Day 156

Programed Puffing Billy into Nat today and she took us right there but we were too late for the big trip from Belgrave to Gemstone we could have done it tomorrow if we wanted to but there was a Lunch Train $85 each but we thought it was worth it, but it was booked out so we just went on the trip to Lakeside. I am sure that we would have enjoyed the lunch trip, the cattle class wasn't that good I am glad we didn't take the long trip, but you get what you pay for.

While we were sitting waiting for a train back for 30 minutes noticed an add for a model railway and mentioned to Gerald and he disappeared, but he only had a short time to look so we will have to go back tomorrow.

Day 155

When we left Echuca we noticed that the irrigation channels were a lot fuller than they were two years ago.

Today we passed hundreds of motorbikes, must have been at Phillip Island.

When brought the bus home last year we stayed in Seymore, but didn't see it in full, but we couldn't fit under the railway bridge so we went to the Information Centre to find out how to get out of the town. We had to take the truck route.

Shepperton was a very nice town. We saw lots more vineyards and Olive groves. Went on to look at the Eildon Dam and that is still only 30.5% full.

Then we were in the area of the bushfires earlier this year. It amazing how the bush has managed to regenerate, some of the trees were only burnt on one side, but the people are still in the process of rebuilding.

Day 154

Last time we were here Gerald went to the Holden Museum, but it was so hot he was uncomfortable, so he was very keen to go back. I wasn't that interested, but Gerald came back and got me and it was only $5 and it was worth it.

Day 153

I am going to write to Wollies and suggest they put out a broacher with their locations and GPS locations and whether they have parking for car and caravans etc. Also whether there is a Wollies SS and its locations. Because one of the first things when you hit a town is to get groceries and or fuel.

Yesterday we decided we would head home and so we rang up and couldn't get the bus on till the 25th Oct and no cabins available only sit up, if wanted a cabin it wouldn't be till the 5th November. No pensioner or CMCA discounts and we couldn't get on any wait lists for cabins or wait lists, but the girl said keep ringing and asking.

Not a lot today just washing. We had booked for two nights but decided on a third and when I booked it was for Sunday night and that is evidentially cheaper, first time we have come across that. Just a couple of pics of the Murray where we stayed

Day 152

Toady we saw Pink Lady Apple orchards and would you believe a grove of Cricket Bat Willows, they didn't look like regular willow trees.

At Lake Boga which has a rowing club and sailing club but no water Gerald found the Catalina Flying Boat museum.

On to Echuca Information Centre and found out the best place to shop was over in NSW in Moama where Wollies cater for large vehicles. So we stayed on that side in the Shady River Holiday Park

Day 151

Today we were in three states, SA NSW and Vic. Drove through the Brossa Valley, their grape seemed well in advance than those we saw in the Clare. Our of all the vineyards the only one that I recognised was Banrock Station. The grape growers must be doing well nearly all the vineyards had new houses on them and big ones. Also saw lots of olive groves. Stayed the night in the Piangil North Rest Area once again next to the Murray.

Day 150

Heading towards the Murray River today.

We used the back roads today and even though the towns looked little on the map most of them had everything there that you need. In one little town Yacka in the middle of nowhere we saw another Tassie car and camper trailer. We passed lots of vineyards and grain crops.

Went through Clare and it was only 13 deg but it has warmed up now we are here at Waikerie parked next to the Murray.

Gerald is outside waiting to get a pic with the sun shinning on the bus. Well the up shot of that is Gerald got bitten by black ants and ran back to the bus screaming and shedding his clothes.

Day 149

And blew and rained, so we packed up in between showers.

We had lunch at Kimba where they have the Big Galah,I got a pic at 20km an hour

We were lucky today we had a tailwind so pics were taken at 100km. We decided to head inland to take a different route home. We actually saw green hills had to take a pic of that and acres of purple wild flowers. When we stopped for the night the purple flowers were by the bus so I went for a close up and they werefull of little prickles.

Day 148

It blew all night our bus weighs about 9 ton and it was rocking. So I rang the park office at 8.30 and booked in for another night then went back to bed.

