Watsons Caravans On Tour

30 Sept 2010 - Home and Farewell

2010-10-02T17:53:00.003+10:00

Twelve weeks and four days have come to an end and as we left Port Macquarie in our little 'convoy' for the last time I am sure we were all wondering where the time had gone. As much as we were looking forward to catching up on family (especially the little ones) and friends it only seemed like yesterday that we left. For Max and myself it has been a most enjoyable experience and to explore this wonderful country in our comfortable caravan has been an absolute delight. To our travelling companions Pete, Lyn, Karen and Kevin....thank you for your company and laughs along the way. I think I owe Kev and Pete for many newspapers delivered to our doorstep before Max and I had surfaced but I still have to square the ledger on them for many shoes tied together and other misdemeanours!!!! To anybody out their in 'blogland' if you are even thinking of heading off on an adventure... do it. All being well we will certainly take off on another trip....next 'big one' will be to Western Australia as previously have only touched on the Kimberley region. We are off to Nagambie for a short trip in November before getting ready for Christmas....did I say that word....I thought I only packed last years decorations away a short time ago. Bye for now until I blog again. My next task is to organise our photos into an album as when left on the disc we never look at them. (That also includes about 30 years of neglected photos in shoe boxes that is on my new 'do do' list.) I wonder how I will go. Until next time.............Faye and Max

28 - 29 Sept 2010 - Rawdon Island

2010-10-02T17:27:00.005+10:00

Monday morning arrived quickly after a very enjoyable couple of days seeing six of our grandchildren whom we had not seen since the beginning of our journey. We were now on our final leg as a two night stay with Max's brother Ken and Judy at their farm was next on our agenda. What a great place to 'park' our caravans by the river....I remarked to Ken we should mark it as 'free camp no. 1001 on our Hema map of free camps.....only joking!!!!!!!! As usual we were indulged with some great cooking and all enjoyed their hospitality. We enjoyed the fruits of the boys fishing up river as they managed to catch enough flathead for the evening meal.

25 - 27 Sept 2010 - Meeting the boys at Forster

2010-10-02T16:43:00.010+10:00

Well we are getting close to home now as today we will arrive at Forster to meet up with two of our sons who enjoy a skiing holiday at the river near Tuncurry. The trip through Sydney was very good with a congestion free run which is great when towing a caravan. It was not long before we were all set up on our sites beside the Wallamba River and we all took the opportunity to catch up with some housekeeping duties. The weather had warmed up compared to Berrima which was 4 degrees when we woke that morning. It was good to find a pair of shorts again even if it was only for a few hours in the afternoon. Forster is a very pretty place and just the place to enjoy a bit of local seafood and a bit of retail therapy. The boys arrived the next day and after a hurried set up of camp, the boats were soon in the water for everyone to enjoy a long awaited ski. My son would not take no for an answer so on with the wet suit for a ski for me....it has been a couple of years since I have had a go so was quite surprised that I had not forgotten. Thank you to Ross for taking me. The grandchildren are all very good little 'skiers' which is great.

24 Sept 2010 - Wagga to Berrima

2010-10-02T15:57:00.003+10:00

Kev and Karen left us and travelled via Canberra to visit family and were to catch up the next day, whilst we travelled norh joining the Hume Highway on our way to Berrima. The country is looking great and is always enjoyable travelling with the only thing to think about is which town do we stop in or where are we going to stop for the evening. I must say I am surprised at how easy it is to ease into this lifestyle. Berrima has always been a favourite little stopover for us as it has that little village atmosphere that I love and at first we thought we would not be able to stay as the little camping ground has been closed to caravans but a very friendly lady offered a grassy patch in her backyard so we had the afternoon to visit the shops. Our preserve supply was boosted and the lolly shop is hard to resist!!!! By the way the wine bottles on the table were not drunk by Lyn and I....we only wanted a photo of the beautiful tree.

23 Sept 2010 - Homeward Bound

2010-10-02T15:25:00.004+10:00

Leaving Swan Hill was marking the final few days of our caravanning adventure as we were now on our way home through familiar country. Our journey took us through Kerang crossing the border into NSW at Barham for a lunch stop in Jerilderie which is a lovely little town with an early connection with Ned Kelly. The buildings in the original main street are still intact and tell the story of a hold up in 1879. The lake beside Billabong Creek was the perfect spot to park and enjoy lunch in the sunshine. We intend to explore this area and further along the Newell as many times we have driven through but never had the time to linger to appreciate the countryside. Continuing on we headed for Wagga Wagga which was to be our overnight stop.

20 - 22 Sept 2010 - Swan Hill

2010-09-23T21:03:00.007+10:00

Well it was back to the area of my childhood and is always good to visit again and catch up with the remaining family members on both sides of our family. We stayed in the Riverside Caravan Park and with the mighty Murray River flowing past our sites at full capacity was truly a site to see. The journey from Adelaide on Monday morning along the Murray Highway to Swan Hill was interesting as we have not travelled that road for many years and again the crops looked marvellous. I enjoyed the wonderful early morning walks along the Murray each morning and Max managed to fit in a game of golf with his nephew. The sound of the paddle steamer "Pyap" on her twice daily run was especially nice and I imagined how wonderful that sound must have been to the isolated people along the river in the days of the river boat.

19 Sept 2010 - Happy Birthday Max

2010-09-19T16:12:00.008+10:00

We all had a very memorable night to celebrate Max's birthday and today birthday wishes also to Ken and Smudge. Today we were all happy to have a relaxed day to recover and start to pack up the camp to move on tomorrow. We have enjoyed our visit to Adelaide and surrounds and looking forward to driving into Victoria to see the countryside on our way to Swan Hill. Many thanks to our wonderful friends for their wonderful hospitality and a birthday dinner we will not forget.

18 Sept 2010 - Victor Harbour/Goolwa/Strathalbyn

2010-09-19T15:37:00.004+10:00

Another cool day to look forward to but that does not stop us from heading off to explore the area below Adelaide making our way first to Victor Harbour before having lunch at the historic town of Goolwa. Victor Harbour was enjoying a weekend of 50s to 60s Rock and Roll....a couple of the dancers were very good I must say. Max had a look at some veteran cars parked nearby. That is something else we have noticed about this part of the world is the interest in old cars and there seems to be something on in one of the beautiful towns that have so much character each week-end.
Driving out to see the mouth of the mighty Murray River was great as last time we were here the poor Murray had hardly any water in it so it is so good to see the area looking green and lush. We planned to celebrate Max's birthday this evening as a late night Sunday would not be so good as we are leaving first thing Monday morning for Swan Hill. Wayne and Kay suggested a lovely little restaurant just up the road and a great night was had by all with a very different rendition of "happy birthday" courtesy of Wayne. Max also, not to be outdone, sung a Chad Morgan favourite "The Sheik of Scrubby Creek".

