Travellin’ Kyds

Jondarian Woolshed New Years Eve gathering

I would like to thank Wife Mavis, Clive and Sandra, Nev and Linda, Bob and Grace, Amanda and Martin and Jennie and Gert for the best New Years ever.

We started our experience by all meeting at the Cooyah free camp on the 29^th.

Day one was just spent relaxing and getting to know our first time participants in a gathering of our van club.

On day two we all saddled up for a run out to Muntapa rail tunnel where we did the 1k walk to meet the resident bats. This is the longest hand dug tunnel in Aus. There is some great reading describing the history of the build and the use if the now defunkt rail line.

Oakey was the next destination where some of us partook of some retail therapy before heading off to Rangemore Estate winery for a wine tasting and a lunch of goat pies and fish and chips for the less adventurous.

Must say that the countryside looks fantastic, very green, most unusual for this time of year. Also unusual was the cool temperature at night, this is supposed to be Summer! Back to Cooyah via the back road provided another picturesque run.

The morning of New Years Eve we did the short run to the Palms National Park at Cooyah.

What a site, the trees were full of flying foxes. With hats on heads or umbrellas for those without hats we did the short circuit through the palm. Beautiful!

Back at camp we hitched the vans and headed for Jondarian.

Camp was set up on the flower covered grass beside the creek. Jondarian wool shed is an historic wool shed that has been developed as a tourist attraction. Old buildings and machinery have been bought in to make for a great display. There is powered camping but due to our rigs being self sufficient we opted to camp by the creek.

A few priming charges were enjoyed at fivesies before heading off to the shed for dinner. This comprised of camp oven stew and damper, chicken and corn chowder and damper, sausages and onions in bread, pork or lamb rolls and gravy or hot chips to name a few.

Our reserved table was in a good spot, not too far from one of the bands speakers that was nearly as big as a 20′ caravan.

The whole night was a hoot. Without exception all had sore laughing muscles as well as those used for dancing. We would thoroughly recommend this place for a good time.

Fortunately New Years day was a quiet one mostly spent recovering for most of us while other less exhausted types dropped the cray pots into the creek.

Due to popular demand we again partook of fivesies new years day with another couple that we had met last New Years eve and their friends in our camp.

Off tomorrow, home for some and on to more great adventures for others.

Thanks again friends for another great gathering.

Aint life grand

We got off to a late start on Wednesday 13th as we were waiting for a gentle person to come and have a look at the “For sale Kedron” at lunch time. Needless to say he did not turn up so we departed at about 2:30 for Perth wellll on the way to Perth at least, after mentally forming a description of the wood be purchaser. He was extremely ugly to say the least.

First day we managed a sedate 300kms and free camped at Inglewood and after a great warming dinner retired with a good book. We were expecting a big frost in the morning but it did not happen and the morning although crisp was superb.

How clean is that rig spit polished just before we left Brissie.

Mavis (the navigator) was tasked with finding the dustiest route possible taking us in the right direction (to test out the new van). She/we chose to travel to Goondawindi then Mungindi (do not tell anyone but this place has hot springs and a pool with camping beside same) taking us on about 70 kms of dirt then a further 100kms of dirt to Collarenabri.

Dirt he said ya wouldn’t believe that for the whole distance we glided over rain soaked mud and fresh road works, with about 1km of the poorest example of a dusty road that you have ever seen very disappointing. At least the stone guard kept the mud mostly off the front of the van. Think we need to do something about a mud flap in front of the step though.

The rest of the day’s run was uneventful and we stopped at Brewarrina on the banks of the Barwon/Darling River. This is where the Barwon  turns into the Darling.

We woke to a beautiful crisp morning and broke camp heading for Bourke. It was another good run to Bourke where we filled the car thus financing the retirement of the garage owner at $1.51 cpl.

We decided to do the run down the West bank of the Darling to Tilpa for the next overnight. We managed to find about 100kms of dust finally and the van did us proud. Not one spec of dust entered the van and even better all of the external hatches also proved to be dust proof,how good is that.

On the way out of Bourke the wild life was unbelievably prolific, we guessed that it was the good wet summer making pickings abundant.

Kangaroo, Galahs, hawks, small birds and Emu by the thousands, yes thousands, have never seen the likes.

The Western route to Tilpa was a little remote from the River,next time we will stick to the other side as it is a lot more picturesque.

We stopped at Louth for a cleansing ale and a break before forging on to Tilpa. If you have not been to Louth before please spend some time absorbing the history of this village. We passed through two years ago and spent the afternoon exploring. It is a wonderful place,must do.

We popped back over the bridge at Louth to continue the sojourn on to Tilpa.

At Tilpa we made for the free camp at the Tilpa weir where we set up and then explored the area along the river bank.

A good feed and a few chapters of the latest book we hit the sack.

2am the rain was dropping on the roof of the van. We did notice that the road into the camp had been graded recently but was marked with some deep rutting from car wheels when we came in to set up.

