Diary for On On Home around Australia


Week 408 - Bundaberg

2017-05-05 to 2017-05-11

Another week at Bundaberg at Bill and Narelle Primes.  We have now completed the roof and guttering on the motorhome port, with just a bit of trimming to do.  
The following day, the heavens opened up, the motorhome port was waterproof but our bus decided to spring a few leaks.  So I have been working on our own roof on and off for the last couple of days and hopefully I have now sealed the offending leaks.

Talking about leaks, our leaky fresh water tank has now been replaced.  The aluminium replaced by polypropylene.  We have downsized 60 litres in the transfer, which will help with our weight problem in the future.  Rain Again Tanks of Bundaberg were very helpful by putting in extra entries and exits and when it came to bill time, they offered a better price than what was advertised in their catalogue.  So we are happy about that.

Whilst in Bundaberg I am happy to put my hand up to help the Lion's and Bill.  Our event this week was Power Boat Racing down at Sandy Hook on the boundaries of Bundaberg.  The racing was held on a big wide stretch of the Burnett River.

The noise was thunderous, the speed was lightning quick and the weather was magnificent for the event.  The Lion's served up hot dogs, sausage rolls and burgers and coped quite well with the lunch hour rush.

This week we have Dragon Boat Racing and will have some stunning pictures for next week.

The two mums are doing fine.  Jo's mum returned from a visit in Cairns and is her usual self.  My mum has started her radium treatments and the doctors are as happy as can be expected at this stage.  Let's hope the radium does shrink the cancer and give mum a reprieve.

We thank you all for your comments, especially Thrush in Spain, One Stick in Brisbane and Dotty in Strathalbyn.  We often get a chuckle from Baggins and the hash crowd.  Talking about hash, we ran with Bundaberg and Rusti the dog was named "Allahu Akbar" which is what the suicide bombers shout just before the pulling the pin.

So until next week, as they would say in Spain, Adios Amigos.  


Week 409 - Bundaberg

2017-05-12 to 2017-05-18

Under threatening skies the Lions Club set up a sausage sizzle to cater for the Bundaberg Dragon Boat Races.  Five heats, a semi final and a final displayed the efforts of the paddlers in their modern chinese fibreglass dragon boats.
 

During the week, a young Tawny Frog Mouth was kicked out of the nest by his parents.  The young critter only survived a few days.  The minor birds, magpies and pee wees were giving him a hard time, so we rescued him and gave him shelter but to no avail.  Rusti was quite upset.
 
Our time at Bill and Narelle's ended with a threat of heavy rain that could of delayed our departure so we moved our vehicle under the new motorhome port for an early exit Thursday morning for just a short trip back to Jo's mums in East Bundaberg.

Our platform for our blog is coming to an end.  The company has decided to pull up stumps and close shop.  However, we will have a couple of weeks grace using Travel Pod.  The company has recommended a blogging site which we will trial ourselves and see how good it works.  Otherwise this blog could be one of the last.  We will keep you posted and will notify you all of how the new format will arrive in your inbox.  We would hate to lose a few readers because of technology.

The final blog on Travel Pod will be on 9 June 2017. 


Week 410 - Monto

2017-05-20 to 2017-05-26

Our departure from Bundaberg was once again clinical. Mum and Alan were in good spirits and I had done a few jobs for them around the house. They had a leaking storm water pipe for 17 years and the damage from the pipe undermined the concrete porch at the front of the house and the slab had dropped. The repair was simple and cheap and it is a shame that it wasn’t done years ago. A final test with the help of a hose confirmed that the storm water is now redirected to the gutter at the street.

Our next stop Childers, a replica of our previous trips, dump point and a fresh water fill up. A quick stop and go, then via Ban Ban Springs to an overnight at Gayndah. Thursday morning we had an appointment with the mechanic at Gayndah. He did a full comprehensive service to the engine. All was well. Also a Queensland Road Worthy Certificate was gained. Initially we failed on the windscreen and the two front tyres, but that was soon remedied and we were on our way to Monto.
   
Jo has been the principal organiser of the Highway Wanderers 23rd birthday celebrations. The keyboard on her computer has been running red hot and the phone lines have been fully engaged. To date we have 87 Highway Wanderers attending which will probably equate to 50 plus vehicles. The Monto Polocrosse grounds are a great venue for a low key get together and reunion of many friends. It will be simple, pleasant and rewarding and the weather forecast is magnificent.

My mum’s radium treatment is going very well. The tumours have shrunk in both areas – one behind the nose and one behind the eye. Let’s hope the treatment is successful.
 
And finally, Rusti the dog has been in training. She can now deliver two cans of beer on demand for a small reward of a schmako.

Comments

Go on strike Rusti, a schmako is not enough for that type of work. :) xx From dot, on May 28, 2017 at 05:12AM

Lovely to see your blog again, it's been a while. Rusti looks so much like Midge when she was small, gorgeous. Our Midge is turning 10 double figures this year and is starting to slow down (like us). Cheers and hope to see you both again soon. Bev and Noel amend Midge xxx From Bev and Noel Hoole, on May 28, 2017 at 04:33PM

Lovely to see your blog again, it's been a while. Rusti looks so much like Midge when she was small, gorgeous. Our Midge is turning 10 double figures this year and is starting to slow down (like us). Cheers and hope to see you both again soon. Bev and Noel amend Midge xxx From Bev and Noel Hoole, on May 28, 2017 at 04:33PM

Sorry guys my comments have come up twice From Bev and Noel Hoole, on May 28, 2017 at 04:35PM

Sorry guys my comments have come up twice From Bev and Noel Hoole, on May 28, 2017 at 04:35PM

Sorry guys my comments have come up twice From Bev and Noel Hoole, on May 28, 2017 at 04:36PM

Looking forward to a catch up in Monton From vicki., on May 28, 2017 at 10:19PM


Week 411 - Biloela

2017-06-03 to 2017-06-09

Apologies to our readers for missing our weekly blog last week.  We have been so busy in the organisation of the Highway Wanderers 23rd birthday bash at Monto, we barely had time to sleep.  Unfortunately our motorhome was in the workshop for repair most of the week, so we slept in Rhonda and Bill's annex with temperatures plummeting to 2 to 3 degrees and boy it was cold.

Our bus was having a new windscreen and a paint job at the front, plus new tyres, a rotation and a balance.  This added to the docket box which has crept slightly over $37 000 - this is our spend in the town of Monto for the week and is just a token of our appreciation of our welcome to the Monto townfolk.

This will be our last blog using Travelpod.  Next week Jo will reinvent our travels on another system called Wordpress.  So stay tuned to your computer, tablet or phone.  We will let you know how it all works and you can continue reading about our travels.

Our blog this week comes from Biloela Queensland Heritage Centre.  Our first night away from the birthday bash.

We would like to thank everyone that helped us achieve a memorable celebration.

We would also like to thank Travelpod for processing our weekly blogs.  We had 265 entries over 8 years, with 22 000 hits.  We posted 1629 photographs and have enjoyed every comment and reply.

On on Horror and Wanger


Week 412 - Mackay

2017-06-10 to 2017-06-16

Week 412 and a new era in our weekly blog.  As you can see we have taken this Getjealous platform and hopefully it will serve us as well as Travelpod did.

Our blog is a means of letting our family and friends know what we are doing and can save a lot of time on the telephone.

