Day 1 & 2 - Mildura

Well we have made it to the top of Victoria in the beautiful north of the state called Mildura, but technically I guess we really are in Merbien. All in all a nice place to be with our camp for the night a lovely spot down by the mighty Murray River; good company, nice place and wonderful drink and food ( yes, even for the second night our stew tastes good).
We actually  caught up with Kevin and Linda today so the party has swelled to 5 couples. Makes life interesting when trying to find a campsite capable of holding us all. Just as well we all get along!
Camped last night just outside Wederburn at a pretty place called Skinners's Flat. Last time we visited this place the reservoir, it backs onto had lots of water in it, unfortunately only a large dam appears now making the boat ramp a distant memory of past happenings.
Passing through these old township ( some in better shape than others ), it makes you wonder what future some of these places have?
Farms have got bigger, young folk have moved away and many places are almost desolate with only a silo to indicate it was once a thriving community. The history these places could tell - but to whom?
Well tomorrow we move elsewhere - not sure completely where, but eventually will end up at Mungo National Park - one of my favourite places on earth. The history and immense landscape is mesmerising. It certainly didn't get it's World Heritage listing for nothing!
Okay enough for the evening as tea is calling. Until next time ...

2014 - Get ready to take off on our next adventure - Cape York!

Wow, it certainly has been a long time since I wrote in this blog, but I'm back and this time we're on our way to Cape York, Qld.
Well at least that is our ultimate destination although we will be taking some back roads to get there. Roads that take us on a Burke and Wills expedition trek via places such as Menindee, Innaminka, Birdsville etc. Hopefully we will be bit more successful than the previous explorers and actually make it back with our health intact.
Actually, my big claim to fame is that in my past heritage I am related to the other explorer who did make the south to north trek safely - Mr John McDouall Stuart. Not much is written on him because he actually succeeded in his mission (not the notorious B&W) coming back alive; a very good explorer by all the reading but much underrated.
Well the camper is almost packed and the Tag-a-long parties are ready for some new adventures and experiences. Some of the members of this camping party being initiated into the great outback and the infamous 'red dust'. Let it all begin!

Day 78 & 79: Reflections

Yes, we have finally arrived home much to some people's surprise, but with the weather turning horrid  we decided to turn the car for home and make a run for it.
We had intended to call on some friends in Bendigo but circumstances were against us and we will catch up at a later day.
Now on my last post I said I would have reflections on our trip and make some observations of the people we went with, so here goes.
To say travelling with many people sometimes is wrought with issues is an understatement: are these people compatible, are their expectations of their holiday the same, will they all get along? Well I'm here to report we all had a good time and no one was killed in the process, so I guess it was successful!
We are however individual and as such have little idiosyncrasies to consider, for example :

• Robin " The Doc" - a thorough gentlemen of which without his consideration I, for one, would have found parts of the trip unbearable. He loves a good discussion but he has a very mischievous side to his nature. He loves to fabricate stories and as such I have christened him 'Guru Bob'. We aware, be VERY aware, when he starts spinning a yarn you are not the next victim of his mythological spells!
• Doug - is a genuine 'nice guy' and has the patience of a saint, especially when he had to erect and lower his camper day in, day out.  He is also a keen follower of regimes, especially when it comes to meals. He eats every night at the same time: 6:00pm, with meat and (mostly) three veg. Always potato, except on weekends as he is usually playing golf and hasn't got time for potatoes. Never does he eat cooked carrots only fresh uncooked as in the McFarlane tradition. His only negative quality I could spot was, he defends (barracks for)  the drug cheating Essendon FC but his droll sense of humour made up for this little indiscretion.
• Bec - a lovely person, with an extremely caring nature with innocence in many of the worlds harsher aspects being a very endearing quality. A great cook, loving parent, grandparent and friend who has a unyeilding faith, even when put under pressure.
• Denis - loves a good discussion and has many opinions on varies topics, non more so than climate change! He is a man possessed/ obsessed with fishing especially on lures. Practicality is not his strong point, but he he is the first one to make fun of this fact as he did when handing himself the "biggest Tool" award for his misdemeanours on the trip. 
• Paul - my beloved husband who loves to be the centre of attention as in the self proclaimed "movie man", or the one who finds "treasures" on the trip and hands them onto unsuspecting people (under the bedding, or tied to the front of their car etc). The class clown would be a good tile he would wear with pride - but you still got to love him. (Well at least I still do).
• Jenny (me)  - what can I say except ......... Well I might leave that up to the people who know me and accepted me on the trip. They had to put up with my little "moments" I had along the way and I thank them for it.

Well it's time to sign off for this trip. Thank you for travelling along with me, I only hope you enjoyed the trek and maybe got a feel for the great outdoors we have in Australia. Maybe I will inspire some of you to experience some of this great land yourselves. Whatever you decide to do, have fun, savour the life you have and enjoy what nature has abundantly provided for us in this country: the scenery and the people.

This the end of this chapter so until next time farewell................... 

Don't go too far though as we head to the Blue Mountains NSW in a months time, so stayed tuned.

