PLANES, TRAINS and FLOWERS

29^th September, 2014

We’ve had an enjoyable couple of weeks travelling down the coast with a stopover at Tuncurry and a house sit near Kurri Kurri where we looked after Bess (the dog), four alpacas, two steers and a rabbit for Sharon and Don (children of close friends Ken and Margaret Smith).  Caught up with our son Trent, while we were close to Newcastle, as well as other assorted friends and relatives.  Trent had given Wok a gift voucher for a jet flight simulator experience for his birthday, so last Friday night the three of us (Wok, Robyn and Trent) flew in a Boeing 737 from Williamtown to Sydney.  Wok was the pilot and Robyn and Trent were passengers.  Of course Wok had the assistance of a qualified co-pilot (and we never left the building let alone the ground) but he did well and we touched down smoothly in Sydney.  The co-pilot encouraged Wok to take off again and do a loop around Sydney with a slight detour to fly under the harbour bridge and then land safely back at Sydney airport again.  Wok said it was quite a workout mentally and the hour flew by.  We (Trent and Robyn) had great fun watching the view through the cockpit – thought we were going to hit the bridge but at the last minute Wok got the plane’s nose down and we scraped under.  We can now say that we have flown under the Sydney Harbour Bridge … well in virtual reality anyway.

Just before lunchtime we pulled into the Model Railway grounds near Berry.  We were met by Roger and Gwen (Wok’s sister and her husband) who guided us to a spot to set up camp near their van.  Roger is a member of the Model Railway group and helps out on open days when he is able.  They had just had an open day over the weekend and had invited us to join them at the grounds for a couple of days before caravanning with us to Bowral where we were to join up with their caravan club which was having a rally at the racecourse.  After lunch Roger brought one of the diesel model engines around for us to see.

Roger, Gwen and Wok at our campsite beside the train tracks

Then it was time for us to go for a ride.

Roger, Wok and Gwen are ready to go ...

The model railway has a large track for the trains to go on as well as a man-made lake complete with railway bridge.

Crossing the bridge

Roger and Wok had lots of fun trundling around on the tracks.  You would think after going around in circles a few times that it would be enough.  Not so!  Many circuits later they were still laughing.  Boys and their toys … !

Wok and Roger ... They never grow up - do they?

The next day we go for a drive to Picton where the boys drop us girls off to do a bit of retail therapy while the boys take a tour of the Train Museum at Thirlmere.  Then it is back to Berry for the night before packing up in the morning and driving up the range to the southern highlands.  At the Bong Bong Racecourse (a few kilometres east of the town of Bowral) we meet up with Roger and Gwen’s caravan club.  Over the next week we join in with some of the club’s activities and Wok spends a lot of time trying his hand out at doing really hard jig saw puzzles.  It’s tulip time in the southern highlands so a visit to the park in Bowral is on the cards.  The display is very colourful

and we wander around the garden beds

taking happy snaps all over the place.

Wok really liked this tree which was smothered in blossom.

There was a craft display being held in the church hall next to the gardens and we opted for a lovely lunch in the community hall attached to the church.

Wok, Helen, Graham, Gwen and Roger - with full tummies after lunch

On another day we went for a drive to Fitzroy Falls. 

Fitzroy Falls

The view point right next to the falls was very impressive.  We could see and feel the power of the water as it gushed over the escarpment and plunged to the valley floor.

Beside the falls

The view down the valley was equally impressive.

View down the valley from Fitzroy Falls

We couldn’t leave Bowral without paying a visit to the cricket oval.  Here a young Don Bradman fine tuned the skills that would see him become a legend in the cricket world.

Cricket oval at Bowral - according to the scoreboard England is next to bat

There is a museum adjoining the oval devoted to all things cricket where Don Bradman’s life and achievements are told in detail.

After spending six nights camped with the caravan club the rally ended and everyone packed up and headed out.  The majority live in Sydney, so it only takes a couple of hours for everyone to drive home and we waved goodbye as they headed off.  We’d paid to stay an extra couple of nights at the racecourse after the club left and by early afternoon all our camping buddies had gone and we were all by ourselves.  The Bong Bong Racecourse is unique in that it is run by volunteers and hosts one big race event each year – the Bong Bong Picnic Races.  In the middle of the course is a hill which gives you a great view over the course and surrounding countryside.

Our camp site at Bong Bong Racecourse

In the mid 1800’s Wok’s great grandparents arrived in Australia from England and settled in the Southern Highlands.  We took the opportunity to visit Sutton Forest where they first settled and spent a peaceful day wandering through the church yards in both Sutton Forest and Bundanoon where some of the Freemans are buried.  While taking photos of headstones at Bundanoon a lady approached us and asked what we were doing?  We explained that Wok’s ancestors had come from this area and we were interested in trying to get more information on them.  She introduced herself and said that she had documented all the gravestones in the cemetery and was involved with the local history society and this was the first time she had seen anyone interested in the Freeman headstones.  We swapped email addresses and she is going to see if she can dig up any information as the Freeman’s were a well known early pioneer family in the area.  What a fortunate meeting!  We aren’t too worried if nothing eventuates but it would be nice if she can come up with some more information to add to our family tree.

Well it was time to leave.  We’d had a great time catching up with Roger and Gwen and had thoroughly enjoyed exploring the area.  Spring is a wonderful time to be in the Southern Highlands with all the trees and flowers in full bloom.  Perhaps another visit to the Southern Highlands may well be on the cards in the near future.

ON THE ROAD IN OUR NEW VAN

    11^th September, 2014

We’ve been doing the rounds of the caravan sales yards for over a year now – not really looking for anything special but felt it was time to upgrade to a new caravan.  In August we spotted a caravan that we felt was just made for us and ‘hey presto’ – we now have a new home to tow.  Meet our new Crusader ‘Excalibur’ caravan.