We have finally become free travellers once again.  We have done and experienced our house sits and the preparation and execution of Highway Wanderers 23rd birthday celebration is now over and we believe it was very successful.

From Vicki's at Mt Morgan we traversed the Mt Morgan range via the Razorback over to the flood city of Rockhampton.  The damage of the floods was not immediately evident but closer to the river,  the landscape has been slightly adjusted awaiting the next flood.

We stayed at Uncle Brian's who had recently been burgled and was in the process of building a fortress to stop the critters climbing through the windows.  He has been visibly shaken by the intrusion and with him living on his own, welcomed our company for a couple of days.

Next stop, a deserted St Lawrence.  The Isaac Council has slapped a $10 a night fee on this vacant lot and scared all the travellers away.  Instead of a 100 vehicles, on our first night we were accompanied by 10.  The Sportman's Arms Hotel is suffering from a lack of patronage and the township is basically dead.  However, the council chambers looked magnificent an ironic statement I know.

We are now in Mackay for some hashing and staying on the footpath at Delicious's place.  A true hash girl if I have ever seen one, drinks, swears, farts and burps.  Mention tits and they are out sort of girl......

We have a hash session today at the Mt Pleasant Tavern and the hash run on Monday.

The weather is beautiful, the days are magnificent and the nights cool and we wake up to a very heavy dew.

We would like you to explore this new platform and let us know how you are travelling.

Rusti was one year old yesterday.  She is a wonderful little dog and has the character of a pit bull terrier and docile as a pussy cat.  She is also an extension of Horror and looked after by Wang, i.e. feeding,  cleaning and pampering.

Please click on photos below for captions.


Week 413 - Burdekin Cane Farm Stay, Brandon

2017-06-17 to 2017-06-23

Our adventure before dementia continues, with less brain cells than I started with.  We camped at Delicious's place at Mackaysurbia.  We just managed to get onto the conservation strip and within minutes we were sculling our first beer.  Wanger and Delicious reminisced about all the old hashers from way back in Mount Isa and the east coast over a couple of bottles of NZ Sav.  The big event was the Mackay hash run on the Monday.  A fine bunch of athletes, very friendly and the circle kept rolling on with jokes and stories.  A great fun night of hashing.  

The next day we beat the rush hour traffic out of Macky and headed for the Burdekin Cane Farm Stay just north west of Ayr.  We were greeted in true country style.  We were given a night tour of cane burning and the next day witnessed the magnificent harvesters at work.  Our tour of the farm continued on the third day and we were treated by the farmer and his wife to a personalised morning tea and cake.

We are camped next to a stream, on grass and a camp fire.  The night sky is magnificent.  The company infectious.  Our village of Highway Wanderers is growing and the camaraderie of our fellow travellers is a joy to behold.

This place is such an oasis, we have decided to stay here until it is time to enter the Dam Fine Rally.

I will pass the blog over to Jo to tell a few stories.  In Monto, Derek had had a skinful and went to bed at 10.30, just after midnight he got up for a leak, saw his mates at the fire and continued boozing.  I got up to check he was alright, he seemed happy enough at the fire.  Next thing, he has fallen into it - third degree burns on his stomach and arm.  Fortunately we had a couple of nurses present and they were able to dress the burns before they became infected. 

Fast forward two weeks - a boisterous dinner with our new friends, Maxine and Rob, also hashers from Perth.  Horror goes out to take the dog for a walk.  At midnight I could hear - Wang, Wang, Wang.  I went outside to see what the problem was, the dog had gone and Horror had fallen over and was partially unconscious due to eight stubbies, two bottles of wine and a bottle of port......  He is now on notice, I am thinking of reporting him to alcohol anonymous.


Week 414 - Townsville

2017-06-24 to 2017-06-30

Burdekin Creek Farm Stay proved to be a great venue for catching up with friends and fellow travellers and on our last night, the farmer put on a camp oven meal for 40 people.  The quality of the meat and vegetables were first class, restaurant style.

Reluctantly we drifted out of the camp on Wednesday morning heading to the metropolis of Townsville and the Dam Fine Rally.  I willingly put my hand up to park almost 300 vehicles and it is alarming to see how some of them cannot reverse, drive forward and park.  It is a good job I had my yellow vest on.

The Dam Fine Rally is a great catch up with the Tropical Coast Wanderers and we have about 40 Highway Wanderer vehicles in tow.  So the fun at the DFR is only just beginning.

Jo has been knitting away making dresses and wallets for the market stall on Saturday.  She makes the dresses for fun and there is very little profit, if any, in the garments.  She has also been doing some alterations/mending but I have managed to keep myself busy cleaning and polishing the motorhome and doing little jobs that are necessary around the bus.

So to finish this week's blog, the weather is slightly overcast and many people are having problems with their solar and batteries.  But I seem to have the balance right in our bus and all the monitors are feeding good numbers.  

Sometimes we have to kick ourselves as we travel around this magnificent country and meet like minded people and this week will certainly be a people week.


Week 415- Townsville

2017-07-01 to 2017-07-07

We have enjoyed our stay in Townsville although we haven't seen a lot of the town.  I think the Dam Fine Rally can be judged as a great success - 325 vehicles turned up and we were entertained by musicians, comedians and some very talented bush poets.

We were welcomed by the locals and the Tropical Coast Wanderers volunteers.  A great job was done by all.

The Highway Wanderers happy hour maxed out on the second night with 95 people.  We too had fun and games, jokes and charades and our own Highway Wanderers band.  I would not like to pick up the alcohol bill for the week. 

So with the Dam Fine Rally done and dusted, we are preparing our vehicle to head further north and take in the sights of the Atherton Tablelands and the tropical rainforests.


Week 416 - Tully

2017-07-07 to 2017-07-14

Our week started off at 250 miles an hour.  A gratuitous ticket gave me entrance to the V8's motor racing at Townsville.  It was the first time I have ever been at a race track close up.  The  noise, the smell and the excitement of the rev heads was enthralling.  The atmosphere in the pits was underage glamour girls that flaunted around the stacks of racing tyres.  The money the owners pump into this sport is huge.  The trucks are enormous and the cars are in magnificent racing condition.  The engines were spotless.  However, after 20 or so laps, it was difficult to fathom out who was in front or who was behind, so thank god for the technology of huge TV screens and the commentary from an excited motorhead junkie.

With the Dam Fine Rally packed up and gone, we spent a quiet night behind the RSL club before moving onto a steamy Ingham.  We caught up with a few more motohoming friends there and witnessed the thrashing of NSW by the mighty Queenslanders.

We pushed on further north, only getting as far as Tully.  A picturesque sugar mill town, nestled up against the ever increasing rainforest.  There, we took stock and managed to unwind from the previous couple of weeks' hectic activity.

We coffeed and tea'd at Wongaling Beach and had lunch with Lesley and Bill at Mission Beach.


Week 417 - Innisfail

2017-07-15 to 2017-07-21

Our base camp for the week has been the Garradunga Pub deep in the heart of sugar cane country.  Our companions for the week were Bill and Lesley and we shared many a happy hour.

The area we were camping in had suffered heavy rains from the previous week, so we were given a temporary camp spot in front of the pub, right along side the railway line, where we witnessed cane trains, the Spirit of Queensland and a couple of daily freight trains.

