Wednesday, 11 December 2013

Hobo Life



Day 39 - Coldstream



Monday, 2 December 2013

Catching up with Dita :) and then off to get the DMax serviced.



Radio Ham
[Map]

Engine him no speak broom broom!
[Map]

Day 40 - Vista



Tuesday, 3 December 2013

Went to see the Vista RV people today.

Well, we have bitten the bullet. After spending nearly 3 hours with Lou, who showed us around, workshop as well, answered all our questions, we went into the office to sign on the dotted line. In the corner of the office was a playpen with a large pouch tied up at one end, yep inside a Joey inside. Unfortunately the Vista doesn't come with one.

Only frustrating thing, there is a waiting list until May. Never mind give us time to organise ourselves to sell our Travelander. That will be a sad day, it has served us well, but no longer meets our needs for living nearly full time on the road.

Exciting times.



The new home (next year)
[Map]

Day 42 - Mona and Emile



Thursday, 5 December 2013

This is certainly a catch up with old friends. HH drove us to the far side of Melbourne to see Mona and Emile. Mona and I went to school together, it has been 40 years!!

Haven't got the words to describe this day. How do you catch up on 40 years? Mona also had friends/family coming around for a BBQ. They had come from UK for a wedding. It was lovely to meet the extended family.

We had lots in common with Emile having grown up in Lebanon. They are keen vegetable and herb growers. Learnt what goes into making a good Zaatar.

Mona must have worked all week to prepare the wonderful Lebanese feast and there is nothing as good as a kofta, tabouli, moutable and labneh leftovers for breakfast.



Preparing the Feast
[Map]

Labour of Love
[Map]

Photo 1
[Map]

Friends still after 40 years
[Map]

Day 46 - Back on the road



Monday, 9 December 2013

Sad to say goodbye to Dita and Sid, but I am so excited to finally be on the way to see Ben and Kerry. Has been 13 months.

Not particularly nice weather, cold, overcast and drizzly here and there. Always forget how scenic the high country is in Victoria. However, had a hard time holding on to my stomach as HH DROVE all the up and down twisty turns. A bit green at times.

Felt a bit better when we reach Maffra, out of the hills, and on the Gippsland coast. Improved even more when we found the bakery we had chosen for lunch was an award winner :). Also a couple of good op shops that I felt duty bound to support. Figured I would be roughing it more than usual in a beach fishing environment,so an extra jumper ($1.50) and long sleeved shirt ($2.00) would be handy.

Stopped at the pub in Bemm River, just for ice for Ben's esky' and 10 minutes up the track we found our Christmas camp site.



Breakfast with the Kids
[Map]

Lookout over Pearl Point
[Map]

Mr Blue Wren
[Map]

Day 47 - Pearl Point



Tuesday, 10 December 2013

Ben had helped us demount the camper. It might be fun trying to get lined up underneath when it is time to leave, but will worry about that next year.

Not easy to find a campsite over the Christmas school holiday period! and a free one at that so Ben did well. They have friends joining us next week, so we will be squeezed into the clearing, but I think it will be fun.

Weather a bit ordinary, icey cold wind, but we had lots to catch up on, and with cold beer, none of us were too concerned.

Ben went down to the beach after dinner to fish, us girls went off to snuggle up under our donnas and blankets and HH decided to keep Ben company.

Oh yes, forgot HH managed to hotspot my iPad so we could watch the second to last episode of Blacklist. HH had watched it with Sid whilst Dita and I were busy chatting in the kitchen. Found out Kerry had been following it whilst they were still living in Melbourne. Unfortunately we could only got about three quarters of it. Never mind I thought HH could fill us in.



Pearl Point
[Map]

Bemm River
[Map]

The Birds .....
[Map]

...... And the Bees
[Map]

Mrs Blue Wren
[Map]

Day 48 - PP 1



Wednesday, 11 December 2013

Ben had done well last night and came back with a reasonably sized gummy shark. He was soon set up and had it nicely filleted.

Team effort later saw half of it bread crumbed and cooked up for lunch.

Sun came out and we walked down to the beach to explore. The boys cast out their lures a few times but no luck.

Nice to have someone to share camp meals with. HH manged to get the rest of Blacklist playground for us girls. Glad we did, as his version of what happened in the last 10 minutes wasn't how I would have interpreted it.

Looking forward to the last (for the year) episode in a few days. Kerry thinks it will be a real cliff hanger and is not wanting the suspense of waiting until next year :)



Gummy
[Map]

Pearl Point
[Map]

Day 49 - PP2



Thursday, 12 December 2013

Sunshine. :)

Off for a drive into Bemm river. Check out rivers, spot of fishing, catching up with this blog WCT.



Photo 2
[Map]

Photo 3
[Map]



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Hobo Life



Day 34 - Custom House, Border track



Wednesday, 27 November 2013

HH is on a mission, the Border Track, SA and Victoria. Sounds a bit boring to me. But have to admit it was very scenic, lots of bushes still in flower.

