Conculsion

This year we didn't do that much sightseeing, more about keening warm and catching up with family and friends.

We traveled a distance of 10,472 km with a fuel cost of LPG $2652.00 and ULP $519.00 total of fuel expenses $3171.00. We had 145 nights away leaving a week later than last year and home a week earlier, the cost $3,155.00 an average of $21.00 per night.
Groceries were $2717.00 and dining out $460.00.

We had a wonderful time and will probably head north next year. No where in particular, just keeping warm and catching up with family and friends.

Hope you enjoyed reading this and apologies for being a bit slack at times.

Cheers
Lee

Day 146 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

After the meal last night there was no way we were going to waste more money on that excuse for food. While we were waiting to go through customs Gerald boiled the kettle and we had a cup of tea...cost nil....taste the best.

In Launceston Gerald went to Harvey Norman and brought his 3D TV. I brought him a new GPS for his belated birthday present.

Home about 11.30

Day 145 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

Ty had to go over to the rail yards to check some things and Gerald went too. When he got back he said he had the best time poking round and Ty had keys to everything. Pat and I looked at our family history and she showed be how to use the net to look for links.

Had to wait a little while to get on the boat, but that was ok. Gerald did wonder if we were going to Pakistan, it seems that all the workers were Pakistani.

We went and had tea and they had changed it to a set price $24 a head and it was the WORST MEAL THAT WE HAVE HAD ANYWHERE. Gerald said we should had got a pie from the bar that would have been better.

Bit rough going through the heads...lovely....we both slept very well

Day 144 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

Left at 9.30 am we are having lunch with my cousins in Williamstown. We all arrived at Pats about the same time.

We went to lunch and caught up my cousins Pat, Virginia, Richard and his wife Louise. Unfortunate Ty (Pats son) had to do a steam train trip, if we had got our act together Gerald would have love to have gone too. Ty didn't get home till after 9 pm.

Day 143 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

We were going to head down to my cousin Pats today but she texted to say the ground opposite was very wet and we would probably get bogged. It had rained here in Benalla all night too. Gerald wasn't looking forward to driving those conditions so we stayed another night.

Gave me a chance to catch up with the washing and this is the first time I have had to use a dryer. It was a gas dryer and did the job very well most impressed.

Just a coincidence but there were three Tassie vans and bus' lined up together.

Day 142 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

It was very noisy last night with trucks going past and they seemed to stop at 5.45am. Really shitty day rain and wind, always seem to have a head wind over the last few days.

Decided to stay at the Benalla show grounds. Gerald rang and got the message "Ah KB here, I am not here be back later". We went to the information centre in Benalla and found that the show was on and we couldn't stay there...out of all the weekend of the year, oh well. Into the caravan park.

Day 141 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

Had the tyres balanced and left about 12.45 pm. Bit of a dreary day and we decided to stop at the place we stopped on the trip back when we got the bus. I thought that it was Tarcutta when we got there it was in a town and then I remembered I was where we brought sunglasses last time that why I knew the name.

The Hume highway has changed so much since we were last Nat our GPS showed us driving through the paddocks. So a lot of the rest stops have changed and most are close to the road and have truck parking. We chose one that on the sign just said rest area. And it was pouring with rain and we both had had enough. So Woomargama it was.

Day 140 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

The caravan park had a group of metal ants that played music near the office there was also an outside model train you had to push the button to make it work.mmmm


Gerald found a Beaurepairs and arranged to have the front wheels balanced tomorrow. So another night in Goulburn

Day 139 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

Left Bathurst at 8.30 am after Mandy had straightened her hair. It didn't take us as long as we thought to get to Penrith to drop Mandy and Jack off and there was a train due just then so straight to the station.

Went to Smithfield and collected our new stearing pump from Metro GM. Turns out Dominic does a lot of the work for Winnebago and knew the previous owner of our bus Grahame.

