Day 75 - BFN to home/Dimboola to Hahndorf
8 oktober, Australien ⋅ 🌬 18 °C
I managed to wake up around 6, which was great - an early start for the final leg home.
Only 330 odd kms to go. Pretty standard uneventful drive although I hit some fairly heavy rain and strong winds around Merredin. The strong head winds have a massive impact on fuel efficiency or should I say inefficiency.
I must admit it was great seeing some familiar sites. The famous bakery in Bakers Hill……but the urge to get home was stronger than a good pepper steak pie.
I certainly didn’t miss Perth drivers. It wasn’t long before you come across clowns that jump in front of you minimising the perfect distance you create to safely bring a 6.5 ton car and caravan combination to a safe stop. They’d be the first to whinge if you rear ended them.
Made it home to see Gail (masked up), Bri (ready to pop), and Jarryd Meg and Evie all waiting for me.
Made the long journey all worth it.
As for the Fabulous Five it was pack up and move day again.
I’m told it was another 4 hour odd drive to Hahndorf. I rang to let them know I had made it home safely, and caught Peter as he was navigating the narrow streets of Hahndorf.
Today was one of those special days Gail and I so wanted to be there for.
Unbeknown to Anne, our special friends Steve and Vicki and Steph flew in to surprise her for her birthday, which is next Wednesday.
I’m led to believe the Fantastic Five went to a local drinking establishment. The ruse was, they took the dogs for a walk searching for wallabies and upon their return the new guests surprised her.
No doubt the celebrations continued into the night.
It may eventuate that daily updates might be in arrears.
Whilst the journey is now over for Gail and I, I’ve committed to continuing the travel diary from home here in Perth, but of course that is contingent on receiving timely, relevant and accurate updates.
Today’s test is negative for RSV
Thanks to everyone for the comments, the well wishes, the encouragement and general interest in our wonderful adventure.
As I am no longer travelling I am hoping I’ve turned off the tracking feature that showed the actual journey. Otherwise you’ll be following me all over Perth.Läs mer
Day 74 - Another BFN to BFN/Dimboola
7 oktober, Australien ⋅ 🌬 28 °C
I managed a good night sleep and strangely woke feeling 100% better than I did when I went to sleep.
Got an early start and managed around 630 kms.
There are some mentally tough people around. Saw another fella pedalling East today.
I got a fair bit of rain today which was a nice change.
Had many calls as usual which was great,
No photos from me today though.
The fantastic 5 explored more of Dimboola. Based on original plans it was not a point of interest, rather a half way spot between Echuca and Hahndorf.
Karen asserts this town to be one of the biggest surprises of the tour.
A few years ago two “gentlemen” purchased the old bank building and commenced renovations. Not only did they renovate they gave the town a complete new lease of life.
They also discovered a very pink lake as the pictures and drone shots show.Läs mer
Day 73 - BFN to BFN/Echuca to Dimboola
6 oktober, Australien ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
I woke up to a very thick fog. This was about 7am, so I had a bite to eat, a shower, read the news online and eventually decided to leave around 9am.
It was still thick fog and to be honest it was somewhat worrying given all night I was hearing trucks scream on by.
Thank goodness, 10kms up the road the fog cleared. The sight in the rear view mirrors was amazing.
Saw a cyclist heading east and a walker with a cart heading east.
Getting numerous phone calls from Gail, BRI, Jarryd and the Fantastic Five was a great way to relieve the boredom.
I arrived at the border and of course a quarantine officer is required to inspect for contraband (animal and plant matter that is, not necessarily drugs or tobacco).
Some time ago we purchased a couple of plastic spiders to entertain Peter. One of these was sitting on the bench which scared the living daylights out of the quarantine officer.
Finally……some decent roads.
I pulled into a road stop about 50 kms east of Balladonia, which leaves me just under one thousand to go.
Whilst the annoying allergen affects have subsided I’m pretty I may have RSV now. I don’t think I’ve ever sneezed so much in my life. Gail has tested positive for it back home.
I didnt feel much like eating so just watched a few movies.
Today the fantastic 5 packed up and had about a four hundred km journey to Dimboola.
Karen sent me an article that lists Dimboola as one of the quirkiest towns in Oz.
One of the phone calls from the Gang was asking me to pack up and send the portable camp fire. They said it was extremely cold.
Graham sent a photo of a new camp buddy.Läs mer
Day 72 - Crystal Brook to BFN/Echuca
5 oktober, Australien ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
I was up at sparrows fart for the next leg. 830 odd, uneventful kms today. Pulled over at one roadside stop but the flies were as big as bats . Tried the next one, same deal. The third one was closer to sundown so should eventually be humanly habitable.
I thought I was going to be with all my mates, but two camper vans rolled up and ruined the peace.
As for the fantastic five…..
I think they did a bit more Tommy touristing.
From Graham - “we did the Hokey Pokey - into NSW back to VIC, into NSW and back to VIC - left leg in, left leg out followed by right leg in, right leg out”
Tomorrow is pack up for the next leg iof the journey.
I believe dinner tonight was at The American Hotel.Läs mer
Day 71 - Echuca/Echuca to Crystal Brook
4 oktober, Australien ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
Today brought a number of important events. The first being, it’s my departure day, the second being the winding back of the clocks. As mornings go it was a little chilly, but fine as usual.
I set my alarm for 6.45, but realised later that it was 5.45 based on the elevation of the sun.
I got my departure chores done and bid farewell to the gang. Rather annoyed with myself as I didn’t get a departing photograph. Probably a wise forgotten event as you might have seen my tears lol.
I’m hoping to do 700kms per day which would get me home Thursday.
Today’s journey took me through Swan Hill where a friend lives so we caught up for brekkie. Glenn, his wife Angelika and daughter Natalie met me at a great cafe on the bank of the Murray.
I had a great day passing through places we visited at the start of this journey as well as new.
With the help of Graham, Peter, and the ladies I landed at a small town called Crystal Brook for the evening, approximately 800 kms closer to home.
I had a few beers with the guvna of the pub and 2 other customers.
Meanwhile the Great Road Trippers managed to explore more of Echuca.
Everyone decided to make the trek from Victoria to New South Wales……on foot, to visit the Sunday Markets at Moana (not the Disney version). The return journey was about six and a half kms. Lunch today was at The Bee and Honey shop.
In the afternoon Peter had nap while Julie and Anne chilled and cleansed more clothes.
Graham and Karen visited The Great Aussie Beer Shed and Heritage Farm, which is owned by an ex member of the constabulary, which was right up Grahams alley.. All items are personally owned. Displays such as the lap bell from the 1956 Olympic Games, held in Melbourne, multiple beer cans and paraphernalia, a from Flemington Race Course that once housed the Melbourne Cup, cigarette machines installed in people’s houses that were regularly stocked )for a fee if course) by the cigarette companies, a Carlton and United Brewery horse drawn carriage (donated by CUB), a selection of old holdens and other vintage cars, farm machinery and much more. Graham was in heaven.
Karen cooked a chow mein for dinner and of course every one looked for me to do the dishes ( I have a cleanliness fetish).
To finish the night they all played Uno No Mercy which caused a great number of laughs but alarmingly some friendly abuse.Läs mer
Day 70 - Echuca
3 oktober, Australien ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
The health is back on track, the morning was a little overcast and no Gail. She arrived safely back in Perth much to Bri’s absolute delight.
Gail called to let me know Bri had her blood pressure checked again on Friday night. We agreed I needed to get back as well.
