Had a great time spent Saturday with Trish and Craig and family did a photo treasure hunt. Michelle's friend Tasman came with us too. Stopped at Lanfranchis for lunch on way home Sunday. Good weekend away.

Clunes October13.

Today michelle and are off to Clunes, our first caravan trip since our big holiday. We are picking up her friend Tazmin fromNagambie on our way. 

Home.

We arrived home on Tuesday at 3.45pm. Great trip was now over and the tidy up was to start, loads of washing and unpacking. Thanks for a great tip Michelle, Les and Lyn. 

Brisbane to Moree

Left Brisbane around 9 am. Good trip no dramas was going to stop at Goondawindi but seeing it was only 2 pm  we drove onto Moree. Now michelle is enjoying the thermal pools before tea. Might have a swim myself after tea . They are open till 10 pm. 34deg. 

Last day in Brisbane

Today was the final day here in Brisbane, we did our washing and the last of shopping before we head off. Went out for tea at the Bluevfin fishing club catching the bus there and back. Packing up before tomorrow. 

Childers

Left Elliott heads and stopped at Childers for lunch with Ann Challacombe what an amazing lady! She looks young and beautiful. Mother of 9 and home schooling 5 of them .her eldest Vivienne is engaged at 19 ,still at home and seems to know what she wants in life. We enjoyed catching up.

We visited the backpacker hostel memorial also. Very touching to think 15 lost their lives needlessly.

Stopped at Gympie for the night early enough for Les to watch the v8 car racing on tv. Michelle thanking me for her onesie

CBD Brisbane

Tuesday Michelle and I went into Brisbane on the train the walked down to the river where we caught a rivercat trip down the river enjoying the sites. We then walked around before meeting my niece Stephanie Park for lunch at the Roma st. parklands. After lunch we went to the city mall before getting a train back to Sherwood Station. Tired on return but had good day. Took photos with camera not iPad so none to add.of Brisbane but here is one at the Bundeberg rum distillery.and George Les and Lyns bird.

Wednesday

Today after lunch we went to the DFO. Brought some new shoes  each . 

Washed car and went to the Fishing club for tea with Les, Lyn ,Marilyn and Steve. Lovely meal. Join as social member to get fishing info for Nick. And discount on meals etc. they had a huge fish tank with tropical fish in. 

After coming back. I went o les n lyns van, michelle stayed on Internet. 11,30 neighbours asked for quiet , off to Gold Coast tomorrow. 

Gold Coast

Thursday and Friday was spent on the Gold Coast. Visited long tern family friends Jeanette and Frank Wood. They were most welcoming and happy to hear of family news especially mum. 

Then we went to see Vicki Browning Nd family. Alex was in a school production, High School Musical. A very good show and well done to all young adults who performed. Alex just looked amazing on stage. We stayed the night and had a great day catching up, attended craft in the morning and after lunch headed back to Brisbane NE bit red but had a great few days. 

Brisbane

Arrived safely at Brisbane very nice park at Durack. Les guided me into the site ,more reversing practice. 

Shopping at Inala which was a mini China town interesting viewing their grocery stores etc. we used the local Woolies!, 

Michelle spending a lot of time chatting to her friends. We went to Indoorapilly shopping centre later in the day. She got her shoes she was wanting. Now happy. Time with les and Lyn after tea entertaining yet again! Love my girl she is really having a great time but missing her friends too. 

Wheel bearings.

When we pulled into 3 ways we is covered the noise was the inner bearing on the passenger side starting to fail. But we thought we will  get to Mt Isa. But120 km from the Qld border a huge amt of smoke was visible from the passenger side caravan wheel. The bearing had completely failed. Les and Michelle went into Camooweal hoping to get bearings which they were able to. 4 hrs later Les had us back on the road and in the dark we went to the free camp. Warn out and ready for a good night sleep. 

Today we drove to Mt Isa for lunch then onto cloncurry for the night. Not the nicest of caravan parks but ok. 

Elliott heads

Yesterday we arrived at Elliott heads after staying the previous night at Yeppoon. Travelled along the Capricorn Coast tourist road so michelle could see the beautiful coast line and Keppell islands off shore. Visited the Singing ship last time she was there she was about 18 mths old. Huge amt off roadworks all the way to Bundeberg. Elliott heads caravan park is right on the beach met up with Lyn and Len from home so another good day. Here 2 nights too. Michelle is anxious for some beach time. 

Back at van after 2 nights in Emerald hosp.

Sunday night I felt a sudden dizzy spell, the worst I have ever felt, vomiting etc. I was even in and out of conciousness when in hosp. Ambulance called and spent 2 nights there. Michelle was very brave and Les and Lyn looked after her . I am feeling almost back to normal now and back at van. Probably travel tomorrow. Cause unknown ? Thought I may have had stroke but not. Possibly gastro,dehydration or food poison. Anyhow feeling much better. Thanks for all the good wishes. 