In the distance was Mount Bartle Frere, the highest mountain in Queensland at 5,285 feet.  It was nearly always covered in cloud and surrounded by rain.

This base camp gave us a chance to do some exploring in our Suzuki.  We took in Flying Fish Point, Innisfail and lunched at Bramston Beach.

Innisfail has some great historic buildings, many Art Deco and others steeped in history.  A quaint little township on the Johnson River.  Very picturesque.

From the Garradunga Pub we continued heading north, this time to Mareeba via the Milla Milla Falls and Atherton. In contrast, Mareeba is parched dry and hasn't seen rain for weeks.

Here we will set up another base camp to explore the local area, replenish stocks and finally relax for a while.


Week 419 - Mossman

2017-07-29 to 2017-08-04

So much can happen in just a couple of weeks and we are victims of just that.  In fact we were too busy to have time to sit down to write last week's blog, hence this bi-weekly version.

We arrived at Mareeba Bush Camp to ready us for the Xmas in July event in Mareeba.  The Highway Wanderers were beginning to gather in numbers.  Sadly one of ours, Britt, lost her fight with cancer down in Sydney, so Jo, the President of Highway Wanderers and also a great friend of Britt and Oke's decided to fly down to Sydney for the Celebration of Britt's life.  This left me to fend for myself and hold the fort.

My arrival at Xmas in July was a lonely affair, just me and the dog, travelling down from the Bush Camp to the township of Mareeba.  The Highway Wanderers set up camp in the overflow outside of the main arena.  We had plenty of room to flex our wings and spread out.

Jo jetted back to hold the last happy hour of the event on Sunday.  However, all was not normal.  Jo had contracted bronchial asthma and became very ill herself.

From Mareeba we headed up to Birds on Barron, just 10 kms North of Mareeba to rest and recuperate, which was definitely needed.  For some foul reason, I went down with flu symptoms and a severe cough.  We were both laid up for a couple of days.  This is the first time either of us have been this ill during our travels of eight years on the road.

Luckily we have been travelling with Bill and Lesley who are familiar with this part of the world and who knew of a MSO (Members Stop Over) at Mossman, which is at the edge of the Daintree Rainforest and Port Douglas.

We spent a day at Cape Tribulation, deep in the rainforest with constant drizzle and a continuous dripping from the rainforest.  The scenery and the wildlife was awesome.  And as we are feeling a lot better now, we intend to do some more excusions in this top end of the country.


Week 420 - Ingham

2017-08-05 to 2017-08-11

Cape Tribulation was our destination for the weekend.  Just a short hop from our MSO (Member Stop Over) at Mossman.  Our companions for the day were Bill and Lesley Brady.  As soon as we crossed the river at Daintree we were under the canopy of the tropical rain forest.  With eyes peeled we witnessed many exotic birds, pristine creeks and a glimpse through the trees at the blue ocean lapping the sandy beaches, almost heaven.

We visited Wendy and Ash who are care taking a bush camp in the middle of this Eden.  They have been there 18 months and they are a wealth of knowledge of the local plant life, animals and bird life.  Lunch at PK's and a pint of Alehouse to help us on our way back to Mossman.

Saturday afternoon, we reluctantly visited the commercial hub of Port Douglas.  A money making machine for the rich and famous by the rich and famous.  Boutiques, restaurants, coffee shops and hotels in stark contrast to the Daintree Rain forest just 50 kms north.

Our stay ended in this neck of the woods and we departed south on the picturesque ocean road towards Cairns.  Cairns is another place we hate with a vengeance, so we took the western by pass and ignored the commercial hub of the north.  

Our destination, pretty Babinda, a place where we could unwind and take it easy and settle back into our roles as professional travellers.


Week 421 - Bowen

2017-08-11 to 2017-08-18

At the beginning of the week we spent a couple of days with Rob and Chris Koch on their property in Ingham.  Lush green lawn surrounded by encroaching rainforest.  The Kangaroos came out as dusk and the Curlews squawked at night.  A very peaceful, comfortable spot.

The bus washed down and ready for its trip, we rendezvoused with Judy, Rowan and Sharon for a 6 hour long Mount Isa Fest.  I was the driver, Jo, Sharon and Judy drunk copious amounts of wine, got the giggles and continued to talking about Mount Isa for the remaining 2 hours.  Me being totally sober, was totally bored.  However, a great catch up.

We hashed in Townsville on Monday night then headed to Bowen on Tuesday.  We stayed at a low cost caravan park.  No amenities, no electricity and no water, but just a stone throw from the tourist spots of Bowen.  In the past we have always avoided Bowen as they are anti-RV'ers.  The cost in the caravan parks in town are astronomical.  Bowen has its highlights, magnificent beaches and spectacular scenery but the council is struggling to attract the tourist dollar by scaring the RV'ers and backpackers away.  A few of the tourist attractions have become derelict, run down and vandalised, which is such a shame for this part of the region.

We waiting in Bowen to catch up with Dotty and George in Strathalbyn.  A nice catch up but it put us a day behind schedule so we decided to travel to Rockhampton in one day - all 520 kms.  So with piss stops, dog stops, lunch breaks and a coffee, we arrived in Rockhampton 7 hours after leaving Bowen.  However, the motorhome performed perfectly, the water temperature, the oil pressure and engine did not waiver.  So we arrived in Uncle Brian's at Rockhampton in one piece.


Week 422 - Mt Morgan

2017-08-19 to 2017-08-25

After our epic trip from Bowen to Rockhampton we found time to relax with Jo's family.  Uncle Brian was preparing for a couple of days in hospital and we were happy to spend some time maintaining our bus.

We ran with Rockhampton hash, who were down to nine runners, including us which is sad to see a hash club struggle after being so successful in the past years.  Rockhampton is now run by the old guard and encouraging new members all the time.  We have run with them many many times now.

Tuesday, was a short hop to Mount Morgan, just 48 kms, which I did in my sleep, as it were. Vicki is another cancer patient but is responding well to treatment and many of our motorhoming friends will know her.  She is a strong lady and has a healthy outlook on life and of course, we wish her well.

From Vicki's at Mount Morgan we travelled to our other local town of Monto where we are camped at Reg and Di Kerle's place near Abercorn.

So this week has been a people week and not much to report on adventuring, scenery and expeditions.


Week 423- Bundaberg

2017-08-26 to 2017-09-01

Our stay at Monto was the best yet again.  Clear blue skies and cool nights.  With dog in toe, I explored the corners of the property, down to the Bunyip Hole, through the paddocks and along the creeks.  On one particular day to my surprise,  I came across four Australian Bustards strolling down a lane way.  Usually, you are lucky to see just one.

Peter Pet-els was our companion at Reg and Di's and we headed off in convoy to sunny Bundaberg, the land of rum and sugar.  The sugar cane trains keep us awake all night, chuffing along and blowing their whistles.  Pete parked up at Bill and Narelle's and we are alongside Jo's mum's house next to the cuckoo clock.

On our journey East, we arrived with our toad covered in diesel, so in haste we rang around a few mechanics to book the bus in for an inspection and repair.  However, Bill Prime suggested we make a ramp, clean the engine down and hopefully find the problem.  Which he did. A bolt on one of the injectors had loosened and was spraying diesel everywhere.  A simple clean and tighten up and the engine was sound again.  We had dodged a thousand dollar bullet from the truck repairers and to Bill, we are very grateful.

