Mt Eliza, The Coorong and Adelaide

We did not have long to stay at Sister Sue's home at Mt Eliza, the main reason was we were needed at our Daughter Erin's home in Adelaide to look after her two young boys whilst she flew to Melbourne to undertake a refresher course for Qantas so she can get back to working as cabin crew on domestic flights. We stayed a week and in that time we visited friends Graham & Debra Koch, we talked about doing a cruise with them later in the year which will be a different experience. We also called in and visited my 2nd Mum, Pat Mossenton, I love this lady dearly she was a big influence on my growing up as she was the mother of my best mate John. It was lovely seeing her, Mumma Pat is 90 and even though a recent hip replacement has slowed her down her mind was as bright as ever. 

It was very sad to hear that another old friend of my mothers and my God Father, George Ball had succumbed to cancer, Geo was 98 I believe and an absolute Gentleman, I visited George last time we came to Victoria and I will cherish those memories. 

A trip to Sue and Gregs always involves a visit to the Casino, not my thing but I go along and Greg and I usually have a few drinks and people watch whilst the wives have a bet. One night we caught up with Sues daughter ( our niece) Lee and husband Sam with baby daughter Charli along with Sues eldest daughter Dannielle and husband Shane and their two boys. It was Tysons birthday and we celebrated it in style at a nice Indian Restaurant in Carrum, Patterson Lakes. 

With the week over it was time for us to start heading towards Adelaide, because Mt Eliza is not far from the Ferry that crosses from Sorrento to Queenscliff we chose to travel that way instead of battling with the Melbourne traffic. It cost us the early bird special price of around $130 which was worth it. 

Getting off the ferry we followed the signs for the Great Ocean Road, we have driven along here many times and there is a lot more to see than taking the  highways. We also had the invitation to stay the night at a BushTracker owners property at Timboon. We had not met John & Heather Reynard but had communicated about all this Bushtracking so it was a lovely opportunity to meet them. Retired dairy farmers they have a beautiful property which they often get Caravanning friends stay at. For us it was a one nighter and sampling some lovely Port and Sherry. 

The next day it was onwards, our idea was to get to the Coorong and rest up for a few days before our grand parenting duties commenced. 

We stayed at Port Lonsdale a night and then 42 Mile Crossing for a night, it was stinking hot and a drive to the ocean in the hope of a swim was dashed when we got there the waves were way to rough to attempt a swim, instead we sat on the beach and let the waves wash over us. Another Camper told us off another camp area, Parnka Point, unbeknown to us at the time that we had already visited it we decided to go there and stay a night or two. Once we arrived our memories came back to us but we choose to stay anyway and we had a lovely view of the water from site 6 at Pelican Camp Ground. 

Another caravan arrived as did a BushTracker later in the day, we didn't get to speak with them and we left the next morning. We decided to visit Rapid Bay again, we hadn't realised it was Friday and the place gets very busy on weekends, we stayed one night and left, camping like sardines is not my idea of fun. 

We are now camped in the front yard of our daughters in Adelaide, our grand sons Oakley nearly 3 and Tate 18 months know us well but it's been fireworks and mighty explosions when they decide to throw a tantrum and want their mummy. Luckily they both go to a day care two days a week and their father is at home at night, they are a handful but we love them and do what we need to do. Saying that three weeks cannot come quick enough and we can finally get back on the road to home, we only have two - three weeks and we're away again to Ningaloo and I have so much to do in that time. 

  

BushTracker repaired, back on the road.

After three weeks we finally picked up our BushTracker from the factory. As usual they had done an awesome job in fixing the damage, it took longer than they first thought because of some water damage that involved removing and replacing all the internal walls at the rear of the van plus a section of flooring was also replaced. Also I had BT repair a cracked ceiling panel near the bed. How that happened I have no idea other than possibly hitting my head whilst standing on the shoe cupboard, I certainly don't recall doing it. 

