Monday, November 18, 2013

Leaving the mainland!

Currently in Ballarat; we're boarding the boat for Tasmania tomorrow afternoon for an overnight sail to Devonport.  We had a great time in Wodonga, our first stop after leaving Canberra.  The weather was kind to us with sunshine and no wind.  It's a really beautiful part of the country with lots of pretty country towns to explore.  We also bumped into Stanley who we met at Mt Bundy Station - he was in the same caravan park as us and his sister and her husband, who were also at Mt Bundy live on the area so we all spent an afternoon together - it was great to catch up with them! The What's up Down Under TV crew were in the park filming so we got to see Tania Kernighan perform live as well as some others.
From Wodonga to Moama for a couple of days exploring Echuca - both pretty towns with lots of history.  Spent some time along the banks of the might Murray River checking out the old paddle steamers and the bakeries and coffee shops.
The weather in Ballarat has not been kind - cold, wet and windy for most of our stay.  Very pretty countryside and village in the area - Daylesford was a great day out.  We also visited the Museum of Australian Democracy to learn more about the Eureka uprising, Lake Wendouree the home of the 1956 Olympic rowing course and just exploring Ballarat itself.
Next post will be from overseas!!!!

Few photos from the last week or so:

A few shots from the Great Aussie Beer Shed in Echuca


 The old Furphy water carts often had what appeared to be Arabic writing across the middle - this was actually Pitman's Shorthand . . .



 The mighty Murray River at Echuca

 Memorial to Peter Lalor leader of the Eureka Rebellion

 The Eureka Stockade

 Awesome photo!

Tania Kernigan



Tuesday, November 05, 2013

VIC high country

We're currently based in Wodonga, VIC and over the last few days have traveled the district from Rutherglen, to Beechworth to Mt Beauty.  We're off to Euchuca shorly then a few days in Bendigo and Ballarat before boarding the boat for our overseas trip . . . ;)





Sunday, October 27, 2013

We're off again . . . .



Well, it’s almost time for us to get back on the road.  We have caught up with lots of our friends – thanks to you all for making the time to see us, it’s been great.  We’ll both need to go on a diet – too many lunches and dinners whilst we’ve been here.  It’s been a bit strange being back “home” and living in a caravan park!  The best part of that has been the walk to Farmer’s Market on Saturday mornings for fresh fruit and veg (we won’t talk about the coffee and fresh pastries). It sort of seems like I should be getting up and going to work – NOT!!! 
The next part of our adventure will be through the Victorian countryside to Melbourne to board the Spirit of Tasmania on 19 November.  We’ll be spending the summer there or longer.  We plan to look for a place to buy whilst we’re there and if we’re lucky enough to find our “dream property” we’ll take 12 months or so to settle and continue our travels for 4 -6 months of the year after that (maybe).  Those of you who have known us for a while would remember that Tasmania was our destination of choice when we moved from Sydney to Canberra lots of years ago.  We couldn’t find work back then so came to Canberra.  Now that work isn’t an issue we’ll have another look for a new lifestyle – chooks, vegies, fruit trees and goats?  We’ll keep blogging and let you all know how the search goes.
Don’t forget that Tasmania is a great place for a holiday so, if things work out and it becomes our new home, we’ll expect to see you sometime!

Monday, October 07, 2013

We're back . . .

If you didn't already know, we slipped in the back door  . . 
yes, we're back at the EPIC Campground for a short time . . 
then on our way to Tasmania for the summer . .

Give us a call if you like or pop around to Site No. 16.

Some creative images of the Yeppoon area





Friday, September 20, 2013

Yeppoon 2

 Just to show you how busy I've been . . . me and 3 didgeridoos I've just finished.
  . . . old mates . . .
. . . and friends . . .

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Yeppoon

We're here at Yeppoon . . .

. . . .  with a friend . .
. . . . just a stones throw from the water . . .
 