Rusti is lucky to be alive.  After spending an hour in the park running with her ball, she decided not to come, refused to come anywhere near her lead and my only option was to return home with dog keeping a distant four paces behind me.  The bitch would just not come.  Back at base, it took Jo, myself, Alan and a passer by an hour to catch her.  So now, she is in the dog house and confined to her bed.  Tomorrow, I will start a severe disciplined regime.  Rusti needs to know who is the boss.  Balls will be banned and schmacko's put on rations.


Week 424 - Bundaberg

2017-09-02 to 2017-09-09

So we are treading water in Bundaberg.  More than enough time to recharge our batteries and restock the fridge.

I drove down to Brisbane Airport to pick up two aunts who had flown in to give my mum a surprise visit.  Aunts and luggage in the trusted suzuki, we headed off to Lowood to my unsuspecting mother's house.  She had no idea we were coming, so as we rang the Avon door bell, she didn't suspect a thing.  Mum being blind couldn't recognise the three figures in front of her until they spoke.  It was a lovely reunion of the sisters.  Low and behold, she didn't recognise me at all.

The main part of my visit, was to lend Aunty Gilly and Aunty Barbara our car for their month's stay in "Lowood".  On the Saturday, we took everyone, except Mum,  on a cruise up the river on the City Cat on the Brisbane River, eventually disembarking at South Bank.  

Jo and I have been away from Brisbane approximately nine years, and how the place has changed.  South Bank was a buzz with markets, pubs overflowing and the eateries packed. No sane man would walk past the Charming Squire without stopping for a pint or two or three.  I take my hat off to the James Squire Brewery.  They have got it exactly right.  My only criticism is they may have gone overboard with the variety of excellent brews.  Real Ale has become a game changer in the beer markets. Even the Plough Inn had a great selection of beers including Fat Yak, Lazy Yak and Wild Yak.

So with a gut full of hops, I was dropped off at Brisbane Airport for my flight back to Bundaberg and to confirm my deliberations about the beers, I was offered XXXX Gold or water on the plane.  Guess what I drank.  Both in 250 ml receptacles.

Back in Bundy, I was met by my dog wagging her tail and Rusti gave me a big kiss.


Week 425 - Bundaberg

2017-09-10 to 2017-09-15

We have spent three weeks at Mum's with not too much to report.  So this week I will reflect on our travels so far.

We bought our vehicle August 2008 and eventally left Bushy's country retreat in March 2009 and headed off on our adventure around Australia.  Initially we were green (not literally) and totally new to motorhoming, but we soon learnt the tricks of the trade from the many travellers that we befriended in our tracks.

We started writing our blog the day we left Brisbane and have managed to keep it up weekly ever since with just a few gaps whilst we took holidays in China and setting up the house in Casino.

We have always travelled with a loose plan, not looking too far ahead and winging it as we go.  The formula we have adopted has worked out fine with no regrets.  The motorhome has performed magnificently in all departments.  The only things that have let us down is wear and tear of the vehicle, which is just a matter of replacing worn bits and pieces and general housekeeping.

We have managed to stick to our forecasted budgets and live frugally with enough money allocated for beer, wine and entertainment.  We have basically travelled all across Australia and criss-crossed the states. Way back, somebody asked us our top 10 places but that is impossible to say as we have come across some magnificent countryside, rivers, dams and lakes.  We have traversed mountain ranges, deserts and plains, which have all added to our experience so far.

Our loose plan for the future is to head over to Western Australia for a duration of 18 months plus and then slowly wind our way back to Casino, New South Wales and then and only then will we determine what next!!

And of course, I cannot finish a blog without mentioning our new family member, Rusti the dog.  If any of you have seen the movie, The Mask with Jim Carrie, he had a dog called Milo and Rusti's characteristics remind me of that Mutt.  God help us if Rusti finds a (green) mask!  And you all know what happens when I put the green paint on - On On Horror and Wanger


Week 426 - Hervey Bay

2017-09-16 to 2017-09-22

The two aunts jumped into our trusty Suzuki to drive up to Hervey Bay, taking a pommie 6 hours to do 350 kms.  They settled into Bruce and Di's bed and breakfast for a four day look and see around Hervey Bay.  Whale watching was booked for Monday.  The weather was almost perfect with just a slight breeze for our afternoon of sight seeing on the bay.

The whales were in abundance and for a couple of hours, we had a dozen or so whale pods to keep us entertained.  The photography was not easy but after a few whale breaches, fin slaps and tail wagging, I managed to work out their next move and pointed the camera in the direction of expected action.  My photographic logic turned out to be partially successful and my tip to future whale watchers, is to put your camera on video for half an hour, then edit shots out of the video.

So as we cruised back to the mainland, the sun began its descent and set in the west with all the glory that our mother planet could offer.

Our plans changed for the week and we decided to drive our motorhome, toad and two aunts back to Lowood for a surprise visit to my mum.  My mum being very ill, has improved slightly, but refuses to co-operate with doctors, nurses and specialists and is quite happy to leave the worrying to my poor sister Liz and her daughter Emily.  She doesn't eat and drinks very little - a recipe for disaster.

However, the sunshine of our lives is the beauty of Rusti the dog and she knows it.


Week 427 - Lowood

2017-09-23 to 2017-09-29

This week's blog comes from Lowood.  We are stationary on the front lawn at my sister's  place, enduring 40 degree heat and strong winds.  The week has been punctuated by a trip over to Casino to show the pommie aunts around and return via Byron Bay.

Byron Bay was packed to the rafters and was a bit ugly.  Zero parking and food outlets were doing a roaring trade on junk food.  Parking was $4 an hour, lighthouse $8 and not the best beach to show the poms.

Last Saturday was all about Lilly May, my sister's grand daughter.  The family reunited at a family gathering with several generations attending the naming ceremony.  Lilly May the youngest at 4 months and my mum, the oldest at 82.  Typical family fun, a water hose on a hot day and football with Rusti the dog in the afternoon.  A good day was had by all.

Brisbane has changed dramatically over the last 10 to 15 years.  The house I bought back in 1990 for $100 000 is now up for sale for $1.3 to $1.7 million and is currently rented at $1500 a week.  A perfect example of how the rich get richer and the poor people do have a chance to progress. 

So the pommie aunts have been in Australia for three weeks and will leave on Wednesday.  How time flies.


Week 428 - Biggenden

2017-09-30 to 2017-10-06

Our week has been dominated by the health and welfare of my mother and the visit of Mum's younger sisters.  My mum is 82 and unco-operative with diet, liquid intake and her own well being.  During the sisters' visit, they tried to encourage her to participate in outings, family functions and life in general.  But sadly she has given up.

The sisters have been for four weeks and have enjoyed their excursions, sight seeing and the Australian natural wildlife.  A sighting of a Galah caused great excitement, something we all take for granted.

The departure from Lowood was planned to military precision.  We did an excursion into Brisbane to plan their trip, bumping into Bushy and Pomerang, the Pfeiffers and then Dregs, Greasy and Navigator.

On one visit to Ipswich, we discovered the PA Hotel, the old Prince Alfred Hotel.  74 beers on tap and the decor would have cost millions.  It has been voted best pub in Queensland and best pub in Australia.  If you can visit this pub in Ipswich, you should do so.