Mysterious cracks and damage appeared on the ceiling.

Above and below, the caravan getting the damage repaired 

Prior to leaving the factory Daniel from Leisure Entertainment came to make sure the Oyster Sat was working properly after having its LNB replaced, it's just as well because it wasn't. After an hour of checking everything over he then discovered that the LNB had been fitted in the same way it came off and it was out of its settings, we had always complained that our signal strength wasn't very good and that gusty wind would cause the signal to drop out. Well after realising that and refitting it in the correct position it tuned in straight away and signal quality was up in the high 90's

Finally after that delay we hit the road, heading to Kilcoy for the night. 1/2 way there we got smashed by a huge storm that threw rain down like rivers at us, visibility was about zero and we crawled along with our hazard lights flashing. Pulling into the free camp at Kilcoy the rain miraculously stopped. It was then we found we had a water leak in the ceiling, the same place where the panel had been replaced. We had no choice but to return to the factory the next morning, fortunately the guys were quick to find the problem, a screw had become loose on one of the original solar panels. The panel was taken off and new sikaflex was used to reseal and attach the panel back on. 

So take two and away we go again, this time we got past Kilcoy but we did stop at Blackbutt again .... yep, the Bakery lured us in again, this time it wasn't the Jacks Ribs that won us over but the Rodeo Pie .... Bloody Hell if this place doesn't make the best pies in Australia it would be up there that's for certain. 

With our stomachs full we ventured on before stopping at a free camp site 'Mothers of ducks lagoon' It was here that I heard the familiar "We have a water leak" Grrrrr ... water was seeping out under the shower door, a quick check of the HWS system and I found no problem there, shower taps and connections all fine, eventually I discovered a split hose that carries water from the potable tank to the drink tap. The easiest fix was to isolate it, so I just cut the hose underneath the van so if the pump was turned on accidentally any water flow did not enter the van. When I'm home I will fit a new high pressure hose, whilst I'm at it I'll fit a water filter and new tap as well. 

Another job to do is replace the chine bars, some know them as girder straps, they are a strengthening brace made from steel flat bar or rod that is welded below the drawbar of the caravan. It's fairly common for the early BushTracker's to snap the original rod, the fix is to cut it off and weld on 40mm x 12mm flat bar onto 40mm square hangers which is welded the bottom of the drawbar. To get us home without stressing the drawbar I have welded up the break. 

Above is the broken chine bar, below is what I will change it to

Our reason for heading down the way we did was to catch up with good mates Kimbo & Ned, we arranged to meet at Bretti Reserve in NSW not far from Gloucester, it was a very scenic drive but the last section was coming down some very steep hills, even using all my lower gears and adjusting the caravans brakes to get more stopping power the Landcruisers brakes were stinking hot. I have since found out that the disc rotors have overheated and I intend to replace them with some better DBA T3 rotors and better disc pads, another job for home. 

Catching up with our mates is always good fun, the weather was stinking hot though and without a river flowing by us it would have not been as enjoyable. Three days of sitting around, in and out of the river and it was time to say our goodbyes, hopefully they will make the trip West for our next catch up. 

Bretti Reserve

The day we left I was not expecting to get to my brothers place in Canberra but that's what we did, it was a decent day's drive and we had to stop and seek shelter from a hail storm that came pelting down.  I did not want to get hail damage especially after just having the caravan repaired let alone damage to our Landcruiser. All was good though and after 30 minutes or so we were able to venture on. We arrived at my Bro's place late in the afternoon. It's always good to see Roger & Cheryl, we may only speak a few times a year but we just catch up as if it was only last week, I was particularly taken by Rogers Porsche 911E, a beautiful old classic in mint condition. Poor Old Rog has just had a knee replacement and wasn't able to drive which was not good for his sanity. Roger also had a great collection of guns which like everything he does was given 100% effort. 