The remaining 6 of us did the usual. Headed into town for brekkie.
Once again some amazing architecture to be seen, along with the view and activity on the mighty Murray River.
We even stumbled across St Anne’s Winery, which of course required a mandatory photo opportunity.
Yesterday’s sojourn into town whilst I was delivering Gail to Melbourne airport identified a very suitable bakery, so that’s where we headed. I do love a good pepper pie and have sampled many on this journey. Today, amongst us there were toasties, cinnamon scrolls and a party pie flight. I’ve had beer, whiskey, gin and even cider flights before but never party pies. The photos will explain.
We strolled the streets for a while, while also navigating to the Saturday Farmers Markets. These were quite small but still attracted an eager crowd wanting to sample the many items for sale.
From there we made our way to one of the many eating establishments in town for a spot of lunch.
Peter, Julie, Graham, Karen and Anne hadn’t finished perusing the town so headed off for some more retail therapy while I went back to the van to prepare for my imminent departure.
I managed to contact all bar 1 pre-booked accommodation location and either got credits back or my deposit would be split amongst the fantastic 5.
Another of yesterday’s discoveries was The Shamrock Hotel, so after establishing their doggo friendliness we booked for my last supper.
Lucky we did, it was overflowing with testosterone and progesterone rampant football teams. A brief chat with the coach of one such team advised me Echuca is famed for hosting many teams as far away as Melbourne, for their end of year gig.
As well as Guinness being an attraction to this establishment, it is highly regarded for its 101 variety’s of schnitzel. Not sure about the dessert schnitzels though. Having had a few more Guinness’s in the latter part of our journey, my attempt at the G is improving.
I made the mistake of leaving my phone on the table when nature called. Needless to say I had additional photos to peruse.
So, tomorrow sees me depart for home, leaving a wonderful group of people we (Gail and I) have shared many, many special moments with over the past 10 weeks. Thank you so much Anne, Peter, Julie, Graham and Karen.
A special thanks to Karen for all the research, planning, re-research and re-planning as and when needed. It would not have happened with that effort.
Sleep for me now, ready for the long journey home. 3,319 kms according to Apple Maps.
But…….fear not, by hook or by crook this travel log will continue.Läs mer
Da 69 - Echuca
2 oktober, Australien ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C
A new location, a new morning, a new feeling.
Whilst the ailments of the last few days have subsided considerably, we woke to the sound of rain which by all accounts had been occurring for most of the evening.
Today was different though for Gail and I. It’s come to the time where Bri needs her parents, but this can only be achieved one at a time. Most of you would know our daughter Bri is pregnant and her due date is October 28. Without going into the detail Bri will be scheduling a Caesar before that time.
This morning was hectic. We finished off the remaining washing, Gail packed a small bag and we drove 195 kms to Melbourne airport. Gail was on a 4.10 pm flight to Perth.
The journey to the airport was like no other I’ve experienced. We traversed the Macedon Ranges, where, in the middle of the day we drove through the thickest fog or potentially the clouds, that had a huge impact on driving behaviour.
The fog or the existence of the clouds had not let up on my return journey. I arrived back to the others just after 5.
Now the decision needs to be made as to when, and where from, I will commence my journey home..
To complicate matters, being unwell, Peter took himself off to the local hospital where he was diagnosed with RSV. We’ve all tested negative but for Gail who is going home to our pregnant daughter and Jarryd, Meg and Evie who are temporarily living at our place, the incubation period is not over yet.
While I was delivering Gail to the airport the others had a brief look in town, which was achieved via a short walk along the river bank levy just behind our vans.
Dinner was a second round of the curried sausages we enjoyed in Tamworth, which we enjoyed again.
The nights are getting colder as we head south, so after our drumsticks we all hit the sack. Thank goodness these modern vans have air conditioning.
Update to the blog of day 67 - Narrandera to Echuca. I was reprimanded by all colleagues for neglecting to advise everyone that we reached the 10,000 km mark of this journey.Läs mer
Day 68 - Narrandera to Echuca
1–6 okt., Australien ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C
It just seems to happen automatically now. On departure days the body clock’s alarm goes off early. Unfortunately nothing has changed in the health department, I’m still suffering the effects of the airborne allergens. Gail as well but to a lesser degree and Peter seems to have developed a chesty cough.
Whilst still a lovely morning, it was slightly overcast with Mother Nature presenting us with an awesome rainbow. She also decided we hadn’t been bothered enough by the swarms of disgusting flies so decided to wake them early as well.
We packed up and hitched up all while swatting and dodging the plague of flies and headed into town for coffee and pastries.
Our first stop today was Jerilderie, a town with 2 polar opposite claims to fame. The first being the only town in New South Wales with the pleasure of being frequented (and robbed) by Australia’s notorious bush ranger, Ned Kelly.
And second, the birthplace of one of Australia’s great academics, Sir John Monash.
Evidenced by us, but not noted anywhere formally (that we could see) was also the abundance of those black flying vermin of the skies. The air was thick as they encroached your personal space looking for a quick feed of whatever your body was able to give up.
It was also noted the habits of the flies in this town were in complete contrast to any I’ve witnessed anywhere in the world. The streets were full of the filthy annoying pests but the public toilet was not. Go figure!
The next town on the journey was Deniliquin, or Delinquent as some us pronounced it.
There seemed considerable activity here particularly in the occurrence of mobile accommodation options. After a quick google search it was identified this weekend sees Deniliquin hosting a “Ute Muster”. An annual event for worshipping the good old Aussie Ute.
It’s a shame we didn’t know earlier as the entertainment lineup was pretty darn good.
I managed to satisfy my weeks old urge for Chinese food as it was the first place we stumbled across after parking the cars, looking for lunch options.
We’re not sure if they followed us or not but trying to eat Chinese in the local park was almost ruined by another plague of disgusting flies.
We eventually arrived in Echuca and found the caravan park. We’re all looking forward to a bit of luxury after spending the last few days off grid. The first action item was washing. The cleaning of the outer garments, followed by the cleansing of ourselves. The four “sh’s” are always welcomed.
More talks with our loved ones back home. Of note, It was Julie’s grandson, Wills 12th birthday . And Gail and Bri discussing the pending birth of baby Nelson.
We’d defrosted tonight’s cuisine but none of us could be bothered cooking. Whilst we made it to 8.30, we all hit the sack without the need for our nightly feast.
PS. The four “sh’s” are Shit, shower, shave and shampoo.Läs mer
Day 67 - Narrandera
30 september, Australien ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C
This place really has taken hold of me, and to some degree Gail and Peter. A very broken nights sleep, scratching the eyes and trying to breathe. But, apart from that, another perfect morning.
Ruby seemed better this morning but was still somewhat out of sorts.
Today saw another rotation around the sun for Julie. It was her ??th birthday so well wishes all round.
Bacon and eggs on the camp fire was a great way to start the day however contending with the flies required its own management plan.
We finally managed to secure a photo with all of us wearing our Julie designed offical team merch. And what a backdrop it was.
Not sure if I’ve mentioned the situation with the flies since we’ve been here. They are that prevalent they’re nearly blocking our million dollar views. This meant the doggos were having a hard time as well, so given Ruby was unwell Graham and Karen sought relief by heading to town early.
The rest of us eventually followed suit. Back to the same bakery for pastries and coffee.
As I mentioned in yesterday’s post the visitor centre was rich in local knowledge so I took everyone there to experience this service.
Our first port of call was the sky bridge that looked over the mighty Murrumbidgee River, the life blood of so many communities in the area.
