• Carolyn Arch
juil. – sept. 2020

Bumper & Tin Tin Tripping

A trip up the east coast of Australia from Melbourne to Coffs Harbour.
Then to Daryl’s in Sandy Beach.
Then Woolgoolga Lakeside Caravan Park....
Possibly further north.
En savoir plus
  • Début du voyage
    11 juillet 2020

    Running from the Law

    11 juillet 2020, Australie ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Here we are in Goulburn.
    Emily officially started her 2 weeks holiday last night.
    You can tell that by how tired she is today.
    Celebrated a touch too hard last night.
    But holidays are to be celebrated, aren’t they?
    So she and Lacey are lying together on the couch watching movies.
    Winston, Emily’s cat is still hiding in the boot of the bus.
    ( He flees there every time the bus starts up, stays for the duration and emerges about 2 hours after we stop.)
    Lacey, my little miniature poodle and bundle of energy, on the other hand has to be spoken rather sternly as she sits on the front seat as we drive ...
    “Are we there yet?”
    “Are we there yet?”
    So I have to explain that it is about a 3 hour drive ... happy with that explanation, she curls up and sleeps the miles away.

    What a trip we have had so far.
    Crossed into NSW with no problem.
    Stayed at the Lake Hume Resort.
    Managed to test out my kayak when my cousin Michael bought his kayak over and we paddled the lake.
    Magnificent sun
    Large fire that night in our fire pit.
    Very, very, very foggy when we woke up.
    Couldn’t see the Lake!

    We had a wonderful time here.
    The lake was magnificent.
    Bumper works so well.
    The fire at night overlooking the lake is spectacular.
    So is the Full Moon.
    Another spot for our ‘Full Moon’ memories.

    Emily didn’t bring the pump that came with the paddle board.
    She has a battery powered pump.
    Turns out that does not connect properly so the air rushes out before she can seal it so the paddle board was not pumped up as hard as she would like.
    “Give it a try, eh?”

    So funny.
    It bent in the middle when she sat on it and, wetsuit and all, in the lake she went when she tried to stand up.

    I can’t talk.
    Twice I tried to get out of the kayak with one foot still in it.
    Did the splits as the kayak moved away from me, still with one foot in it.
    Straight into the water, bottom first.
    Twice!
    We were hysterical.

    There was talk of ‘extending the border’ further north to stop Victorians coming further into NSW.
    We gotta go.
    We did not want to leave the Hume.
    Had a magnificent time here.

    So, next morning, backed Bumper and Tin Tin back towards Rolly’s house ...
    ( Friend of Auntie Meryl and Uncle John. Lovely man. We catch up each time I am here.)
    Up the steep hill...
    Out of the park ...
    And straight into a police roadblock 50 metres outside the caravan park.
    Funny chat .
    ( Well we were in NSW at that stage)
    Funny place to have a roadblock....
    And then all 5 policemen stood and waved goodbye to “Mum”
    ( That’s my Mum. That’s my Mum )

    Off to Gundagai.

    Wow, what a trip.
    We feel we are running from the law here.
    Everywhere we stop has tales about what will happen further north.

    Gundagai was lovely!
    I loved walking the Main Street.
    Talked to heaps of friendly people.
    Bought a pair of shoes, leather, that don’t let my feet get soaking wet when I walk Lacey early in the morning.

    So as we are now trying to keep ahead of any further shutdowns, we are not casually meandering up the east coast, stopping at little towns when we feel like it, staying a couple of days if we feel like it.
    Nope.
    We are running up the middle to get to Coffs as soon as we can.
    Then we can be parked at his house for the duration of our isolation.

    We were able to book at Goulburn with no problem.
    Have a en-suite site.... lovely... it’s been 2 or 3 degrees at night.
    So it is great to warm up that little bathroom with our heater and just enjoy the shower!

    But we tried to book in Wollongong but were told they had been advised that caravan parks are not allowed to have anyone from Victoria stay who has not isolated for 14 days.
    We haven’t.
    So hence the run to Daryl’s.
    Might be free camping tomorrow night.