Leaving Canberra the next day we travelled through Cooma and the Snowy Mountains, eventually coming down to Cann River where we stopped at the beautiful Bellbird Creek Hotel. The owner Jurgen kindly allows camping behind the hotel, it is lovely location and we were quite taken by the place, and then we found out it was for sale ....... $450k freehold with licence.

No we didn't buy it, but had we been 10 or 20 years younger and a lot fitter we could have seen ourselves doing so. 

Bellbird Creek Hotel

A night at Bellbird Creek and then onto Kurumburra where long time friends have moved to. Rob & Marg had a horrendous experience in their old neighbourhood where a younger drunken lout targeted them with his car after they intervened and stopped him assaulting his girlfriend. Both were injured after being hit by the idiots car, Marg receiving some very serious injuries. Plenty of charges have been directed at the driver including attempted murder and he should be put away for a while. Physically our friends are healing, but mentally they are doing it tough so it was just awesome that we were able to drop in and talk about other things and have a few laughs. 

After our visit it was a relatively short drive to Mount Eliza where we were staying at Vickie's sister Sue's home for a week. 

  

Rectifying The Damage Trip - January 2017

In September 2016 I reversed our caravan into the corner of our house, I must have reversed it a hundred times in the previous 9 years but this one time it bit me on the ass. After the customary cursing and self humiliation I calmed down and accepted what had happened and what needed to be done to fix it. The house was the simple part, a call to RACWA whom we are insured with and within a few days I had an assessor out to look at the damage, another couple of weeks went by and it was all repaired, no fuss, no pain just an excess payment on our insurance policy.

The caravan is not so simple, because of the extent of damage done I did not feel confident in having any caravan repairer do the repairs, I have heard of to many horror stories and we wanted the best repair job possible. Now our van is a Bushtracker made in Queensland which meant me taking the van over to get repaired which is 5000klms away from where we live, way over on the opposite side of Australia. I'm always up for a drive so the distance wouldn't bother me but for it to fit in with our other plans for the forth coming year it meant booking it in for January, and January is usually very hot and windy.

Because of the nature of the trip Vickie choose to stay home and have more grand daughter time with our girls plus the damage to the van meant it did not have a hot water system which also meant no non-potable water could be carried because the pump system involves filling the HWS tank which was damaged. So a drive to Bushtracker was to be a solo trip and one in hot weather, I left on Friday the 13th which I hoped was not an omen, my 1st night I stopped approximately 70k east of Norseman, the temperature was quite pleasant and I got a reasonable nights sleep even though my lower back and left leg was spasming from the seating position which I had trouble getting comfortable. 

Up and on the road the next day was one of buffeting head and side winds, I had recently had a torque converter lock up kit fitted to my Landcruiser 200 series and I'm very glad I did, the characteristics of the automatic was completely changed with the gearbox now holding its gear without a continual unlock and locking and kicking back a gear. Economy even with the gusty winds was a very reasonable 21Lph, my 2nd night was spent along the Great Australian Bight not far from the Nullabour Roadhouse. The winds right next to the coast threatened to just about roll me over but I had a great night getting lulled to sleep with the van rocking. 

After a walk around the cliff face and a few photos I was back on the road, we always stop for fuel at Penong and a cup of tea at the Cemetery, many years ago we went by as the funeral of a local was being conducted, we found out it was a fella by the name is Sid Maine Brook and since then we've always stopped and boiled the kettle and said hello. This time I found Sid had company with I presume his wife buried beside him.

 Because of the time difference I had a few hours up my sleeve so I made the call to some friends who live in Streaky Bay to see if they were around, as luck had it they were so it was a detour down to Streaky to catch up with Lloyd and Heather who are also BushTracker owners. Lloyd now has an Iveco Daily as their tow vehicle and what a monster truck it is, no expense spared here this truck had it all. Lloyd excelled on the BBQ also and cooked a superb roast leg of lamb, a few beers and long chat and the night passed far to quickly. The next morning we went to their daughters cafe for breakfast and said our farewell. 