13-17 Sept 2010 - Adelaide

2010-09-17T10:32:00.005+10:00

We left Nuriootpa and drove the short distance to Adelaide setting up camp at the Adelaide Shores Caravan Park which is a top park. As there is a cycle/walk track to Glenelg we all set off for a brisk walk....I think it was about 12 deg. and a strong wind blowing but I don't mind that so long as you are dressed for it. Kay and Wayne, our Adelaide friends arrived for happy hour that evening which was great. The next day Pete, Lyn and ourselves went for a drive to see the sights around the city before enjoying another lamb roast. Yesterday Kay and Wayne accompanied us to Hahndorf and Mount Lofty...great view!!!! Hahndorf is a gorgeous little town and one I have always wanted to visit and it did not disappoint....I could have stayed longer. There is much to see in this beautiful area and it will not be the last time we will visit here. We had dinner with our very hospitable friends to round off a perfect day. Today we pulled the golf clubs out for the first time on this trip and played 18 holes with Wayne....surprisingly we all had a few good shots considering our lack of practise. Unfortunately we forgot the camera whilst we were in Hahndorf until we were about to leave so we missed photo opportunities. We were more focused on whether we were going to be warm enough as it is very cold here at the moment.

12 Sept 2010 - Winery Tour

2010-09-12T20:37:00.006+10:00

The Barossa Valley is a lovely part of South Australia and driving around is a pure delight as there are many little towns all with beautiful old stone houses and buildings. We visited some of the more well known wineries tasting as we went. The wineries must have been a wonderful hive of industry in the earlier days when more manpower was needed to work these places. Today these big estates seem to be more like museums than working wineries but I guess everything is done differently now.

11 Sept 2010 - 45 Years and Going Strong

2010-09-12T19:47:00.004+10:00

Happy Anniversary to Pedro and Lyn....45 years and enjoying life. We were on our way to Nuriootpa from Wallaroo passing through Kadina and Balakava. The countryside was picturesque and again the crops in the area looked great. Kev was our leader today and at times we were wondering if we would arrive in the Barossa Valley as he was taking us on some unplanned routes...oops another u-turn. A little tale on Kev, we are not letting him forget that he failed to see Pete's caravan go past him leaving Yulara and was looking for him in the rearview mirrors only to learn he was in front all the time!!!! Of course due to the special occasion we dined out with Lyn and Pete in downtown Nuriootpa. We had a very brisk walk back to our camp afterward as it was quite chilly.

10 Sept 2010 - Through Port Broughton to Wallaroo

2010-09-10T21:21:00.004+10:00

The forecast higher winds arrived through the night at Port Pirie but we were 'tucked up as snug as a bug in a rug' in our Jayco Sterlings. Our bacon and egg breakfast was moved inside, no less enjoyable I must say when we heard some noise coming from the inlet behind us. On investigation we at first thought it was a man calling for help in the water but soon realised it was a gentleman swimming singing what sounded like an italian song....he swam around for about an hour singing at the top of his voice. We were freezing watching him so he certainly was a hardy soul. Today we only had a short distance to travel as we were headed for Wallaroo through Port Broughton. The drive was lovely and great to see the country looking so good....the wheat, barley and oat crops looked very healthy. After setting up the guys went to try their luck on the jetty with crab traps as the locals said blue swimmer crabs were plentiful. Max caught a Port Jackson shark, thrown back and Pete and Kev caught a lot of crabs but the two legal ones they gave to a fellow fisherman. Max has a photo of the shark on his phone but I'm not sure how to put it on the blog so you will have to believe me.

9 Sept 2010 - Port Pirie

2010-09-09T21:37:00.003+10:00

An overnight camp at Pimba last night signalled the end of our outback adventure as we were heading back to 'civilisation' as we know it when we left for Port Pirie this morning. It was only 172 ks from to Pimba to Port Augusta so it did not seem long before we arrived at Port Augusta for our morning tea stop. We travelled through more country that a rabbit would need to take a 'cut lunch' to survive in and this in a good year, when the landscape started to change slowly to see the beginning of agriculture on the approach to Port Augusta. We have thoroughly enjoyed seeing the beauty of the outback and now look forward to seeing parts of South Australia green as during previous visits this area has been in drought. I could not resist finding a seafood shop to buy some King George Whiting fillets to enjoy whilst we are in the area and a childhood jam 'quandong' from a roadside stop. We spent the afternoon doing a bit of spring cleaning as the red soil of the interior has a habit of invading your space a little.

8 Sept 2010 - Pimba/Woomera/Andamooka

2010-09-08T19:01:00.004+10:00

We headed south again this morning leaving Coober Pedy behind....a unique place to visit. The landscape does not change much although we do pass some large inland lakes that are usually dry but one Lake Hart had water in it so a photo had to be taken. We turned off the Stuart Highway as no-one had been into Woomera or Roxby Downs....we unhooked the vans at Woomera and after a little tour around left for Roxby Downs which is a sizeable township dependant on mining. The lady at the Information Centre said Andamooka was was worth a look as it is an old opal mining centre. The early mining huts definitely lacked modern amenities to say the least...a tribute to the resilience of the early miners. After the above average rainfall this area has had this year the Sturt Desert Pea is easily seen in patches along the highway....the colour is so vibrant and is very pretty.

7 Sept 2010 - Day in Coober Pedy

2010-09-07T20:47:00.006+10:00

Today we planned two tours around the town....the first was a very informative tour visiting an underground Serbian Church, next we were driven past the various points of interest including the golf club....would make for interesting golf, the race course and examples of the underground homes. We finished at an old mine site which is now a tourist facility showing the history of opal mining and an early attached residence. Some of the opal jewellery is stunning. Later in the afternoon George took us to the "Breakaways"....a very unusual landform that apparently broke away from the Stuart Ranges millions of years ago. No wonder movies are shot out here that require a science fiction background as I felt we were on the moon. The weather was not the best as it was raining lightly with a lot of cloud cover so we saw it darker than normal but it was still very worthwhile. George also showed us some remnants of an ancient forest as the tree stumps have turned to stone and starting to crumble apart.....so much for climate change as every where we go we are told that this was an inland sea etc. or that the land or climate has changed significantly!!!!

6 Sept 2010 - Arrive Coober Pedy

2010-09-07T16:30:00.005+10:00

Leaving Erlunda early the landscape soon changes as we get closer to the South Australian border as we are moving into one of the driest parts of Australia. We said goodbye to the Northern Territory with a little sadness as we have thoroughly enjoyed the many varied and beautiful places we have visited. Between Erlunda and Coober Pedy there are only a couple of petrol stops before little white pyramid hills are seen as we approach Coober Pedy. I did not know what to expect to see here....it is a very different place as the landscape is very arid and the results of the opal mining is everywhere....and very dangerous for the uneducated person. We spent the afternoon walking around the town and pondering what it would be like to live underground.

