Day 56 Up The East Coast 2011

Sean, Jake and Ben got home at 2.30 am, they didn't catch a thing and it got a bit choppy.

We dumped and filled the bus with water. Then we poked round the car finding out how the Nav system, USB, TV and radio worked. Gerald discovered that there is a backing camera but we couldn't get it up on the screen. But Dena's ipod worked on it.

Dena cooked a beautiful roast pork, and Sean brought up the idea again about Christmas up here. Sean rang Mandy to see what she thought of the idea. Then he rang his brothers to see how they thought. So it looks like EVERYBODY may be Christmassing together!!!!!! And 3 dogs and a bird.

Day 55 Up The East Coast 2011

Dena and I went over to Kims and we had our nails done. Sean Jake and Ben went fishing, so Dena and I grocery shopped and Gerald detailed the car.

Day 54 Up The East Coast 2011

The owner of the Landcruiser came over and got some cash. Gerald got the exhaust fixed and he fixed the light on the numberplate and the battery strap which needed to be done for the RW.

I did my usual, oh no I didn't Jake washed up, wouldn't let me do it, so I just cooked, well not even cook just organised toppings for home made Pizzas. Which were yum.

Day 53 Up The East Coast 2011

Gerald and I went to Beenleigh to organised the funds to buy the car once the RW is done and that can't be done till Wednesday. We both wanted sunglasses and we got the boys some socks, they always seem to be looking for some.

Sean mentioned that we could all go up the coast for Christmas instead of the Maddens all coming over to Tassie, which would cost them a fortune. The reason for coming was that Dena wanted to spend time with her family.

Day 52 Up The East Coast 2011

Jake had to take Dena to work so that we could have her car. Jake and Gerald went to Jimboomba and got Jakes springs. They had a lot of trouble getting the first spring in. So they left it and we went and looked at the car, which seemed ok but needed a road worthy which every car, van, motorbike etc has to have before it can be sold. Rod, the seller, let us take the car and organise the RW. Jake got the guy at BP North McClain to do it this afternoon.

Back to the springs in Jakes ute and Jake discovered that it you take the hand break off everything slips in very easily.

Day 51 Up The East Coast 2011

This afternoon we searched the net for a little car, there were several but they didn't state where they were. Just out of curiosity's we looked at Landcruisers and found on just over at Beenleigh and the seller had left a phone number. Gerald rang and it had only been on the net 20 mins.

Day 50 Up The East Coast 2011

Brandon, Jake and I moved the wood on the back of Brandon's ute. Jake and I cleaned the boat, couldn't do too much because we are short on water, just washed the salt off it.

Sean had a half day and he and the boys worked on the bikes.

Jake and Gerald cooked Taco's for tea.

Day 49 Up The East Coast 2011

We were sitting in the yard talking about cleaning out the boat and the next thing we....Sean Jake and I were on the road up to Port Brisbane fishing again. It was an absolutely perfect day. We found a spot and got lots of bite and a few little Squire and then I thought I got a snag but it turned out to be a Shovel Nose Shark I had fowl hooked it but I still caught it Jake and Sean cut it's head off and bleed it before I got pic. Ben got one on Dena's phone so I will have to get that and post it I was soo excited I cant wait till Nanny cooks it she does flake soooo well

Day 48 Up The East Coast 2011

All the family except Brandon and ther dog decided to go fishing. We went to Horizon Shores to launch the boat and headed towards Peel Island. It was a lovely day we got lots of bites and a few little fish Parrot, Bream Squire and little Snapper. Still an excellent day with the family. Dena put some pics on Facebook I will try to get some for here.

Day 47 Up The East Coast 2011

Brandon went and got Jake from the PA. They at the PA had him on a bike and so when he got home he got on his push bike and rode it round the yard, he need to exercise it.

Day 46 Up The East Coast 2011

We were going to visit Jake but we figured that it would be more helpful for him for us to track down the springs for his car as he has to go to physo three times a week when he gets home. He did mention to Dena I thought Gran and Duke were coming to visit. But he did have a female visitor there from 12 to 4 pm so I don't really think we were missed.

Day 45 Up The East Coast 2011

Dena took Jake to the PA and she text me to say that he was in pre-op at 8.30. He actually went into theatre at 12.40 and out at 3 pm, he woke up at 4.30.

I lite the fire and we are having mince and mashed potato for tea, gee its hard to think of something different for tea.

Day 44 Up The East Coast 2011

Jake rang up and has to be at the PA (Princess Alexandra) hospital at 8am tomorrow.

Made Chicken Caesar Salad and Ham Steaks for tea.