    Well that’s it really.
    Not sure if this blog will be interesting to anyone.
    Driving and sleeping really.... ( when we are not running )
    Just a diary of our trip.
    En savoir plus

  • Just Goulburn

    11 juillet 2020, Australie ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Left Gundagai at 10 am.
    Arrived Goulburn about 11.45 am.

    It absolutely poured most of the way.
    Cleared up by Goulburn so we could settle into our site.
    I am sleeping In Bumper tonight on the couch.
    That way we only pay for one site.
    And I don’t have to repack Tin Tin in the morning.
    (That kayak would be very wet to pack back in tomorrow morning)
    It is raining very heavily outside.
    Emily has wound her awning out about 2 feet so we have cover over the door and are undercover to walk into the en-suite. Hahaha.

    This blog will only allow you to add 5 or 6 photos per entry.
    Would not have worked for me writing a blog overseas.
    But will add them as I can.

    Looks like being a very quiet rest of the day.
    Movies, I think.
    Or a good book.

    Oh!
    Loudest clap of thunder!
    And lightening lit up the whole area.
    May be staying another night if the rain continues like this.
    It is torrential.
    It’s racing down the road in rivers.

    Heater going beautifully in here.
    I am sitting at Emily’s desk in Bumper writing away.
    We are snug.
    And Winston had emerged from the boot.
    All is right here
    Xxxx
    En savoir plus

  • So near, and yet so far.

    12 juillet 2020, Australie ⋅ 🌧 6 °C

    Bit tired tonight.
    We are booked into a pet friendly motel in Taree for the night.

    We left Goulburn at 9am this morning and it was such a glorious day.
    The rain had disappeared and the sun was shining.
    And I found the chocolate milk in Bumper’s fridge.
    Emily had bought it for me and I had forgotten.
    So I had chocolate milk with toast!
    Great breakfast!!!

    Wonderful driving day..
    We went a lot further than planned because we were having fun.

    Very glad we were driving around Sydney on a Sunday.
    If that was the traffic skirting Sydney on a Sunday, heaven only knows what it is like on a weekday.

    But as we headed north, the traffic was thinning.
    Lots of people coming back into Sydney on the other side of the road though.

    So I am following Bumper.
    Looking at those perfectly painted rubbers and back window...
    And Emily leads the way...
    Heading into Taree .... about 2km out ....
    Emily pulls over to the side of the road....
    I pull in behind her and put the Emergency lights on flash.
    Something has dropped down under Bumper.
    Something quite big.
    Being as mechanically minded as we are we thought, “That doesn’t look good.”

    And it didn’t.

    Rang RACV..... luckily both have Total Care (planned)
    Driving a 1981 bus and a 20 year old Hi Ace .... can’t do without it.
    RACV very confused, then rang NSW version and got things organised.

    A lovely ‘man in a van’ Glenn arrived.
    Thought he was Ted’s brother (Phyll and Ted)
    So we had a ball.
    ( He didn’t think it looked good either.)
    Rang the tow truck.
    He arrived.
    Loaded poor Bumper onto the back of a truck and followed that truck into Taree.
    Moved Winston into Tin Tin....
    Took all we thought Emily needed out of Bumper...
    And left him sitting forlornly outside the mechanics.

    Booked into this pet friendly motel
    (Didn’t know they existed.)
    Very comfortable.
    500 metres from the mechanics.
    Emily will head down there in the morning.

    We are 2.5 Hours from Daryl and Martine’s at Sandy Beach.
    So near, and yet so far.....

    Depending on what is said tomorrow.
    Obviously need a new tail shaft (or drive shaft ... whatever that thing is)
    But will have to wait for parts I think.
    Both RACV guys said it looks like a bolt has come loose or sheared off.
    Anyway....

    So we think that we will leave Bumper to be fixed, drive to Sandy Beach and have fun...
    And come back down to pick up Bumper.

    That’s the plan tonight.
    Subject to change ....