A quick decision was made to abandon the camp and get into Tilpa. We managed to get out of the camp with much slipping and sliding on the road out. We stopped opposite the Tilpa Pub near the tennis courts and went back to bed for the short rest of the night.

Next morning we were joined by two other families plus one exchange student from Denmark and 5 all Aussie kids that had been camped on private property on the Darling River. They like us made the decision to get out of potentially boggy situations and stay almost clean with the option of getting out when the roads dried enough to reach a highway.

The van on the left was christened the “Bush Chook” It was in honour of Jayco vans that use bird names (swan,dove etc)

We bonded with our new friends and enjoyed their company for the next three nights. What a great mob. The kids managed to amuse themselves as country kids do and the exchange student joined them and enjoyed the whole thing. We Adults enjoyed the the hospitality of the Tilpa Pub with great food and very expensive drinks.

A good time was had by all but the decision was made by our friends to leave first thing on Monday. We thought that we would leave it until after lunch but at about 9:20am a great heap of cloud started to roll in from the West,sooooo we bolted out in the mud heading for Bourke.

What a mess at the end of the dirt. We hit the bitumen after about 90kms of very slippery mushy greasy dirt and as is the luck our tyre pump blew up and we had to limp off to Broken Hill with low pressures.

Fuelled up at Broken Hill and pumped up the tyres on both car and van and lit out for Cockburn where we camped for the night.

We stuck to the Barrier Highway lunched at Petersborough in SA and stayed the night in Port Augusta. This camp was our first in a caravan park so as to get some washing done on their water and fill the water tanks. It was most fortunate that they had a wash bay on site so we shed many kg’s of dried mud from the run out from Tilpa. A visit to Woolies topped off the larder and a trip to ARB next morning had us a new tyre pump then we were off again heading for the Nullabor.

The next camp site was 13kms West of Wirrulla (Old Perlubie School Site) a great camp with grass at the back if you are quick enough, needless to say we camped on the dirt grin.

Next morning we departed heading for Border Village which as the name implies is on the SA WA border. The sad part of this day was that we had to cook up heaps of fresh produce that was picked up in Port Augusta before crossing into WA ( who forgot about quarantine,we did) so sick of cooked pumpkin spuds and a massive vegy soup. (belch rumble and other vegy inspired bodily functions that Rod can be proud of). We camped about 50kms West of Border Village at Hearders Hill. We had picked up a dozen Pacific oysters at Ceduna to have Kipatricked on the BBQ. It was Mavis’s birthday Thursday 21st so a little celebration was had with a couple of wines some fresh avacado dip thanks to the quarantine checkpoint and the oysters done to perfection on the Webber. Life really is good!

Must say that the Nullabor is one beautiful road to travel and quite unique for those that do not know it. We passed over 5 Royal Flying Doctors emergency landing strips that were the actual road we were on. Even had the Piano keys at each end of the designated strips. We also got a great pic of our rig beside the Sign that stated that we were about to travel the longest straight road in Australia. 164.6 kms long,that is right for all our overseas friends a road without diversion 164.6kms long.

Friday was a big run of around 600kms. We stopped at a camp about 16kms from Norsman for the night and will hit the dirt tomorrow to save about 200kms on the trip to Freemantle from here.

We rose at the crack of noon and headed into Norseman and fuelled the tug and filled the water tanks at the BP roadhouse,then off to the information center for toilet dump and some info on accommodation at Freemantle. With toilet smelling like roses we hit the dirt to Lake King only to find that it was closed to the lake (200kms). We turned around and went back to the info center and asked about the closure. The sad story was that there is apparently a rise in the road about half way to Lake King. Some retired brain Surgeon grey nomad decided that they would stop just out of sight over said rise and were narrowly missed by a road train. Now the Shire in their wisdom decided to remove the hill thus shutting this road for some time. I personally would have preferred to see the Brain Surgeon strung up in a tree beside the hill thus warning all traffic,but hey my practical thinking some times does not  conform.

There was an alternative about 55kms South on the Esperance/Norseman road,so we opted for that one. We turned off the main road and dropped all tyre pressures for the 200kms of dirt ahead.

The first 100kms gave the the new van and the car their ultimate test. the track (not road) varied from sharp gibber rock to corrugations that could only be taken at walking pace and flood damaged wash outs,most of which were full of water.

Mavis did make the comment that WA country road engineers do not know how to put cambers on corners. The reason for this comment was that there were just no corners on this road. It went dead straight for the first 80kms. After this 80kms we came upon our first corner at 90 mile tank so we decided to celebrate with a bite of lunch at the tank. After lunch we negotiated the un cambered left hander at the tank and headed off for our next camp at Kulin where we camped in town beside the rail line (as you do).

Next morning we packed up and headed for Shoalwater (Mavis’s nephew’s) arriving after a greasy lunch at Armadale chicken shop early afternoon.

We made it so the next chapter of the trip will be a new start.

We are losing track of time here.

Mavis and I have come to a joint decision that we will return to Tassie in November of 2012 and stay for six months. This two months has just gone too fast and Tassie does need to be experienced at a much slower relaxed pace.

