After 12,000 kilometres and 86 days, we are nearly home. It's been an excellent holiday and we've seen so many fantastic places in Australia. There are too many favourites and while we were talking over tea tonight, we thought about the best of...the worst...the surprises...the unexpected and there are too many.
We both enjoyed the whale watch cruise and Hervey Bay; I loved all things to do with rainforests and the Daintree has to be one of my highlights. We've had lots of laughs and very few disagreements after being with each other 24/7 for 86 days.
I'm glad that digital cameras are part of our lives because I love taking photos and to have them all printed would have been costly if we were using our previous camera. One thing we want to do when we get home is buy a better digital camera with a view finder so we can see what we're taking.
The caravan and car have travelled well. After living in the van for this length of time, there are just a couple of things on the to do list.
I wish we had a van like this when we were first married and lived in a van for almost a year when Robert was in National Service. Not being flush with cash, we bought a caravan for $50 in 1971 (a few months before we were married). Luckily, Bert (Robert's dad) and Reg (my dad) had the skills and the patience to renovate the van. The annexe was $300 and it didn't leak. Sadly, even with a new roof, the old van rained inside over the bed. Good memories.
We leave Renmark tomorrow morning for Largs Bay and I don't think it will be long before we get back into the routine of being home. I am really looking forward to catching up with family and friends.
So are we there yet? Not quite!
To the Tropics and Back Again
Travelling North
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the 2 of us at Karumba Queensland
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Warrumbungles
Heading for home, we stopped overnight at Warrumbungle National Park (west of Coonabarabran NSW). Another special place with very fast-flowing creeks, beautiful trees, kangaroos, birds and emus.
With the floods and heavy rainfall over the past couple of weeks, everything was green or yellow - the wattle trees in flower peppered the sides of the roads and the bush. Spectacular!
Warrumbungle means crooked.
Warrumbungle means crooked.
Hastings Point
This is a lovely place just south of Tweed Heads. Lots of little coves and beaches with that gorgeous aquamarine, turquoise ocean. A favourite with the surfers too!
Caravan park was very swish with heated floors in shower alcoves, on-site hairdresser, gym, pools, 3 spas with different temperatures, lap pool, games room, free viewing of current releases of DVDs, excellent facilities for kids, close to beach and roomy sites. First time we've stayed in a 5 star caravan park and it was only $34 per night.
Man's best friend dared the waves while his owner searched for the perfect wave. After a drenching, the dog retreated to the beach to wait patiently for his mate.
Caravan park was very swish with heated floors in shower alcoves, on-site hairdresser, gym, pools, 3 spas with different temperatures, lap pool, games room, free viewing of current releases of DVDs, excellent facilities for kids, close to beach and roomy sites. First time we've stayed in a 5 star caravan park and it was only $34 per night.
Man's best friend dared the waves while his owner searched for the perfect wave. After a drenching, the dog retreated to the beach to wait patiently for his mate.
Our main reason for staying here was to catch up with a student whom Robert taught at Croydon when she was in Year 8/9. Face Book was the catalyst for this reunion and it was lovely to meet Michelle. Over a meal, memories were shared with much laughter.
I had to take a photo of this t-shirt in Bryon Bay.
How clever is this? Bobby needed something to keep the eggs on the table. Beer bottle tops aren't just to keep the beer from falling out!
Glasshouse Mountains and Lamington National Park
They are unusual and were named by James Cook as they reminded him of the glass houses chimneys from his home in England.
The climb to the lookout is very, very steep. Favourite spot for tourists.
Mt Coonowrin
Lamington National Park has also been on the to do list for many years. I had a cassette tape with birdsong from this park. I loved it and used it with my junior primary classes for relaxation exercises. Robert hated it!
A different rainforest - another special place.
On entering the park, Robert spotted a paddymelon. That made his day although his Skippy impersonations leave much to be desired. He's starting to understand that not all animals or birds are going to jump, hop or fly to him when he makes funny noises.Run Run as fast as you can...
Expecting to see a few plants and a shop selling ginger products, we were really surprised by the size of this complex with shops, cafe, tours, gardens and a train.
Didn't know there were so many varieties of ginger. A good spot to visit.
There was even a rainforest walk!
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Bogged not Blogged!
Bob's first time writing on the blog:
Well! Yesterday injected some excitement in to our otherwise dull lives! We (I) decided to have a look at the barge that takes cars/cargo/people to Fraser Island from a place called Inskip Point. A 4WD track leads to the beach where the barge pulls up at the water's edge. From the end of the track the only access to the barge is a 1km stretch of powder-like beach sand, which we easily ploughed through, and got to the barge (in high range 4WD... diffs locked).
I spoke to the barge skipper who had watched us come towards him. He suggested that we do a U turn on the barge, as turning on the soft sand would invite trouble. He also suggested that I stick on the same known route on the return journey, but perhaps use low 2nd and "gun it". All went well for about the first 900m, but we started to lose momentum, due to our slow road speed, finally coming to a halt not far from the hard stuff.
I got out and had a look before I made any further attempts to drive out and let the tyres down to about 15psi. Alas, we had "bellied" out, with the floor pan resting on the sand and the 2 diffs pushing sand like a road grader!