3-5 Sept 2010 - Wedding in Brisbane

2010-09-07T15:43:00.004+10:00

It was raining at the 'Rock' when we left for Brisbane.....the colours just seemed to intensify being wet so is was very beautiful. We enjoyed very much meeting up with three of our sons and many old friends so a great time was had by all. The early morning Sunday was a bit hard to get to the airport but it was necessary to be back to get the van and continue on to Coober Pedy arriving at Erlunda Sunday evening.

2 Sept 2010 - Yulara

2010-09-07T15:02:00.004+10:00

After a wonderful day in Yulara yesterday we set off again early to perhaps walk up the rock but the wind was against us so we took off on the 10 k base walk and after that back to the Olgas to complete the gorge walk. They are both truly magnificent natural wonders and are really a must see when touring Australia. The photo at the bottom shows the track up the rock, a hazardous thing to do!!!!

1 Sept 2010 - Arrive Yulara Campground

2010-09-03T11:06:00.004+10:00

Hitting the road heading for the 'Rock' took us back to the Lasseter Highway before turning right. I do not know the reason but travellers tend to 'decorate' trees at diferent places, one spot is at this junction where numerous t-shirts hang from a dead looking tree. It is not long before you witness what many probably believe is their first sighting of the rock but it is in fact Mt. Conner. A large flat topped mountain appears....a photo opportunity before continuing arriving at the camping ground at Yulara. Max and I quickly organised ourselves for a trip to the Olgas as we only have 2 days here, (flying to Brisbane for a wedding) arriving back Sunday to catch up with the others who will be already on their way to Coober Pedy. We got our first glimpse of the Rock coming in and it is truly awesome and then to see the Olgas in the background and driving closer was exciting. The Winds of the Valley walk is the one recommended so off we went. It was a bit hot but again the effort is rewarded as the beginning is quite hard and is approx. 7.6 ks in length. Feeling tired but exhilerated we met Pedro, Lyn Kev and Karen at the sunset viewing spot to enjoy a glass of champagne and nibblies to witness sunset at this magnificent place.

31 Aug 2010 - Walking Kings Canyon

2010-09-03T07:39:00.006+10:00

An early start this morning as the temperature was expected to reach 31 deg. so it is essential to leave early for walks. Equipped with water and the all important walking shoes, we faced the first part of the Kings Canyon Rim Walk, a 400 (approx.) rock step straight up onto the top of the canyon before the path winds its way through the unusual shapes until you reach the canyon....steps down and up to reach the other side. It is called the Garden of Eden as palm trees grow around the permanent water. It is truly a beautiful walk and seeing it from the air, although good as you get the overall perspective, cannot compare with seeing it on the walk. We must be getting fitter with all the walking as no-one suffered from stiff muscles the next day. Welcome to the blog John and Joan and Helen the Sturt Desert Pea is really lovely...the black dot is really a dark plum colour. The photo was taken in Alice as they are on the highway verges, (planted) but we have also seen many driving along in the wild. The lady that does some entertainment at the park drives around drumming up business so we went along...a bit of fun!! The photos are hard to choose for the blog but one is of the wall and others show views on top and the last the hill at the beginning...you can see a dot which is a person walking up.

30 Aug 2010 - Kings Canyon

2010-09-02T21:21:00.004+10:00

Well it is Thursday already and this is the first chance I have had to turn my computer on. We left Alice Springs first thing heading south for Kings Canyon along the Stuart Highway, as well as a lot of the truck enthusiasts also leaving the Alice. We really enjoyed our stay in Alice Springs and the McDonnell Ranges are really stunning. The scenery changes subtly all the time so it does not seem to take too long before we were turning onto the Lasseter Highway, turning right toward Kings Canyon around lunchtime. We have been without telephone signal since leaving Alice Springs, hence the need to catch up on my blog. After lunch we booked a helicopter flight over the Canyon before we enjoyed another 'barra and chips' night..I think Pete has enough for one more meal....we will miss that. The aerial photos show some of the track we were to undertake the next day.

29th Aug 2010 - Last Day in Alice

2010-08-29T20:32:00.003+10:00

Sunday morning and bacon and eggs before heading to the Stuart Highway to see the procession of trucks of all types making their way past our vantage point. The afternoon was a final drive into the town centre to replenish the pantry as we are leaving for Kings Canyon tomorrow morning. We have thoroughly enjoyed our stay in Alice Springs and the McDonnell Ranges Caravan Park is excellent. On our way into town we had to stop to take a photo of the iconic Sturt Desert Pea which is a stunning native plant.

28 Aug 2010 - Alice Springs OT Station and Desert Park

2010-08-28T21:18:00.003+10:00

This morning Pedro took Kev to the airport to fly back to Brisbane for a Boat Show function so Max and I took off to visit the Alice Springs Overland Telegraph Station. If you only want to see one this is the best as it is the most intact. I wondered why it was situated on the outskirts of Alice Springs as it is today when we were on our way there but of course sites were chosen for their proximity to permanent water....it is surrounded by small rocky outcrops and is a popular picnic spot today. The story of the overland telegraph line is very interesting and a truly magnificent effort on behalf of all the people involved in its construction and manning of these then remote posts. After lunch we visited the Desert Park which educates the visitor on the different aspects of what is considered an arid landscape but is actually quite the opposite.

27 Aug 2010 - Truck Show in Alice

2010-08-27T20:09:00.003+10:00

Another lovely day in Alice Springs....the mornings are quite cold but warm up to a very pleasant 18. This morning we visited the Truck Museum where all the various trucks are assembling for the big procession on Sunday. Even without the big show, the museum is worth a visit. The boys went to the races this afternoon but did not hear of many winners at the end of the day. The old motorhome is opposite us in the park and the other photos show an early Diamond T Road Train and one of Lindsays first trucks. Max took the photo of the AA International as it is very similar to the farm truck his father owned and now with Ken at Rawdon Island. The restoration of some of the trucks is amazing.

26 Aug 2010 - Standley Chasm and Simpsons Gap

2010-08-26T21:03:00.005+10:00

This morning we woke to a pea soup fog and as we had to shift sites at the park for the remainder of our stay we just starting to get organised when the power went off. The entire area was without power for several hours, however we were finally allocated our new site numbers and were on our way to Standley Chasm and Simpsons Gap before lunch. The fog cleared to reveal a beautiful sunny day and luckily we arrived at the Chasm just in time to see the sun shining into it to reveal the stunning colours of the rock. We had lunch before setting off to Simpsons Gap, then back into Alice for a drive to the Anzac Hill lookout which gives you a good view over the town and surrounds. Alice Springs is booked out with all the truck enthusiasts and the procession on Sunday should be very interesting.

24-25 Aug 2010 - Raining at the Alice

2010-08-25T15:50:00.005+10:00

Well it is raining so we have had to put on hold our plans to further explore the McDonnell Ranges which is a bit of a shame as it is very beautiful. Yesterday we had lunch in the Mall and to fill in the afternoon I decided to cook a casserole (Beef Guinness and Colcannon) and some date muffins. The locals we spoke to did not seem too enthusiastic about the rain either which is a surprise as I thought they would be overjoyed. Alice Springs is the venue for the National Road Transport Hall of Fame 15th Anniversary Celebration at the moment so there are many old trucks arriving in town....the procession on Sunday should be very interesting so hope the weather improves. Max has gone to take a photo of water creeping down the Todd River. We went for a drive through the West McDonnell Ranges but will have to return to walk into the gorges along the way.