    We are fine.
    You just deal with it.
    And very comfy watching TV on a very big bed in the motel room.

    Xxxxx
    En savoir plus

  • Bought the wrong gear ....

    13 juillet 2020, Australie ⋅ 🌙 13 °C

    Daryl was pointing out his favourite fishing and surfing spot while we were whale watching yesterday.

    He said the other day, took his fishing gear to this beach. No fish anywhere but the waves were magnificent.
    “ Bought the wrong gear. “ he thought.

    Went back the next day, with his surf board, about to wade in .... and an 8 foot grey nurse shark swam in front of him in about 2 feet of water.

    “Bought the wrong gear. “ he thought.
    En savoir plus

  • Coffs here we come!

    13 juillet 2020, Australie ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    So an early rise in our ‘Pet Friendly ‘ Motel.
    What a beautiful view of the Lake.
    Emily headed off in Tin Tin to talk to the mechanic.
    And then to a pet shop to get a cat cage for Winston.
    Figured he’d be safer and more comfortable in that for the trip up the highway.
    Emily had spoken to RACV Total Care....
    Will pay for the motel.
    And a hire car for the time it is needed.
    And accomodation until Bumper is ready to go again.
    So we searched and searched for accomodation to (seriously) take advantage of this offer.

    Unfortunately, all wonderful beachside cabins or BnBs were either booked solid, not pet friendly (understandable) or way too expensive.
    Dammit!
    Really thought that was going to be another side to this trip.
    I rang car hire places while Emily was gone.
    Found a car ...
    Packed everything I owned and all Emily’s that she might need from Bumper into Tin Tin....
    He was pretty full, let me tell you.
    Just as well we were only 2 and a half hours from Daryl.
    Sleeping in Tin Tin was no longer an option.

    Off to Taree Airport to pick up the hire car.
    I love country airports.
    They are so small.
    And just so perfect inside.
    While we waited for the hire car to be filled with petrol, I wandered inside.
    Used the hand sanitiser in the bathrooms and commented to Emily how ‘foamy’ it was on the hands.
    She collapsed in hysterics.
    What I finally managed to get out of her was that wasn’t hand sanitiser, it was liquid soap.
    Yep, hands very, very sticky for a very long time.

    Car’s ready.
    No pets.
    Of course not.
    (Well if you are already running, one more offence is no going to make that much of a difference, is it?)

    It’s a silver 4 wheel drive, auto Nissan Xtrail.
    And we were off.

    Now when you are as car savvy as I am, and you are used to following a large bus with perfectly painted back window and rubbers, I could have lost the Xtrail as easy as blinking.
    I stuck to that car like glue.
    She was navigating after all.

    Wonderful trip up the highway.
    Perfect roads.
    We have had some bumpy rides along the way but this was great.
    And magnificent blue skies as far as you could see.
    And I was driving in a t-shirt!

    The miles slipped away....

    And then we were parking in front of Daryl and Martine’s house in Sandy Beach NSW!!!!!!

    Wonderful greetings.
    Lacey and Scout, Daryl’s dog checked each other out, decided that they were OK.
    Did a tour of the house after the renovations .... looks absolutely magnificent!

    Then a Daryl drove us to look at the beaches.
    Up to the tower as we watched a whale breech...
    Many more whales spouting....
    And the occasional fin.
    The whale pass Sandy Beach each year, thousands of them.
    Checked out Woolgoolga ( Woopi) to the locals.
    Emily bought knee and wrist pads to wear when ‘One Wheeling’ .... more to follow on that.

    Then food shopping.
    Back to put in a pork roast ( I didn’t do that. Looked crowded in the kitchen with Daryl and Emily in there.)
    Lovely night sound the open fire in the back yard.
    Then wonderful dinner.
    Then absolutely hysterical night on the back deck.
    It poured with rain.

    And then instantly stopped.
    And we we undercover the whole time, just lapping it up.