Across the other side was a natural habitat of the species Phascolarctos cinereus, commonly called the Koala, also commonly, but incorrectly suffixed with Bear. The Koala is a marsupial.
We made our way across the river and successfully located 7 Koalas, which doesn’t sound super exciting but we are talking in the wild here, not housed in a zoo or other man made enclosure.
One of the sightings was a mother and her Joey. I’m not sure if Julie was more excited about seeing the koalas on her birthday or the Apple Watch Peter bought her.
A light lunch at a local dog friendly pub before heading back to the vans for our afternoon siesta.
Graham and Karen had a follow up appointment with the Vet for Ruby at noon. She has been booked into the canine resort at Leeton for an overnight stay, meaning Graham and Karen won’t be departing with us tomorrow. They will join us later.
To try and relieve my allergen symptoms I chose to rest in the van, which had the added benefit of not having to contend with the flies. Some of those choosing to remain outdoors exhibited extreme fashion choices donning lavish fly nets.
As an added celebratory event for Julie’s birthday we had dinner at The Grong Grong (that’s not a typo) pub about 15 kms away. For a Wednesday night this community owned establishment, in a town of 100 people, it appeared more like a thriving metropolis.
The Guvnas attention to detail and social intercourse gave us an inkling that he had previous hospitality adventures,, which he in fact did confirm.
To be offered an Affogato in bum @&$% nowhere was evidence of his expertise.
Julie ordered sticky date pudding for dessert which was a perfect segway into utilising this as her birthday cake in the absence of something more substantial.
Peter once again used his public relations skills to solicit the traditional truckie salute as a big rig rolled by.
Not sure if it was by design or not but the trip home did not follow the same path we used for out bound journey. Driving through bum @&$% nowhere that fails to utilise man made lighting sources made it somewhat difficult to locate our vans. Thank goodness for technology. Graham had saved a “Pin” in maps which he used for the previous nights mercy dash to the VET.
It was straight to bed for this little black duck, but not before popping more pills and flushing my eyes out with an approved chemist supplied solution.Läs mer
Day 66 - Narrandera
29 september, Australien ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
After a very unsettled nights sleep, the morning was still as it had been for most of this trip - sensational. Our host the farmer works from dawn till dusk ploughing his fields, which is the likely candidate for my weezy, hard to breath and eye scratching symptoms.
In to town for the usual snack and coffee before a look around town. Some amazing architecture here. One item of interest was a porcelain Royal Doulton water fountain. One of only 2 in existence.
Shopping requires a co-ordinated effort managing the dogs. Today I did a stint of dog sitting. It’s amazing the attention paid by locals to the dogs and their handlers. Today I got into some small talk with a couple who amongst their 3 dogs had a Curly Coated Retriever, a breed once belonging to the Wimbridge family. For those that remember, quite a few years back, our Sally and then Saba were Curlies.
The lovely couple went home, got their dog, came back to town, tracked me down and introduced me to her. That’s country hospitality for you.
We didn’t stay too long, but long enough for Graham and I to visit a Tiger Moth memorial. Narrandera was a pilot training base during the Second World War. Many of the pilots who trained here went on to command much larger air craft such as the Lancaster bomber out of England.
The visitor centre, as expected, had a wealth of knowledge of local history and places to see. For something different though, this visitor centre had displays in its own right. Of significance was the world’s largest playable guitar. The answer is, yes I did.
Given I was still suffering, and Peter started feeling a little unwell we all headed back home early afternoon. Peter and I both had naps while everyone else prepared tonight’s gourmet delight. Beef stew cooked in the camp oven. A very technical process that resulted in an awesome meal. The camp oven was also used to cook damper to accompany our meal.
Unfortunately Ruby appeared to have ingested something she was unable to expel. Chewing grass, the normal way for canines to rid any foreign object simply didn’t work.
Graham and Karen took off to a local after hours VET. They returned not long later after the VET gave her an anti nausea and pain relief injection.
One of the interesting facts about both here and at Parkes was our proximity to major flight paths. There are very few, if any, planes that fly over Perth, so jet streams are very very rare.
Here, they are as common as mud.
We thought we’d seen all types of mobile accommodation. Vans, campers, buses, yachts (back at Dunedoo), but a long wheel base prime mover with a caravan attached to the chassis was next level.Läs mer
Day 65 - Parkes to Narrandera
28 sep.–1 okt., Australien ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
Whilst the morning was pretty much atypical of this trip, the suffering continues……but today we move on…….reprieve!!!!
I caught a sensational Moon Set at the same time Peter caught a sunrise.
Reprieve I thought………think again. Before our departure today Karen was in touch with the host of the Hip Camp we are relocating to. It happens to be on a working farm that is currently harvesting its fields. Oh joy.
Who knows, the crop could be miles from where we will be based.
It was some time this morning before we stopped for brekkie and coffee. Forbes were the financial winners today. When 7 people roll up to any place they normally inject a decent days takings to any establishment.
I’d like to say the journey was uneventful but…
Let me start by saying it wasn’t as bad as it may sound. I’ll try to be brief.
One road train approached from the rear. Via the UHF airways we assisted him to get past all of us together. This encompassed us bunching up and slowing down as he consumed the whole of the right oncoming lane.
Hot on the heals of this first road train was a second large rig.
The rig that had already passed relayed that the road ahead was clear (even beyond the view of ourselves and the rear approaching rig). So the rig approaching from the rear pulls out to the right lane, passes Gail and I, then Peter and Julie, but as it does, brake lights are on and caravans are safely pulling to the left.
A car had emerged from a street on the right and was now in the path of the overtaking rig.
Either that car was privy to the conversations being relayed over the public airwaves or just reacted very quickly as he pulled off to the shoulder on his side.
Communication and co-operation were definitely the key.
That was enough excitement for the day.
By now the fire in my Eustachian tubes had been extinguished. I felt like a regular human again.
The journey to this Hip Camp took us onto some unsealed roads. Not gravel but definitely not sealed. To be honest, this was better than some of the sealed roads we’d traversed.
We found our spot, only to later learn this was not actually our spot. Because we’d booked so far ahead, the host was unable to recall why he had his usual sites blocked out in his calendar and proceeded to give them away.
He directed us to an area soon to be made available via Hip Camps, that for all intents and purposes appeared just perfect anyway.
We set the vans up, and explored. We are located about 50m from the bank of the Bundidgerry Creek, which to be honest is must larger than the expectation of the word creek. We didn’t have to go far for firewood, there is an abundance.
Julie’s turn again to establish the fire without the aid of artificial means, which she achieved admirably.
Not only was the camp fire established, but the fire in my Estachian tubes had reignited.
We settled in on the bank of the creek and pondered life, with alcoholic beverages of course. This location was absolutely beautiful. The images and videos may look impressive but they can’t do justice to actually being here.
It also allowed us to reflect on a very important event from the previous day……related to a very important person…….Craigs birthday and Anne and Craig’s anniversary ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Ribs and chicken tonight. Peter did the ribs over the fire and I did the chicken in the Ziggy (like a Weber Q).
https://zieglerandbrown.com.au/explore-the-rang…
Gotta say they both turned out extremely well. You may note my preparation of said wings and the secret ingredients in the collection of photos.
Karen magically whipped up some brownies for dessert which went well with the accompanying vanilla ice cream.
As Gail was about to retire for the evening, she was unable to locate her lead lamp. A brief look by all, with the aid of my headlamp and phone lights could not locate it. I handed my headlamp over and off she trots to bed.