23 Aug 2010 - Day for Pampering

2010-08-23T17:22:00.008+10:00

Where are you 'Wus'?....we are waiting. This morning the girls and Kev decided it was time for a bit of TLC so off to the hairdressers for wash, treatments and blowdrys as the chemicals in the water in the territory does seem to dry your hair a little. Alice Springs and the outback deservidly pays tribute to Dr. John Flynn, the man responsible for the Flying Doctors' Service, but not restricted to just that we find out. We had a couple of mls. of rain last night....apparently Alice Springs has an annual rainfall of just 20 mls. so this year has been 'wet' for here. We are lucky to see the country with more vegetation than normal. The photos I will add are some more taken yesterday of the road along the Finke River and a couple Max took of Alice Sprimgs while waiting for the hairdo's to be finished.

22 Aug 2010 -West McDonnell Ranges

2010-08-22T21:05:00.004+10:00

After having a late night waiting for an election result we were all a bit bleary-eyed setting off on our trip into the beautiful West McDonnell Ranges visiting Ellery Creek Bighole, Serpentine, Glen Helen, Redbank & Ormiston Gorges before driving 22ks into Palm Valley down the Finke River....4WD only dirt road basically driving on the riverbed until arriving at the parking spot to finish by walking along the banks of the river lined with ancient palm trees and cycads. Max says he has turned into a mountain goat negotiating the rocky walks....it is great to walk through such breathtaking scenery. The drive into the Finke River is quite demanding and I am wondering where the races are held annually for the dirt bike and buggy enthusiasts.

21 Aug 2010 - Happy Birthday Cooper

2010-08-21T17:45:00.005+10:00

Happy Birthday to our youngest grandchild Cooper who is a big One today....have a great day Cooper and looking forward to seeing you all. Love & kisses from Grandma & Grandad
After calling for the birthday wishes we went to the 'Henley on the Todd' festival which is held on the dry Todd river bed. A morning procession ends with races of various kinds. Lots of visitors were among the crowd watching the antics from the banks of the river. We are hoping to catch up on the election result before dining out tonight to celebrate a wedding anniversery of Colin & Elaine (cousin of Kev's) staying in Alice as well.

20 Aug 2010 - Arrive Alice Springs

2010-08-21T17:14:00.004+10:00

Another beautiful morning on the road, the nights however are getting cooler but the days are still quite warm. We did not have much to see between our overnight stop and Alice....only calling into Aileron where there were a couple of large sculptures. Aileron has a hotel with park attached and an art centre which was closed. The publican said the sculptures were by Mark Egan (son of the country and western singer Ted Egan). A little further along we crossed the Tropic of Capricorn which was our morning tea stop before arriving in Alice Springs to head for the Macdonnell Range Holiday Park which would have to be the best park we have stayed in during this trip. It was then time for catch up again on washing etc. after being on the road for a couple of days.

19 Aug 2010 - Barrow Creek

2010-08-20T21:23:00.003+10:00

The morning sunrise saw a hive of activity at the "Marbles". There were about 40 campers that stayed overnight and among them some keen photographers with tripods to catch that perfect shot. Our two nocturnal members Pete & Kev were up on the rock at dawn as well. Max was content to capture the two of them from ground level. Hitting the road again we travelled through subtling changing countryside to Wauchope (pronounced Walkup) for your benefit Ken. Then onto Wycliffe Well (apparently the site of numerous UFO sightings) and further to Barrow Creek where there is another Telegraph Station. The hotel at Barrow Creek is original and we could not help but ask for the local opinion on the Peter Falconia incident. I think the locals are tired of the questions (understandable) and replied the courts decided so why should we question the decision. We then headed for another night on the road where we filled the afternoon with another game of Rummy O and Bocce (I'm not sure of the spelling).

18 Aug 2010 - Devils Marbles

2010-08-20T16:48:00.003+10:00

Leaving Tennant Creek our journey south meant we were without phone signal for a couple of days as we planned an overnight camp at Devils Marbles....an outcrop of unusual shaped rocks....arriving around noon and after setting up we took off for a walk around and over them. The colours change with the time of day so is worth camping overnight. Max sighted a strange man (I think the 'marbles' must have gone to his head). We were camped right under the big outcrop so it was a very pleasant backdrop to wake up to in the morning. Pedro, Kev and I climbed to the top of that outcrop to witness the sunset.

16-17 Aug 2010 - Tennant Creek

2010-08-17T21:35:00.006+10:00

We left our overnight stop after a windy night....the girls were a bit spooked at times as the wind played tricks or so we thought. Just before Tennant Creek we called into the Tennant Creek Telegraph Station which was established in 1870, one of the repeater stations for the overland telegraph that connected Port Augusta to Darwin and then the world. In those days it was the only thing here as the town did not eventuate until gold was discovered in the 1930s I think. We set up our camp in Tennant Creek and had a drive around to acquaint ourselves with the town driving out to see 'The Pebbles' before returning to our camp. Today the morning was occupied with housekeeping and a relaxing afternoon catching up on phone calls etc. as we have not had signal on our phones off and on for a week. To 'littleladylollipop' the soapbox was not my idea and the snake is in hibernation at the moment, somewhere in Kev's car....not discovered yet or if he has he is not letting on. (Photos) Kev had a turn on the box and the girls love to watch the men cooking. The old road north would have been a different experience to that of today!!!!

Corrugated Iron

2010-08-16T22:15:00.007+10:00

The store was of particular interest to Max as he also has a late uncle Jock Jones, so was interested to read the history of the store. The hotel was also built in the manner of the day.....what an important building material was corrugated iron and in this case 2" angle iron. Buildings out the back were the hotel rooms and amenities. To us it is hard to contemplate doing our cooking and cleaning in buildings such as these but I guess it proves that we owe a great gratitude to these tenacious people who made the most of what they had and to the weary traveller a bed and hot meal would have been heaven.

15 Aug 2010 - Newcastle Waters

2010-08-16T21:37:00.004+10:00

Feeling refreshed after our stop....incidentally Pedro counted 21 versions of 'campers' sharing the overnight stop from young people sleeping in 4WD's, pop-tops, campers, 'Wickeds', motorhomes all experiencing this wonderful country. As our next stop was again not that far down the track allowed us to call into the many points of interest along the way. Newcastle Waters is the site of a small historic town and walking through the remaining structures only increases my absolute admiration for the people who explored, stayed and toiled to open the outback all those years ago. This brings me to get on my soapbox and give the 'Dunces Cap' to the people who leave their rubbish behind. Pedro and I picked up a garbage bag full and took it with us. But unfortunately we would have needed a small trailer. To the guilty, please honour those who have gone before us and leave Australia clean for those that come after us.