    Bed time.
    Emily is sleeping in Tin Tin as Winston is living in there at the moment.
    Both Daryl and Martine are allergic to cats.
    Safer for Winston too.
    He’s very comfortable and has a 360 degree view and sleeps with his favourite girl.
    He’s OK.

    Great, great day.
    And lovely to be here.
    En savoir plus

  • The beach and the house

    14 juillet 2020, Australie ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Beautiful renovation by Daryl and a Martine.
    It is simply stunning and we certainly don’t want to be anywhere else!!!!

  • One Wheeling on Sandy Beach

    14 juillet 2020, Australie ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    Both slept wonderfully.
    Daryl off for a quick surf.
    He has to self isolate since he left Mum’s so is home with us.
    Martine has to as well now so is working in the study.
    Daryl instantly back.
    Waves only knee high.

    Emily, Lacey and I off to Sandy Beach.
    Long, long walk along the beach.
    Spots of rain. Then it stopped.
    Lacey ran all up and down the beach.
    Loved it.

    And Emily bought out the big guns ... the ONE WHEEL!
    It’s a motorised skate board.
    Her first time trying it.
    She was amazing.
    En savoir plus

  • Woolgoolga Lakeside Caravan Park

    14 juillet 2020, Australie ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    Went with Daryl, Martine and Scout to check out the sites we have booked at Woopi Caravan Park.
    All the caravan parks are full.
    People travelling north to get to warmer weather.
    I booked these sites several weeks ago and still couldn’t get 2 sites together.
    So was keen to see what they were like.
    Lovely little caravan park.
    Right on the beach but sheltered by trees.
    Apparently we can walk 5 kms to Sandy Beach at low tide.
    I think Emily will be trying that on the One Wheel!
    ( I’ll just jog along behind.)
    So right on the beach but also flanked by the lake.
    Very shallow lake that is formed by a creek running into the sea, and becomes wider every time the tide comes in.
    Lots of sandbars at low tide.
    Perfect for the kayak and paddle board.

    The sites look great.
    I’m ready.
    Booked in from 5th August.
    Me for 6 weeks.
    Emily for 3 months.
    😎
    En savoir plus

  • Beach Day today

    15 juillet 2020, Australie ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    Amazing day today.
    Woke to a brilliant blue sky,
    Sunshine EVERYWHERE!
    And it was warm.
    Went to the beach 3 times!!!!
    The waves were enormous from the weather that has been hitting Sydney the last 24 hours.
    As soon as we crested the hill .... wow ....
    All we could see was white foam.
    Looked amazing.
    Long walks on the beach.
    Three times!!!!!!
    En savoir plus

  • Then we checked out The Lake

    15 juillet 2020, Australie ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    Headed to Woolgoolga Lakeside Caravan Park to check out the lake...
    Love this location.
    The tide was coming in so rushing into the lake.
    But there are sandbars everywhere so it is so shallow.
    And the water is crystal clear.
    This will be fun to play on!
    And right next to the park.

    Oh and Daryl painted the roof of his house.
    AND made dinner.

    Oh!
    Oh!
    AND ....
    Emily bought a Postie Bike.
    ( I’ll never keep up now )

    This holiday adventure is getting better and better.
    En savoir plus

  • Wandering

    16 juillet 2020, Australie ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    Up at 7.30am.
    Not hard .... seem to be in bed by 8.30pm.
    Seems wandering along beaches is very exhausting.

    Off to Sandy Beach.
    Emily’s One Wheel got a lot of attention, mainly from surfers about Daryl’s age. All fascinated.
    Beautiful sunny day again and warm.

    Then a bit later, we headed out to do a rain forest walk near Woolgoolga but turned out dogs were not allowed.
    So back to the wonderful Woolgoolga Lake and beach.
    Picnic on the bank .... just pies.
    Then off for a stroll and paddle in the water.
    But I called into the caravan office to see if I could get 2 sites together for our stay.
    The lady was wonderful and after some juggling, we ended up with my original site 66 with the huge tree and #67 right next to it.
    Photo attached.
    So my van will pull in on the far right facing the tree. Bumper will drive in on the far left with her awning out towards my van and the sun shelter and my table and chairs will sit under the tree.
    Short walk to the lake for kayak launching!
    So with the 2 sites together, we will have a huge area.
    Just as well ... we have a kayak, a paddle board, Daryl’s push bike, a postie bike and a one wheel.
    ( I’m thinking of getting a pony.)