On the day of departure, we packed the bus up at 10.15, picked the aunts up at 10.45 and arrived at Colmslie Reserve punctually at midday.  Colmslie Reserve is a lovely picnic stop and has plenty of room to park the motorhome with toad attached.  We had a wonderful picnic by the river and completed our final leg to the airport without incident.  It was probably the first time that a motorhome and toad had dropped passengers off to the International Airport.

Poms on their way, we headed North to Biggenden.  We encountered heavy traffic on the gateway and was diverted by the GPS on a short cut from Gympie to Biggenden.  On the short cut we encountered 6 km of dirt road, cattle and many creek crossings.

Darkness failed and we were hit by a rain storm with just 10 km to go.  We arrived at Biggenden at 6.30 pm.

The last four weeks have been hectic, traumatic and sometimes very enjoyable.  We have had family get togethers and a few sad moments.

Today, we are camped at Biggenden with our Highway Wanderers chapter awaiting the commencement of the CMCA rally at Bundaberg.


Week 430 - Bundaberg

2017-10-08 to 2017-10-20

We apologise for our absence for the last 15 days.  We have been busy, busy, busy at the CMCA Rally at Bundaberg and what has made matters worse, we have also suffered torrential rain for approximately 5 days.  The rains made the rally site a quagmire and eventually damaged our bus.  The rain poured in at two locations but isn't covered by Ken Tame Insurance on a technical term as the evidence points to the leaks having been there for some time.

We are now parked up at Billing's Warehouse for a major repair.  As I have said before the CMCA Rally was hectic to say the least and at the finale Rusti, Ray and myself sang happy birthday to an audience of over 1000 people.  Rusti received raptuous applause and calls for an encore.  I believe there is a bootleg video doing the "youtube" rounds.

So as we literally tred water in Bundaberg, we have the time, the know how and the skills of Bill Prime to repair our bus.


Week 431 - Bundaberg

2017-10-21 to 2017-10-26

Another week in Bundaberg.  We had more rain and storms but have now settled down to 30 deg steaming heat.

The progress on the bus has been steady and at some times alarmingly slow.  I have been on the roof for approximately four days in a crouching position, not good for your knees nor your brain.  Bill has completed rebuilding the front cupboards and reskinning the back wall.

So at the end of this week, we have made some achievements punctuated by trips to Across the Waves with a small group of Highway Wanderers.

As you can see by the photographs, we are deeply in debt to Bill and Narelle for their hospitality, help and friendship. All part of being in the Highway Wanderers' family.


Week 432 - Bundaberg

2017-10-28 to 2017-11-02

We are still at Bundaberg at Bill's maintenance facility and at last the weather is on our side.

The inside of the bus is now complete, new cupboards, bedroom rear wall replaced, redecorated and faulty seal on the back window repaired.

The roof has now been resealed with an amazing product called "Self Leveling Sealant by Dicor Products".  American of course but it has done the job.  All we need to do now is give the roof a couple of coats of specialised roofing paint. However, we have to wait 7 to 10 days for the sealant to cure but at least we now have a bright light at the end of the tunnel.

This week we have had a couple of fellow motorhomers, Jan and Kerry - from Tasmania, staying over.  A medical problem necessitated that they do not drive and be near a hospital.  In fact one day they even travelled to the Royal Brisbane Hospital by train for a specialised visit.  Their future is uncertain and are parked here in limbo with us, courtesy of Bill and Narelle.

During the week we took a short break from repairs to visit the Bundaberg Botanical Gardens.  A breath of fresh air as it were.  The gardens had been flooded in the last flood and have recovered to their former glory, however, a flock of Ibis has taken residence on one of the islands and are slowly destroying it for the other critters around the lakes.

So with the work almost finished, we will soon have time to play.


Week 433 - Bundaberg

2017-11-04 to 2017-11-10

Our bus should be ready for the road in about 7 days.  The last and final job is in the process of being built.  Jo is getting a luxury office desk installed in the motorhome as she spends most of her time on the computer, knitting or sewing.

We have now been in Bundaberg 10 weeks and have been through hail, wind and storms.  The worst weather we have encountered over our 9 years of travelling.  But now we are at the stage to put that all behind us.

A few highlights of our week has been a swarm of native bees that spread across the driveway and were there on and off for a few days; and a lovely early morning bike ride from Mon Repos to Bargara and back.  The ocean views, the beaches and the heads of the Burnett River were spectacular in the early morning sun.

Prior to the Tuesday (Melbourne Cup), Jo rang a lovely seafood restaurant to see if they had a Melbourne Cup function, but they regretfully said no.  Jo said that's good, we would like to book a table for 6 and  Alan, Di and Bill, joined us. It is the first time in many years that we have not had a bet nor watched the race of the Melbourne Cup but we had lovely company and magnificent river views.

So fingers crossed and legs crossed, we are eagerly awaiting completion of repairs.


Week 435 - Hervey Bay

2017-11-12 to 2017-11-24

Sorry about the absence of the blog for two weeks, we have been busy busy finishing the repairs on the bus and all the other jobs around the place that needed doing.  Bill also treated Jo to a custom built office in our motorhome.  She is truely spoilt. So after a four week stay at Bill's maintenance shed, we departed to the other side of Bundaberg to spend some time with Jo's mum preparing for our departure south.

Our next stop Hervey Bay to catch up with fellow motorhomers at "God's waiting room".  Five days of happy hours was a bit exhausting, but it was a great catch up.

We write our blog enroute to Maroochydore to participate in the well alligned Novemberfest.  The Novemberfest is a dangerous cocktail of beer, wine and song with a few of my bestest mates.

So it feels good to be back on the road with the bus in tip top condition. However, we have a grumbling starter motor which has a mind of its own and will have to be fixed sooner rather than later.

Our plans for the not too distant future is to travel to Adelaide then to Western Australia for a couple of years.  We hope to reinvent the sense of adventure we started off with nine years ago, exploring, fossicking and searching out some of the unusual places in Australia.


Week 436 - Brisbane

2017-11-24 to 2017-12-01

We have finally pulled up our roots in the Wide Bay area and initially headed south to Maroochydore for a long awaited Novemberfest with the likes of Dregs, Whistle, Grotty Whore, Greasy, Blow Jo etc etc.  We had a fine day tasting the difference between 11 beers.

On Sunday, we deliberately left late in the afternoon headng towards the country town of Kilcoy.  A lovely peaceful free camp at the start of the Brisbane Valley and to our delight a cow gave birth overnight and we spent the morning watching the mother look after her child.  It is amazing how the young one soon got on its feet and suckled on the udder of the mother.  Rusti too was fascinated and well behaved considering.

With no intended rush in mind, we headed on late morning through Esk, Wivenhoe Dam to Lowood for a rendeavous with my mother.  Nothing much has changed there, apart from a slight deterioration in her weight, health and diet and I do believe her mental state is not good, probably some type of depression.  Not a good snapshot, probably my last images of mum.  However, she has had a good and varied life and there is no need for her to suffer for too long.

Brisbane awaited us once again with its traffic and congestion with a huge downpour to greet us on arrival at Werriwood Road, Chandler.  We are camped at Bushy's next door neighbour as there is a big hash function at his place this weekend.