A few places we crossed into Victoria and I thought, yay! moving on, but no we would cross back into SA. Very hot, so in a way a relief for it to be a big driving day.

Into Ngarkat (silent G) conservation park. The border track was closed in areas as it is a one way track (north to south) and high fire risk, however, there were other tracks to take. First camp area was well set up, toilets, water but the flies thought it was the place to be, so we pushed on hoping we to outsmart them. Comet bore was bearable, maybe because it was later in the afternoon:)



Hanging over the Border
[Map]

Lunch in Victoria
[Map]

Trying to hide
[Map]

Murray River Ferry
[Map]

Murray River
[Map]

Day 35 - Comet Bore too Black Cockatoo Bush Camp



Thursday, 28 November 2013

More of the Border Track. Quite an interesting old railway station at Serviceton. Into Little Desert NP. Is this Victoria? Lost track of which state we are in, border gets a bit fuzzy at times,

Little Desert is very pretty and I am giving myself neckache, like Wimbledon, head swinging from side to side! checking out the flowering bushes on either side.

Just out of the NP and the track seems to go between 2 fields. Quite a bit of dried muddy tracks, no no from me, what is your problem? From HH. Huh, rounded a corner, deep ruts, but looks dry, HH moves on slowly, until I insist we stop. We did, but too late, the edge of the rut under the back wheel cracks off and we bottom out.

I didn't say a word, honest. I decided to go for a walk whilst the person who had got us into this started digging. Not too easy as the top was very hard, but cracked (guess that is why it broke off). Unfortunately it started raining as soon as we got out of the vehicle.

Several walks up and down the track and HH is not getting far. In front there were no trees to winch and we didn't want to go forward anyway, the tracks deteriorated. We could have done with a high lift jack, or an exhaust jack, but our only option was to find something else to get under the chassis. We had broken through to mud under the wheel but not enough to clear enough space for the Max Tracks but the chassis needed lifting off the ground first. Send off to find 'stuff' to do this. Dragging branches and wood back down the track was treacherous as it was now a gloopy slippery mess. After 3 hours, we were wet and dirty and a farmer drove up. Jason was a delightful young man, had seen it regularly on this track, in fact he said it was waist deep up ahead. He sent for the trakter.

John Deere arrived with a huge snatch strap and had us on terra ferma in no time. Have fallen in love with John Deere:). I want one. A nice mug if soup and we were heading off for a camp. Guess what, it stopped raining as soon as we were out of the gloop.

The Black Cockatoo Bush Camp had a camp kitchen tin shed, with fire, flushing toilets and hot showers!!!! Heaven. We cleaned up and thawed out. Liz and Ken are the farmers (ex) and have retired, converting their land to this lovely camp, what a great idea.



Serviceton Railway Station
[Map]

Buggar!
[Map]

Wet and Muddy HH
[Map]

Gloop
[Map]

John Deere, Nado and HH
[Map]

Day 36 - Black Cockatoo to Grampians



Friday, 29 November 2013

Clean and dry off to the Grampians via Narracoote and the Coonawarra wine region. Had no idea so many wines from here. Only recognise half a dozen or so.

Lunch at the bakery in Penola before, finally, into Victoria. This area is so lush, green, rolling hills, farm land with lots of trees. Nothing like this in WA. Must rain a lot.

Approached the Grampians from the south west and drove through the valleys that had been devastated by bush fire in 2006. Lots of new growth but the canopy of trees still missing. Reminiscent of Queensland.

First campsite we planned to stay was closed, so we drove closer to Halls Gap, fingers crossed we will find something open.

We did, picturesque and soon very cold. Hot water bottle night:)



Baaaaas
[Map]

Black Cockatoo Bush Camp
[Map]

Re growth after 2006 fire
[Map]

Flowers for Melody
[Map]

Poser
[Map]

Day 37 - Grampians to Ararat



Saturday, 30 November 2013

A wonderful day of exploring these amazing mountains. The information/cultural centre is such an incredible building, inside and out. Could have spent the whole day there.

Plenty to see and do for a few days here, but again not enough time.

Camped the east side of Ararat in Langi Ghiran NP. Invited over to share another couple's fire, they are from Frankston and we were able to gain some knowledge of possible campsites for Christmas.



Information centre at Halls Gap
[Map]

Look out
[Map]

Fringed Lillie's
[Map]

Blackboy flowers
[Map]

Waterfall
[Map]

Day 38 - Ararat to Coldstream



Sunday, 1 December 2013

Heading to Coldstream to stay with a friend of mine from when we used to live here. Our boys were good friends, Ben and Jason were in the same class.

We stopped in Daylesford for lunch. An area well known for its hot spas. For a Sunday it was humming with people. Obviously a popular spot, I can see why, it is lovely.

Stayed too long now will be a bit late getting to Dita and Sid's.

They haven't changed, gracious and hospitable as ever. Got lots to catch up on, about 16 years to catch up on.



