• Andrea McClure
  • Andrea McClure

Year off around Australia

Roger and I setting off in the Dmax Ute with our Goldstream caravan in tow to explore our country Leer más
  • Moonta Railway

    26 de febrero, Australia ⋅ 🌬 30 °C

    Get tickets $12 each adult for the 2pm train ride tour, then quickly go back into Moonta to have some lunch beforehand. We go to the Cornish Bakery and have Cornish Pasties with cold drinks - very good!.
    Now drive back to Moonta Mines for this tour. Very informative tour - pre recorded explanations and facts come through speakers into the carriages as we travel along.
    After the tour is finished, we drive about in our ute to check out some of the old sites mentioned.
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  • Moonta Mines Church

    26 de febrero, Australia ⋅ 🌬 30 °C

    Call in to check out this church that used to get over 1000 attendees each Sunday - thanks to the policy that if the miners didn't attend church - they didn't have a job.
    Once we've finished looking here, we drive back to Moonta to do some grocery shopping - we're in charge of providing tea tonight.Leer más

  • Port Wakefield

    27 de febrero, Australia ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    This is our place for fuel up and lunch stop. I haven't taken any photos as we really just did what I mentioned and kept going.
    Our lunch was purchased from Kipling's Bakery and it was agreed - delicious! Sausage Roll for me, chicken & mushroom pie and a honey bun (like Kitchener bun except honey instead of jam) for Roger.Leer más

  • Christies Beach Tourist Park

    27 feb.–2 mar., Australia ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C

    Easy drive through Adelaide (thanks to Northern Connector highway) to get here. We check in and get our park instructions along with our site No.18. Go and settle on it and happily set ourselves up with mat and awning in use. Go check out the park facilities - nice - and then Roger gets changed to have a swim. I go with him, but only to check out the beach. We return after Roger has enjoyed his swim. Relax about camp, have drinks and cheese and biscuits. Get a phone call from Stacy - wonderful opportunity to find out how her graduation went - well as she so deserves. Roger cooks tea - marinated pork on the BBQ, which we have with the remainder of the salad I made for last night's tea. Roger suggests a walk along the beach - so we do, on our way back we stop and have a drink at The Sandbar. Lovely spot for it. Once back at our caravan, Roger goes and has his shower. We decide not enough dishes to worry about tonight - we'll do them in the morning. Now relaxing before bedtime.
    28/02/25 Friday. Wake up and remember I need to make a ATO PAYG payment today so get up and have my breakfast, Roger follows. Then I get on the laptop to find out the details so I can Bpay - get it done. Now head off for a shower, then come back and decide to put a load of washing on (shorts and top I'd like clean to wear over the weekend). Wait for the wash cycle (43 mins so cuppa time etc) to hang the washing out. Won't take long to dry - beautiful day. I look up where the closest Kmart is - after the card game Five Crowns and a spare budget book - only 2.5km away so I suggest a walk to Roger. He's agreeable - off we go. We call in at a bike shop on the way, just to see what fold up electric bikes are priced at. I have no luck finding the card game (Kmart sold out of) and I didn't find a proper account book either - for this I settled for a binder book I'll rule up myself. I had an 'upset' in my shopping in Kmart - I lost the leather braided hat band off my Akubra hat (that I've had since I was in my late teens) - retraced my steps a few laps, didn't find so left my details with the service desk 🤞. Return to our caravan to have lunch, Roger has a sandwich and yoghurt and strawberries, I just have yoghurt and strawberries - as I know we're eating out tonight. So excited - it's a planned 'Dodd siblings reunion' with their partners and other family members. It's been around 30 years since Joyce's children got together!
    Roger and I have a relax at camp before getting ready to go out for the rest of the day - we're walking to Roger's niece's place - leave at around 3.40pm.
    Return with Robert and Stacy ❤️ in Stacy's car (Stacy nominated herself as driver earlier in the evening). I relax and enjoy watching Roger and Robert set up our roof top tent, while Stacy goes and has her shower. We're all tired after our great evening with Roger's family, so we head off to our bed's once Robert and Stacy have theirs organised in the roof top tent.
    1/03/25 Saturday. I get up in time to go participate in Christies Beach Park run- get there, walk straight out to the foreshore area from this park, at 7.30am. Return to have a shower - all the rest of my family are up and waiting for me to have a cooked breakfast. When I get back from my shower - time to dish up and eat! So wonderful having breakfast with Robert and Stacy here - Roger has done his usual yummy bacon and eggs combo on toast for us all. I need to remember when assembling our breakfast that Stacy doesn't have tomato!! At least I asked about the avocado (no from both Robert and Stacy).
    Last night while at Glenelg Stacy discovered via Instagram that Raelene Johnston is here in Adelaide as well (turns out we were about 200m away from each other last night - with our functions happening). So we are organising to catch up this morning for a cuppa at a mid way point between where we are all staying. This is decided as Brighton. Work out that Stacy and I will go meet up with Raels, Jackie and Jackie's good friend Woody, leaving our fellas to relax here at camp (they also go and catch up with Becky and Liam at their place - to return a photo, Glenelg ferris wheel shot taken last night with the kids, of Liam's and collect our cooler bag we left there yesterday). Stacy and I head off just after 11am. We return around 2pm. Roger and Robert are at camp, they've had sandwiches for their lunch - now relax about camp together. We are going into a show near Adelaide CBD so we get organised and leave for this around 4.45pm. We return around 10pm - I'm the only one not having a shower, so I make a cuppa for Rog and I (not sure if Robert and Stacy will want one - offer later, but no, teeth are cleaned 👍). Before retiring to bed - we all sit around camp - so nice being together 🥰 In bed by 11.30pm.
    2/03/25 Sunday. I get up planning to have a walk along the foreshore before everyone else in my camp is up. Realise I've left too late, 7.30am, to be away too long if I want to spend more time with Robert and Stacy before we all leave. Make it a short 2km walk before returning to have a shower and enjoying my breakfast with the rest of my crew. We get a call from Tegan - so we all enjoy a chat and catching up on each other's news. Sure enough - the time has gone too quick- we are all ready to get on the move (Robert and Stacy have waited for us) - Robert and Stacy to head back home to Hamilton, Roger and I going back to Yorke Peninsula. Robert and Stacy are loaded up with all the 'unnecessary stuff' we've been carting around with us (ie Christmas decorations, board games not playing, redundant travel brochures, unused utensils and bowls etc). We say our goodbyes (me fighting my tears on this - so grateful for this get together) and all get going before 10am.
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  • Christies Beach