We are only in Brisbane for about 5 days and have already done some catching up and with a lot more to do but at least we have managed to get our blog to you on time.


Week 437 - Casino

2017-12-01 to 2017-12-07

Passing through Brisbane is never calm, always hectic.  Dinners, rendezvous, dentists, shopping and unavoidable business.  The South East Queensland Hash House Harriers combined Christmas party was a great catch up with old hashers and great friends from the past.  Everyone of them has aged, most of them gracefully.

The eskies were supplied by Hawkeye, a wild selection of out of date beer, many of them classics in their own right.  So the sale by date didn't really effect their boutique taste.  The good thing about good beer, is that it does not give you a hangover, unlike the crap XXXX and the commercial breweries produce.

Before we left Peter's, we carefully packed and prepared the bus for our journey south.  We pulled into the weighbridge at Chandler and our weight was well below the weight limit of the law.

A comparatively short stay in Brisbane saw us heading down the freeway dodging the showers and the scaley's on our way to Casino.  

Casino was how we left it.  The new owners are still doing a great job of the grounds and facilities.  The clientele of the village has certainly matured somewhat and sadly a few faces have left this planet.  However, the party spirit still goes on - happy hours, the 8 ball dinner and the village Christmas party, we timed our visit well.

We hope to be on the Murray by Christmas/New Year.  So keep a look out for us on the road in that area.  On on Horror, Wanger and Ali Achbar (Rusti).


Week 438 - Tuncurry

2017-12-09 to 2017-12-15

We departed Casino after four days of binge drinking and partying.  The standard of pissyness ranged in the top 10, but a good time was had by nearly all.  I came out unscathed but Jo was worse for wear on a couple of occasions by being spoon fed champagne.

So we gunned it down to Maclean for some rest and recuperation and take a deep breath to decide how we are going to attack our journey south.  We decided the low mileage per day option but set ourselves a deadline to get into Strathalbyn/Adelaide by the 3rd February 2018.

From an overnighter at Maclean we headed further south to Kempsey Showgrounds, another night of rest and a reprieve from the pre-Christmas drinking.  My liver said thank you.

We continued our hop, skip and jump to Tuncurry Sporties Club.  $5 per head per night, right next to the beach and a lovely council off-leash area for Rusti the dog.  However, our couple of cheap nights at Tuncurry blew out in the Sportsman Club.  $150 later we are ready to depart and head slightly further south to Graham and Jennine's at Salt Ash.

As you can see, we haven't really settled in to our nomadic lifestyle of exploring and adventure.  It seems we have a timeline and a deadline.  We are hoping to catch up to Petals in Moss Vale, Gwen in Woollongong and Jo's brother somewhere in Sydney.  So until we get away from the big smoke, we can't relax until we get to the Murray River, hopefully around Christmas Day.


Week 439 - Moss Vale

2017-12-16 to 2017-12-22

On arrival at Salt Ash, we found the place deserted, so we parked the bus up, plugged into power and water and waited for the hosts to arrive.  No sooner had they arrived back and Graham had half a dozen large crabs in the cook pot.  We had a pleasant happy hour with a couple of visitors, Col and Mary from the Highway Wanderers.

Our deadline to get to the Murray before Christmas was deminishing.  So Monday saw another departure and another couple of hundred k's to Richmond RSL's Wanderest.  However, because of the heatwave conditions, at 44 degrees, we were grateful to have power, water and a shady tree.  The RSL was just 100 yards from our door and their bar and air-conditioning was also welcoming, washed down with a pint or two of Little Creatures of all things.

Our need to press on, saw another departure towards Moss Vale.  In total contrast there was a cool breeze and no need for us to change the temperature of the air.  Moss Vale became our base camp so that we could visit Ron and Gwen in Flinders and a rendezvous with Jo's brother and family to make it a day out for Aiden and Rusti (who are both the same age) at Flagstaff Hill, Wolloongong.

We would like to wish all of our readers a Merry and a Happy Christmas and hope that Santa brings all that is wished.  We are not sure where we will be Christmas Day but it looks like we might be travelling on the road to Jugiong to spend some time beside the Murrumbidgee River.


Week 440 - Jugiong

2017-12-23 to 2017-12-29

Seven days ago, we were camped at Moss Vale, a yuppy little town next to Bowral.  On the Saturday night, we strolled down town to the local distillary, known as the Taphouse, owned by the Highland Brewery.  The joint had only been open six weeks and was doing a roaring trade with beer tastings.  All the beers I tasted were excellent and I finished off the night with an English style beer known as Red Ale.  You could not have asked for better.

The local constabulary had set up a RBT just outside Moss Vale Showgrounds, although I had only had a couple the night before, the RID was on the left, we departed right, our destination Gunning, a quiet spot beside the river for Christmas.  We were the only ones there.

We had a knock on our door Christmas morning.  A fellow Highway Wanderer invited us to his daughter's house for Christmas dinner, how could we refuse.  We sat around a lovely decorated table with all the trimmings of the Christmas fare.  A very enjoyable family afternoon.

Our next stop, only 46 kms down the road was Yass.  A town we have visited several times and each time it has shown a different character.  The last time it being flooded.  We had finally escaped the hustle and bustle of the East Coast of Australia and could now make our way steadily South West to Adelaide.

We are now camped at Jugiong.  Another place revisited and we intend to celebrate New Years Eve at The Sir George, Jugiong.

So we lift our glasses to you all and hope you have a Happy New Year and an enjoyable 2018.


Week 441 - Kyffen Reserve

2017-12-30 to 2018-01-05

Last week we were camped at Jugiong awaiting the New Year.  But arrival of the new year turned out to be a bit of a fizzer.  The scheduled fireworks didn't arrive, so 2018 snuck in through the back door.

New Year's Day we packed up and headed South West to Holbrook to visit John, Pam, Dave and Henry.  It was exactly one year ago that we house sat here in remote Holbrook and unfortunately the township and the RSC have not progressed, in fact the RSC have taken a step backwards in the food department.  However, I was compensated by a few pints of Furphy's, a Victorian brewed beer with lots of body and lots of taste.

Our journey continued to Howlong, to a fantastic dump point.  Now what can be good about a dump point?  This one had plenty of room for us to maneouvre and our black hose could reach without a problem.  After emptying the black, we could flush out our black and grey tanks with fresh water - a chore we haven't been able to do for some time.

So with all tanks empty and sparkling clean, we continued west to Kyffen Reserve, 32 kms west of Corowa, to Lake Mulwala.

Lake Mulwala is a man made lake off the Murray River and obviously flooded a forest of gums, so at sunset it is quite spectacular.

We are now well and truely away from the cities and suburbia and the tranquility of the lake is a great reminder of the beauty of this country.


Week 442 - Echuca

2018-01-06 to 2018-01-12

We have had a busy and varied week, departing Lake Mulwala on Sunday and heading west to Tocumwal. On arrival the hoards of Christmas and New Year revellers were departing in droves and surprisingly left the Town Beach for us to enjoy.  The daytime temperatures were up in the mid 30's, so a dip in the Murray was most welcoming every afternoon.  The wildlife was abundant with the roos in the morning and the birdlife in the afternoon.  Next door was an inexpensive restaurant where we could get an egg and bacon breakfast for $10 - luxury!! and as a bonus, there was a very pleasant walk through the forest and at the end of the track was the Tocumwal Hotel.  Ordinary beers, but a welcome cold one after a warm day.