In the distance the cry comes out from Gail..….”I found it………….around my neck”
There was some more special reminiscing before hitting the sack.Läs mer
Day 64 - Parkes (Post Grand Final)
27 september, Australien ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
It was quite still and a little overcast this morning and a bit of over night precipitation seems to have eradicated the air borne allergens slightly, however my Eustachian Tubes are still on fire.
Some banter and review of the many social media memes and comments about the GF. It doesn’t take long for such childish behaviour to commence.
We showered early to get away early in the hope of removing ourselves once again from the allergens waiting to destroy us (Gail and I that is). I am honoured to report all our fellow travellers were offering a variety of suggestions to assist us, even to the extent of relocating parks.
To town for brekkie where once again country culinary delights were on full display. Fantastic brekkie burgers and croissants, however Gail’s almond milk latte left a little to be desired. The wrong type of almond milk can make or break the coffee.
A three stop journey today with the first being the famous Parkes dish, designed and built by the CSIRO. Made famous by the movie of the same name. Australia’s CSIRO are definitely a world regarded organisation. Not only all the space exploration and input into world events such as the Apollo 11 mission but also the invention of Wifi and Aerogard amongst others.
With a diameter of 64 metres the dish is monstrous structure and has been attributed to many great cosmic discoveries.
From there we retraced our steps from Fridays journey to Parkes, back to a place called Yeoval. As we drove through the other day Gail noticed there were ties to the literary genius, Banjo Patterson. The internet suggested there were some Tommy Tourist attractions worth visiting.
We forgot, a lot of small country towns fail to present their offerings after 2pm weekdays or on weekends. Yeoval was a SMALL town. Yeoval was a ghost town. The internet was wrong.
We did however stumble across a couple who were once locals, still owned real estate in the main street but had packed up and moved to the big smoke to get away from locals not willing to think outside the box. The lack of cranial diversity by the locals still residing there, has in fact resulted in the demise of this town.
After a wander up the Main Street we did observe a few items portraying the great man Patterson. One thing the majority of us were unaware of, was his military achievement.
Next, onto a town called Molong. This was however a little more alive. It was definitely bigger than Yeoval. The main pub seemed to be at capacity for Sunday lunch, so we ventured to a smaller, quieter one.
A bit of googling prior to arrival suggested there was an offering Peter, Graham and I may find interesting. And that we did. A shop for discerning gentlemen. Great gifts, clothes and a hat sizing service which Peter and I required for our Akubra style hats. My attempt at a stint of male to male improvisation nearly backfired though. All three discerning gentlemen walked out with the same style shirt. Trendsetters we are!
Back to downtown Parkes to Discount Dave’s for some absolutely brilliant buys before heading home.
Sweet and sour pork tonight, sensationally prepared by Julie, then an early bedtime again to seek relief from the return of the allergens, which unfortunately have stoked that Eustacian Tube fire.Läs mer
Day 63 - Parkes (Grand Final Day)
26 september, Australien ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
Another decent morning with a slight breeze blowing. Managed to get some sleep and even a sleep in but found myself looking like I’d gone a few rounds with Mike Tyson. My eyes were swollen and blood shot.
No reprieve from the airborne allergens.
Before I awoke Graham managed to get some shots of a bunch of tractors menacing the show grounds.
Gail was also suffering so the plan was to head into town for the day given the big GF was on.
It was only a couple of kms and given we’re going to be consuming alcohol we decided to walk. We could have been walking down streets in Subiaco or Shenton Park - the architecture, the roads, the landscape was very very similar.
As per our constitution, coffee and some form of sustainance was the first priority then a trundle down the Main Street. There was definitely stuff for everyone here.
The ladies found fashion and the gents found old stuff. Dad and Dave’s Mantique Store was something quite unusual. Collectables and just about anything old. Records, bottles, oil cans, military uniforms……just about anything you could think of. But Trent……it had nothing on your uncles collection as it was only about a quarter of the size The only difference was Dad and Dave’s stuff was for sale.
I’m not sure where this purchase occurred, I think the buy of the century was Graham’s pickled onion retriever. I’ll aim to get an image in a later post.
The reference to Dave did not stop with Dad and Dave’s, there was a Discount Dave’s store also. This held some very financially favourable items that will be acquired upon my return visit tomorrow. Too much to carry and retain for the remainder of the day, given these could easily be misplaced should the amount of alcohol being consumed later have an impact on our cognitive ability.
Graham and Karen’s reconnaissance yesterday identified the dog friendly Cambridge Hotel for lunch and location to observe the big game. Whilst the trees surrounding the outside courtyard were visually pleasing, they were definitely the cause of the deterioration of my current health status. A decision to move inside where there was less reflective interference on the TV also saw a noticeable change for the better in my suffering.
Another great country meal for myself, although those who chose the lamb cutlets advised they weren’t as culinarily satisfying as previous encounters.
A GF like that is what any independent follower wants to see. By independent I mean someone whose team of choice is not playing. Many lead changes and never more than 3 goals difference makes extremely tense personal situations for fans of those the teams involved.
In the end, there is only 1 victor. The heartbreaking fact for Dockers fans was that they were up by 17 points with 4 minutes to go.
After watching the formalities we set off on the return journey.
Still suffering upon arriving back…..I hit the sack, missing what was probably an interesting night of post game banter, which I may find out about tomorrow.Läs mer
Day 62 - Dunedoo to Parkes
25–28 sep., Australien ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
I managed a bit of a sleep in today as there was no rush leaving for today’s relatively short trip.
Thought I’d seen most variations of mobile home living. There are hundreds of makes models and sizes of van, motor homes and camper trailers……..but a boat???? One enterprising traveller had his boat parked up next to us and was using it as his abode.
We started our walk up the Main Street to the cafe for brekkie but was rudely interrupted by another oversized load. This time it was a single blade of a wind turbine. The length from the front of the prime mover to the end of the blade was around 90 metres.
The video attached puts it into perspective. There were also sections of the turbine tower itself.
After all the excitement, we reached the cafe and indulged in some very fresh local wraps and brekkie burgers. You know you’re getting fresh local produce when you can see pies being made out the back.
A stroll back to the park ready to hit the road.
We managed to miss a lot of traffic by bypassing the main road through Dubbo, but at the expense of road quality. Another fun filled day of roller coaster rides.
Thankfully another uneventful drive, but it did include stunning scenery and what appeared endless solar farm. No idea how much land was used to house the 400,000 panels at the Maryvale Solar Farm, but it went on and on and on.
We also drove through a small town called Yeovil……the birth place of Banjo Patterson.
On the outskirts of Parkes we were greeted by another pilot vehicle warning us of a hazard ahead. This time, it was a series of vintage tractors, that appeared to be driven by vintage locals, many with their offspring’s offspring.
We arrived at home for the next three days which is the Parkes Show grounds. After a little procrastination on where to setup we found 4 bars close to the amenities.
Julie and Peter headed into town for an appointment, Graham and Karen headed in to explore, Anne stayed and relaxed and Gail and I suffered in silence.
Being Showgrounds, there exists the prevalence of allergens from hay and other vegetation in the air. An almost immediate reaction has triggered the associated symptoms almost immediately.
Needless to say we’re popping the appropriate mediation to try and find relief.
Pork schnitzels purchased from the same curried sausage butcher in Tamworth was tonight’s dinner along with a couple of salads.