    27 feb.–2 mar., Australia ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    Come check out the beach that our caravan park is right beside. Very nice. Roger enjoys a refreshing swim. Then later in the day, evening, we have a lovely walk along here to O'Sullivan Beach Boat Ramp and back. Includes a stop to enjoy a drink at The Sandbar - an outdoor drinking area overlooking the beach.Leer más

  • Becky & Liam's Christies Beach

    28 de febrero, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    Walk here to the lovely home Becky and Liam have purchased together. We meet their 2 dachshunds, Slinky (deaf) and Beanie. Becky and Liam are getting married in 5 weeks time. They are also about to go into their own Recruiting business together as well. Very busy couple. Enjoy chatting and having drinks out at their front veranda - until time to get an Uber to our dinner at Glenelg - leave 4.30pmLeer más

  • The Moseley Glenelg

    28 de febrero, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    What a wonderful evening/night! This is where our Dodd Family Reunion dinner is held. This consists of all Joyce's children and their partners - and some of their children with their children! Roger (surprised) and I are so delighted to have our son Robert and his girlfriend Stacy here too.
    Our family gathering tonight consists of Denys and Rhonda (Warrnambool VIC), Marilyn and Ray (Perth WA), Nigel and Denise (Peterborough SA), Roger and I. Along with Nigel and Denise's daughter Becky with partner Liam, son Leigh with his wife Amanda and their 4 children Mason, Sienna, Lillie and Elouise Rose, and of course our Robert and Stacy.
    Great venue, great food and drink, and just so fantastic to have Joyce's 4 together again 💖 We finish up here around 10pm.
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  • Christies Beach Park Run

    1 de marzo, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    I've got up early - ready and waiting here at 7.30am for the 8am start. When we booked at Christies Beach Tourist Park - while checking out it's location - I came across the start point and information on this park run - so had to do it when it's right beside the caravan park - 50m walk! As I'm waiting, I'm impressed with the number of participants arriving (turns out to be over 300) and with how well organised it all is. Happily chat with others who are waiting nearby - friendly vibe. Off we go at 8am, I enjoy my run, lovely route along the foreshore, and knowing I've got extra family to go back and have breakfast with afterwards 💕 Back at camp 8.45am.Leer más

  • Brighton Jetty

    1 de marzo, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    Stacy drives us (just us two) here in her lovely Toyota RAV4 (this weekend is our 1st opportunity to check out her 'new' 2nd hand wheels - very nice! Just what Stacy was after 💖). We arrive and find a park (well done as it's not easy to get one) - we have got here before Raels, Jackie and Woody - so we wait on a seat near the Jetty. They're not long - and we're happily catching up together. They're in Adelaide this weekend for Jackie's daughter's 'hen's night'. Haven't met Woody before - but of course she's lovely. We decide to go to the nearest Cafe/restaurant near the Jetty - start off sitting outside but the breeze is a little 'fresh' so we end up sitting inside - still got a lovely view of the water and Jetty. Unanimous decision to have cuppa and cake (instead of lunch lol). We order and receive them while having a lovely catch up! Jackie, Woody and Rael's have to head off around 1.30pm to get ready for Danielle's 'Hen's Night' - pole dancing lessons are on the itinerary- should be lots of fun for them. Before they have to leave, we enjoy a stroll out on the Jetty- got to go to the end and back of course! Woody didn't join us for this stroll - happy to wait nearby. Time to leave - we say our cheerios - Stacy drives us back to our campsite.Leer más

