30th May,
2014
After disembarking
from the ferry we joined the early morning Melbourne traffic and made our way
around the bay and headed for Geelong.
We found a caravan park close to the city centre, checked in for a
couple of nights, and then made our way to the Mitsubishi dealer. Mitzi had developed some small rust spots on
her roof which we needed to get checked out.
The dealer was quite happy to get Mitzi’s roof repaired under warranty
but as we’d had extra paint protection put on by the dealer on the Sunshine
Coast he was unable to do that under warranty – the only solution to the
problem was to return to the Sunshine Coast dealer and get the whole lot done
there under warranty. So instead of
making our way along the southern coastline of Victoria and doing the touristy
thing, we headed north via some inland roads to the town of Echuca on the
Murray River where we found a nice place to free camp for a few days.
 |
| Our campsite near Echuca on the Murray River |
There was plenty of
activity on the river with house boats
 |
| Houseboat heading up the Murray River |
water skiers,
kayakers, fishermen and all manner of water craft cruising by. We were even amused to see a group of
teenagers (doing the Tom Sawyer/Huckleberry Finn thing) float by on home-made
rafts.
 |
| Home-made rafts floating down river |
Other than the human
wildlife the other main visitor to our campsite was a very friendly magpie that
was very interested in anything we could supply in the way of food.
 |
| Friendly magpie looking for a handout |
We continued north
through western New South Wales overnighting at free camps along the way. We tried to camp as far away from the main
road as possible due to the noise of the never-ending trucks and roadtrains. This sometimes meant following dwindling dirt
tracks to find just the right spot and letting a few locals have right of way.
 |
| Well don't just stand there looking at us - get a move on! |
Before making our
final run to the Sunshine Coast we caught up with our Tasmanian travelling
buddy ‘Wayne’ who was house sitting for some friends at Woodford. He was keen to check out the condition of the
brakes on his Avan so Wok lent him a hand.
 |
| Wok and Wayne working on the Avan |
The job took longer
than anticipated when they discovered that the shock absorbers had collapsed
and needed replacing. Wayne says that he
has probably been travelling around without shockies for years as he’d never
checked them before. We can report that
the Avan has since been on a weekend camping trip and is riding much better
over bumps etc.
Eventually we made it
back to Tina and Paul’s home on the Sunshine Coast and set up camp in the
backyard.
 |
| Wok setting up the van in Tina and Paul's backyard |
It wasn’t long before
the alpacas came around and checked us out.
 |
| Our view towards the house - Usher (laying flat out) and Pedro just 'chillin' |
We had thought that
it would only take a few weeks to get Mitzi sorted out and we would be on our
way again, but unplanned medical checkups etc. etc. etc. keep on holding us up
and we are still here. Oh well – may as
well get everything done before we move on.
It has been quite enjoyable being here though and the weather has been
wonderful – lovely sunny days and mild nights.
 |
| Paul and Tina in the front yard with Ranger (the dog), the alpacas and the chooks |
The grandkids are on
the go all the time with Josh now doing part time work at Subway until he
leaves for the USA to commence college in August and the girls fitting in
school around all their outside activities.
It was ‘crazy hair’ day at school recently and Tina spent lots of time
teasing, bobby pinning and lacquering to get these artistic sculptures to stay
in place.
 |
| Shakiah with 'crazy hair' complete with fork and spoon |
 |
| Talia went for the 'finger in electric socket' look |
As we watch the sun
set through the trees, Ranger is sleeping peacefully on our bed,
 |
| Awww! Isn't he cute? |
the
chooks are scratching in the leaf litter, the alpacas are munching away on the
grass and kookaburras are sitting in the gum trees watching us and laughing.
 |
| Sunset through the trees at Tina and Paul's |
Life is good ….