14 Aug 2010 - Heading South

2010-08-16T20:48:00.004+10:00

Before leaving Mataranka we decided we needed one last swim and just down the road from the park is Bitter Springs...Max, Kev & I quickly donned the swimmers and once again thoroughly enjoyed the lovely water. We are now leaving the 'Top End' behind as we slowly wend our way south to Alice Springs for our next major stay. Our plan is to camp for two nights along the Stuart Hwy at two of the many roadside camps...the first being Warloch Ponds stopping just after lunch. Another candle light dinner was planned so the roast lamb was put in the webber early leaving the afternoon free for a game of Rummy O which was hotly contested. By the way the beer was not mine!!! Max was the winner but he was later disqualified as he received coaching from Lyn. Our roast with all the trimmings was delicious followed with marinated strawberries and ice-cream. It is quite extraordinary to think we can enjoy such a wonderful meal in the bush, no electricity, water or telephone service but with the modern vans today, we are certainly very spoilt.

13 Aug 2010 - Mataranka

2010-08-13T21:25:00.004+10:00

We are now heading slowly to Alice Springs so today was a short drive through Katherine arriving at the Mataranka Manor C/van Park just in time to see the 'barra catching' at 1 pm. You have to see it to believe it but he lures the barra in with pilchards and then grabs one by the mouth, holds him up before releasing back into the pond. A quiet afternoon was spent again with the local peacocks paying us a visit.

11-12 Aug 2010 - Douglas Daly Hot Springs

2010-08-13T20:38:00.004+10:00

It was with a bit of sadness that we left Kakadu NP early on Wednesday morning as it was a most enjoyable visit and the Kakadu Lodge was very pleasant, especially having a grassed site. Our destination was the Douglas Daly Tourist Park so we could visit the Douglas Hot Springs. We arrived early afternoon and headed up river with fishing rods and set a trap for cherubin as the barra were only biting on live bait. The crocs have been active so no swimming in the thermal pond there. Pedro & Max checked the pots and had 4 by morning so they set off at dawn but came back empty handed. It was now time to head for the Douglas Hot Springs....there is a boiling pool there with quick sand and further on the creek is fed by a very hot spring. Even though there was not a lot of depth the water was like a very warm bath and you had to find just the right spot. Once again it was very refreshing but alas we forgot the camera. Kangaroos visited late in the afternoon and one was an albino. The girls had a night off cooking and we dined at the park restaurant.

Last day in Jabiru

2010-08-12T14:25:00.006+10:00

Oh!!! Getting out of bed the day after our walk into Jim Jim Falls I knew I had tested a few muscles that had not had a workout for a while so to limber up we decided to go to Nourlangie Rock which is about 25 ks from Jabiru. Everything is a drive as it is a huge park but really worth exploring. Here there are aboriginal rock paintings and the formation of the landscape is remarkable, giving you a stunning over the kakadu escarpment. We then drove to Cahills Crossing which is a crossing of the East Alligator River into Arnhem Land (restricted access Aboriginal Land only). We were very lucky as we arrived just as the tide was rushing in and we saw nature as it has operated for centuries....the crocodiles know when the tide rushes in and gather at the crossing to feed on the fish coming in on the tide. The speed of the water is quite amazing and the crocs just cruise around snapping at anything that moves in the muddy water. We then headed back to the park, by now it was getting hot so a quick shop and return for a swim. The water in the park pool was very cold but great when you dunk yourself.

10 Aug 2010 - Twin Falls

2010-08-10T21:16:00.003+10:00

After a refreshing cup of tea Graeme bumped our way to Twin Falls....the road is definetely 4WD only arriving about half an hour later. We had a short boat ride and then more rock walking to the falls. The sides of this waterway were steeper and sometimes we had to walk along quite narrow ledges so again we had to concentrate on where we placed every footstep. There is no swimming here as the crocodiles are still around after the wet. We had our lunch on the rocks before returning to our vehicle. By this time it was getting quite hot so we were pleased to be on our way back to the park where I had a very cool swim in the pool before an early dinner. All four of us were in bed very early having enjoyed every minute of our day. Pedro and Lyn enjoyed different sites as they had been into both places on a previous visit.

Rock Pool Jim Jim

2010-08-10T21:05:00.003+10:00

This is the destination, as you can see not much water over the falls but after getting there we all had a sense of achievement. The big rock we had a rest stop on is an example of the size of the rocks we had to scramble over.

9 Aug 2010 - Jim Jim Falls

2010-08-10T20:19:00.004+10:00

Well what a full day we had leaving at 6.45 am with Graeme to Jim Jim Falls. Not knowing the state of the road into these spots we elected to join a small tour so Max, myself, Karen and Kevin headed off equipped with 'good walking shoes' as the brochure stated. We were very pleased that we complied with the advice as we had to turn into mountain goats to get there. We had two German girls with us who are here to complete their Doctors' degrees and were much more lithe than us at negotiating the rocks but of course were much younger than us. We finally reached the falls which in the 'dry' are not that spectacular but can only be seen by helicopter in the 'wet'. The walk although very challenging was absolutely fabulous as it is so pristine and beautiful. The girls had a swim before we made the return journey to the 4WD before bumping our way to Twin Falls.

Yellow Water Cruise at Cooinda

2010-08-10T16:37:00.007+10:00

Did not have room for the photos of our evening cruise on the wetlands so here are some.

7 - 8 Aug 2010 - Kakadu National Park

2010-08-08T21:18:00.006+10:00

We said goodbye to Darwin yesterday and had a somewhat eventful day....an incident with a tyre but will say no more....arriving in Jabiru late afternoon. We are staying at Kakadu Lodge Caravan Park and I must say it is so good to have a green grassy site after the park in Darwin. We had a relaxing evening and another champagne breakfast this morning before driving to the Jabiru airport for a fixed wing flight over Arnhem Land and the wetlands through which the three Alligator Rivers run through. It is a great way to get an overview of the park. This afternoon we booked an afternoon cruise on the Yellow Water Lagoon and wetlands....we thought it was absolutely lovely which was a surprise as others have said it is overrated, but it proves each visitor has to experience sites for themselves as we all see beauty and interest in different things. Sorry I will have to add the photos tomorrow as the camera is on charge. We have had a very full day and tomorrow is a 6.45am start for Jim Jim Falls which is an all day trip so early to bed tonight

Happy Birthday Stan

2010-08-06T22:51:00.001+10:00

Today is our grandson Stan's 2nd birthday....happy birthday to a sweet little boy. Hope you have had a great day.
Love & kisses
Grandma & Grandad xxxxx

Berry Springs/Pete the Cook/Dundee Beach

2010-08-06T13:59:00.013+10:00

Have you ever been to dinner with a person who asks the waiter "How many prawns are in your prawn cocktail?". We had that pleasure this week when dining at Cullen Bay....Kevin had to know before ordering. We did enjoy our meal. The water at Berry Springs was sensational.