I started digging, but stopped as I heard the sound of another vehicle approaching. It was a Toyota troupy ute, which became bogged right next to us! A local pro fisherman and his deckie, who use the same track every day!. Anyway, we helped him get out, and then he got us moving with a short tow, and I was able to drive with him, so we didn't tangle the rope. All worked out well, with no damage. He told me he normally drives much faster, but was going slow because of his load of fish. He also said that people often roll their vehicles from going too fast, and the lesser problem is to get bogged.Good lessons learned. Not going to Fraser Is this trip, although the sand there is apparently firmer! Numerous people stopped to help, and lots also went racing past at unstable speeds!
Shaz writing now:
It was an anxious time although we were above the high tide mark and had plenty of provisions in the car fridge. Before anyone came to help, we were scavenging in the bush to find branches, rocks, anything to provide some traction. Not easy through very soft sand with a walking stick and a crook knee with the other one complaining as well.
There are some very kind, thoughtful people in our country - we had about 8 who were willing to help. One lovely man, Ning, actually came back to help us with some grab planks.
He was very enthusiastic and confident that they would work and if we had remembered to remove the rocks from the front of the car, they would have worked first time. It was comforting to get back on to the harder surface. I don't think we should play in sand for a while. We're too old for this shit!
Well! Yesterday injected some excitement in to our otherwise dull lives! We (I) decided to have a look at the barge that takes cars/cargo/people to Fraser Island from a place called Inskip Point. A 4WD track leads to the beach where the barge pulls up at the water's edge. From the end of the track the only access to the barge is a 1km stretch of powder-like beach sand, which we easily ploughed through, and got to the barge (in high range 4WD... diffs locked).
I started digging, but stopped as I heard the sound of another vehicle approaching. It was a Toyota troupy ute, which became bogged right next to us! A local pro fisherman and his deckie, who use the same track every day!. Anyway, we helped him get out, and then he got us moving with a short tow, and I was able to drive with him, so we didn't tangle the rope. All worked out well, with no damage. He told me he normally drives much faster, but was going slow because of his load of fish. He also said that people often roll their vehicles from going too fast, and the lesser problem is to get bogged.Good lessons learned. Not going to Fraser Is this trip, although the sand there is apparently firmer! Numerous people stopped to help, and lots also went racing past at unstable speeds!
Shaz writing now:
It was an anxious time although we were above the high tide mark and had plenty of provisions in the car fridge. Before anyone came to help, we were scavenging in the bush to find branches, rocks, anything to provide some traction. Not easy through very soft sand with a walking stick and a crook knee with the other one complaining as well.
There are some very kind, thoughtful people in our country - we had about 8 who were willing to help. One lovely man, Ning, actually came back to help us with some grab planks.
He was very enthusiastic and confident that they would work and if we had remembered to remove the rocks from the front of the car, they would have worked first time. It was comforting to get back on to the harder surface. I don't think we should play in sand for a while. We're too old for this shit!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Old Le Fevre Students at Maryborough (inland from Hervey Bay)
An invitation for dinner was quickly taken up when Shae Kennewell and her twin sister Kodie Axelson (nee Kennewell) asked us to join them. Kodie and her husband Mark live in Maryborough and have a 15 week old daughter, Lily (who is just gorgeous). Shae lives in Maryborough too and her partner Shaun joined us as well.
We had a very relaxing night and lots of stories and memories were shared as well as new ones made. Matt and Shaun were very patient and let the conversation revolve around Le Fevre teachers and students. It's a bit easier listening to some of this, now that we're no longer teaching and the girls were tactful most of the time. These girls are very funny and always smiling.
Lily is surrounded by love. Her dad dotes on her, her mum loves her and her aunty adores her. She's a very lucky baby.
Shae and Shaun (below)
Shae with Lily
Lily has a wild bedroom with palm trees (painted by Kodie) on the wall and a great swinging square box-hammock that is suspended from the ceiling.
Matt and Kodie are clearly animal lovers - they have a python in a vivarium, Pineapple the parrot that walks around the house (I even let it climb onto my shoulder - a biggie for me because I'm not partial to flapping, flying birds) and tropical fish in a huge aquarium.
We had a very relaxing night and lots of stories and memories were shared as well as new ones made. Matt and Shaun were very patient and let the conversation revolve around Le Fevre teachers and students. It's a bit easier listening to some of this, now that we're no longer teaching and the girls were tactful most of the time. These girls are very funny and always smiling.
Lily is surrounded by love. Her dad dotes on her, her mum loves her and her aunty adores her. She's a very lucky baby.Shae and Shaun (below)
Matt's not a bad cook - my steak was done to perfection. The chocolate dipped strawberries were very nice and the salad was excellent! (I made the salad - couldn't burn it so it was OK)
Shae with LilyLily has a wild bedroom with palm trees (painted by Kodie) on the wall and a great swinging square box-hammock that is suspended from the ceiling.
Matt and Kodie are clearly animal lovers - they have a python in a vivarium, Pineapple the parrot that walks around the house (I even let it climb onto my shoulder - a biggie for me because I'm not partial to flapping, flying birds) and tropical fish in a huge aquarium.Next time we come this way, we'll be back!
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