Back on the road and the temperature was soaring, forecast for 48 degree my cars outside temp reading was showing 45! Apart from stopping for fuel and getting something to eat and drink I just kept on driving, when I did stop around 8pm it was still light because of the daylight saving, the flies were annoying and the mozzies even worse. Temperature in the van was 41 degree at 10pm and after a uncomfortable sweaty night it was still 39 degrees in the early morning. At 4.30am (7am WA time) I was back on the road with the air conditioning blasting. Driving up through Broken Hill, Willcania, Cobar is a fairly uninteresting drive, lots of wide open space with very little to attract the eyes. 

My 4th night was spent at a free camp in the town of .......... it was BLOODY Hot ! I couldn't even cool down with a cold shower so it was another uncomfortable night sleep. I was heading for Kenilworth, no particular reason except for basing myself for a few days before taking the van in. Plus I knew Kenilworth had 240v power and toilets and shower facilities, and I needed all three. Coming in the way i did involved passing Blackbutt .. now Blackbutt has a bakery and not just any bakery but one of the best in Australia!  They must have known I was coming because I had the V.I.P parking directly out the front, unfortunately most of the pies had been sold but I did manage to buy a 'Jacks Ribs' Pie which is smoked ribs with the meat pulled off and placed in a pie, it was simply delicious, a blue ribbon winner in my opinion, I wish they had more than one, they didn't so I had to settle for four other variety's and a Beesting Cake just to finish it off ... No I did not eat five pies, just the one, the others were for future meals, which is probably surprising for those that know me. 

Finally at Kenilworth I connected to power and rolled out the awning, poured myself a ice cold bourbon and coke and relaxed. The next four days I spent  driving to Noosaville looking for accomodation, driving to Eumundi markets and driving to Mapleton, Montville and Malaney, anywhere to enjoy the ice cold car air conditioning. I have found accomodation at Noosaville, a lovely unit part of the Noosa Sun complex. It's directly opposite the Noosa river and the yacht club, it is very comfortable and lacks for nothing. I have visited the Noosa National Park which is just stunning. 

I was impressed with the lock up torque converter, I was finally able to tow in S5 and achieve quite good economy with figures ranging from mid 17's to 19's litres per hundred with speeds around 95-100kph. 

I have dropped the van off at Bushtracker, it appears it may take longer than expected due to the work required. It's of no real concern, I'm comfortable and Vickie will fly over end of next week to join me. 

Some Ningaloo photo's

South Lefroy Bay

That rough head is me 

Just Chilling 

Vickie was lucky enough to win the raffle at the fundraiser for the Cancer Council Big Morning Tea 

Ash, Trev and Opie the wonder dog

Ningaloo time again

Every year we make the trip up to Exmouth way to camp at one of our favourite places in Australia, South Lefroy Bay, in the Ningaloo Homestead Pastoral Station. We have been doing this for over twenty years, yes we have missed going some years but for the majority it's been our annual sojourn.

This year was going to different to the previous, we were going by ourselves and no one was coming up or dropping in, usually we have Dave & Jo Billy and some of their family along with some friends or family of our own, That was the deal anyway but Dave had to undergo a gall bladder operation and was hoping to come up after the op, we were very pleasantly surprised to hear our nephew Trev and his girl friend Ashlee would be coming up about a week later than us and bringing his tinny.

We recently had the passing of Vickie's father and funeral to deal with, he was nearly 91 years of age and thankfully did not have to suffer and passed on after a short stay in hospital. Just the impact of that had our minds elsewhere and as we packed up the van we were battling to remember what to take. My back has deteriorated more and a few weeks back I went into hospital and under went some spinal injections to attempt to freeze off some nerves to alleviate some pain, it helped but wasn't as successful as a previous time.