Day 43 Up The East Coast 2011

Holiday today we didn't much today, just unpacked and did a bit of washing.

Day 43 Up The East Coast 2011

Holiday today we didn't much today, just unpacked and did a bit of washing.

Day 42 Up The East Coast 2011

Dwayne was up early and got a couple of nice Bream. The weigh in was between 7.30 and 9am. Sean, Dwayne, and Mark went up to see if they were winners but everything was so drawn out they came back and as the weather wasn't pleasant we all decided to come home. We left at 12.30pm

As soon as we crossed to the Queensland side if the boarder the sun came out and Gerald said I bet Sean is saying where can we go and fish. Which he said he was when we got home.

Day 41 Up The East Coast 2011

It was an ok day, weak sunshine the boys are down fishing. In NSW you have to have a permit to fish, a three day permit is $6 per person. Sean caught a small Dart and Dwayne got a small Taylor. That was all in the morning and they had to registered for the comp by 12 o'clock and that is $30 per person just Sean, Dwayne and Mark registered there was a boat as one of the prizes.

Where we parked it was near the beach access so we had cars going past us so we couldn't really sit round in a large group. Evendentally you weren't suppose to camp there but they are a bit relaxed because of the fishing comp and we tried all the caravan parks but they were all booked out.

They boys moved down the beach near a gutter and fished but didn't get anything.

Early evening it started to rain.

Day 40 Up The East Coast 2011

Its the Queens Birthday long weekend and there is a fishing comp at Pottsville NSW so Dena, Sean, Jake, Ben Tilly the dog and Fang the bird are going down in D & S bus Brandon and his girlfriend are going in his ute and sleeping in the back of the bus. Gerald and I are going in our bus. Dwayne and Coadie in their 4X4 and trailer and Mark (Dwayne other son) and his girlfriend in his ute and slid-on. We eventually set off at 5.55.

We had found a spot on Google Earth that we could camp in, but when we got there it was blocked off with big rocks. Eventually we found a spot at about 8pm and the guys went down and started fishing in the dark.

Day 39 Up The East Coast 2011

Gerald is fixing Jakes bumper. I washed up and washed our towels. Ham steak and pineapple for tea tonight.

Day 38 Up The East Coast 2011

Gerald is fixing Jakes bumper. I washed up and washed our towels. Ham steak and pineapple for tea tonight.

Day 37 Up The East Coast 2011

Up early went with Dena and dropped Brandon off at the Logan Hospital for his physo and took Dena to work. Then back to pick up Brandon and on to Browns Planes where I had to get new cartridges for my printer they haven't run out just dried up.

Gerald wanted a new TV for the bus and as we all know it Gerald wants a TV Gerald gets a TV who am I to argue

Day 36 Up The East Coast 2011

Gerald ran a cable to my back TV so I can watch satellite in the back room.

Washed up sausages, eggs and chips for tea tonight.

Day 35 Up The East Coast 2011

Jake and Sean went beach fishing down the Gold Coast.

We didn't do anything much. The days are warm and sunny but the nights are cool.

Day 34 Up The East Coast 2011

Jake went out last night and ran off the road the police came and put an unroad worthy sticker on the car so he couldn't bring it home, and no he hadn't been drinking the first thing we all asked. Dena had to go and get him at 2 am.

Dena and I went over to Kims and had our nails done. Sean and Jake went and got Jakes car. He has smashed in the bumper. We were going to leave this week but it looks like Gerald has the job of fixing the car and fibre glassing and bogging it.

Jake and Sean went fishing from the beach on the Gold Coast this evening.

Day 33 Up The East Coast 2011

We may not have to pay for accommodation or gas or petrol staying here, but every time (it seems) when we borrow one of the cars its always in empty and shopping for seven is more expensive than for two.

Just the usual washing up and cooking.

The evenings are getting a bit cooler.

Day 32 Up The East Coast 2011

Just the usual washing up and getting tea ready, bit of washing.

The thing I notice is that I am used to cooking for just the two of us and quite often we will have a chicken salad or scrambled eggs. But cooking for seven was a big learning curve and I can't expect three hard working men to just eat eggs.

Day 31 Up The East Coast 2011

Just the usual washed up and got tea ready. Dean said she and Sean appreciate that there is a meal waiting for them when they get home.

A couple of days it has been a bit cool so I have had the fire a lite when they get home, because they are getting home in the dark now. They have such long days.

Day 30 Up The East Coast 2011

Had Dena;s car today and had to have Brandon to the hospital early for his physo appointment.