  • Infamous Adelaide Fringe

    1 de marzo, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    Robert has driven us all here in Stacy's car. We arrive and find a park so much easier than I expected. So it means we are here with plenty of time, we haven't had tea so we're keen to check out what food (we know it'll be expensive) is available at the show. Once we walk to the big tent (venue) and gain entry with our tickets - we discover the food choices are limited - popcorn and hot chips! Oh well, hot chips it is! We all get drinks (Robert unofficial nominated driver) - shouldn't be a worry as we won't be having many! (Turns out 2 each - except Stacy who has 1 and a water 👍).
    The show runs for 2 hours with a 10 minute interval halfway (when we get our 2nd drink and toilet break - for me anyway!).
    The show is exactly what was advertised - sexy, funny and skilled. Wow these performers are good! The aerial acts without nets or safety gear - I almost couldn't watch - but you had to as they are amazing! Roger and I fully enjoyed this show - all the more because of the company we had with us 💖 Not a late night thanks to the 6pm start (think there might be a 9pm show as well tonight?) - we get back to the caravan park before 10pm.
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  • Port Wakefield

    2 de marzo, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    We stop here for fuel and can't resist going to the Bakery here again for our lunch. The sausage roll I had here last time was the best I'd had in a long time! Didn't disappoint today either - though I over did it by having a Kitchener bun as well (like Rog - we should have shared one - hindsight). Roger loved his pie again too!Leer más

  • Stenhouse Bay Campground DG-INP

    2–4 mar., Australia ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    We are staying in Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park DG-INP. When we get here, we drive around the campground to see what sites are available and out of the ones that are - which one we like the most. We decide on Site 12 so we get online to Parks SA to check if we can book it for at least 2 nights - we can, so we make the required online booking. Settle onto our site, due to the angle we've put the caravan in (perfect for how we want to be on this site) Roger has some trouble unhitching - but he gets there in the end (no more than 10 minutes). After we have set up our camp, we go for a drive back to Marion Bay to its General Store to get some bread. Then we go for a short drive to explore around Stenhouse Bay.
    When we return, we relax about camp - Roger reading, and me doing our budget books and travel spend. Tea tonight, Roger cooks up some pork with onion, pumpkin and potatoes (panfrying) and serves this with salad. Roger has yoghurt and fruit for dessert - I don't, as I feel I've had enough food today. Roger has his shower, we decide to leave the few dishes for the morning, so relaxing before bedtime - me starting to catch up on this, I have ignored it while enjoying my weekend with Robert and Stacy.
    3/03/25 Monday. We get up to have breakfast around 7.30am. I have received a text from Lynden (niece of Auntie Thelma) to let me know Auntie Thelma's time with us is nearing it's end - and that she is being kept comfortable in palliative care. This prompts me to ring Leigh to let him know - and check if he would go to her funeral when the time comes. He says he will, depending on the timing - I hope I can make it too. If not - good to know Leigh will make it to have our family presence represented.
    Now we get organised to go out driving and walking about this National Park - Roger has packed our lunch. We leave just before 10am.
    We return around 4pm. I do up some cheese and biscuits to enjoy with our drinks while we relax at camp. I decide to go for a walk before tea - Roger happy to stay here and read his book. When I get back, Roger has tea prepared ready to cook. Tea tonight is pork snitzels we have with gravy and boiled vegetables. Our dessert - we have cuppas with a small slice of New Norcia baked Pan Chocolatti. Roger had his shower, I wash the dishes - we both tidy, before relaxing until bedtime. I watch (Prime) the 1st episode in season 3 of Reacher.
    4/03/25 Tuesday. I get up just before 7.30am and get organised to go for a run - return before 9am. Roger has had his breakfast and getting the caravan sorted ready to leave. I have a shower, then my breakfast. We leave before 10am.
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  • Marion Bay Yorke Peninsula

    2 de marzo, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    Stop when we find some public toilets, then go for a drive to check out the caravan park. Roger decides we should go to the closest Visitor information centre - to check our camping options. This turns out to be in the Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park. We end up deciding to camp in the National Park.
    Though we do venture back to Marion Bay to make some purchases at the General Store.
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  • West Cape DG-INP

    3 de marzo, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    Enjoy the walk here - this coast is worth checking out.
    Have a lovely chat with an older couple, who have returned here - previous visit about 10 years ago. They happily report not too much has changed here. I also get an education on crabbing - didn't realise in some places at low tide you can 'rake' them out of the sand.Leer más