On to Goulburn for the night

Day 138 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

The day of the big race. A bit overcast. The first lap a car flipped right in front of us, the driver walked away, very lucky.

Not a good day for Ford, but very exciting. Glad we were there.

Unfortunately there had to be someone that spoils things. A group of guys lit a huge fire with pallets and tyres and the fire brigade had to come and put it out.

Day 137 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

Very cold night, Mandy came in early and we put the heaters on didn't take long to heat up the bus.

Walked back over to the Paddock area and Gerald got a jacket and we got them signed by a couple of the Ford drivers.

Jack tried to get his signed by Craig Lowends, but you had to have a ticket and they were all gone by 7 am, you can see who is the most popular driver, but even if he drives a Holden I do like his driver ethics, never blames anyone else and always looks on the bright side.

There about 20 to 30 rent a homes but one of the homes went today and what a mess they left. A lady opposite picked up after them, good on her.

Day 136 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

Not a lot today just watching the practice. There is a radio station that you can tune into and hear the track commentary.

We are able to get up on the top of the bus and have an excellent view. More of the rented motorhomes are arriving every day the guy are between 30 and 40 y.o.a, so far they are behaving well.

Roast pork in the Turbo oven for tea, yum

Day 135 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

Walked over to the Paddock and into the merchandise area. Jack got a couple of T shirts, I got a Ford flag and Jacket, Gerald got a cap and T shirt. But most importantly we got an E Tag now we don't ever have to worry about tolls again.

Back to our area and a few more motor homes have arrived mostly hire ones with 4 or 5 guys in them, now that's the way to go. We were right on Conrod Straight excellent.

Day 134 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

It was an easy drive from Windsor to Penrith. We got there early and did a run to the train station to see where to go. Mandy and Jack arrived at 1 o'clock. They are trying to do road works on the road to Katoomba and there heaps of traffic lights that held everyone up. Jack slept most of the way and Mandy woke him just as the Mount Panorama sign came into view. He thought he was just going to the Blue Mountains.

There we a few motor homes already there in our area, but in one camp site opposite the hotel it looked like they had been there a week.

Gerald spoke to a guy from the place we are getting the pump from and its only 20 min down the road from where we will drop Mandy and Jack off, so we will collect it on Monday

Day 133 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

Foggy when we work this morning. There was a solo Tassie lady with her old german shepherd parked near us , we had met her before at St Lawurance. The gas we got at Shell Jimboomba is shit the bus wont idle or pull up hill. We will never use Shell again. Had to use petrol a lot.

Fuelled up at Singleton. Down through Scone there are lots of horse studs. The Emirates one was especially well set up.

Spent the night at a rest area near Putty. Nice area but the rubbish tins hadn't be emptied for a while and the birds had got in and spread the rubbish everywhere.

Day 132 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

Said good bye to everyone and we are off down the road. Took us half an hour to get fuel at BP Jimboomba.

All we seem to be doing today is climbing its a long drag up through the Cunningham Gap.

Had a call from Dominic to say the pump had arrived from US.

We drove into Stanthorpe to get a pie for lunch and the pie shop was closed for lunch, would you believe.

Stopped at Guyra for the night wet and we didn't even get out of the bus.

Found a tick in my head, that explains probably why I was sick through the night on Friday.

Pic of the Golden Guitar taken at 60 km at Tamworth

Day 131 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

Rained over night but its seems that the riding is going ahead.

Jake rode the 250 and 450, it was unfortunate that there was only Jessies race in between his two events, didn't leave him much time to recover but he still rode very well, just has to remember to stay on the bike. Jessie rode well too after being down at Newcastle.

Joel stayed again overnight in his trailer, its all set up for sleeping and cooking.

Day 130 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

Trevor left today, heading to the coast but probably in NSW.

We settled down to watch the ALF Grand Final, well a win for Collingwood, why couldn't they do that last week.

Brandon arrived back with Joel and Jessie. Jessie in going to ride at Steel Horse same as Jake. Its just a bush track with no table tops or jumps and its in Jimboomba.