Next stop Echuca, a little bit disappointing as the busy tourist strip was basically empty and not a tug boat to be seen.  However, we could hear the steam engines in the distance as we sucked on a pint of Keepers from the Cricketers Arms Group - a very tasty drop.  At Echuca we camped down by the Campaspe River, a little bit dusty and a little bit dry, yet very peaceful.

Our company for the Echuca leg was Allan and Di from Hervey Bay whom we met about six years ago at Port Augusta.  It's nice to catch up with fellow travellers once in a while.

So our journey South West to Adelaide is progresssing to a tight schedule.


Week 443 - Waikerie

2018-01-12 to 2018-01-18

We left Echuca on the Friday and headed towards a heat wave in South Australia.  We ended up camping at Cohuna, just 64 km down the road.  A lovely friendly township that offered the traveller a pretty place to stop.  The birdlife was in abundance and our poor toad was covered in bird droppings the next morning.

We parted ways with our travelling companions, Allan and Di and headed north west towards Robinvale and Euston CMCA RV Park.  Apart from the custodian, there was only us and another Highway Wanderer, by the name of Pet-els.  So to fend off the heat, we headed off to the Euston Club for a few cold beers in the air conditioning.

The next day the temperature started to climb towards the heat wave and I took advantage of the RV Park to wash the shit off both the bus and the car.  It took me most of the day but at 4 o'clock, I took Jo by the hand and headed for the Euston Club to buy Jo a birthday drink.

The next day we clocked up a staggering 310 kms on our way to Boner and Love Muscle's abode at Waikerie. Boner and Love Muscle have been friends for some 20 years so we had cause to celebrate, catch up on old times and have a few more beers than we should have.

The heat wave has settled in now, the days are 40+ degrees and fortunately Simon and Oleen have a 5 man spa, airconditioning and a fully stocked beer fridge.


Week 444 - Eden Valley

2018-01-20 to 2018-01-26

South Australia has been hit by heat wave conditions.  We have survived the first wave of heat and the weather forecasters are predicting another wave this weekend before a welcome cool change.  Our walks with the dogs along the Murray were early mornings and late evenings and a swim in the Murray was a luxury to behold.

We had planned to have a couple of nights at Blanchetown, but the campsites along the river were feral and seemed unsafe.  Also the local caravan park looked more like a refuge camp than a holiday camp.  So we decided to drive through to Angaston and parked up at the back of the pub, which we have done before.  The beer of the day was Coopers Pale Ale at $7 a pint.

Moving on, we passed the road sign warning us that we were entering the Barossa Valley.  As you can imagine, the scenery is magnificent but drier than we have witnessed before.  I don't know where the farmers get their water from but they were irrigating continuously to preserve the rows and rows of grapevines.

As you drive through the area, you can smell the investments of the profiteers and the townships are rich with new infrastructure.  The towns are well kept, the gardens are manicured and any litter is cleaned up immediately, which makes the country drives and the scenery very pretty.

So we are camped up at Eden Valley Recreation Grounds, awaiting the next wave of weather.


Week 445 - Strathalbyn

2018-01-27 to 2018-02-02

For the last 7 days we have endured all kinds of weather from searing heat at 44 degrees (30 at night) to icy cold winds and to a temperature drop that Jo calls, a two man night, 11 degrees.  We have had rain, gales and wind and for three days we were confined to our motorhome either with the airconditioning on or the heater on.  Not the best weather for travellers.

From Eden Valley we scarpered to Murray Bridge to plug in to essential power and from there we headed south to the township of Strathalbyn.  At the moment we are camped at George and Dot's - fellow motorhomers and we intend to be here for a couple of weeks.  We are here to attend The Stranglers concert in Adelaide and re-explore the township of Strathalbyn, with lovely historical buildings and exquisite pubs.

During a reprieve with the weather at Murray Bridge, we found a fantastic wetlands, full of birds of all shapes and sizes.  We meandered through the rushes and sneaked a few photographs of the birds in action.  A lovely spot that we must revisit some day.

In the month of January we have travelled from Jugiong, New South Wales to Strathalbyn, South Australia and we have met up with John and Pam at Holbrook; Allan and Di from Hervey Bay at Malwala; Peter (Pet-els) at Euston; Boner and Love Muscle at Waikerie; Ken and Sylvia at Tununda and Wes and Sandra called in at Murray Bridge.  It is nice to catch up with fellow travellers and people we have met over the 10 years of our travels.


Week 446 - Strathalbyn

2018-02-03 to 2018-02-09

This week has all been about old friends George and Dot in Strathalbyn.  We first met Dotty through the internet on the CMCA Forum, way back in 2009 and have managed to catch up more than a few times.  George gutted a Fuso bus and transformed it into a spacious motorhome, demonstrating all the skills of a craftsman.

Strathalbyn is a picturesque self contained town.  All that you need is here nestled amongst the scenic vistas of the river and township.

By coincidence we heard Double Bum was in our area, so we arranged a get together and an evening meal at The Victoria Hotel.  A big rambling old pub.  We hadn't seen Double Bum for 12 years, but the conversation continued as though it was yesterday.  A lot of reminiscing and story telling.  A classic night of old hash friendship.

And by another coincidence, an old flying buddy of ours, Inge, also lives reasonably local on the beachfront of Adlinga Beach.  Adlinga Beach was very picturesque but I did not have my camera, so we intend to revisit and I promise I will get some great photography from that area.

Our camp spot is a large paddock next to Dot and George's house and of an evening the Little Corellas flock to the surrounding trees in their hundreds.  Pests may be, but quite spectacular, yet difficult to photograph.

So tomorrow, we attend The Stranglers in concert, the main reason for our visit to Adelaide at this time of year.  All the reviews so far have been good and we are looking forward to this long awaited event.


Week 447 - Strathalbyn

2018-02-10 to 2018-02-16

Our journey to Adelaide is now complete.  We witnessed The Stranglers at Thebarton Theatre, which once was the old Town Hall.  The building itself was in a state of decay, a shocking venue but the fans didn't seem to mind.  We were only there for the sounds of The Stranglers and they didn't disappoint, such classics as Peaches was pumped out at ear pearcing volume.

I first got involved with The Stranglers back in 1975.  They did a gig at the pub in Fulham standing in for a band didn't turn up.  Sheer coincidence!!  I have seen them live many times including three concerts in sunny Australia.  It is surprising how many hits they had, charting 40 plus singles and as many albums over a period of 43 years.

The pub culture in Adelaide seems to be struggling a bit, however, you can stumble across a few good beers here and there.  Old Speckled Hen never disappoints nor does White Rabbit Dark Ale.

We have done a few excursions around the area, exploring Adelaide and Hahndorf.

On the Chinese New Year, Jo did a tour of the markets at Chinatown; tasting cider, cake and cheese.

So this week, has really been all about the Stranglers and sadly it may be the last time we see the band perform together.

We have been parked at Dot and George's now for 16 days and I have taken on some unwanted maintenance tasks that I had been putting off.  Thankfully, they are now all done with the help of George and his trusty men's shed.  We are now planning to depart Strathalbyn in the next few days.