Then up to Brisbane to Xtreme Hobbies Gerald has brought several parts online from them and a couple didn't work properly. On to Laceys TV for some parts for Seans satellite dish.

Home and I washed up and got tea ready.

Day 29 Up The East Coast 2011

Had Brandon's ute today so over to Jimboomba shopping. Washed up and cooked for tea.

There was a lot of thunder and lightening and then down came the hail there was a mad scramble and Jake managed to get his ute under our awing. Dena's car was in the carport but the boat is in there too so no room for Brandon's

I took some pics with my phone I just have to figure out how to get them to the comp and I will down load them. But as quick as it started the hail finished and then there was rain,

Day 28 Up The East Coast 2011

Dena and I took clean clothes for the fishing boys over to Sean's brother
Dwyane at Beenleigh. Then went to the weigh in to see if they had won anything....No not a thing.

Day 27 Up The East Coast 2011

Dena drove Jakes ute and I drove her car over to Andrew Jessup's (ex Bridport boy) and he will fix the lights and air bag light.

Then we went to a shop called Battlers they sell all types of food and veg at a very cheap price but its not always the same thing that they have, if you are a member $25, you also get free stuff, this week it was bread, bread rolls, apples, potatoes, milk and heaps of other things.

Then to the Sara Lea discount shop and the frozen discount shop.

Jake, Ben and Sean have gone fishing over night.

Day 26 Up The East Coast 2011

Jake tried to get a safety certificate for his ute. The seller is suppose to get one before its sold, but there wasn't one $500 fine for the seller if he is caught. The result is that he has to take the air bags out, they raise and lower it and get new tyres. And get the air-bag light fixed.

Day 25 Up The East Coast 2011

Went over to Woollies. Cooked and washed up.

Day 24 Up The East Coast 2011

Cleaned up the yard a bit and Brandon and Gerald went to the tip. Next project put on the new front door. Dena works for a locksmith so I have had to send pics to her so she can get a lock for the door.

I have been catching up on my blog and Anne dropped a gentle hint yesterday.

Day 23 Up The East Coast 2011

With all the chops we got in the meat tray I cooked up a nice stew in Dena's slow cooker.

Gerald and I went over to Jimboomba and got pipes to fix the tanks. Which Gerald did and the boys Brandon and cousin Cody cleaned out the gutters.

Day 22 Up The East Coast 2011

It rained very heavily on and off over night so in the morning Gerald was measuring up to fix the down pipes when it came down again at least it wasn't cold. All the tanks would have been full if Gerald had been a bit quicker to organise himself.

Day 21 Up The East Coast 2011

Sean Jake and Ben came home this morning with only one fish to take to the weigh in. So we headed down to the Gem Hotel just out of Beenleigh for lunch and the weigh in unfortunately Sean only came second. The Fishing Club run meat raffle's and we in the end came out about even with all the money we spent Gerald and Dena won but not me so I played the pokies and won there.

Day 20 Up The East Coast 2011

Sean, Jake and Ben went fishing. Dena and I went over to her friends place to get our nails done and the out for lunch. It took them sooo long to serve us that they kept apologising and we got our coffees for free, but will say it was worth waiting for.

Day 19 Up The East Coast 2011

Just a relaxing day reading etc. at least its warm

Day 18 Up The East Coast 2011

When Ben came home from school today we went up to Browns Plains did a little bit of shopping, Brandon got two pairs of white sneakers, just cheapies, but that's what he wanted.

We met Dena there and swapped cars and Brandon took his ute home and Dena Ben Duke and I had Maccas and went to see Pirates of the Carribean in 3D. We all know how Gerald love the pictures

Day 17 Up The East Coast 2011

Just read and caught up on house?? bus work

Day 16 Up The East Coast 2011

Not a lot today caught with my washing. Have to be careful with water even thought they have had lots of rain Dena and Sean (D&S in future) lost their big tank in the storms and one of the others isn't connected.

Waited most of the day for a call about Tilley, it came at about 4.30, it looks like she has problem with her spine. We went and collected her $321.00 and got all the instruction about her having two weeks bed rest. Yeah right she is a very active dog.

Day 15 Up The East Coast 2011

Last year when we came back the dog had died and we had to take Brandon to the hospital for a wrist fracture.

When Dena woke this morning Tilley their remaining dog couldn't walk so she had to be raced to the vet. Dena was going to take Brandon's ute to work because we had to take Brandon to the Logan hospital to have his shoulder examined. It was too late for her to go to work, so Brandon Dena and I went to the fracture clinic at Logan Hospital. Was told originally that he would have to wait twelve months to get an appointment at the shoulder clinic, the doctor was appalled and said that Brandon needs to start physo and should have keyhole surgery on the shoulder asap.