At the conclusion of dinner Peter suggested we view a few comedy skits on YouTube. His choice was Nina Conti. A very funny ventriloquist who takes her alter ego with her to therapy. It’s a must view.
https://youtu.be/APwrf3mG924?si=i69qmIPNoM9XKPKU
As I type this, today’s diarised events, from the comfort of my bed, I have realised we neglected to consume our standard drumstick dessert. We may potentially double up tomorrow evening.
NB. Update from Tamworth. I was able to capture a few still images from the videos I took of the storm that passed us by in the distance on the last night in Tamworth.Läs mer
Day 61 - Tamworth to Dunedoo
24–25 sep., Australien ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
Come morning today there was very little evidence of the potential storm over night. The sky was blue and the birds singing once again.
Because we had packed up most things the previous night there wasn’t much to do. We were underway by about 8.40.
A quick visit to the public dump point down the road before commencing our journey proper. Waze tells us it’s roughly a two and a half hour drive.
We called into a quaint town called Coolah for morning tea. As we were getting low on stock a few more drumsticks were purchased. This time the financially responsible option was boxes of 4 for $4.95 each. Some great new varieties this time as well.
In complete contrast to one of our previous truckie interactions, we experienced 2 very appreciative fellas today. Actually complimenting us on our road etiquette.
We also had the displeasure of a few temporary humans again. Driving like there is no tomorrow and disregarding overtaking signage.
We arrived at Dunedoo just after lunch and given it’s a one nighter had very little to do to set up.
Had the obligatory chill out in the afternoon before heading to the online recommended licensed establishment (there was only two to choose from, but we’re pretty sure the non recommended was closed anyway) to provide some financial support to the locals. The 800m walk up the Main Street gave us a brief look at town.
Of particular interest was some silo art which seems to be quite rare over here in the east. One angle showed a tranquil farm scene whilst another portrayed Winx…..the famous racehorse.
Our resident sports encyclopaedia, Peter, informed us this was relevant to Dunedoo given that Hugh Bowman, Winx’s long time jockey was born here.
I’ve attached an intriguing image of a rather large display along the Main Street called “The world’s largest virtual solar system drive”. Even after doing the obligatory Google search, it still fails to explain its relevance.
A couple of quiet ales at the pub before heading back home (remember the relevance of home at any given point on this journey). Peter once again managed to solicit the blare of an air horn from one of the passing rigs.
A few dark clouds started rolling in which eventually presented us with some summer style rain. It was warm with the unmistaken smell of dry earth suddenly coming to life.
Tonight’s meal of Worcestershire and pepper sausages was prepared in the camp kitchen. My interest in all things technical has seen the use of the function on the Apple Watch to take an unaided photo on my iPhone remotely. I set the phone up, took a group photo of us all and then proceeded to eat (phone still set up). Next thing I know Mr Jones has taken a few liberties. The photos attest to this.
The new varieties of drumsticks were well received before hitting the sack very earlyLäs mer
Day 60 - Tamworth
23 september, Australien ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
Much the same start to our day weather wise but a slight change to other days.
We hung around the vans for ages today, in fact Gail and I and Anne didn’t venture out at all until dinner.
Graham and Karen went for coffee and also to collect more of those curried sausages. Peter and Julie drove in and also did a bit of shopping, which included some fresh bread, cheese and ham.
Graham and I made toasties for all. It was then time for quite an extended day of relaxation.
The dogs had a great time as well.
We felt like we had this place to ourselves, which has been sensational, so when another van pulled up next to Karen and Graham, it was somewhat of a shock. They’re that close that we need to curtail any inappropriate language in case the kids.
I decided I needed to shed a few more calories so I hopped on the bike and went for another ride. Not as intense as yesterday though.
Final night dinner saw us head to the last of the 3 dog friendly pubs in town. Not the best introduction to this establishment though. Gail, Karen and I had gone ahead to grab our table. As the others walked past the front of the hotel a window was cracked from inside. Apparently just locals having a disagreement.
Recent re encounters with black gold has seen my skill level in splitting the G return to its former level. Peters effort left a bit to be desired though.
Was great food but the pub itself was a little bit older and more tired than the others. What I found fascination was that it still had the original cellar underground that was accessed via a door in the floor of the bar itself.
The journey back home saw the commencement of a great light show in the distance.
Upon arriving back home the light show became more and more intense with the cold settling in pretty quickly. A check on the BOM Rain Radar showed a band of quite heavy precipitation heading our way so a call to order was made.
One of the quickest packups we’ve done to date was achieved tonight……..in the relative darkness.
Bedtime was inevitable given our outdoor entertaining area became unavailable as the rain commenced.Läs mer
Day 59 - Tamworth
22 september, Australien ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
Up, to a normal on tour day, but we spent a little bit of extra time having tea/coffee and chatting than usual before we headed into town.
I managed to interact with a few more of the local residents. If some of them could speak I’m sure they would have said “WTF you looking at”. The photo of the King Parrot peering down on me from the tin roof was quite amusing.
The recommended cafe for brunch was definitely worth it…………at least from the food perspective.
I have to fess up to something a tad embarrassing. On the way to said cafe we passed a fast food juggernaut that for reasons unknown, triggered my taste buds. I declined a BLT or bacon and egg roll and coffee for a whopper meal.
Right next to HJ’s was the Country Music Hall of Fame which was our next stop. A very well, chronologically presented history of Country music in Oz. I must admit, I’m aware of some of the more popular country artists, but was not aware of the quantity of high quality artists Australia produced.
Old mate Chad Morgan (first appearing in this blog a few days prior), managed to feature once again, primarily due to his striking yellow suit display.
Whist we had the obligatory Tommy Tourist portraits adjacent to the Golden Guitar the other day, we failed to enter and observe the other attractions at the same location - The Country Music Wax Museum and National Guitar Museum. Anne decided to pass on this activity, so kindly bundled all 4 doggos into her chariot and return home (remembering home is where we lay our head on any particular night).
The more recognisable country characters such as Slim Dusty, Chad Morgan (yes…..again), Becky Cole and Jimmy Little featured in life like reality.
Passing through the wax universe saw us enter the Guitar Museum which was filled with a variety of actual guitars (which I guess is what you’d hope for at such an establishment), some original, some replicas of world (not just Australian) legends. Brian May (Queen), Paul Stanley (Kiss), Eric Clapton (if you need to ask who this is, please unsubscribe from my blog) and even the Beatles, although they only displayed 3 but there were 4 of them.
Another small shopping stop enroute to home.
I’d been popping pills since yesterday to suppress my Allergic Rhinitis and for the most part they seemed to be working, although a little cranium pain was also present. This was also somewhat eased after Gail provided me with a couple of Panadol earlier in the morning.
The failure to observe any semblance of restraint in the consumption of liquid and solid delights whilst on tour, has seen an increased horizontalness of middle region. This will be addressed on a more permanent level upon returning home, but in the mean time, the occasional cycle at least feels like it’s helping.
I jumped on the Mountain Bike today and burnt an estimated 454 calories.
https://strava.app.link/rzPrp8d4D6b
As alluded to above, my Allergic Rhinitis was already causing havoc in my head. The last thing I needed on this ride was to pass a council crew slashing the wild vegetation alongside my said route. Needless to say that did not go down well.
Seems like I was the only stoopid member of the group as all the others had a very relaxing and productive afternoon.
Even the doggos fell into this category. They were treated to a delightful marrow bone each that was purchased from the butcher yesterday. It kept them busy for ages.