Monday the 28^th we crossed the Pieman River on the “Fatman ferry”. This is the only way across the Pieman at Corinna unless you want to swim it and the snorkel on the tug is not quite long enough.

The previous day we had asked the ferry man if we could fit on. There was a 9 meter length limit and a 6 ton weight limit.

Rod had run a tape over the rig and come up with just a tad over 9 meters and of course the weight would be under 6 tons (wouldn’t it ???). The ferryman took out his calibrated rope on which 9 meters was technically indicated by two knots at the precise distance, he then proceeded to check the distance between the front hub on the tug and the front hub on the van. This was a little beyond Rod’s reasoning but he said nothing at the time about there being an axle further back, just happy that we had the all clear.

Mavis was dispatched to the other side of the river on the first run of the day with the camera to record the crossing and to keep the camera safe if the ferry car and van went to the bottom. Oh and to ensure her safety as well!!!

Rod drove onto the ferry and the driver was not happy Jan as the rear wheels of the van were up on the loading ramp after it was raised, Well Hellooooo maybe the rope was out of calibration or someone had stuck an extra set of wheels on the van over night. Sh.t happens and we did the crossing without mishap.

After the crossing we travelled through more beautiful winding hill country to Rosbery via Tullah, where we camped for the night at a free camp just out of town. There was a great little walk to a waterfall near by so we managed to do it before dinner and bed.

Next morning was a relaxing start and we headed off towards Zeehan, where we did the tourist thing and looked around before striking out for Strahan. More great country covered on this run.

Strahan was absolutely over run with tourists when we got there. Plan “A” had us thinking that we would go to a caravan park for a few days to push some volts into the batteries with a powered site WRONG! The whole town was booked out. We then decided to have a look at Macquarie Heads camp which was about 15 kms south of Strahan. We decided to pay the princely sum of $6 per night on a beautiful grassy camp site. We also picked up some tank water from the caretaker before setting up. Thank goodness Strahan was booked out this was a great spot and Mavis collected enough sweet blackberries to make several bottles of yummy jam.

We went back into town after setting up and booked a couple of seats on the Gordon River Cruise the next day (Wednesday 2^nd Feb)

The cruise was great. It was on a large catamaran which was presented superbly. We travelled out through “HELLS GATE” which is the ocean entrance to Macquarie Harbor turning right and sat in a small bay to the left of the gate while the captain gave commentary on the early days of the harbor. It is hard to believe that square riggers could negotiate this entrance, it is not very wide at all while the harbor itself is massive.

From Hells Gate we travelled back down the harbor and stopped at some fish farms where Atlantic Salmon and Ocean Trout are raised. These farms were extensive with dozens of pens anchored to the harbor floor. we were lucky enough to watch some being fed before actually feeding on them during the supplied smorgasbord.

Perhaps it is a good time to bring to your attention the hardships of being a cruise boat Captain in Macquarie Harbor. This poor devil had to not only give commentary (and a great one at that) but wrestle this massive machine through the shallows of the harbor and the Gordon River and still get us all home safely. See below the stress in his eyes as he man handles the controls. The joy stick on the left arm rest is the tiller for steering and the mouse at his right hand controlled the display on the 22’ computer screen with the GPS map of the harbor and the course to be taken. Poor devil we did feel sorry for him.

Next on the cruise we stopped at Sarah Island and had a guided tour of same. Dam shame that most of the relics had been destroyed, but the history was fascinating.

On from Sarah Island we ventures a short distance into the Gordon River where we stopped and docked for a short board walk through the rain forest.

Dick Smith was also on the river with one of his smaller vessels (the one without the helipad) and was just loading his inflatable in preparation to leave as we docked.

As mentioned before there was a smorgasbord supplied that was great. Cold cuts including the Salmon and salads with cheese and fruit platters and bread rolls made for a great meal.

After getting back to dock we were treated to a tour of a very old working Huon pine saw mill. It was a real treat. We headed back to camp to relax after a great day out again.

Next day was a rest day so we just toured around the area including a run up the beach near Hells Gate. It is a very pretty area, shame about the weather.

Friday the 4th we headed off towards Derwent Bridge via a lunch stop and look around at Queenstown. Not much has changed in Queenstown except the surrounding hills had just a faint touch of green showing. When we lived in Tassie about 100 years ago the Township was spraying all vegetation to maintain the moon scape look created by the mining in the area. That has apparently been now stopped as evidenced by the sprigs of green stuff showing on the hills. 

We intended to camp at the free camp beside the Derwent River at Derwent Bridge. We did stop but there was an awful lot of water rushing down the river and heaps of people camped in some not so safe places. As it was blowing a gale and sleeting we decided to head to the pub for a cleansing ale in front of their beautiful fire place.

We got talking to the barmaid and some of her friends, telling them about the free camp being full. The barmaid offered a night in their car park which we thought about over a few more charges,deciding to take up the offer. The diesel heater performed beautifully in the minus overnight temp.