2 - 6 Aug 2010 - Darwin

2010-08-06T13:08:00.003+10:00

Hi, back to the blog.....we have been so busy re-acquainting ourselves with Darwin that I have not opened my computer. Monday we were off to the races, an interesting day enjoyed by all.....not much luck with backing winners however except for Lyn who was the best punter for the day. The fashion was varied, men in drag, grass skirts etc. but some of the young ladies were very classy. Tuesday morning was into the Electoral Office to cast our postal votes and then a lesuirely lunch at the Trailer Boat Club overlooking the beach. Wednesday morning Pete & Kev packed ready for a bbq lunch and we headed for a look at Dundee Beach, Crab Claw Island and finally to Berry Springs for another swim. The water fed from these springs is so lovely it has been one of my highlights of the trip. Yesterday some more education visiting the Darwin Museum and revisiting the Military site at Echo Point. Today is housekeeping day, washing, cleaning the car and van and restocking the pantry as we are on the road again tomorrow to Kakadu.

31 Jul - 1 Aug 2010 - Relaxing in Darwin/Litchfield NP

2010-08-01T21:07:00.004+10:00

Yesterday the boys went to the races and came home pretty tidy at the end of the day....had a couple of early wins so played with that money making for an inexpensive day. We went into town shopping and acquainting ourselves with some of the attractions. This morning we were off to Litchfield National Park, packing a picnic and with Pedro navigating, were lead up the garden path at first as he was a bit 'foggy', eventually steering us in the right direction. Florence Falls, Buley Rockpool and Wangi Falls where we had lunch and then enjoyed the most refreshing swim in the rock rimmed pool. The park is extremely popular and the pools were teaming with visitors all enjoying the rugged beauty of the area.

Some People Can Fish....others well.......!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-07-30T22:24:00.003+10:00

I had better come clean.....Kevin has the title of the best fisherman catching the most but also the smallest, closely followed by Pedro who at least caught some to keep and Max with one. Needless to say they have all learnt a few 'tips' from the locals so given the opportunity again the fishing tales will only grow. Happy birthday Adam

26-29 Jul 2010 - Sydney Interval

2010-07-30T21:54:00.002+10:00

I am back.....a Conference in Sydney was important to me so Max took me on a quick trip from Daly River Monday morning to the airport Darwin, a mere 440 k round trip. Whilst I was attending the CCIA Conference Max and the others continued with the challenge of catching a barra. Success finally on Wednesday after toiling all morning on Tuesday for nothing. Everyone enjoyed the stay packing up early Thursday morning for the drive to set up our next camp in Darwin where we are to stay for 8 days. I arrived back in Darwin and we all ventured to the Mindil Markets for a relaxed evening enjoying the sights, sounds and aroma of the various stalls, dining on the grass after another magnificent sunset. Karen had enjoyed a didgeridoo player on a previous visit and was hopimg he was again playing which he was and I must admit I was not as enthusiastic as she was urging me to go and listen. Well I was 'blown away' by his skill and I would really recommend anyone visiting the markets to wait for one of his sessions

25 Jul, 2010 - The Elusive Barra

2010-07-25T20:57:00.004+10:00

Second full day here on the Daly River so another early start to launch the boats and head up the river....it is regrettably my last day here as Max is driving me into Darwin tomorrow to fly to Sydney for a conference. The others will be here until Thursday so hopefully they will have some more barra by then. Pete and Kev are now catching a bit of live bait "cherubin" which looks like a small prawn and are hoping to have more luck tomorrow heading in the opposite direction down river. The crossing in the wet is under 13 mts. of water and is closed when covered by 500 cms.

Local Resident/ Daly River Crossing/Barra Dinner

2010-07-24T21:31:00.000+10:00

24 Jul 2010 - Fishing for Barra Daly River

2010-07-24T21:02:00.003+10:00

Well we are as 'outback' as you can be but having said that there are a lot of boat trailers (29 parked at the crossing) but you hardly see a boat so we wondered where they all were...apparently a lot head right up the river and camp. Kev was the 'king' today as he was the first to pull one in but alas it was not quite big enough so had to be let go. Pete was next with the lucky catch of the day....it was absolutely superb enjoyed by us all served with mango salsa made with mango from the local mango farm up the road....who would have thought there would be a mango farm out here. The mango trees were planted around 1915 and are massive but the owners have planted new trees which they harvest.....interesting story we were told by the lady who showed us around, learning of life living with the 'wet' season and its impact on life. They are completely cut off by road for most of the 'wet' and to see the evidence of the level of the river at that time would be awe inspiring. We are all determined to improve on today's catch so another early start in the morning.

23 July 2010 - Daly River

2010-07-23T21:11:00.004+10:00

What day is it....nearly 3 weeks after leaving Sawtell each day blends into the next and it is very easy to forget the date, needing to check each night before doing the blog. Packing up camp is getting quicker as we have moulded into our routine, Max doing the outside and my responsiblility is the inside. There is many a poem and song making fun of the "caravanner" as they arrive and pack up for the next destination. Max was "Car 1" today heading for the Daly River stopping on the way at Edith Falls....it never ceases to amaze me when you drive through what looks like inhospitable country and then you come to a stunning spot like Edith Falls....a beautiful pool surrounded by rock faces with a waterfall plunging into it. There is a camping ground and short/long walks that you can do but each place is the same....there is always a reason to stay longer. The drive to Daly River was very pretty with the vegetation changing to be more tropical in places. The afternoon was spent getting the boats off the roof of Max & Pedro's cars and getting the fishing gear ready for a morning of fishing tomorrow. Local word has it that the barra are not biting but we will have fun trying.

22 Jul 2010 - Day in Katherine

2010-07-22T22:31:00.002+10:00

Sleep in this morning before venturing to Nitmiluk...Max and I were on our own today as Pete, Lyn, Kev and Karen have been before. We visited here 18 years ago when Adam was in Year 6 (Australian Rugby League Championships) for a quick visit and managed to fit in a cruise into the gorge so this time we thought we would do the helicopter flight over the gorges....absolutely wonderful as you get the BIG picture!!! Our pilot was a young girl who was very competent landing on the escarpment for a photo opportunity. Back to Katherine for a tour around, shopping for supplies as we are leaving for the Daly River (barramundi fishing) tomorrow and on the way back to the park managed the swim I promised myself in the thermal waters of the Katherine River...once again not wanting to get out as it is so nice.

Max Making Friends with the Locals

2010-07-22T17:20:00.002+10:00

These beautiful creatures were among the wildlife that visited us at Mataranka. We tried to get more photos off Pedro's camera but I managed to click on the wrong ones in the end so they will have to wait for another opportunity.