It eased off in the afternoon and Gerald went out and washed the bugs off the windows and cleaned the wheels. Well we all know if Gerald washed his wheels we either go on a dirt road or it rains...well it rained and rained

Day 147

Got a bit windy during the night so we had to get up about 5am and put the awning away

Had to apply to get Impaja and Central 7 got Impaja alright but still haven't got 7 yet so we had to watch the race on GWN they are 2 1/2 hours behind SA lucky they started their broadcast at 6am WA time.

Anyway seeing the awning was away we went up the street and bot fish and chips for lunch and it was lovely the fish was cooked to perfection and large pieces.

I looked out the window during the afternoon and thought I saw rain coming but it was a dust storm, and it didn't stop.

Day 146

When we did our shopping yesterday we got a cooked chook and I noticed that they had flake, I have been hanging out for a decent piece of fish. Anyway I was going to walk up to the town and get some for lunch, but it was so hot I would not have make it.

Any way we did go for a walk and saw some fishermen cleaning what looked like whiting and the pelicans were there to get the scrap's.

Day 145

We decided to spend the Bathurst weekend at Streaky Bay, so that's where we headed after filling at Ceduna only $0.739 per.

Streaky Bay is a very nice town it has everything there. The caravan park is right on the water with fisherman's cabins, family cabins and one of the best set up kitchens that I have seen, with 3 stoves and an inside dinning area plus a an outdoor BBQ area.

So warm there Gerald had to put the air con on.

Day 144

Well we are in South Australia now filled up at the Nullarbor Motel $1.140 per lt. The free camps in SA aren't quite as well set up as the ones in WA the one we ended up in tonight wasn't well sign posted an very near the highway, there was a small bus in there already. It was Koonibba Rest Area and the flies, Gerald had to put his fly net on just to set up his TV dish. We spent a lot of time watching people come in and try and fight off the flies while trying to find the right place for their vans.

But we did see the shoe tree and I think there was a bra tree and the nicker tree

Day 143

The Nullarbor, well the WA side it has really been cleaned up. Only saw two old burnt out cars.

We fuelled up at Mundura, we also got some unleaded as we have been fighting a head wind. The ULP was $1.772 further along the road at Mundrabilla Roadhouse the ULP was $1.54 that 23c per lt difference, what a rip off. So if you can last fill up at Mundrabilla Roadhouse.

By the way we did stop at the top of the Mudura Pass, Gerald wanted a pic.

But the Nullarbor is long and boring.

Day 142

Had thunder and lightening and a bit of rain last night, but woke to a fine day still in shorts and singlet.

Gerald is a pissed off today we have a huge head wind and we are having to use petrol to keep the speed up only doing 90kl anyway.

I wanted to get a pic of the sign for the 90 mile straight, but I think for now all pics will be taken out of the bus' front window at 80km an hour. We are on our way home and not stopping for anything.

Called into the museum at Belladonia, it was suppose to interactive. Couldn't see anything like that lucky it was free. A big piece of Sky Lab fell there a few years ago.

Diesel was $1.669 there.

Day 141

Rang the Coolgardie post office and Geralds parcels are there so we picked them up and off down to Norseman. I think between Coolgardie and Norseman was the worst bit of road that we have been on very roly couldn't even drink our cups of tea.

At Norseman we did a bit of shopping as we will lose our vegies when we go over the boarder. We also filled with LPG.

We kept going for a while and ended up at a free camp Forest Range Rest Area, quite nice even had a dump point.

Day 140

When we got up this morning we were the only ones left every the 4 wheel bikes had gone.

About half an hour later we heard bikes coming through the bush about 6 dirt bikes then their vehicles arrived and they kept coming in the end there were about 30 bikes and cars. They rode out and came back for lunch then out again and back for afternoon tea. Brought back memories when we used to go bush on our bikes. Dena had text me that Brandon, who was competing in the Australian Championships in Sale hadn't had a good day with 3 DNF out of five races. But he still came 17th overall in the 85 class and 19th overall in the 125's and wasn't sure with the 250's but within the top 40, she said they were going home with 3 broken bikes.