After rising at the crack of noon we headed just down the road to “the WALL in the wilderness” , this has to be seen to be believed. Artist Greg Duncan has a work in progress that when finished will result in a 100 meter long hand carved mural 3 meters high in mostly Huon pine and depicting the history of the central highlands from Indigenous habitation to pioneering timber harvesting pastoralists and hydro workers. The detail of his work is superb. Check it out

www.thewalltasmania.com

Saturday 19th February continued.

We had not done any cloths washing for a while so we decided to lay up in a van park for a couple of days to complete the necessary before continuing the adventure.

Rod had booked a site in the Apex Caravan park at Ulverston from Melbourne before the trip over the pond.

After getting to the park we set up the washing machine in the van and started the first of about 5 loads. The wind here was terrible and it rained for most of the time but our goal was achieved, we did smell a lot better with clean cloths grin. Don’t think I/we would recommend this park too highly. The woman in the office was not too friendly and the office stunk of cigarettes. Having said that the camp kitchen was great with a fire place, wood supplied and every convenience that you could want.

Sunday 20th February.

Started the tourist thing with a circuit run south towards Willmot. This gave us a great view of the countryside. What superb country. An added bonus was the site of Cradle mountain from a not so famous angle.

We left Ulverstone heading for Wynyard passing through Burnie and on to a free camp per Camps 5 at the Show ground.

Bit of a shock greeted us at the show grounds, have a look at the sign posted at the entrance.

“No camping or caravans permitted”

Being defiant types with our noses out of joint we did camp here and were disturbed by a security guard at about 8pm telling us that we could not camp there but could stay the night and move on in the morning.

What an RV friendly town, so much so we did not pick up our 150 litres of diesel there or the required groceries but left the next day after a visit to Table Cape and a few other local attractions before moving on to “Black River camp ground just before Stanley, yet another great site beside the River !.

Next Morning we headed off to explore Stanley and its great attractions. Even managed a cable car ride to the top of the famous Stanley Nut followed be a beautiful walk around on the top of the Nut. Yummy ice creams followed this strenuous work out (someone has to do the hard yards).

Mavis did find a seafood provider at Stanley that had some frozen Scallops and just had to buy some.

Well done girl they were a superb feed in a curry sauce a little later down the track.

Our next camp was at Montagu camp ground north west of Smithton. If only a bloke had a tinny (sigh) this place was a fisherman’s paradise. We took a walk down to the boat ramp after setting up camp and met a couple of blokes, one cleaning flathead and the other Abalone. We watched the chap with the abs for a while and Mavis asked all about the cleaning and cooking of same (she being the hunter gatherer) and the bloke gave her all the good gen.

Later that night he came over with some strips of seasoned  ab for us to try. Gotta say that the frypan was on before he left our camp and the abs were superb.

In the morning we packed camp and let out for Marrawah our next camp. This entailed heading back into Smithton then South West to the coast.

On the way back into Smithton we saw a toilet dump sign and as we with toilets in our RV’s know you take every opportunity to have a dump when it presents itself.

This site was not in our Camps bible but we need to share the experience with anyone that will listen.

Picture if you will a park beside a river with bbq’s tables and well manicure lawns. On the road side was your average run of the mill CMCA supplied toilet dump point. Beside this was a potable water tap to top up your tanks. Beside this was a toilet module, the likes of which we had never seen.

A button had to be pressed to gain entry to said toilet. Once inside a second button had to be pressed to lock the door. Pressing this button started a recorded message that stated that you had precisely 10 minutes to complete your business, God knows what would happen if you over stayed your visit but Rod was not going to find out. After the recorded warning the booth was filled with very relaxing music yep you heard right music. I could not wait to finish and get Mavis in there to enjoy the experience grin.

An added bonus to this visit was that about 100 meters up the road was an oyster processing building. Mavis went in and returned with two dozen Beeeutiful Pacific oysters for the grand sum of $14 yummo.

That is not a look of displeasure.

Marrawah was a little spot on a beach and had a great view of the huge wind farm at Woolnorth in the distant north from our camp. Have to say that we have seen a lot of wind farms in our travels but the size of this one impressed.

From Marrawah we drove down to Arthur River and booked a cruise for the next day (Friday)

The company that we did the cruise with was the Arthur River Cruise company. It was superb. The vessel was an old river boat built in the 1930’s, she was beautiful and the two man crew were also great. One of them had a great gift of the gab and kept us all enthralled. After about 15 minutes of the trip they pulled into the bank and fed two Sea Eagles that had a chick in the area. It was a great site seeing them swoop down from their high perches to pick up the fish on the

wing. A bit further on they showed us their nest which had been documented as having young in it for the last 43 years. That made the old girl at least 48 as they don’t breed until they are at least 5 years old, the nest just keeps getting added to.

Lunch was supplied as a bbq in the rain forest at the junction of the Arthur and Frankland rivers. A great talk was given about the rain forest while we supped on supplied wines and the bbq was cooked. Great experience would both thoroughly recommend it.

Back to Marrawah after the cruise via the local pub for some much needed supplies and relaxed and relived the great day in our camp.