21 Jul 2010 - Arrive Katherine

2010-07-21T21:38:00.002+10:00

Max & I were that busy swimming, walking and enjoying the ambiance of Mataranka that we left the camera behind so tomorrow I will use a couple of photos that Pedro and Kev took as they were much more organised than us. We woke to a beautiful morning, the birds are plentiful and the peacocks visited again....it would have been easy to stay a while longer. We left via the replica of the Elsey Homestead which was used in the film We of the Never Never and with Kev taking the lead today we headed for Katherine stopping at the Cutta Cutta Caves before arriving in Katherine to set up camp by lunchtime. There is another thermal stream here so we tested the water planning to have a swim tomorrow if we have time as we are visiting Nitmiluk Gorge in the morning.

20 Jul 2010 - Mataranka

2010-07-20T21:21:00.005+10:00

A really big day on the road today....150 ks before we pulled into Mataranka, calling on the way to see the historic airport (photo), then after a light lunch we headed for the thermal pools at the homestead surrounded by a tropical oasis. It is truly a magical experience to swim in this beautiful water that apparently has its source in New Guinea going underground for most of the way.
Pulling up early allows the designated cook time to prepare the dish of the evening....today Pedro pulled out the camp oven and cooked his Pedro Special Stew. Once again the plates were scraped clean....testament to the tasty dish. We then enjoyed my Impossible Lemon Pudding.
We were lucky enough to have a beautiful male peacock and hens visit us for dinner followed by several little wallabies. Hoping we will have time for another swim before heading off to Katherine staying at the Low Level Caravan Park where hopefully Kev will continue to arrange the campsite as he so successfully did here!!!!!his only contribution being a one handed pull of the table throught the dirt. Karen was most impressed.

19th Jul 2010 - Next Stop Daly Waters

2010-07-20T17:30:00.004+10:00

We have been two days without signal for most of the time so hence the dates of posting. Fully refreshed we continued on our way stopping for morning tea at Renner Springs after turning due north at the Three Ways. The little stops are truly reflective of the outback.... providing refreshment, fuel, overnight camping and hot showers/toilets for the people passing through. Having another early start enabled us to reach the ever popular Daly Waters Hotel/Campsite...what a unique spot and quite a history, being an airport in the early days before World War 2 used the airstrip when Daly Waters would have been quite busy. Today it is a 'must do' stop on the way to Darwin and it was like Burke Street early in the afternoon with a steady stream of caravans waiting to be shown to their site. Max, Pete and I had a very refreshing swim in the pool before heading to the hotel for happy hour followed by the Beef & Barra dinner held nightly at the pub with entertainment from the "chook" man. We met Neil and his crew from the Blue Moutains (very nice people) and had a great night, with compliments to the cooks as the barra was lovely. The "chook" man was having a "go" at the caravan salesman (all in good fun) when I had to say "be carefull" when he called me onto the stage. Needless to say I will be quiet in future. We had a unique entertaining night and one not to be missed. I now have a souvenir of Daly Waters as the chookman gave me a guitar key holder.

18th Jul 2010 - Depart Mt. Isa for Free Camp Site

2010-07-20T16:14:00.003+10:00

Our 'team leader' Pedro gave instructions that an early start was required as we have two days ahead to cover the ks from Mt. Isa through Camoweal crossing the border into the Northern Territory, onto the Barkly Homestead where we stopped for lunch and the all important fuel stop $1.85 per lt. out here. Continuing on we arrived at our campsite just short of the Three Ways by about 2 pm. The road surface from Mt. Isa has been very good which helps when passing the road trains.
There is a never ending stream of caravans going both ways which is amazing. It did not take long to set things up, then sipping on a cool drink it was interesting watching the passing parade of people popping in to perhaps decide to stop or move on. It was not long before a beautiful vintage car did a circle followed by three more....they were on a rally and apparently were "Bentleys"....one of them needed a bit of tinkering with but then moved on. The next gentleman (a Kiwi) looked somewhat "sheepish" as he got out of his car making a beeline for us. He then enquired if we had any unleaded fuel as he was on empty and would not make it to the Barkly....luckily Pete and Kev had 5 lts each for the generators so helped him out. His girlfriend did not look impressed so I don't think he will pass another 'servo' out here!!!! Kev put on the music and we had a great night under our shady tree. We had to prompt him occasionally on his taste of music....more on that later!!!

17 Jul 2010 - The Isa

2010-07-17T20:15:00.004+10:00

Dinner under the stars last night....Kev's prawns and Pedro's pearl perch caught at Minnie Water, once again delicious. We woke to a much warmer morning, the day reaching a very comfortable 28deg. by early afternoon. The Lookout was first on our agenda today which gives the visitor a great view over 'The Isa' as the locals refer to it and then to finish our visit from yesterday at the Outback at Isa Centre where we walked through the fossil display. We continued on to the Underground Hospital and The Tent House before meeting for lunch at the recently refurbished Isa Hotel. Both are important parts of the history of this area. We then spent a leisurely afternoon at our camp. I was making banana bread and could not crack an egg so handed it to Max to have a go when he could not hold back the grin....then it clicked that I had been set up again. Needless to say Kev & Peter will not have toasted banana bread drizzled with honey in the morning!!!!!!!

16 Jul 2010 - Arrive Mt. Isa

2010-07-16T21:00:00.003+10:00

A caravan pulled in toward evening with a sole occupant.....Carol has been travelling on her own for nearly 10 years now and was on her way to the Camel Races in Boulia from Broome...what a lady and an example of the people you meet on the road. Morning broke to another stunning day although pretty chilly arriving Mt. Isa around 10 o'clock. Once set up in the Big 4 Max & I headed off to the Hard Times underground tour which took care of our afternoon. It was absolutely fascinating...you are kitted up in overalls, hard hat with battery pack to work the light, gumboots and belt and then taken underground to experience mining as close as you can get to the real thing. We would recommend the tour as a 'must do' in Mt. Isa. Tomorrow we plan to further explore the town and points of interest.

15 Jul 2010 - Boulia to Dajarra

2010-07-15T20:27:00.005+10:00

Left for Boulia "Min Min country"...we have now learnt about these mysterious lights....apparently a phenomena that is still unexplained. Boulia is gearing up for the annual camel races tomorrow...we were lucky enough to see a practise run at the track. The museum was interesting with fossils of prehistoric animals found in the area, hospital and old machinery. Max thought he would fix his own tooth!!!!!!! We are now camped at Dajarra, not much here now but was a cattle loading site in its heyday.

14 Jul 2010 - Winton, Middleton Hotel

2010-07-15T16:04:00.003+10:00

This morning we rose early leaving Longreach heading for Winton (the birthplace of Qantas) I'm confused as we saw the Qantas thing yesterday in Longreach but apparently the first Board Meeting was held in Winton!!!! More contribution to the local economy....tickets for the Waltzing Matilda Centre which tells the story behind the song "Waltzing Matilda". Listening to it always stirs the emotions....then we headed due west on our way to Boulia which is off the 'beaten track' a bit but worth the drive. We stopped at the Middleton Hotel which is the last surviving hotel along the Cobb & Co route this way. A read of the "Frequently Asked Questions" is very funny. "Is this Middleton" I hope so. "How do you live out here?" By breathing in & out. "What do you do for entertainment" Eat out at the Hilton. (picture) are examples. We continued on to our overnight campsite the Hamilton Ruins which is another Cobb & Co stopover but the chimney is the only reminder of the hotel left. There is a bore and fireplace so we had a pleasant stay and to witness the night sky out here is aweinspiring especially on a clear night. We only had the cattle to keep us company....no TV, phones which was surprisingly nice. Kevin cooked marinated prawns for an appetiser 'yum" he will get that job again.