    Wandered the lake and beach.
    The sea was unbelievably warm.
    Daryl has always said that .... water temp today was 22 degrees ... and you can tell! It was beautiful.
    Home and read for the afternoon sitting in the sun in the back yard.
    Lovely day.
    Daryl put the 2nd coat of paint on the roof.
    A relaxing meal of leftovers.
    Amazing choice
    Spaghetti Bol
    Payola
    Roast pork.
    ( See how confused all this food is making me .... can’t even spell them.)

    The mechanic rang.
    Thinks he has found a part in Sydney.
    Fingers crossed.

    Great day xxxx
    En savoir plus

  • Very lazy day

    17 juillet 2020, Australie ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    Woke about 7.30am.
    Daryl and Martine had already left for their morning walk on the beach.
    Emily and I headed into Woopi for Brunch.
    Very, very nice.
    At the same little cafe that Daryl and Martine were sitting at when they were waiting to hear if their offer on this house had been accepted.
    A bit of a cheer went up from their table when they heard it had ...
    And they have been friendly with the cafe owner ever since.

    Wandered the shops.
    I bought earrings.
    Love them.
    We looked for a stunning hat for Emily...
    She likes hats.
    Too hard to describe.
    Will take a photo when she finds one.

    Came home.
    And absolutely collapsed.
    I had to go for a nap.
    Emily too.

    We were worn out.
    ( Not normally a nap person. Think I could be now. Bit of a worry.)

    Helped Martine plant 6 palms at the boundary out the front.
    Huge difference.
    She is so thrilled.
    Lamb roast.
    ( Still emptying meat out of the freezer in Tin Tin.)
    And a very lazy night around the open fire in the back yard.

    That’s it.
    Getting very fond of my bed.
    Think I will live in the hammock at the lake.

    Xxx
    En savoir plus

  • Emily had her hair done.

    18 juillet 2020, Australie ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    She does this on every trip we have taken together.
    There she goes ...
    Off to get her hair cut and coloured.
    And she looks MAGNIFICENT!!!!!!

  • Water Feature Day.

    18 juillet 2020, Australie ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    So Emily was at the hairdresser.
    Daryl was painting the side of the house.
    Martine and I wheelbarrowed ‘brickie’s sand’ from Daryl’s Ute at the front of the house to the Outdoor Shower area in the backyard.
    ( They are both swimmers. Need this shower after the surf.)
    So sand all laid in the Outdoor Shower area.
    River rocks and a huge flat rock under the shower to be laid perhaps next week.

    Martine and I attacked the water feature.
    This is huge.
    About 200 years old.
    An old Japanese bath.
    ( Imagine a giant cooking pot that cannibals cooked up the terrified humans in, and you have the picture.)
    This thing is magnificent.
    So after fighting to get the 3 huge jasmine that were cascading down the sides of this pot out, we scrubbed and washed it out.
    Then .... there was an outlet ... to drain all the water away...
    We wanted the water to stay in there.
    So, luckily, Martine drinks champagne.

    So we had the occasional champagne cork on hand.
    We measured...
    Looked at one another ...
    And hammered this cork into the outlet pipe.
    Worked.
    We grinned.
    Then rolled this enormous, very, very heavy cast iron, cannibal cooking pot into position under the wonderful paperbark in the back yard.
    Levelled.
    Bricks placed inside to support the water pump.
    Hose on.
    Filled it with water.
    Turned the pump on.
    ABSOLUTELY SPECTACULAR!!!

    Check out the photos.