Our dinner was also purchased from the butcher yesterday - curried sausages. This was enjoyed so much by all, that an additional purchase will be made tomorrow to be consumed at a later date.
Gail managed to FaceTime Sparkle And Shines hosting of a baby shower for Bri, which, given the appearance of chaos, made us thankful we were on the other side of the country. And of course we had our nightly chat with Evie.
Following yet another round of drumsticks each, it was another early night
PS - I trust the Beatle wit did not pass through to the keeper. 🤔Läs mer
Day 58 - Tamworth
21 september, Australien ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C
It goes without saying……..just perfect again.
An early morning encounter with a few of the residents was a great way to start the day, although somewhat nerve racking. Not because of the possibility of being savaged by wild farm animals but the risk of contact with the electrified fence that separated us from them.
Soiled, stained and pungent clothing now outweighs the clean, so a day of freshening up was planned.
One of us with an Eagle Eye captured the signage “Laundry Lounge” yesterday, so this was our destination today. It just so happened it was colocated with the “Bake Shop”, so we purified our outer garments and poisoned our inner bodies with pastry and caffeine at the same time.
Oh…..it was also colocated with a butchers, where more meat and dog treats were purchased.
With the laundry washed, dried and folded it was back to Tommy touristing with a visit to Oxley Scenic Lookout. Right on the doorstep of Tamworth is Flagstaff Mountain. A rather steep drive up the mountain revealed one of the most scenic views of a location I’ve ever experienced.
By now a collective groan of hunger pains ran through us ,so it was lunch at the Tamworth Hotel with a dog friendly garden.
Back home for a very relaxing afternoon. I slept for a bit, mainly as a result of an allergic reaction to the freshly mowed and cut pastures. Peter and to some extent Gail were also suffering.
Upon waking from my slumber I was informed Anne had taken Peppa to the VET. Anne had discovered an external parasite attached to her, which according to Ol’ Mother Hubbard was a paralysis tick……something, that left untreated could have a very unpleasant outcome.
The VET’s diagnosis was positive and Peppa will be ok.
Homemade pizzas tonight with Grahams secret base recipe. They were pretty darn good.
The day had taken its toll on us all, so our sacks were hit around 8.30Läs mer
Day 57 - Tamworth
20 september, Australien ⋅ ☀️ 8 °C
Well, just for something different, another near perfect morning. Sun, still, birds and beautiful clear skies.
To date, we’ve missed a few country town activities such as festivals and shows but here in Tamworth we managed the third Sunday of the month, which is market day in the Main Street of town.
One tip from Ol’ Mother Hubbard was to park on the opposite side of the river and take a short stroll to the centre of town. This was a great tip in that it was very easy to park 4 vehicles together and also saw us walk through lovely gardens comprising a number tributes to country personalities.
In the Main Street, most general trading stores were closed and in their place was a variety of homeware, medicine, food, toy and clothing stands camped at the entrances doing their best to offload their merchandise.
Evie and baby Nelson did very well today…..so I’ve been told.
Once again, the canines were the centre of attention. Every man without his dog (and even some with) wanted to make contact with them. Having said that it was noted there is a very high population of Dachsund’s in this part of the world.
Next stop was the Golden Guitar, an iconic structure synonymous with Tamworth where of course many photos were taken.
Of no interest to the ladies, Graham, Peter and I broke away from the spousal strings and went it alone to The Powerhouse Motorcycle Museum. Museum by name only. It was in fact a personal collection of bikes by a local entrepreneur with an excess of wealth. There were dozens of bikes with at least one purchased but NEVER ridden. Rumour has it there is in excess of $2M worth of 2 wheel phallic symbols at that location.
We regrouped back at our farm stay briefly before heading back into town. We were in Tamworth…….we had to see some live music. Not many options on a Sunday but we did find a suitable establishment, that also served black gold. They say practice makes perfect…..after my fourth, general consensus was I nailed it. I’d split the G.
Given the music buffs we are, we always have a competitive approach to determining the next song as quickly as possibly. Who can guess the song and artist. It was pretty evenly spread amongst us until it was observed that competitor Jones was cheating. His geographical location gave him access to the playlist of the artist. Unfortunately for him the entertainer wasn’t singing them in the order they were written.
The gig finished at 4 so we loaded the very well behaved dogs into the car and headed home. Home being where we lay our head on any given night, given our current Gypsy status.
Roast chicken and veges tonight. When cooking for 7 people there’s normally 2 or three of the main dish, in this case 2 chickens, which also entails using 2 or 3 cooking appliances. An update to our culinary procedures was approved this evening after it was found one cooking appliance wasn’t “cooking with gas”. The update calls for regular checks to ensure said gas is still flowing, keeping the flame alight, which in turn cooks the chosen food.
We eventually got to eat another great meal followed but a serving of carrot cake purchased at today’s market.
After a very comfortable day, it was noted there comes a point when the cold noticeably arrives. It’s normally not long after that we retire for the evening.Läs mer
Day 56 - Moree to Tamworth
19–24 sep., Australien ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
I was awake just before the sunrise this morning. I had an amazing Seafood Chowder
last night that I added chopped chillies to. A good chilli meal should burn on the way in and on the way out……this one did and was the reason for my early rise.
I think most of us could quite easily have stayed another night or 2 here. The thermal pools were extremely therapeutic and relaxing.
We were up and on the road quite early. Whilst it was a great park there was a distinct lack of rubbish disposal locations. The documented process required you to store your waste until departure and deposit such waste at the bin beside the exit gate. The disappointing factor was there was no provision for recycling.
A quick coffee and light morning snack at the local Mobil station before hitting the road.
Whilst we received another verbal bashing, this time from a truckie, it would be unfair to attribute that to the general population of Moree (as per yesterdays abuse), given said truckie could hail from Mungindi or Bumbunga or Woolgoolga or Humpty Doo or Bigan or some other inconspicuous location.
Not 5 minutes down the road Peter relayed a message broadcast over channel 40 (the designated truckie channel). An oversized load was inbound to our location. Multiple police vehicles and designated pilot vehicles were required to manage this sucker. It was humongous, in fact it was 9 metres wide. Video evidence is attached.
We stopped at a little place called Barraba for a bite to eat, but no one was home. There were a couple of establishments selling their chosen products, exploiting the fact most people were at the local races, to boost their revenue for the week.
It was another fairly uneventful day on the road again but we’ve now hit some mountainous landscape which is not much fun ascending but makes for delightful optical pleasure when reaching peaks and descending.
We eventually arrived in Tamworth, the second largest inland city in NSW with a population of 63,070. Whist Wikipedia provided these facts, it is based on the 2021 census. Unless you have been hibernating under a log, and failed to complete your national duty on August 11, you will know these figures will be updated very shortly.
Given our arrival into Tamworth was from the north and our “farm stay” was on the south side, it gave us a brief view of what’s available.
A farm stay is exactly what this is. Mr and Mrs Hubbard hire out their land for intrepid travellers such as us.
It is fantastic. There’s a very large area to make use of but only a few vans can access the 2 power stations. Given were the only ones here at present, we have the power.
There are horses, goats (I will refrain from using the adjective so commonly used to date upon the sighting of goats), Guinea Foul, Guinea Pigs and Chooks, all very accustomed to human interaction as Graham, Peter and I experienced as wandering among them.
Ol’ mother Hubbard popped over for a chat and provided us with some valuable information about places to go and see.
It was noted there is a very confused Gallus Gallus Domesticus, “cock-a-doodling” at 6 o’clock in the evening. Let’s hope it doesn’t work on a 12 hour clock.
