5

Bit cold today in trousers. A few sprinkles of rain. Watching the tennis. Discovered how to turn on the heater, but can’t find the instructions, have to google it. Can’t go to the boat till about 6pm. Had to line up for a while so we watched some Stargate. Easy on no problems. Had a nice tea on the boat, did a tour of the boat and off to bed and watched some Stargate.

6th January 2009

Day 4

Discovered yesterday that we have an outside shower so Gerald used it to fill our bucket to wash the bugs off the windscreen. But it sounds like he is washing a lot more. Left Seymour at 10am filled with gas only 35.9c with our 4c discount. Ended up at Puckerpunyal , don’t know how we both missed the turn off to the highway. Late lunch at a truck stop near Broadford. Heaps of time to get to Pats. I had Google Earth on but the street names aren’t the same so we had to rely on Nat and she did the right thing. I had programmed in the Esplanade in as Pats street wasn’t in Nat memory. Arrived at about 1.30pm. Had coffee and then had a shower and watched the tennis. Virginia and Roger arrived about 6.30 and we had tea at the bowling club $10 pama and pot. Nice quiet night parked on the reserve across the street from Pats.

5th January 2009

Day 3

Not a bad night could hear the traffic. Left at about 10.30 went to Lavington to shop at Woolies, Safeway. Got our Collingwood mat and Gerald and I both got new $10 shirts mine hot pink for Jane McGrath day. Drove round trying to find a dump site. No one seemed to know. So we set off again and decided to go to a caravan park for the experience. We ended up at the Highlands Caravan Park in Seymour, where we were able to empty our black and grey water. It was very hot today so it was nice to plug into power and have the air con all night. I drove the last 100 or so kms.

4th January 2009

Day 2

Sat beside the weir for breakfast left at 11.30 and experimented with the awning.
This morning we went to the Yass truck stop and fueled up Gerald did the LPG and I did the ULP, no problems. But was there a line up for fuel, but I suppose it was one of the busiest days of the year with everyone, well almost, having to go back to work tomorrow. 500ks and put in 156lt at 62c. Bus performed flawlessly.

Stopped at Tarcutta for lunch (home made egg sandwiches) at 3pm. Then on towards Albury. Gerald saw a rest area with another Explorer in it which looked ok so we turned round and went in there for the night . But where we put ourselves the cars and trucks that came in did circles and crunched the gravel so we moved over to where the other Explorer was. Nice couple with two dogs and their daughter and granddaughter in a car and caravan, they are heading slowly back to the Casino area. Arrived at 4.30 total km 737

3rd January 2009

Day 1
Left Graham and Ann’s about 8.30. Followed Graham to Australian Motorhomes, saw Graham and Anne’s new bus very nice. Spent more on essentials there.

Then off on the road. The M7 was so rough it bounced the plates off the shelf. Gerald drove beautifully. Next we had to pull into a weigh bridge and the boys there come in and inspected us just for themselves they said they like to get the moterhomes in on a slow day. We had lunch at Berrima yesterday and then it took us another 25 min to find our way back to the highway Nat wasn’t any help, we programmed the wrong thing into her. Anyway back on the Old Hume Highway and I (Lee) took over and I merged us back onto the highway and into another truck stop and was waved back to the highway. Gerald mean time had control of the books and found us a nice little town of Gunning for the night. It was very nice next to a weir with birds and ducks. We set up our table and chairs and had nibblies. The bug zapper works a treat.

Back to the beginning. It all started when last December when we flew up to Sydney then trained to Newcastle and saw the "Bus". It was exactly what we wanted we had been looking at different motorhomes for while and this had everything. After Christmas with all the family in Queensland we flew down to Newcastle and on the 1st Jan we had our new home. Anne and Graham the previous owners were so helpful taking us to the shops and camping stores. So after two nights in their drive we were off home to Tassie

Well this is all new to me, creating a Blog and all and then having it posted for our family to see what we are doing on our big trip.