Week 448 - Underbool

2018-02-17 to 2018-02-23

We departed Dotty's in the green and scenic Strathalbyn and headed East to the Mallee Highway, just a stepping stone to our Custodianship in Euston.  Within minutes we are on outback roads, departing South Australia across the Mallee.  Every 30 or so kilometres there is an abandoned township.  This area must have been thriving at the turn of the 20th century.

Tonight we are camped at Underbool.  The town is deserted, not a soul in sight and as you walk along the main street with Rusti at heel, all that remains are plaques depicting that a building stood there at some stage.  The pub is closed, the police station unattended and only one coffee shop in business.

At another township back down the road, it was the same story.  Geranium had also been abandoned, just a skeleton population of the townsfolk where we had the privilege of joining in a game of bowls with the remaining locals and what a friendly bunch they were.

As we crossed the border from South Australia to Victoria, the road improved slightly and the outback scenery became drier.  Eventually as dusk fell we were entertained by a huge dust storm, followed by a brief shower concluded by a magnificent sunset.

We only have 170 km to our destination at Euston but we have three days to get there.  Our next stop is Manangatang.


Week 449 - Euston

2018-02-24 to 2018-03-02

Our last stop on the way to Euston was Manangatang.  Another two horse town with just a pub and a cafe that had both been recently purchased.  The owner of the cafe didn't have a clue how to make a coffee and the young female publican was full of enthusiasm and had grand ideas about her business, but to a travelled piss pot like me, I think they are visions of grandeur.  But I admire her stamina and work ethics and it will be interesting to come back through Manangatang in the future.  By the way, the girl in the coffee shop had left the dregs in the bottom of the cup - yuck - she won't be here next time.

With our campsites running out, we decided to push onto Euston a day or two early. We arrived at the CMCA RV Park, Euston.  The place was once again deserted.  The previous managers/custodians handed over the paperwork and gave us a quick run down on how the site is meant to be run (they couldn't get off the site quick enough).

So we made ourselves comfortable with power and water.  There was no shade, but at least we could run our air conditioner if needed.

The CMCA RV Park is leased off the Euston Club.  The Club maintains the grounds and we the custodians, look after the visitors.  However, the place is empty at the moment and there is nothing pre-booked for two weeks, so basically we are in the middle of a lovely green paddock with no neighbours and not much to do.  A chance for us to catch up on all the small jobs in the motorhome, however, it has been a bit hot outside and the progress on our jobs has been a bit slow.

The Euston Club is just a two minute walk from our motorhome, so we hastily joined up and became members at a princely sum of $2.20 each.  The membership package includes bonuses when it is your birthday month and as my birthday is on the 20th (everyone), I received a $5 gift voucher, $12 bottle of port and a voucher for 20% off dining.  The Club is large, spectacular, clean and tidy and staffed by the friendly locals.

We are debating whether to continue posting our blog on a weekly basis and will probably go monthly from here on. Our blogging platform is not doing as good a job as our previous one, TravelPod.  We haven't received as many comments, also the Get Jealous blog site is difficult to navigate and the whole site seems disjointed.  In the meantime Jo will search for another platform to air our blog.  Also, one of the problems with sharing it with Facebook, any comments made go to Facebook and are not kept on the blog site so eventually are lost in cyberspace.

Until next time, this is Euston signing off.


Week 455 - Robinvale

2018-04-01 to 2018-04-11

We have had a break from blogging and are now reinstating our blog which will appear monthly from now on.

We were Park Custodians at Euston, New South Wales for exactly 5 weeks.  We had a steady flow of campers in this quiet neck of the woods right on the Murray and next to the Euston Club.

We introduced communal happy hours to some of the un-initiated and by the time we left on the 10th Aprill, it was buzzing.  During our stay we took a week off to tour the Silo Trail.  Sleepy towns have come alive with the traffic of sightseers admiring the artwork on what were dull and boring silos.  It takes a while to comprehend the amount of work the artists have put into their drawings and paintings and when you think of the scale and height of these buildings, it truely is a magnificent effort.

Whilst on the Silo Trail we camped at Woomelang, population 200 and a very friendly township.  They supplied a free caravan park, asking for a small donation to the Lions' Club.  We had shade, power, water, showers and toilets.  So to repay them, we also visited their local cafe and pub.

We revisited Lake Tyrrell but alas there was no water in this pink lake but the solitude and serenity was disturbed in the middle of the night by Nikkon clicking Japanese tourists taking photographs of the stars.  They were at it all night and kept us awake.  However, this intrusion did not spoil our visit.

Euston had become our base, so we returned for a couple more happy hours in preparation of our departure to Western Australia.  Jo has a hospital appointment today to cut out an aggressive skin cancer from her leg, so we are nicely tucked up on the Murray at a Caravan Park that supplies enough electricity to run our air conditioners (38 deg today).

In the mornings we are welcomed by a pleasant sunrise, during the day we are entertained by the speed boats and skiers and the end of the day is heralded by yet another spectacular sunset.

We have thoroughly enjoyed our stay in this part of the world and have made friends with the locals and travellers alike.  Rusti has had the freedom of being off lead and is still learning to be obedient.

So because our blogs are now monthly, there will be more photographs than usual and we hope you can continue enjoying our adventure and exploits from your office chairs and arm chairs.


Week 458 - St Kilda

2018-04-12 to 2018-05-01

With Robinvale/Euston done and dusted, we headed west towards the Ramon Deeds Veteran's Retreat near Mildura.  A bush camp for current and ex servicemen and women and their families.  (Jo is ex-Navy).  The Retreat had power, water and a mess room.  The fellow travellers and campers were very friendly.  We will now add these Veteran Retreats which are all over Australia, to our list of campsites.

Next stop Plush's Bend on the River Murray, near Renmark, South Australia.  A haven for the bird life.  Typical Murray views and very relaxing.  Rusti loved swimming in the Murray and on one occasion she had to be rescued as she had swum too far out chasing a ball in the easterly current.  Sunny days and exploring were the menu for the days and on one occasion we came across the Woolshed Brewery north of Renmark.  A pub with a selection of great beers and a balcony with views across the Murray.  A fantastic Autumn day with summerlike weather and as you can see Rusti enjoyed the pint.

Our journey continued to Greenoch with a catch up visit with Ken and Sylvia from Tanunda. 

We pressed onto St Kilda where we ran into some fellow Highway Wanderers camped in the southern end of the car park overlooking the Gulf St Vincent.  Lovely people, great happy hours and camaraderie. 

On the Friday night we were hit by a storm that lasted just 10 minutes, just enough time to destroy our awning and throw it over the top of the roof.  A fellow traveller, Rod, who was helping me, was also catapulted into the air, landing on his head, suffering concussion.  He ended up in hospital with half a dozen staples and a severe loss of memory.  To be honest, I was more worried about my helper than my awning.

Ken Tame and Associates have covered the damage to the awning and we have now been waiting 8 days for a replacement awning.  Thankfully the weather is glorious and our car park position gives us 180 degree views of the ocean.

We have done the normal sightseeing tours of Port Adelaide, Semaphore and Parafield Fighter Museum.

This month we have caught up with many Highway Wanderers - Maxine and Rob; John and Deb; Rod and Lesley; John and Kay also a couple of great hashers from way back, Boner and Love Muscle.

Monthly blogging doesn't seem to have the same charisma as our weekly rants, therefore, we will see give you another burst next week.

On on Horror and Wanger