    Sat round the open fire in the backyard, admiring our day’s work.
    Poor Daryl came off second best with his painted side of the house... but we did all stand and admire it.
    Just not as effective as running water.
    Dinner by the open fire.
    Not saying what it was because, again, didn’t know it and can’t spell it.
    Delicious.
    It’s got so they no longer ask if I like something, they just feed me.
    Works very well for me!

    Early night 7.30 bed.
    Kayaking tomorrow.

    Should be interesting.
    Apparently the sea dumped heaps of sand at the entrance of Woolgoolga Creek where it meets the sea.
    So it cannot flow into the sea.
    The creek is still flowing but cannot get into the sea.
    So the Lake is really filling up.
    Not so shallow now.
    Will be interesting to see if it has cleared tomorrow.

    Xxxx
    En savoir plus

  • Kayaking day.

    19 juillet 2020, Australie ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    First time on Woolgoolga Lake!

    Magnificent sunny day, about 20 degrees.
    Daryl loaded up his Ute with 3 kayaks ...
    Mine, his and Martine’s for Emily.
    Lovely public park in a forest of paperbarks.
    Small boat ramp into the lake.
    People picnicking, fishing, kayaking and paddle boarding ...
    And we joined them.
    Daryl taught me how to get into the kayak ( Straddle it, one foot either side, and simply sit down.)
    More importantly, he taught me how to get out of it without falling in the water!
    Same process, a foot out either side and stand up.
    Easy.
    (I have fallen in the water twice already as I got out of the kayak, placing one foot in the water and slowly doing the splits as your other foot still in the boat pushes it further and further away, until you have no choice and simply fall in the water, bottom first.)
    Emily and Michael found this absolutely hysterical, both times!
    Lousy buggers.

    It was so much fun!
    And so easy.
    And sooooo relaxing.

    The water is crystal clear and you can just drift along.
    Lacey sits on point on my kayak.
    Absolutely love it.

    The Lake (creek) is still blocked by huge amounts of sand from flowing into the sea.
    So as the water is still coming down the creek, no sandbars at the moment.
    Daryl said it will remain like that until the next storm or king tide.
    Bit of a shame really.
    But an awful amount of sand to dig out a trench....
    We’ll enjoy it as it is.

    Fish and chips eaten at the Sunken Chip.
    Walk along the beach.
    Some one wheeling...
    A bit windy on the beach so headed home.

    Reading on the back lawn in the sun.
    Dinner (Daryl made Fish Curry .... delicious)
    Bed.

    Lovely day.
    Getting a bit antsy for the caravan park, lake and beach though.
    But practising religiously each day!!!

    Xxxx
    En savoir plus

  • Fun day

    20 juillet 2020, Australie ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    Well how about that then?
    Writing in 2 blogs.
    What a dill.
    Created one at home called “Bumper and Tin Tin Travels.
    Didn’t like that name.
    Wanted to call it “The Adventures of Bumper and Tin Tin”
    But too many letters... it wouldn’t let me.
    Anyway .... decided not to use that one.

    Created “Bumper & Tin Tin Tripping” (liked that much better)
    But didn’t realise that some days I wrote in one ...
    Other days I wrote in the other.

    Have to work it out later.
    Will try to stay in this one now!

    MAGNIFICENT DAY!!!!!
    So sunny and warm.
    Emily and I headed into Coffs to lingerie shopping.
    Too scared to go to Fountain Gate the last few days before we left .... too many people.
    So we shopped here.
    Then Emily bought t-shirts and trousers .... and a great hat!
    Then I bought boyfriend jeans that are sooooo comfortable... and I can lounge at the caravan park or on the beach in them.
    And I bought a hat , not as nice as Emily’s, but a hat just the same.

    Home excited about shopping.
    Then off to Sandy Beach for a long walk along the sand and in the water.
    And played in rock pools.
    Lacey had a ball.
    She runs wonderfully along the beach and pelts back to us when whistled or called.
    She simply flies!
    And, as it was a bit windy, turns out she is great at chasing hats as they tumble along the sand.

    Reading again in the sun.
    Daryl finished the 2nd coat on the side wall of the house.
    Painting is all finished now.