Grampians
[Map]

Grampians
[Map]

Cairns
[Map]

The Balconies
[Map]



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Saturday, 7 December 2013

Hobo Life



Day 31 - Lake Torrens Mambray Creek



Sunday, 24 November 2013

You know you have made friends when they offer to share their bush toilet!

When we got to Andamooka I was stunned. I had through it was a station. This place tops Coober Pedy for opals. Approaching you could see all the piles of Opel tailings. Then up over a rise and there was the strangest "town" , like something out of a Hollywood Scifi. Little tin shacks of all shapes and sizes. This place obviously draws all types of folk. Some very creative in a Freo way. Lots of bull dozer type vehicles in various stages of use ability.

After airing up Inara suggested we at least have a look at the stone walls at the pub (a little too early for anything more than coffee). It was really unusual, great slabs of old river rippled rock, mosaic ed together.

Next door the opal museum caught my attention and an hour later we were still in there. The lady running it had lived there for 50 years (think she was born there) and I reckon if she didn't know something about opals it wasn't worth knowing. Absolutely fascinating, so many different examples in their basic form, wish I could remember more.

On to Roxby Downs. Yep, I had through this was a station as well, but a BHP mining town for the Olympic Dam Mine. After a quick pie at the bakery we were on our way to Woomera.

Should have stayed longer, but we had a long drive. HH took lots of photos of the rockets etc, a quick glance in the museum and we were gone. Another time. Later discovered that Len Beadell's ashes are at the cemetery there.

Through Port Augusta and half an hour later into Mambray Creek National Park.

It was our last night camping with Lange and Inara :( but we had a lovely dinner together after sharing a bottle of bubbles that they had brought.



Lange's rocking horse
[Map]

Andamooka
[Map]

Original homes of Andamooka
[Map]

Andamooka creativity
[Map]

River walled pub
[Map]

Woomera
[Map]

Island Lagoon
[Map]

Mambray Creek
[Map]

The Powell's new camper
[Map]

Day 32 - Redbank to Overlander Corner



Monday, 25 November 2013

Backtracked almost to Burra to get to the Goyder highway into Morgan. Morgan is the little town where the Murray starts it's southward journey to the ocean. A little historic wharf where there was a restoration project going on(just re floated an old paddle steamer). After having a chat with the couple running the little craft/history museum place we drove the car on to the ferry to cross the river (for the first time today). Drove into and around Cadell (in five minutes) then on to another ferry to cross over again. These little ferries are great, no charge, and just cross to and fro as traffic demands. Crossing only takes a few minutes.

On to Lock No 2. Very well done, lots of information, nice grass, good picnic spots. At least 20 pelicans floating around just downstream of the overflow eagerly awaiting their lunch :)

On to Waikerie which meant crossing ferry No. 3. This one a little busier and it had just left as we rolled up, but as soon the other cars had off loaded on the far side, the ferry was back for us. Not a very big place here, drove around lots of oranges and grapes. Some trees laden, others already picked. Found a huge op shop, another pair of shorts for HH. Munch on the riverbank.

On to Kingston-on-Murray with a diversion into Banrock Station. Learnt that their parent company also owns Houghton. On to Barmera and this time found a bridge to cross the river back to the north, this time to check out the Overlander Hotel. Famous because of Charles Sturt and others.

When we got there found out it is closed on Mondays!!!!! Now what. Found a camp just down by the river so we can re think our plans for tomorrow.

Have sat here for a couple of hours completely on our own, and as soon I get the gear off to go for a swim I hear a boat coming up river. Take cover and wait for it to pass. Second attempt and a vehicle rolls up, a farmer coming to check his pump, unbelievable!



Lock 2, Murray .river
[Map]

Camping by the Murray
[Map]

Old wharf! Murray river
[Map]

Ferry on Murray
[Map]

Day 33 - Overlander corner to Custom House



Tuesday, 26 November 2013

Quick drive around the area, just filling in time really, before Overland Pub opens at 11:00. The things we must do eh? Did find an op shop on our meanderings:)

It was worth the wait. Great history of the place and the relatively new publican, ex enviro scientist, had lots of opinions on the area, farming, politics, water etc. a hot day so the cider from the Woolshed brewery was welcome.

Which of course was the next port of call, but after restocking with some groceries in Renmark.

I know I had promised my HH that I had done all the woolshed's I was ever going to do, but I was prepared to make this one an exception.

Perfect setting high on a bank overlooking the Murray. Very authentic, looked and smelt like it had only recently shorn the sheep. We sampled the wares, especially loved the Judas Dark Ale, made with black wattle seeds which gave it a lovely hint of coffee, reminiscent of Matso's Smokey Bishop.

Camped up for the night at custom House on the banks of the river.



Overland Corner
[Map]

Bar in Overland Pub
[Map]

Historical info
[Map]

Woolshed
[Map]

Tasting the wares
[Map]



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