We haven't heard from Dominic for a few days and we have to leave here Monday. So we had to get Sean to put the pump back on.

Day 129 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

I was sick through the night , so I just had a lazy day .

Gerald is still trying to track down this pump that is suppose to be coming from America. Dominic says that he will ring back but never does, got us a bit worried. We have to leave here on Monday at the latest.

Day 128 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

Not a lot today. Sean back at work. Gerald and Trevor played helicopters.

Day 127 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

Everyone up early today, but then again Jake does normally leave for work at 4.50 am, Sean at 6.15 am, Dena at 7.40 and Ben for school at 7.55. Gerald, Trevor and Nola left early for the airport because Jake said it would be peak traffic. But it turned out they had plenty of time and Nola was at the airport well in time for her flight.

Day 126 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

Nola flies home tomorrow so she caught up on her washing and she was lucky got everything dry before it rained in the afternoon.

Gerald and Trevor played with their helicopters

Day 125 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

Gerald, Trevor and Nola went for a drive down to the Gold Coast. Trevor thought that it was just surf beaches. He came back not very impressed, but did like the Tamborine Mountain area.

Ben and I just had a nice day to ourselves.

Day 124 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

Jake went to Browns Plains and picked up the fridge in his ute.

Sean had all the help in the world with Gerald and Trevor adding there 2 cents worth about the install of the fridge in the bus. But its in and working.

Day 123 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

One of the few weekends that the Maddens have at home, they are usually off racing.

Off the Bunnings to get a new toilet for the house and some fittings for Sean bus. Then on to Harvey Normans for a fridge for the bus.

Back home to watch the Grand Final, a draw what an anticlimax.

Day 122 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

Nola and Trevor arrived today. Even though we had given them detailed maps we were still waiting for a phone call. Next thing I look up and Trevor was walking up the drive. Had no trouble at all. Got them settled in and it is starting to look like a caravan park at the Maddens.

Unfortunately today I had another episode with my heart we tried all the tricks they had told me about like cold water, hot drink etc, but I had to take a pill. Gerald had to ring the hospital to find out how long I had to wail till it took effect. (with the injection it worked within seconds when it worked) but the pill can take up to two hours and it was almost that long

Day 121 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

Brandon was suppose to be riding down in Newcastle for the Aussie Champ, but with a broken wrist that was out. To stop his being bored at home he went down with his Uncle Joel and his son Jessie. Jessie rides in a younger class.

Nothing for us just a day at home.

Pics of Jake and Ben

Day 120 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

My Turbo oven I got the fan stopped working it last night. So we went to Browns Plains and back to a Good Guys store and they replaced it for me. The Maddens had given me a book voucher for Christmas but it was for QBD and we don't have them in Tassie so I was able to get and up dated version of our Qld book and a couple of others.

Day 119 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

Gerald had read in the Wanderer that there was a Truck Whisper in Jimboomba and he made an appointment to take the bus down to him today. He had only had it a short time and he rang to say come and get it he may have found the problem. The problem we have had all last year with the shuddering in the steering. He seem to think that it was the steering pump. Gerald rang Winnebago and they put him on to Dominic in Sydney and he said he wanted pics of the pump emailed to him. Sean got the pump out and we took the pics and email them.

Meanwhile I went over to Jimboomba to have my nail done and the lady there said her daughter has had the same problem with her heart as I have had and the name of the syndrome is Wolff Parkinson White and we looked it up on the comp and it was spot on.

Day 118 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

It has been raining on and off all weekend so Sean is home from work "wet days".

We went up to Browns Plains and got some plumbing for Sean bus. Home and worked on the bus.

Day 117 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

There was suppose to be races at Stanmore, but it rained all night so we thought they would be cancelled and Jake went out to a party when we got home last night. But they only got a few drops at Stanmore any way Jake was a bit "tired".

So a nothing day just with family.