Saturday morning we set off on the Western Explorer road heading for Corinna. This entailed a run on dirt of 80kms to our next camp at Donaldson River and then another 40ish to Corinna.

We passed two push bike riders on this dirt section that we recognised as having been on the same Cruise as we did. Neither of us were envious of their 120km dirt road trek to Corinna, the Western Explorer was extremely steep in places and would have made life miserable for them.

We made camp at Donaldson River a free camp beside the road. We were enjoying a few cleansing ales and in Mavis’s case a cleansing wine when the two bikers pulled into the same camp. The lovely lady Sharon was completely spent having travelled in the saddle for 6 hours and 40 minutes covering 81kms of rough dirt road. The kettle was boiled and tea supplied for them while they recovered from the ordeal.

Ron had coped much better and set up their camp for the night.

Next morning we headed for Corinna, passing the bikies just out of Donaldson River camp.

Beautiful spot but expensive! We went to the pup that was the centre of the little town and asked if they could fit us in the camping area. After looking there was now where that we could fit so they graciously let us stay in the car park with no amenities for only $25, how good is that not.

We met our biker friends who had checked into a cabin for the night and we all had dinner in the pub. The food was great.

From here we did the Pieman River cruise which was good but not near as good as the Arthur river cruise. Magnificent scenery .

  January 28th to the 1st were just relaxing with the family at Bermigui  http://www.sapphirecoast.com.au/regions/bermagui.php eating lots of fresh seafood.

 Tuesday 1st February.

Packed up camp said our farewells to the family and headed off back up the bl..dy big hill (where the car got very hot in the 40 degree heat) towards Berrima. Over nighted at the Warri free camp on the Shoalhaven river. This is another good camp near Goulburn and very popular with the grey nomads. Composting toilet facilities and the great flowing fresh water river are a good reason to drop anchor for a while.

Wednesday 2nd February.

Left Warrie and got back to Moss Vale and checked in to the Moss Vale caravan park and wait wait wait hopefully for the ultimate fix of the tug. Went to the Berrima Diesel today to check that we were all go for Friday and they confirmed it.

Thursday 3rd February.

Thursday was re provision day and we headed for Bowral. We think Mavis picked up a bug there as she was not feeling too good after lunch when we got home.

Friday 4th February.

Friday Rod took the car to Berrima only about 10kms and was going to stay with it for the hopeful fix but Ken turned up at the workshop and offered to take him back to the van then again back to the workshop when the job was completed. Rod told them to fit a DP chip, on the condition that the wheezing smoking problem was fixed, if not to point us to the local tip for disposal of the big red problem.

Ken came back to pick up rod for the return to pick up the tug (great people Ken and Maria).  Picked up the machine in the afternoon parted with $5100 and drove out without the smoke screen thank goodness.

We have come to agreement that we will try not to eat for the next couple of months and recoup this unexpected expenditure $9600 all up ouch.

We stayed in Moss Vale for the Friday night to drown our sorrows or to celebrate the fix not quite sure grin.

Saturday 5th February.

We headed back to Bermigui for a couple of days R&R to get over the trauma of the repairs or rather the uncertainty and to see David and Renee Mavis’s son and Grand daughter as they were not there on the last coupe of visits. We both enjoyed a couple of days relax with the family after the dramas of the last couple of weeks.

Saturday 22nd January.

Had a relaxing drive to Maitland and were persuaded by our friends to stay the night in their drive way.

A Barbie dinner and a few cleansing ales/wines or both and the night was again a great one. It is lovely to know great people and you do meet many of them on the road.

Sunday 23rd January.

With water tanks full and the drinks fridge depleted drastically we headed off to make our way to Bermigui on the South Coast of New South Wales via a stop over in Lithgow for a planned week with family.

The plan was to head off through Merriwa via the Golden highway.

  Merriwa is the town where we spent a lovely week in 2006 after blowing up the engine in our Nissan Patrol returning from seven month on the road. The Nissan gave up the ghost about 30 kms out of Merriwa coming in from Dubbo.

  About 30kms from Merriwa the Toyota started smoking badly and idling very roughly (Deja vu). For the second time in 5 years we pulled in to the caravan park in Merriwa with a sick tug ( tug being the affectionate or not so name for the beasty that drags our caravan).

I suspected a blocked injector as we had problems with cr.ppy fuel before leaving Brisbane. We spent two days in the park and after asking a lot of advice from so called experts decided to head for Bermigui via Lithgo. 

Tuesday 25th January.

Departed Merriwa in a cloud of smoke heading for Lithgo to meet Joe McInnes the inventor and supplier of the Mchitch http://www.mchitch.com.au/ that we have fitted to our van. We had rung ahead to Joe and requested a new six ton hitch that would be fitted to our new but as yet unbuilt van. What a lovely bloke!

He was keen to show us the modifications made to the hitch since we fitted ours. A small mod to make coupling easier and new bushings and attach holes all go to make a much improved component.