    Daryl had a phone call from the police to check if he was at home and isolating.
    And would call in to check before Thursday.

    Dinner on our laps watching “Call of Duty”
    ( How the hell did that happen? I’m ‘binge watching’)

    Great, great day.

    Xxx
    En savoir plus

  • Pancakes!!!!

    21 juillet 2020, Australie ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    Daryl cooked pancakes for breakfast!
    I was excited.
    Daryl and Emily were horrified when they saw the vegemite on my pancake.

    Hey!
    Each to their own!

  • Emily’s Postie Bike arrived!

    21 juillet 2020, Australie ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    Wonderful delivery guy.
    Said he was embarrassed to be carting a Postie,
    ( His number plate was YAM 650 ....)

    Check out Woody and Buzz Lightyear on the back bumper.
    His mates at work did that to his truck.

    Great fun....
    Lots of talk and laughs.
    Man walking past offered his battery charger.
    He lives just down the street.

    It’s here.
    And there is one excited girl...
    Plus one jealous brother.
    Me?
    I like the colour.
    En savoir plus

  • She’s excited!

    21 juillet 2020, Australie ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    Really excited.

    Out the back, washing it as we speak..

    Well she was.
    Then we shot into Coffs for a helmet and jacket, and a new battery.
    And she was off!!!!!

    She is loving it!!!

    And the job her work thought they had for her in Lismore fell through.
    Terrible shame, we don’t think.
    Yah.....
    Working from the bus at Woopi caravan park .....paradise.

    Bike seems to be named “Burner”.....
    She likes the ring of Bumper and Burner.

    😎
    En savoir plus

  • It appears Lacey can do anything!

    21 juillet 2020, Australie ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    That’s it for the day really.
    Daryl and Martine shovelled wheelbarrow loads of river stones out of the Ute and wheeled them round the back to the shower area.
    Emily and I did a few loads as well, not that many though.
    Groomed Lacey and gave her a bath.
    Poor little thing.
    That hose water was cold.
    Daryl and Martine have a European Laundry so no trough.
    Washing of the dog has to be by hose outside.
    Though I did soap her up with warm water.
    The hose rinsing was the cold bit.
    She recovered well.

    Sat round the open fire in the back yard again.
    Emily is off to get the roadworthy for Burner tomorrow morning.
    I will follow her in Tin Tin.
    Bus expected to be ready for pick up this weekend.

    Re the job in Lismore, Emily and I randomly stand up and shout “Yah” .... just to make us feel good.
    Yah .... that a big bit fell off Bumper
    Yah .... we could have cancelled our booking at the Woopi Park.
    Yah .... we could have been on the way to Lismore by now.
    Yah .... that we got to stay with Daryl and Martine.
    Yah!!!!!!!!
    So many things Yah !!!!!

    Nigh nigh xxxxx
    En savoir plus

  • Burner officially registered

    22 juillet 2020, Australie ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Emily went off to the NMRA armed with all necessary paperwork.
    She was gone about 3 hours.
    Had to queue to get the one slip to apply for a NSW bike licence.
    ( I think the story is that you cannot register a vehicle here unless you have the matching licence.)
    Another queue to present the above form and be given the licence.
    Then back to the first queue to show the NSW licence and register Burner.
    (I may have missed a queue or 2, but that was the general story.)

    Anyway....
    One very excited registered Postie bike owner.

    Quiet evening.....
    End of Season 3 Line of Duty.
    We all cheered .... and went to bed.

    Up at 7am. Leaving at 8am.
    Bumper, here we come!

    Xxx
    En savoir plus

  • Raided!

    22 juillet 2020, Australie ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Knock at the door.
    I glanced towards the door.
    ( It’s got glass panels.)

    “Daryl, the police are at the door.”

    Daryl goes to the front door and opens it wide.
    “You’re looking for me.”
    “Are we, Sir?”
    Giving him a very stern look....
    Thinking ... “This is going to be the easiest nick of all time.”