13 Jul, 2010 - Qantas Museum Longreach

2010-07-13T20:07:00.003+10:00

Kevin.... or was it Peter, take every opportunity to play little jokes on us all. I have had my thongs tied together and Max somehow was in the firing line of a champagne cork....but their turn will come. This morning we enjoyed another superb breakfast, it just tastes better when cooked outside, then off to the Qantas Museum. Max was off to the dentist as he suddenly has a troublesome crown but will have to wait until Darwin to have it fixed. The Museum was well worth the visit and like everything out here, depends on the tourist. I must say most of the towns are teaming with all types of caravans, poptops, campers and 4WD vehicles so the "Baby Boomer" is contributing to the economy. Dinner was by candlelight under our awning with Peter excelling himself cooking Roast Lamb/veges in his weber, assisted by Karen with more veges and I cooked Baked Pears with crumble and Vanilla Bean Icecream....very civilized camping. Tomorrow we are travelling to Boulia via Winton.

Max Cooking - That deserves a photo!!!!!

2010-07-12T20:51:00.004+10:00

Hooray!!! I have remembered to add more than one photo at a time.

12 Jul 2010 - Stockman Hall of Fame

2010-07-12T20:19:00.004+10:00

This morning we had the luxury of a sleep in and a champagne breakfast....what better way could you start a day in Longreach. Kevin excelled himself with his signature dish "scrambled eggs with chives", Max cooked the bacon and tomatoes and Peter chimed in with the toast. Three brolgas visited the park just as we started to cook...the brekkie was so good I think we plan another tomorrow. The Stockman Hall of Fame was next and lunch with a performance of whip cracking by 4 sisters, the daughters of the whip maker at the Hall of Fame. We ended a very enjoyable day with a sunset dinner cruise on the Thompson River.

11 Jul, 2010 - Blackall, Barcaldine, Longreach

2010-07-11T20:41:00.001+10:00

Kevin had a very early rise 4.30am to be exact, to meet the daily bus from Toowoomba arriving in Tambo to get the parts ordered the previous day....great service. We were under way by 8.00am and had our first stop in Blackall to visit the historic Woolscour shed. Fantastic to learn about our history....it is the only working display left in Australia and is a credit to the dedicated people responsible for keeping it going. We also had a photo opportunity at the "Black Stump" and then onto Barcaldine for lunch.....the pies looked that good at the bakery, we just had to sample the cheese & bacon, delicious. The "Tree of Knowledge" was next on our agenda and a walk along the street, so many hotels for a small town but of course the population has long gone from inland Australia....such a shame! We arrived in Longreach early afternoon and are planning a 3 day stopover as there is a lot to see.

10 Jul 2010 - Tambo

2010-07-10T20:07:00.000+10:00

We experienced the hospitality of Julian & Wendy at the Bailey Bar Caravan Park enjoying the Camp Oven and this morning headed for Longreach. But due to mechanical mishap we finished in Tambo where Scott from Tambo Tyre Service went out of his way to assist. On the way we called into Augathella where Max dreamed he was a cowboy. Before that Peter & Kev took off in Peters car....we were wondering if they were planning to elope!!!!!! (for you Wus) We have experienced a heatwave today, the temperature reached 21 deg. Our group consists of 1x 100 Series Landcruiser and 2x 200 Series Landcruisers (diesel) and 3x 24 ft. Jayco Sterling caravans and I must say they are a great combination. All vans have shower/toilets, washing machines which makes our life very comfortable.

9 Jul 2010 - Charleville

2010-07-09T16:13:00.000+10:00

Today we have had a day to catch up on some 'housekeeping' which I must say is very mimimal when it takes about half an hour to have the caravan ship shape. The girls are having a day off cooking also as we had lunch in downtown Charleville. The Hotel Charleville was not where we had lunch however as the only place serving lunch was the RSL Club. Tonight we are booked into the Camp Oven night organised by the park The menu is Beef & Burgundy casserole with damper followed by Apple Crumble & cream.....sounds yummy! Tomorrow we hit the road to Longreach for a 3 day stay.

8 Jul 2010 - Charleville

2010-07-08T21:06:00.000+10:00

This morning our journey took us in a northerly direction along the Matilda Highway to Charleville. There was not as much road kill today....the drive is interesting to us as the countryside always has subtle changes and the birdlife is everywhere. We arrived again just before lunch which was a good time to arrive as our chosen park was already close to full. The economy out here must be benefitting from the caravanners as they are everywhere but it is evident that there have been some hard times in rural Australia as there are many empty shops and houses. We visited the Historic House (ex National Bank and residence) built in 1888 then back to our camp for happy hour.

7 Jul 2010 - Cunnamulla

2010-07-08T20:39:00.000+10:00

We arrived in Cunnamulla around lunchtime, set up camp in the park and headed off to see what the town had to offer. Cunnamulla is small but there was enough to see to keep us interested for a couple of hours. We had our photo taken at the 'Robbery Tree' which was where the last person hanged in Queensland hid after robbing the local bank.....not a smart move!

6 Jul 2010 - Nindigully

2010-07-06T19:42:00.000+10:00

Today our journey has taken us to Nindigully to meet with our other travelling friends Kevin & Karen so the Nindigully Hotel was chosen as our overnight stop. Arriving at lunchtime it seemed appropriate to have lumch at the historic hotel (for those that are not familiar with the hotel it was on the old Cobb & Co. route). The guys were optomistic and took their fishing lines to the river but were not there long....only catching fishing lures and line. We had a great afternoon catching up around a campfire.....quite chilly here at the moment.

4 July 10 - Grafton

2010-07-06T14:10:00.000+10:00

Our first day of our adventure - Day 1 was always to finish organising being away for 3 months....lucky we have a friend to house sit, minding our little dog and to just keep an eye on everything....thank you Stephanie. We headed off after lunch arriving in Grafton to meet our friends Peter & Lyn with whom we are travelling with. Day 2 - our destination was Moree arriving early afternoon after a lovely leisurely drive through country that we have not seen for a long time. We love stopping for a cuppa on the side of the road!

Top End Adventure begins

2010-07-01T10:41:00.000+10:00

Welcome to our blog. I am very much an amateur when it comes to blogging so please do not expect too much. We are planning to leave this Sunday meeting friends in Grafton, then to Moree the following day. We have never been away for longer than five weeks before so an extended holiday is BIG news!!!!! I will miss seeing our grandchildren, family and friends but with technology today staying connected is like this, learning a new medium....blogging.