Our new hitch is in the mail straight to Spinifex Caravans http://www.spinifexcaravans.com.au/ where our new baby will be built in May after our return from Tasmania. Excitement plus!

We lunched in Lithgo before heading off to another great free camp at Black Springs about 11 kms south of Oberon. This is or rather will be a great free camp. The local council was hard at work installing new toilet block and landscaping the area. Plenty of shade and level parking to be had.

Wednesday 26th January.

Off again to Bermagui via Goulburn and some of the steepest ranges that we have travelled on to Batemans Bay then Bermie as it is affectionately called.

We arrived at Mavis’s Sons property and set up the van.

During the set up it was noted that the back of the white van was black with greasy diesel soot so the decision was made to get it fixed before we went any further.

Consulting the local diesel bloke we were confronted with a possible 2 week wait for repair as he would have to remove and send our injectors to Melbourne for rebuild. (too long) Rod put in a call to Berrima Diesel http://www.berrimadiesel.com.au/ at Berrima (funnily enough) back up the top of the blo.dy big hill that we had come down to get here. They booked us in for next Friday.

Thursday 27th January .

We left the van at Bermie and drove to Berrima where we checked into the motel for the night. Had a great dinner a restaurant in Berrima and retired to the motel for the night. 

Next morning the tug was delivered to Berrima Diesel at 8am for the repair. We were told that the injectors would be changed and the job would take all day so an extra day was paid for at the Motel.

Friday night we decided to dine at the pub bistro and as we were walking in to said bistro a big voice yelled out “hey you” from the bar. Surprise of surprises it was Ken Rose a fellow Kedroner that we had met for the first time at the Millmerran Camp oven festival in October. We had a few drinks with Ken and asked after his lovely lady Maria. We were under the misapprehension that they lived in Mittagong but they were at Berrima and we had stumbled into Kens watering hole. We were invited to join them for breakfast the next morning Saturday and were picked up by Ken at 8am for the feast. After a leisurely brekkie the phone rang at about 10am to say that the car was ready. Ken ran us back into town to pick it up.

We had had a few extra jobs done on the vehicle including a new timing belt and tensioner new fuel filter (after market) and on advice the K&N air filter was binned and an original Toyota paper filter fitted. $4500 later we drove out of the workshop and off to Mittagong to fill up with fuel. We had been advised that the fuel pump was damaged from the chip that we had fitted in Brisbane several years ago but it was ok to continue for now.

Driving to Mittagong we were emulating the James bonds Aston Martin in hiding, still blowing heaps of smoke and the beast was still rough on idle. (not happy Jan). We returned to Berrima and told them to order a fuel pump for fitment at their earliest convenience. They told us it would be about a week before they could get a pump and be able to fit it so we laid smoke all the way back to Bermie to await news of the new pump and enjoy our family for a couple of days.

So glad that we allowed plenty of time to get to the ferry for the trip to Tassie.

WEEK ONE ON THE TASSIE TRIP.

We allowed ourselves a little over a month to reach Melbourne and catch the ferry across the pond to Tassie. The trip started as below.

Friday 14^th of January.

Mavis had an appointment in the City (Brisbane) and I had a check up appointment @ the cancer clinic at the PA Hospital ( six months after a melanoma removal), after which we planned to head off into the wild blue (or wet) yonder.

Rod’s appointment was cancelled due to the floods in Brisbane and Mavis kept getting calls from hers putting her back later and later. Finally we decided to just leave.

It was a late start at around 2:30pm so we lit out for Murwullumbah and stopped at Camps 5 stop # 1 in New South Wales. This stop was pretty noisy being on the old Pacific highway with the traffic non stop all night and our neighbour living in his falcon station wagon with his dog watching TV until 1:30 am about 1 meter from our van, but at least we were away finally.

Saturday 15^th January

After a disturbed sleep to say the least we were up early and on the road for a too too long run to meet friends at Inverell.

We did take the picturesque run out through Nimbin where Rod wanted to stop for a coffee and a cookie, but Mavis maintained that it was too early. I ask you is it ever too early for coffee and cookies at Nimbin their coffee is wonderful and the cookies to die for grin.

We found our friends camped at the Inverell Caravan Park (Camps 5 # 265) and managed to get a site right beside them.

We both have to give this caravan park top marks for cleanliness and layout, a great spot and had a great night.

Sunday 16^th January.

The morning of day three saw us packed and planning another big day to get to Pilliga bore bath free camp. Our run had us passing through Bingara ( a mighty hard place to pass through for anyone that has camped by the Gwydir river here which is just gorgeous). From Bingara to Narrabri, Wee Waa and on to Pilliga. Pilliga bore baths

Two great nights were spent here just lazing in the bore pool and Mavis catching a bucket load of cray fish over the two days that are/were absolutely yummy.

A quite hilarious, sorry very serious event occurred on Monday as we/Mavis (she being the hunter gatherer) was trying to retrieve one of the cray pots/traps that had been moved out into the middle of the water hole by the cattle or horses crossing same.

You have to understand that Mavis is the hunter gatherer and I lend all the support that I can, like I manage to eat the gathered spoils after she catches cooks and c leans them grin.