Dinner tonight was a beef stir fry we managed to scrounge from the butcher at Bingara (before they closed and went to the races).
But, the priority was to ensure the next preliminary final could be viewed. Particularly important to Karen given Hawthorn is her team of choice. She still had reason for hope, unlike us other Eagles fans.
Unfortunately that hope faded in the dying minutes of the game.
Strangely, the outcome occurred in a similar vein as that of the night before, a come from behind win.
Some chocolate biscuits and a few Kahlua coffees consumed before hitting the sack.Läs mer
Day 55 - Moree
18 september, Australien ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
Another lovely morning……this is making it very difficult to provide non repetitive adjectives.
Having a park cafe is actually quite rare. This park has one that opens 7 days a week from 8.30 til 8.30 and is very reasonably priced. Toasties from $5 and coffees about the same, so needless to say we indulged.
Into town we headed for the usual……fuel, a little bit of shopping and a sticky beak. We were pleasantly surprised with what was available. The dogs got some well earned exercise at a local park.
Another town with some very poignant tributes to our service men and women.
Graham decided to take a peak at the local gun and hunting store so I followed him in. I happened to advise Graham and the store owner I thought this was my first ever entry into such an establishment, so many of the items and their uses had to be explained to me. Graham purchased a very nice pocket knife.
This foray into local life for Graham and I drew a raft of random comments as we strolled the streets of Moree. Excuse my vernacular but as one local rode by, his only word of encouragement was “poofters”. In my attempt to re establish the local bond, my “Good morning” to the next gentleman was greeted with “F@&$ off. I’ll bash you”. We did agree that judging all Moreeons based on these 2 encounters would be somewhat unfair.
Everyone wandered around looking at what interested them before we met up for lunch.
Mid afternoon and back to the park for a soak in the thermal pools. Casual discussions with fellow bathers revealed many people visit this park every year for the healing powers of the earths offering.
Another very rare sighting of Caravanus Parkus Stewardessus today, although this time the even rarer sight of the male of the species was caught……..although still only capturing the outbound journey.
We had dinner at the local pub which was just a short stroll down the road, where country hospitality did not fail us once again. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their choice.
In keeping with our mantra of interacting with the locals we were given a very warm welcome by Clive who was “born, bred and buttered” right here in town.
The country hospitality extended to changing the channel of the TV near our table to display the preliminary final of the AFL. Pretty special given most of the local support seemed to centre around the NRL.
Half time saw a quick stroll back to the park to continue watching.
I don’t think the content of this travel blog has exuded any controversial sentiment to date……..this may now change.
I now risk invoking the Streisand, or more recently the Sheerin effect.
Being a West Aussie you might expect a display of jubilation and joy at the result of the game. That will not happen. Gail and I (and it appears to be the case with at least one other of our group) have experienced what we have termed EDS (Eagles Derangement Syndrome).
Let me explain -
A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away, life was different. The Wimbridge house supported both WA teams, with the Eagles being our first choice.
For the international subscribers this is referring to our Aussie pride and joy. Australian Rules Football.
For reasons we cannot explain we witnessed the continual social media bashing of anything Eagles related. It is to be said, this goes both ways, but that was never portrayed from our stance. In the end……our respect for the purple army disappeared.
The fact my Grandfather played for South Melbourne (The Sydney Swans in their former life) also had a bearing on my loyalty for this match.
Grand final night will see us settled in to watch from Parkes.
PS. Today’s photographic album includes a late video of my effort at camp fire lighting 2 days ago in Chinchilla.
PPS. I do hope the rivalry I’ve described, of 2 warrior tribes can be taken with the respect such sporting rivalry deserves.Läs mer
Day 54 - Chinchilla to Moree
17–19 sep., Australien ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C
The mornings are upon us earlier and earlier as we creep up on summer. It is definitely the best part of the day.
A cuppa, some toast and pack-up commences.
Just over 4 hours driving today but of course additional stops pushed it out a little further.
The majority of those 4 hours were near on a nightmare. I can’t believe the state of the roads in Queensland. They are shocking. Graham did allude to the possibility it’s the
“geotechnical-induced road deformation, in the underlying substructure that has caused the longitudinal undulation and unpredictable vertical displacement.” Well, he didn’t quite say that, but it’s what he meant. I just said they’re shit.
Not so many visually pleasing sights and towns today, compared to the previous drive, but we did stop at Moonie which is the pig hunting capital of Australia. This stop was extremely well timed, given the biggest over sized load we’ve encountered to date passed through as we were ingesting our refreshments.
We crossed the border into NSW just before lunch time. This was just outside Goodawindi, a town made famous by the birth of the famous equine species Gunsynd.
We arrived at the Gwydir Thermal Pools Motel and Caravan Park with all of us looking forward to making good use of those pools. Without going into too much detail the stream of people heading to and from the pools resembled scenes out of the movie Cocoon.
Full services are available here so a little more setup required.
This is definitely one of the more geographically challenging parks we’ve been in. Not much room between vans. But it did foster an environment of relationship building. Thank goodness Karen and Graham had engaged in a civil and respectful manner with their neighbours. A little later he popped over and gave us a heads up of the impending invasion of birds, that sit in the trees above the cars, squawk ridiculously loud and defecate at will.
Just for something different the weather was fantastic so we settled in for a few afternoon drinks and nibbles.
I decided to serve the Pork Salami with Black Truffle I purchased at Goomeri a few days ago. This would normally have been referred to the Minister for Shopping, but it was purchased with our funds (Gail and mine). Said salami was about half the size of a banana and weighed in at 250 grams.
It wasn’t till I opened it that I became privy to the price I had paid…….. $20.50…….10c more than the 2 packets of choc mint drumsticks that resulted in a constitutional crisis days earlier. A financially very irresponsible purchase, but as mentioned done so with personal funds. Whilst immune from sanctions from the Minister for Shopping, the Minister for Home Affairs is carefully considering an appropriate punishment.
Drumstickgate generated a flurry of activity from those of you following us in detail. Thanks to Glenn in Victoria for providing an update on drumstick pricing and thanks to Terry in Perth who provided additional balanced and logical arguments to this crisis. (see attached photos),
Given we’d passed through the pig hunting capital of Australia we felt that the pork ribs and BBQ pork char siu bites we’d purchased before becoming aware of Moree’s claim to fame, were an appropriate selection for dinner. Plus the salad Gail crafted.
Drumsticks for dessert then bed.Läs mer
Day 53 - Chinchilla
16 september, Australien ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C
There’s something special about waking up in the bush…….no artificial or mechanical sounds…….just nature.
Off grid adds that little bit of anxiety to each of us. Not the fact you don’t bath regularly but how much power is being consumed and will Mother Nature replenish the used amount the following day.
But, as one gets to know what uses what power you become that little bit more relaxed. And most of us have portable solar panels we can add to the mix if need be.
After a cuppa and some toast and Peter and Stevie doing their exercises, it was into town for a look around. The “toast” was one of those more relaxed factors.
I’m no sparky but I do understand that off grid relies on 12 volt power. The toaster is 240 volts so I need to engage the inverter. Doing so draws considerably more power from the batteries with constant use seeing the batteries completely drain in a matter of hours.
Chinchilla was another town that surprised us in terms of size and services available.
We were wandering the streets looking like bedouins lost in the desert and one kind local acknowledged this by offering a few suggestions of where to go. I do mean nice suggestions here. The tourist centre, the botanic parkland and the big melon. So off we trotted.