Day 14 Up The East Coast 2011

Not a lot today just BBQ and caught up with family news.

Day 13 Up The East Coast 2011

Sean had to work today so we headed off to Browns Plains for shopping. I got the new Camps 6 book and Dena wanted to go to Rivers for new work shoes and gumboots and I found a pair of shoes that would go with my jeans.

On to Bunnings for bits and pieces, one of Geralds favourite shops along with Harvey Norman.

Day 12 Up The East Coast 2011

Did a dump of our used water and headed out at 9 am. Filled with fuel and it was 76.9 per lt last time 73.5, but we did see it at one of the for 81.0, so it pays to look round.

We had lunch at Warwick and figured we would make it to Dena and Sean's today.

The was a lot of road works coming through Cunningham's Gap because of all the rain there had been several land slips and we had to wait at four sets of lights, so it took a bit longer.

Brandon and his cousin Cody were home when we arrived so we parked the bus and not long after everyone arrived home.

Day 11 Up The East Coast 2011

Not as nice today there is a cool wind blowing. As we are off tomorrow we washed all the bugs off the front of the bus and a bit of packing up the clothes line and table. We haven't had the awning out and found that everyone has put theirs away too.

Day 10 Up The East Coast 2011

Washing day again, love my little twin tub, and the sun will have it dry in no time. Off to the pools.

Day 9 Up The East Coast 2011

Time to report my last earnings, glad that's finished, or Gerald is.

We did dump and go into Moree and shop, but that didn't take long. Back to the spas. And at long last I have caught up on the blog. The way to do it is gradually coming back, I think I had to have three tries last year.

Day 8 Up The East Coast 2011

New neighbours. We were going to dump our black and grey water and do some grocery shopping but we just lazed round, sunning ourselves... And soaking....

Day 7 Up The East Coast 2011

Swam and read. Found my camera charger so I will take some pics of the pools etc.

Day 6 Up The East Coast 2011

New neighbours. Two swims. Started on the blog but I stuffed up so I gave up.

Day 5 Up The East Coast 2011

During the night Gerald heard three loud bangs, thought it was gun fire and then there were sirens. When we left this morning at the top of the hill was a burnt out truck and it was still smouldering and the fire brigade was still hosing it. So that was where the bangs were from the exploding truck.

On to Moree, we have booked here for a week, the deal is pay for six and get the seventh night free. They have put us in a nice sunny spot, but everyone is very close.

Had a lovely swim, soak whatever 35,36,37 and 39 degrees. Heaven

Day 4 Up The East Coast 2011

Left Forbes at 10.15, as usual one of the last to leave. In Camps 5 it says 24 hours, but in the park it says 48.

On to Dubbo for fuel 0.799 per lt. last year 0.699.

Last year we travelled too far and we were very late finding a spot for the night, Gerald wanted to get TV and watch Collingwood. So this year we stopped where I wanted to last year and we had all the TV channels and Mystar. That was Hickey Falls Camps 5 924.

Day 3 Up The East Coast 2011

Left at 9.40 and on to Narrandera for fuel it was 0.799 per lt and last time same place 0.709. At Grong Grong there were sever R.T.A. cars who they were checking we don't know but they were right on the side of a 90 deg bend. Lunch at West Wyalong again at the Lions Park. LPG was 0.879 there glad we had go it before.

We were travelling along when we say a motorhome coming towards us with flashing lights and hands waying, when they got close enough we could see that they were from Tassie, but they must have known the bus to recognised from that distance, I suppose we will find out in time.

Parked for the night at Forbes, along side the river once again Camps 5 site 950

Day 2 Up The East Coast 2011

The bing bongs went off at about 5.30 and they were soon calling for drivers and we were fourth off the boat. We went to Pat and Ty's for a wonderful breakfast.

Went and filled the bus with LPG and ULP, last year at the same servo gas was 0.542 and this year it was 0.577.

On to Seymour and stocked up with food and six bottles of wine.

We picked a spot in Jerilderie, Camps 5 site 975

Day 1 Up The East Coast 2011

Left home at 2.30 and went through to Rosemary and Tony's at Ulverstone. Mandy and Jack came over and after our goodbyes we were at the boat at about 7.40. Had a bit of time to wait but we sorted out a few things.

Where they put the bus it was "not so squeeze". We Had a drink at the bar and then went and had tea which was sooo much better than last time. Back to the cabin to watch a DVD on the computer.