    (I’m making that up. Emily and I were now hiding. Couldn’t see them.)

    “Yes. Daryl Street. Covid. Self Isolation.”

    “No, Sir. Another matter.”

    And lowered their voices.

    ( Should we run .... ?)

    Daryl comes back inside ...
    And beckons Martine.
    She goes out with them on the front veranda ...
    AND CLOSES THE DOOR.

    ( Come on .... )

    Much muttering.

    Is it The Postie?

    (They don’t know it’s called Burner and we are not giving that up easily.)

    Emily looks smug.
    She has just driven it into Woopi.
    Followed by me in Daryl’s car.
    Got the Road Worthy.
    All legal, we are.

    More muttering.

    Daryl and Martine wave the police goodbye and come back inside.
    And proceed to talk about breakfast!

    HEY!

    What was that about?

    “Oh ... disturbance down the street on Sunday night. Wondered if we had heard anything.”

    Talk about anti climax.

    But definitely ‘Blog Worthy’.... this does not happen every day.

    Just to advise, we are Covid legal.
    They weren’t really after us.
    En savoir plus

  • We did it.

    23 juillet 2020, Australie ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    Yessiree!!!!!
    We did it.
    We drove back down to Taree.
    Paid the mechanic.
    And drove Bumper back to 32 Turpentine Ave, Sandy Beach NSW!!!!!!!

    We are so proud of ourselves.

    I don’t think normal people get as stressed as we do about old buses, the mechanics that work them and the 5 hour round trip to bring Bumper home.

    But we do.
    Though neither of us said a word to the other.
    We were just doing it.
    Come hell or high water ...

    And we did it.
    And I cannot stress enough how proud of ourselves we are!

    Bumper is now beautifully parked amongst the trees in Daryl’s front yard.
    And he looks magnificent!

    We cleared him out.
    (Packing up to travel always involves things in funny places)

    Daryl and Martine came in to admire.
    Lots of “ohs and ahhs “
    Fantastic.

    I cleaned out Tin Tin.
    Emily and Winston had been sleeping in there for 10 days.
    Packed things back where they should be.

    Daryl and Martine went for a picnic dinner on the beach.
    Emily and I ordered pizza and sat at her outdoor table to eat it.

    Wonderful, wonderful day.
    We did it.

    Very tired now.
    In bed 7.30pm.
    En savoir plus

  • Quiet day today

    24 juillet 2020, Australie ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Bit overcast and showers today.
    A quiet day.
    Recovering after the trip, I think.

    Did some washing.
    Emily and Lacey and I headed to Sandy Beach for a walk.
    I drove Tin Tin.
    First time up here as we have been making use of the hire car previously.
    And then to the Sunken Chip for a snack.
    Loaded Chips.
    Delicious.
    Met and chatted to a lady whose mobility scooter is made to look like a Harley Davidson.
    Looked spectacular.
    She used to ride Harleys and misses riding terribly.
    I have seen her on her 4 wheel scooter travelling along the sand on the beach.

    Daryl was telling us that people gather on the beach in Woopi for ‘Fluro Friday’.
    All types.
    All ages.
    Just a way to meet people.
    They meet a dawn.
    Probably a cult.
    But I’m in.
    Off to St Vinnies to get something fluro!
    If all else fails, Lacey has a fluro jacket.
    ( I can’t find her in the dark otherwise!)

    Emily worked on her one wheel, changing the ‘smooth’ tyre to one with a large tread.
    Went into Woopi in the end to ask a mechanic to get the tyre off the hub.
    Success.
    She is thrilled with the new look.
    Also having fun organising Bumper today.
    ( Apart from the fact she managed to break the snib off the small barrel bolt on her security door and had to ring me to break her free. She was stuck .... last resort, climb out a window. So a bit of a change to be actioned there.)

    Martine and Daryl headed out to wish her cousin Francis a wonderful time on their trip to Darwin this evening.
    A quiet night in for us.
    ( Real party animals us! And you can still go out up here.)

    Xxx
    En savoir plus