Before arriving in Chinchilla the Cottons presented the fun fact that this area produced around 25% of all the melons in Australia, so the big melon was a must.
Sometimes the smallest things can trigger giant responses (well to me they do). Given the big melon is such a big tourist attraction, the council in their infinite wisdom, erected a very simple steel pole about 750mm high with a bracket at the top, at an appropriate distance in front of the melon. The first ever tourist attraction I’ve seen with a purposefully built holder for a phone so you can take a selfie. Kudos to the council.
Next was a visit to the gold repository…..sorry I mean to fill the cars. The amount you hand over these days to fill your tank almost makes it feel like that.
A short drive out of town was the Chinchilla Weir, where the dogs were once again able to relax and run amok. All 4 absolutely love the water. Graham managed to get his drone up for a few awesome photos.
Lunch at the pub where Peter and I found our first Guinness on tap for quite some time. It would definitely be rude not to…….so we did…..twice. Unfortunately the Guinness drought has seen the “Split the G” skills dwindle somewhat. Both attempts were dismal failures. Once again another lovely country pub meal.
I managed to find a car wash so my chariot got a bit of spoiling before I headed back. Navigating back to camp saw me having to turn at Wambo St. A fun parody that Wimbo was seen on Wambo St. (For those not in the know, I have private plates)
Although not fully recharged, there was much relief in the power department upon our return……Mother Nature had done well.
It was my turn to ignite the camp fire this evening using Julie’s flint. I struck it lucky (get it?). I managed to ignite the accumulated lint from the dryers at Tewantin after 2 attempts.
A few games of Kahoots, an awesome apricot chicken for dinner, an even better apple crumble style dessert, a few calls to the family and everyone was happy seeing the end of another day.Läs mer
Day 52 - Tewantin to Chinchilla
15–17 sep., Australien ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
Another stunning morning. We really have been spoilt.
Departure day today so back to the rigmarole of putting things back where they belong.
Graham and Karen left early to take Ruby to the Vet for a checkup.
Mitch, Kat, Harvey, Elyce and Zali brought us coffee to say farewell, where there was more nanny cuddles for the ladies, to get them by for the next 6 or 7 weeks.
I was finally rewarded with a sighting of the rare Caravanus Parkus Stewardessus. I recall Peter has managed to snap a photo or 2 of these extremely rare beings in previous locations. They are very rare and elusive and are only ever able to be captured as they make their way to their destination. I shall make it my mission to capture them on film, as they commence their return journey to allow me to identify each species.
The park was quite small in terms of the ability to connect our chariots without blocking the roads. Connecting up had to be the last operation and needed to be completed with precise coordination when all 3 were ready, to avoid major road closures.
It wasn’t long till we were away from the lush tropical surrounds we had come to love. We were back in the typical Aussie outback.
Roads……..roads…….have I mentioned in previous posts the state of the roads we’ve had the displeasure of meeting. We battled to keep grounded on many occasions. It was like an extended audition for a rodeo where the cowboys had every right to file for compensation. I honestly cannot believe how such substandard work is allowed.
For us to get advanced warning from Graham of the state of the roads meant we were in for a challenge…….and that it was.
But the rodeo like ride lead us through some amazing towns and sights.
A solar farm the size we had never seen before. A quick google search revealed it was a 600 hectare installation designed to power 126,000 homes a year.
The towns we passed through were awesome. We’ve obviously passed through many many towns so far on our adventure. The common occurrences are usually pubs, bakeries and tributes to those who have served our country.
My personal opinion is that we experienced 2 of the bests so far. The bakery and the tribute at a small town called Goomeri. The pastries were amazing from the bakery as well as the condiments they had on offer.
The memorial in the centre of the road in the centre of the town was a tower with a clock. It’s not till you focus on the clock at the top that you realise, that is the uniqueness of this particular tribute.
More roads and more turbulence before we arrived at our Hip Camp in Chinchilla.
Given Graham arrived sometime ago he gave us a heads up of what to expect. His prime advice was not to cross Shelley.
You arrive at the abandoned looking toilet sized structure, referred to as the office and are presented with a sign directing you to call one of three people, but before you can unlock your phone, Shelley comes screaming up on her supercharged golf cart.
We have to turn around but “it has to be here”, “if you can’t turn here you must drive up to those tyres up there and turn”, “don’t turn on that grass I’ve just watered”.
We could see Graham and Karen so mosey’d on over to form a fortress of vans (as one of the photos will depict).
Normal quick setup for off grid stays (well, most us that is) followed by cleansing ales.
Peter was volunteered to cook spag bol, and we collectively agreed it was pretty damn good.
It was Karen’s turn to get the camp fire cranking with only the aid of Julies flint. It took a few turns but we were all rewarded with our first fire in some time, to sit around and recount our experiences of the day.
You may recall yesterday’s post where I expressed my feelings about missing life events of our offspring. It just so happens, without being privy to my writings, Bri had a very emotional day back home as well.Läs mer
Day 51 - Tewantin
14 september, Australien ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
Back to the stunning mornings.
We say farewell to most of our guests today. Bonnie, Bree, Brett, Zahli and Karen back to Perth, while Steph and Terri move to Brisbane for a few days.
Today is our last day here, so a bit of housekeeping is required to ensure we are ready for the next few stops which are back to roughing it. Fill the water tanks, do all the washing and shop.
Some of us headed over to Jodie and Casey’s as all the hired equipment needed to be packed up ready for pickup. The dismantling of the marquee was the big one.
After that Gail, Julie, Peter and I mosey’d on into Woolies for a big shop for the next few days. One of the luxuries we’ve allowed ourselves is the amazing value for money Peters Drumsticks. Yes, that age old treat of ice cream in a cone with nuts. On special they’re usually around $24 (sometimes cheaper) for a pack of 24. vanilla, caramel and chocolate, so a good variety to suit ALL tastes. ABSOLUTE BARGAIN.
But no, no, no, a rebel group amongst us has lodged a complaint with the minister for shopping. “We demand chocolate mint drumsticks” they cried.
A court order decreed this request must be complied with, so this shop, for the very first time, saw the purchase of 2 packets of 4 choc mint (as specified by the lead complainant) drumsticks.
Well, all economic responsibility was completely shattered. Even the most die hard Trump sycophants would realise the financial benefit of $24 for 24 drumsticks was more financially responsible than $20.20 for 8.
We must reassess our constitution to ensure this travesty of injustice can never occur again.
Upon returning from the shop, we completed those other housekeeping things before we headed into Noosa proper for a farewell gathering with Elyce, Zali, Mitch, Kat and Harvey. Jodie, Casey and Nathan also met joined us.
Fish and chips by the foreshore was very pleasant, where Mitch kindly provided a few beers.
Gail and I got our usual FaceTime call with Evie, Jarryd and Meg. In absence of actually being with Evie, Gail and I made up for it over the last few days with cuddles and grand parent speak with Harvey and the Zali’s.
We followed this with a very delightful Gelato before heading back to the vans for a cuppa.
Things will change upon our return home. Evie, Jarryd and Meg moved into our house over the weekend just gone, until their castle is built. Evie time will be considerably more regular.
It’s somewhat of a difficult time for Gail and I. We’re missing a few life events with the kids. Helping Evie, Meg and Jarrryd, move last weekend, Trent and Bri are moving this coming weekend and also the trials and tribulations of helping a daughter who is about to drop her first Joey. Regular phone calls with Bri and Trent has helped that to some degree.Läs mer