Day 75 - 77: Victoria again

Two full days of travelling has bought us back to the home state of Victoria. After leaving Streaky Bay after one last 'hoorah' of fishing, we left after packing the campers, putting the  boat back on the car and waving our farewells to this lovely place. It is a lovely place even if it does throw a few weather 'Wobblies' from time to time. Yes, even this time it took our canvas down at 2:00am and even blew Robin's top of his camper down. Firstly the wind blew from the east then completely switched to the west. Needless to say we were very unprepared for either way and a sleepless night was had by all.
On to Kimba where we stopped and talked to some nice boys travelling on their way to Alice Springs for the dirt go-kart National titles finally ending our trip in Port Augusta where be bid sad farewells to 'The Doc' a.k.a. Robin as he went via Adelaide and we made our way over Horracks  Pass to Carrieton being welcomed by Gael and Norm.
Spending the night here was lovely as we caught up on all the news, as well as checked out Norm and Gael's handy work in the renovation department of there new house. Norm has the veggie garden well and truly underway, with many varieties to be eaten and bartered in this quaint  town.
Heading off this morning and the crops around this neck of the woods were something to behold. Every colour/shade of green, with yellow canola and brown chequer boarding the countryside. Past Burra though it looks a different story with only salt-bush being the main stay.
After crossing the Murray river at Cadel, we slid down the border, crossing into Victoria at Pinnaroo. This way I can go via my old holiday haunts at Galah and check out the crops on the old farm. My uncle will be most impressed(I'm hoping), with the photos  I hope to get of the crops and countryside.
This is my second last blog post: my last will be a reflection of the trip - the places, the people the memories.

Day 74 - Fishing and relaxation

Today the sun is shining, the wind has died down and Paul and Robin are out fishing. The squid don't seem to be as plentiful as last time but the Whiting (King George variety) seemed to have come on the bite. Paul has just landed back in from fishing by himself, but called for reinforcements as the whiting were very much 'on' and he didnt' want to go over his bag limit.  Poor Robin, he has a cold and not feeling so well today, was dragged off his 'death bed' to chase these plentiful whiting. Only time will tell to see if the story is true.
I've had another day on 'domestic bliss' with washing clothes, cleaning dishes and writing up newsletters for the GLFC. Actually it is too nice a day for this inside stuff so I will upload some more photos for you to find and then be off. Cheers, for now.

One of the colourful characters we found along the track. See if you can find his mate?

Day 71 - 73: Wedgies, stumpys and whales

Here we are once again at the beautiful Streaky Bay. Yes, and once again my husband will try his hand at catching fish and or squid.
We travelled the past 3 days casually across the Nullabor (Eyre Highway), spending  2 nights on the road with free camping. Met a lady at one place who was complaining  they couldn't have fires at night. When I asked where she had stayed her reply was Eucla, and another caravan park. I suggested she try some free camping if she wanted to have fire: I guess only time will tell if she took my advice.
As the title suggests we saw a great deal of wildlife while crossing the Nullabor with Wedge Tailed Eagles being the main draw card on the first day. They seemed to be around every corner: either sitting on the road at 'road-kill', or close by in the trees. Doug and Rob  pulled over a few times trying to photograph the majestic birds, but most of the time they were a bit camera shy. Unfortunately there were also quite a lot of birds killed on the road from traffic coming and going. They are a large bird and when full of food take quite a time to take flight and some even take flight into the truck/ car they are trying to avoid.
The next day we travelled was full of Stumpy-tailed lizards, taking life in the hands (or should that  be feet?) crisscrossing the road. Some made it, some had near misses and some didn't. Such is life of a Stumpy tail!
Yesterday we had time (and the weather was good) to be able to stop at the Head of the Bight to see some awesome Southern Right whales and their calves. We counted 10 with the naked eye, but with binoculars even more could be spotted. Talk about up close and personal! Absolutely brilliant as we spent over an hour there taking in the scenery and also having a bit of lunch. Life is good!
Today we had our sad farewell to Doug who wanted to catch up with relatives in Adelaide and Horsham. We had our morning tea togetherness and bid him safe travels. How are we going to know what time to put the tea on now I wonder?
Well as I said we've been on the road for a few days so a nice hot shower and some washing wouldn't go a stray. Until next we meet ........

Mother and baby: at the Head of the Bight.

Day 69 & 70: Kalgoorlie

Well, I now know a bit more about Kalgoorlie: Super-pits', gold processing and yes....'skimpys'!
We spent yesterday checking out museums, lookouts and walking the Main Street in Kalgoorlie, Hannan Street. There certainly is some lovely architecture here and nearly every corner has a hotel on it, as it seems all mining towns used to have.
The  'super - pit' certainly lives up to its name and is quite mine blowing to think it once was 100's of small mining leases until Alan Bond decided to try and buy up all and turn it into me big lease. The Toyota vehicles (that seem to be everywhere) look like matchbox toys as they go up and down the road in the pit; the trucks like Tonka toys. Next year hopefully there will be a tourist train going up to the pit lookout from the train museum, so this will add an even better dimension to the tourist highlights of the area.
Speaking of highlights of the area it would be remiss of me to discount the colourful past that the infamous Hay Street bought to Kalgoorlie.  Doug was the only member of out party to risk his reputation on going on a tour of a brothel in this street. Sad to say the 'ladies of the night' were very much a part of this place and its history with some of the facts and figures that  Doug came back with quite 'interesting' to say the least. It seems that some miners weren't the smartest when it came to money as one person said he knew a bloke here for 8 years but didn't have a 'cracker' to his name as he had spent it on either drink, betting or women. I just hope the miners of today are a bit smarter.
Well it's back on the road agin today heading to Norseman and then across the Nullabor on the road home.  Till then see ya.