Anyway Gerald spent the day constructing a model plane and I watched Dr Who on UKTV and read. Got a heap of second hand books in Bolder

Day 139

Had to go to the chemist in Kalgoorlie this morning to pick up my script, (the chemist was from Devonport) they didn't have the item yesterday and got it from Perth the next day, somethings can move quickly up here.

Had brunch in Bolder while we waited for our tour. There was an half hour induction where we had to learn about safety in the mine. We were also told that we could take pics but we;t allowed to publish them with out permission. The tour was great expensive $55 each with our discounts normally $60 but it did go for two and a half hours.

Back to Wollies to do some shopping, bit busy but found out they close at 5pm and aren't open on Sundays.

Back at camp the 4 wheelers rode round till about 8pm, not that that worried us.

Day 138

Parcels weren't there again this morning so we headed for Kalgoorlie. There is a free camp just 12 kl out of town so we called and had a look it was fine but Gerald had washed the wheels the night before and it was 3.5 kl down a good dirt road, but dirt just the same.

On to the visitors centre, we always go to the centre in what ever town we are in they usually have a map of the town and have lots of information. I find my beauticians address from there and recommendations. When we were here 14 years ago we did the underground tour so this time we booked the Superpit tour for tomorrow. We went to the Museum in town and spent ages there, its by donation.

Back to Lake Douglas for the night. There were another couple of motorhomes there but there was a group with tents and their 4 wheel mororbikes only about 5 bikes and mostly little kids.

Day 137

We filled up with LPG in Merredin and I noticed that diesel was 130.9c per lt. Further down the road I noticed cheap fuel at Westonia but I didn't get a price then again a Yellowdine and it was well diesel anyway 119.9, that's 11c per lt. So If you can hold out get it at Yellowdine, it wasn't as cheap at Coolgardie and 132.9c in Kalgoorlie.

Picture of the fast train between Kalgoorlie and Perth

Anyway back to us. Parcels weren't at the PO so we booked a night at Coolgardie and believe it or not went to the Denver Hotel for tea. Excellent pub meal and reasonable prices, Gerald was tempted to get a menu and take it to our local pub to show them what the need to do, but no one at our local would care we hear that is just as bad as when we left. Well that was our 40th anniversary tea.

Day 136

Spent a freezing night at Gingin. Heading for Merredin today where we broke down in the Fairlane 14 years ago. We were lucky then we had the most awarded Ford mechanic in Australia to work on the car, never did a thing wrong after that.

Merredin is in the heart of the Wheat belt and there were fields of wheat all around us. While we were in the park the Gahn went past, so Gerald was happy. We took a tour on a bus that takes you all round Merredin and the driver was most enthused about his town and had lots of stories. The town trains pilots for Air China, and every building has to manage the rain water that comes off their roof as Merredin only gets 12 inches a year and tries not to draw from the Kalgoorlie pipeline. It was an excellent tour and would recommend it to anyone it goes 9 months a year leaving from the caravan park or will pick up in town at about 4.30 pm, you do get to see a sunset.

Day 135

Headed out today and just because Gerald cleaned the tyres on the bus yesterday it started to rain and they got muddy heading out.

Kept to the coast road and went down as far as Jurien Bay, then had to use Natalie to get us back to the Brand Highway it was very badly sign posted.

Saw a huge wind farm Emu Downs. Lots and lots of wild flowers but it was too wet to get out and take pics.

Day 134

Being school holidays as well as a long weekend I thought some of the shack people would stay, but by lunch time there was just Denise and John and Gerald and myself left. We had decided to stay the extra day as to not get caught up with the traffic heading home.

Went for a walk along the beach the other way today, still full of seaweed and you can tell why its called Cliff Head...lots of cliffs.

Day 133

I said a few days ago that all the shacks were empty, but now they are full with people, kids, dogs and motorbikes. The bike track seems to be round the caravans and motorhomes there are about six or seven of us each night changing most days