She had carried down some new bait for the pots in the form of corn cobs and potato peels.

Several horses had come over to see what these intruders were doing and good hearted Mavis fed them some corn cobs.

As thanks for the cobs, while she was standing on the edge of the primordial slime on the bank of the water hole, one of the horses decided to nip at the one that was near Mavis. A terrible and most shocking thing happened. Mavis was knocked onto the muddy bank of the water hole and got covered in very yucky mud.

I did struggle to help and make sure that she was ok, honest I did, but it is extremely hard to hold your bladder while you nearly fall on the ground laughing at the site of your cheese and kisses trying to get enough footing in the extremely slippery mud to get vertical again.

Not all was lost as she was covered in mud anyway so she waded out and retrieved the cray pot (that was full of delicious morsels).

I did tell her that lotsa women pay big bucks for the treatment that she had self administered (mud packs, well the horse helped grin) but you blokes can bet ya left and the right one that the authoritative male advice did not have a great effect grin . (No camera handy bugger)

Tuesday 18^th January.

Packing was completed pretty early and we both hit the warm bore bath for the last time before the run to Tamworth.

What a great trip everywhere you look is green. For our overseas friends this is most unusual for Summer in these parts, it is usually dead and brown, everywhere has had so much unusual rain fall.

A visit to Yarrie lake near Narrabri on the way to our next camp put another great spot on our list of places to return to. http://narrabri.net/Document1.aspx?id=1873

Our camp was at Camps 5 # 168 Cockburn River. This is another great site with the river flowing beautiful warm water that was a pleasure to bathe in. Make sure to bring everything here, there is a very basic toilet and a shelter shed but lotsa good shade on a hot day and as I said water is great, perfect spot for a tub after the pack up in the morning.

Wednesday 19^th January.

After a relaxing night at Cockburn River camp we headed off for Hat Head on the coast near Kempsey. Mavis’s Sister and Brother in law live here. Our day was to turn into a great adventure through some of the most picturesque countryside.

The decision was made to head out to the Oxley Highway via back roads, a trip of about thirty five kilometres twenty seven of which were on dirt road.

We passed through Kootingal a lovely little town and on to Limbri both between Tamworth and Walcha.

From Limbri the road was single lane dirt for most of the twenty seven kilometres to Woolbrook and winding its way through picture post card country so green and lush dotted with beautiful little farms. The railway line and river followed us for most of the way and the old brick and stone culverts and bridges built many years ago were wonderful.

Rounding a corner after crossing a small creek we were confronted with a huge tree across the road.

Knowing that it would take many hours of cutting with the chain saw and dragging with the car and drag chain the decision was made to see if we could get off the road and go around it.

Rod went right and Mavis went left through knee high thistles to check and clear a path for car and van.

Mavis’s side proved to be the better and away we went so happy that we have an off road capable rig. We/I did manage to badly bend the van step but did fix it at Hat Head with a huge vice and large hammer.

The rest of the trip was uneventful and we reported the tree to a gentleman at Woolbrook and also at Walcha, arriving at Hat Head in the afternoon.

Two great days were spent with the family at Hat Head,where we walked the beach and ate fresh prawns and imbibed on good wines and great beer, does it get any better than this ?.

Friday 21^st January.

Set out heading South. Lunched at Taree by the river then on through Gloucester on the Scone road and camped at Camps 5 #357 Copeland Reserve. A nice spot with flowing creek and the beautiful song of the bell birds. We did some washing and blanched some super sweet corn and fresh beans for freezing yum. Rang some friends that live at Maitland. Will be seeing them tomorrow.

That is the first seven days away from home prepare for more.

Greetings all.

Have recently returned from one of the best short stays that we have experienced in a long time. Only a short run from Brisbane.

Check out the web site http://www.huntinglodgeestate.com.au/

This place is run by Darryl and Vicki Higgins. You can stay in their lodges or camp by the flowing creek. Their are toilets and showers available for campers in the winery.

The grand sum of $8.50 per adult was charged for the camping.

They are with out a doubt the greatest hosts that we have come across in a long time. The wine tasting in this place is the most entertaining event ever.

Darryl in his past life (well maybe still is) a big game hunter but don’t let this put you off. Will explain later. His lovely wife Vicki presents the wine tasting with an explanation of the trophies that are on display in the tasting area. (including a Bear, Hippo and heaps of deer) Darryl accompanies this in the background hamming it up and sometimes their young daughter. (A real family affair).

The wines are extremely good with most at reasonable prices and some superb Ports and Muscat’s. All of this available with great cheese platters or the biggest pizzas that I have ever seen.

This place produces some of the best red wines in Queens land (from experience). The whites are not too shabby either. Prices are competitive.

The animals on display in the restaurant and tasting area have all been shot in controlled areas in Africa and North America, full explanations are given that do make even the most conservative individual feel a bit more  comfortable with what has happened.