Mitzi with our new van

The inside length is 19’6” – 3 feet longer than our old van.  It has a full ensuite at the rear of the van which explains the extra length.

Looking towards the front of the van

It is a completely different layout to our old van so it is going to take us a while to get used to where things are.  It does have more storage areas at the front of the van so Wok is having a ‘head scratching’ time trying to work out the best place to put stuff.

Looking towards the rear of the van

After many months we were finally ready to get under way and made our way out the front gate onto the road.

Heading out the gate

We looked back to see ‘Ranger’ standing all by himself in the middle of the driveway.

Oh no - they really are leaving .....

Our van had been like a second home to ‘Ranger’ and when the family was at work or school he could be found asleep on our bed.  He looked really sad as he watched us disappear down the road.

     By late afternoon we were pulling into the caravan park at Iluka and not long after setting up on site a local came for a visit.

A local bunny rabbit at Iluka

All went well on our first trip with the new van and it looks like we are okay to continue our travels.  We took a walk beside the river and along with the pelicans watched the sun set.   Very restful ....

Sunset at Iluka

BACK ON THE SUNSHINE COAST

30^th 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 ….

FAREWELL TO TASSIE

8^th March, 2014

We have only three nights left before we catch the ferry back to the mainland.  The vans are hitched up and we head to the small inland village of Forth about eight kilometres west of Devonport.  There is free camping in Forth at the recreation grounds and we set up camp for the last time in Tasmania.

Our campsite at Forth

We intend to use this as a base while we do a bit more sight-seeing and some last minute household chores.  The following morning we all pile into the Prado and take the back roads to Sheffield – home of the many murals.  All three of us have been here before but Wayne missed seeing the Marble Shop which we thought was interesting – so here we are back again.  The mural are also fascinating and we liked the 3D effect of this one.

Wok liked this 3D mural in Sheffield

It was a bit of a drizzly morning so being inside the marble shop made good sense.  We spent quite a lot of time playing with the marble race games and wandering along the display cases which had the most exquisitely hand-made glass marbles of all sizes and colours.

Only a fraction of the marbles on display

As it was a Sunday the local vet (on his day off) was at the workbench trying his hand out at making a flower inside a marble.

Robyn watches the local vet at work in the marble shop

We watched entranced as the flower slowly took shape.  Each colour was carefully applied and worked until finally there it was - a perfect flower inside a glass ball.  What a wonderful hobby to have.  It was fascinating.

From Sheffield we took a round trip back towards Devonport, passing through Railton which is noted for its topiary.  We spotted quite a few of these trimmed and hedged wonders and took a couple of photos as we cruised by.

Topiary horse, rider and dog in Railton
 

Topiary locomotive in Railton

At Latrobe we stopped at a bakery for lunch and Wayne insisted that we have dessert.  Vanilla slices and cheesecake was hard to resist and we all came away knowing that we had over eaten.  We made a quick call at the Cherry Shed so Wayne could take photos of the giant cherries

Giant cherries at the Cherry Shed in Latrobe

and then it was on to the House of Anvers for some chocolate tasting … yummmm!

The House of Anvers - Chocolate Tasting Room - YUMMMM !

After taste testing half a dozen different types of fudge and then re-checking to make sure which one we liked best, we just knew that we shouldn’t have had those slices at lunchtime.

Wok and Wayne at the chocolate factory

We finally waddled our way back to the Prado and made a beeline for Forth.  Needless to say a bit of vegging out was called for to round off the day.

It’s Monday – Labour Day holiday in Tasmania.  Wok has gone off to meet John and Shar at the airport.  He was very excited when he left as John is going to take Wok up for a fly in his Skyfox.  While Wok is having fun the more mundane household chores have to be done and Wayne and Robyn head off into East Devonport to a Laundromat and once we’d finished that mission we drive to the airport to meet up with Wok who has had a great time in the wide blue yonder and is now watching Shar do practice landings.  We don’t have long to wait before John and Shar bring the plane back to the hangar area.

Wok watches John and Shar bringing the Skyfox back

We watch fascinated as the Skyfox is folded up and tucked away in its purpose built trailer.

Wayne, Wok and Shar watch as John gets the Skyfox ready for the trailer

One wing is folded back

Both wings are folded back - ready to go into the container

Ohh - this is a really tight fit !

There you go Wok ... Told you it would fit !

Once everything is locked up we hop in our cars and drive to a small café near John and Shar’s home for a quick lunch before saying goodbye and then heading back to camp.  We spent the rest of the afternoon polishing off the leftover cheese and crackers accompanied by suitable liquid refreshments to toast our last night in Tasmania. 

It’s morning – our last day in Tasmania!  We couldn’t believe that four months could go so fast.  We’ve really enjoyed travelling around this island state and although it is small there are lots of interesting places to see and things to do.  The day is spent making sure everything is ship shape and ready for our cruise across Bass Strait before following the Avan for the last time to the boarding area for the Spirit of Tasmania.

Well here we go - following the caravan in front onto the Spirit of Tasmania

Once on board we checked out our cabins and then had dinner at the restaurant before retiring for the night.  At 5.30am the bell sounded and the public address system advised we were approaching the docks in Melbourne.  Wonder of wonders!  We’d had a smooth crossing – the complete opposite of the one we’d had getting to Tassie.  There was a knock on the door – it was Wayne … all packed and ready to go.  It was sad saying ‘Adios’ to Wayne.  The three amigos were parting ways.  He was turning right after leaving the boat and heading for Queensland while we were turning left.  At least that’s the general consensus at the moment …