Touring Alice.

Today we decided to view some of Alice. 

We visited the School of the Air,RFDS, and the desert nature park. 

Very interesting and Michelle really understood the importance of both services to people of the outback. We did the night tour of the desert park to see the Bilby which we did get to see. It was great also.went back to the beanie fest for photos too.

Hello from the beanie fest. What a great event thought it would be bigger, but still great. I have attended 2 workshops. 1 st felting, then   2 nd surrealist tea cosy making. Both very interesting and fun. Today we did our bit of volunteering for the 3 rd time, bought another beanie for Michelle. Went out for tea with the other beanie volunteers and had a great time talking to Vivienne and Nicholas Ryan. Took most photos on the main camera so non to add here.

Alice Springs

The last 3 nights we have been out of phone range.

Travelled from Coober Pedy to Curtain Springs. 

 We went to see Ayers Rock but only did the short walk ,it was raining, the climb was closed, not that I was going to attempt it. 

Thursday michelle and I went to Kings Canyon and yes we walked the 6km rim walk which was hard work but so glad we did it. Michelle was a great help checking I was ok all the time . It took us about 3 1/2 hrs.

Today we arrived at Alice Springs. Very sore legs from yesterday's climb. Attended our first workshops at the beanie festival, great fun. 

Michelle made her 1st campfire  whilst free camping, toasted marshmallows too. 

I don't know why Michelle has to take pics side ways!!!

Day 4-Coober Pedy

Today was a good day! Today we went a lot of places. We went to two different church's they were both underground the name of the first one was Catacomb church. The name of the second one was Serbian church. After looking at the church's we made our way to the next thing that took our eyes this was noodling. Noodling isn't what you might think it is, noodling is when you search through big big piles of dirt and trying to find opal, opal is a crystal that comes through as many different colours but may look like one color. So during our finds we thought we may have found some (opals) so after we thought we had found some we took them to one of the opal shops. The man at the opal shop we had meet before so we thought yeah let's go back to him. But as we pulled up there were four aboriginals sitting in the car park. As we parked the car they started to walk toward the car. As they were about to open the car well intact as they were walking to the car my daughter Michelle started to yell "mum don't open the door, stay here don't get out!" So I started to start the car thinking now we will have to find somewhere else to go. So as we drove off they started yelling things at us, we drove to the next opal shop were the guy was very very nice! He checked over our opals for us to see if they are good and he said only two parts were opal. That was a bit disappointing but oh well. The man pulled out a opal to show us and as he did he gave it to Michelle to keep. I asked him if he could make it into a necklace for us so he did, we payed for it and he gave it to us! So despite all our troubles we ended up with a good thing then came home to have tea and shower. Tomorrow we are back on the road to airs rock! :) 

Day 3 heading to Coober Pedy

Left Port Pirie about 8.30am. We stopped at port Augusta for some shopping then the long road ahead. Km.s of scrub and nothing much else to see! Not even much wild life. Lunch at Pimba. We arrived on dark at Coober Pedy. Weather cool but fine no rain. Looking forward to a days rest tomorrow apart from looking around here.

 

Day 2-

Today we had a bit of a later start then what we wanted witch was about 9:30/10:00. We drove to the fruit quarantine place we were asked to hand over any fruit before crossing the boarder (we had no fruit). After that we keep driving before we had a stop for fuel were we came across these bikes that my sons Nick and Mark had rode when they were younger on a holiday. After all of that we keep driving and on our way we drove past a huge eagle! Michelle thought that was really cool. Also we came across a big silver sparkling horse. We were going to try and reach Port Augusta but we were getting very tired so we have stopped at Port Pirie for the night.

 

Day 1-yesterday

Yesterday we had a 8:30 leave from Euroa, we drove to Gunbower as our first stop for fuel and toilet. After that we made our way to keep driving to Mildura. On our way we had one more stop then keep going to Mildura. Once we reached Mildura we meet Les just about 10/15min from the place we were staying witch was at Reg and Fran place(Les and Lyns cousin).
When we got there Les and myself (Liz) parked the car and the van then connected to there power, got the heater going to warm up the van and then headed in to the warm house for some tea and coffee. 

Getting ready to go,

Van is almost packed,just a few last minute things to do. Michelle and I are getting excited now it is only 3 days away. 

I have done everything possible mechanically I cn do,so here's hoping nothing major goes wrong. 

We are the envoy of our friends to be doing what we are about to do.

AND SO THE CARAVAN ADVENTURE BEGINS !!!!!!!!!!