Sunday saw us doing a bit of clay target shooting with Darryl giving the shooting instruction while Vicky handled the target launcher. This was great fun enjoyed by young and old alike. Following the target shoot Darryl gave us a tour of the winery that included a great explanation of the process involved in producing their great product then a Devon shire tea was enjoyed by all in the restaurant area.

Darryl also took a group of us on a tagalong 4wd tour of the property. The highlight of this was champagne and nibbles off the back of his old truck at the highest vehicular accessible point on the property,what a view wow.

Must say that this was a great place to visit and an extremely entertaining and picturesque experience all round. Thoroughly recommend it.

Great even for a short weekend drive from Brisbane and a meal.

We will be back most definitely.

Regards and happy travels.

Mavis and Rod.

We spent the weekend (more to the point 5 days ) with family and friends at Rangemore Estate Winery.

This has to be one of the most layed back and relaxing destinations in South East Queensland.

Our Host Dave Allen provided us with not only accommodation in the form of a powered camping site at a very reasonable cost but also a friendly and homely atmosphere ensuring our stay was a great experience. Rangemore wines are superb and Dave grows meat goats and from them produces the most superb pies and sausages. This is not the limit to his culinary skills,the menu is very good.

We arrived on Friday of the Australia day weekend in our caravan intending to stay only for the weekend then off home. We ended up staying until the following Wednesday and only then dragging ourselves away with a freezer full of goat curry pies, sausages and two cases of wines:-/

We had family and friends organised to stay with us in their own vans to celebrate the holiday. The festivities commenced with a meal cooked by Dave of goat pies with chips for those game enough to try. and a goat curry. As we had experienced the delights of his pies before there was no choice for us it had ta be the goat. I cooked a BBQ on the veranda for those not so adventurous.

Some of the view from the veranda.

What a wonderful meal complemented by Dave’s great wines. If you want 5 star stay away. If you want good wholesome Aussie hospitality,great food with great wines you have to try this place. Dave also has B&B accommodation in an old Queenslander and two double bed units all beautifully presented.

Their are some great day trips to be done from here including the Palm National park near Cooyah with its swinging bridge and great cafe and pub, Muntapa tunnel, Bunya Mountains National Park and lots more to see. The night sky here is unbelievable with no town lights to interfere the sky is a picture of stars planets and satellites. So if the camp fire is not too bright the view is superb.

We thoroughly recommend this experience to anyone but allow more than a weekend if you can.

Mavis and Rod.

Bingara  is a wonderful country town. Exceptionally clean and with very friendly natives that welcome we grey nomads.

It sits right on the picturesque   Gwydir River and at the time we were there the Jacaranda and Silky Oaks were in full and magnificent bloom.

We turned right after crossing the first bridge out of town off the Fossickers way tourist route to get to our camp spot.

Must say that this has got to be the most camper friendly place that we have ever experienced.

For about 10kms out of town you can free camp along the Gwydir River.

Our site was about 5kms from town with plenty of room for all of us to have a water front only stumbling distance from our awnings. What an absolutely magic place this is.

Bob was the first to wet a line after setting up camp and also the first to catch a fish followed by Glen with two. All the fish were Murray Cod that are stocked by the local fish stocking club. Unfortunately they were too small and the season was closed. Consequently brag pics were taken then the fish released back to the river.

Judy got full marks for trying but unfortunately like the rest of us didn’t catch a fish.

It was a great place non the less.

The kayaks were launched here and the peaceful surroundings enjoyed to the full.

Our itinery called for a run to Coolmunda Dam for a few days on the water and then home,but after this wonderful spot we could not bring ourselves to return to the land of the prickles and burrs, so Glen and Deb suggested we move on to Girraween National Park for the rest of our adventure. The suggestion was unanimously agreed to

The run to Girraween took us through Tenterfield where we had a break for lunch at the pub. As can be seen from the picture it was a morbid bunch that ate there   It seems that we ate out for most meals on this trip. I am sure that we took home more food in the fridge than we left home with,but it was all great.

Girraween was great. Our camp spot was great with water available nearby and fantastic walks to be done.

We did manage to do some walking and were rewarded by the sites of this great place.

The only unfortunate thing about Girraween was that it was way too close to the wonderful wineries of Stanthorpe. Suffice to say that many wine tastings, much stocking up of cellars and sampling the cuisine of the area occurred during the few days spent here. It was very fortunate that no one was put over a weigh bridge on the way home as I am sure that we all would have been over (weight that is )

And that my friends is the story of our October Bore bath trip. We hope that you enjoyed hearing about it as much as we did experiencing it.

As usual there was a lot more to tell and I apologise to those that came along for missing any important stuff but as we know what happens in camp stays in camp hehehehe.

Again a huge thank you to Deb & Glen, Judy& Greg, Lynda& Nev and Beryl & Bob (Greg’s brother from another Mother for helping us to have a great time.

Must say that it is good to be home (for hopefully only a short time) to dry out a little.

Thanks to everyone for contributing pictures. If you claim copy write just try and find me grin.

Heaps more pictures are on the way soon.

Love to all.

Mavis and Rod.