. . life's goooood . .
:)

Saturday, September 07, 2013

Rockhampton, QLD



Well, where to start?  After initially planning to stay at Mt Bundy Station for one week, we finally packed up and left on 23 August after seven weeks!  What can I say? We liked it there!!  We only left because it got very hot and humid very quickly so it was time for us to head south.  We traveled to Rockhampton via a return visit to Daly Waters Pub which was great again even though the number one act, Chili, wasn’t there.  We had an overnight stop at Barkly Homestead and then on to Mount Isa for a couple of days (we posted photos earlier).  From Mount Isa on to Longreach via an overnight stop in Julia Creek.  Longreach was fabulous particularly the QANTAS Founders Museum and the Stockman’s Hall of Fame (again we posted photos earlier).  The landscape from that part of the journey was extremely dry and dusty – not one flowing creek or river and the few cattle that we saw were very scrawny.

Stopped at Barcaldine on our way to an overnight stop in Emerald.  Barcaldine is the home of the Tree of Knowledge and the birthplace of the ALP – lots of interesting history in this part of the world.  Emerald is not too far from Rubyvale and Sapphire – any idea what they mine out there??  I resisted the temptation to shop, shop, shop or should I just say that Michael refused to stop, stop, stop!!!  The landscape changed after leaving Longreach – more water around and a bit more vegetation, we crossed the Great Dividing Range and saw our first clouds in I don’t know how long.

We arrived in Rockhampton on Wednesday 4/9 and have had a good look around – it’s a really nice town  We’re off to a Rodeo tonight at the Great Western Hotel – the arena is entirely under cover, should be fun!!  We’re here til Sunday then we move to the coast at Yeppoon where we are booked into a caravan park right on the beach and we have a beach front site.  We’ll be sure to post some photos of our view whilst we’re enjoying temperatures in the mid 20’s and sun and surf and a glass or two of wine!!

Couple of photos below of the rodeo we went to at the Great Western Hotel (used to be owned by Lee Kernighan we’re told).  Too dark to take and real action shots unfortunately.



The other photos (being a bit presumptuous here), could be recorded as the day the Labor Party lost the election . . . . ., well maybe . . . .  we’ll see tomorrow morning . . . .







Monday, September 02, 2013

The boys from the bush are . . .

We're in Longreach - home of QANTAS and Stockman's Hall of Fame . . . .
Heading for Rocky tomorrow.






Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Out of the Territory

Well, we're out of the Territory till next year and into Joe Country ;)
Couple a photos below - guess where we are . . .
 
 






Thursday, August 22, 2013

Leaving the NT

At last we've had enough of the 35+ degrees and 75+% humidity -  looks like the build-up to the wet is early this year and locals are predicting a very wet wet.
We're heading out tomorrow morning and heading south to Daly Waters (can't leave the Territory without having another 'beef and barra' diner).  From there; Barkley Homestead, then Mt Isa where we will rest and replenish the food locker over a few days.
We're then heading to Longreach for the RM Williams Muster and eventually hit the coast around Rocky for some sun and surf!
Stay tuned - see you soon.

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Mt Bundy . . .

Still here, haven't decided to leave just yet.

 Pub at the arse end of the world (Adelaide River Show Society)
 Michael whittling away at yet another didgeridoo.  He's now made 5 and sold 4. 
Currently making some clapping sticks.
 Michael feeding the horses at the end of another long day!
 The boss and her horse
. . . . at play


Just love this country . . . .

Thursday, August 01, 2013

Mt Bundy . . . . still!

We're still here having a ball!  Couple of pictures below for your entertainment.
Also, we've decided to move on before the build-up to the wet.  We leave around 16th and head east along the Savannah Way towards Cairns.  We're planning on taking the dirt through Borroloola, Burketown and Normanton; so stay tuned. 

 I sold the 2 didges I made at the Adelaide River Craft Fair
 Some Mt Bundy Coooows
 Mt Bundy
 Guess who


 Sunset over Mt Bundy
Pano of Mt Bundy
Another Mt Bundy sunset