With the van & car ready to go we left home around mid morning, we were stopping at our good mates Geoff & Vickie's home in Geraldton for a couple of nights, we rocked in around 4pm and the next two days were spent catching up and reliving our UK-Europe trip we did with them in 2014. Such great people and easy to get along with,

We left Geraldton and stopped that night at Minilya free camp, it was fairly busy by the time we got in but we found a spot that wasn't to close to anyone else, a couple of drinks and it was an early night to rest my body.

The following morning it was an easy few hours drive into the Ningaloo Homestead where we caught up with Phil the manager and then onto our camp site at Sth Lefroy Bay.

We have been coming up for so many years that Vickie remarked it doesn't feel like we have left, I guess it can feel like that but it's a nice familiar feeling, not a Groundhog Day feeling. We set our camp up which for us doesn't take long compared to some other campers, we just peg some double shade cloth down on the sand, roll out the awning, fit a couple of shade walls and break out the chairs and tables. Off with the kayaks and set up the fishing rods and were set to go, just in time for our 1st sunset drinks.

Camp NIKNOFF

OPIE THE TANGLEY DOPIE DOG

VICKIE, ASHLEE & TREV

We caught up with our regular Ning mates who have been up at Ning for more than a month or two already and were there for another three months, we honestly love the place but know we couldn't plant our backsides anywhere for that length of time.

The weather was mostly windy the 1st week, and we only got out with the Hobie's a few times, we caught the usual Charlie Court (chinaman cod) and I also caught some nice fat threadfin salmon off the beach one morning. The day's ticked over and a week later Trev & Ash arrived, this year they had a companion Opey their golden retriever, dopey or tangles as he should be called is around 9months old and very playful and very well behaved most of the time. Trev and I wasted no time in getting his tinny into the water, I had bought up my old sounder which we fitted to the boat and this year we hoped to get onto some decent fish.

MICK & 2 SIZE SPANGLED EMPEROR

GUITAR FISH

TREV, BIG YETI, BIG TOE

NEVER GET TIRED OF SUNSETS

Well that didn't quite work that way, but we did catch enough each day to have a meal each and keep some for the freezer, we were also lucky to catch quite a few squid this year with some a monster
size. You will have to trust me on that as my camera was playing up and I didn't think to use my phone to verify my statement.

We received word that Dave & Jo would not be coming up, the operation was a success but Dave was in to much pain to consider the trip. Sad for them as they were both looking forward to it very much.

MONITOR LIZARD

HIGH TIDE

The weeks slipped by, we got into a routine of driving down to shark alley and doing some beach fishing, I had a huge run and fight on my hands for a while before finally getting it in close enough only to see a huge turtle caught on my hook, Trev got it in close enough to release the hook in its flipper and it swam away probably wondering what the heck had happened. Another time I had a large frame on a large hook in close to shore and it was taken by a good solid sized shark of around eight foot, a large guitar fish or shovel nose ray took my bait another time and took some effort to get in so it could be released. Vickie also caught some good size golden trevally.

OH DEAR ..... 

Trev and I did some night fishing but the tides were against us and neither of us could be bothered fishing around midnight or later when the tide came in.

We did one trip into Exmouth after four weeks and a few drives to go beach combing but mostly we just hung around fishing, swimming or reading. Our mates Glenn & Karen who stayed with us last year drove across from Tom Price for a long weekend but would you believe it rained just about the whole time they were there, Glenn, Vickie & Trev played cards with Glenn coming out the big winner, it was lovely to catch up again, this time they had sold and changed cars and they had a nice 200 series Landcruiser, so Glenn and I were able to compare and talk about all things Cruisers.

MICK & KAREN, IT WAS COLD AND WET BUT BETTER THAN PLAYING CARDS

YACHT MOORED OUT FRONT OF CAMP

MOUSE PLAGUE APPARENTLY, BUT WE ONLY SAW ONE

Of course after they left the rain stopped,  it was still windy and Vickie started talking about flying home early which was always on the cards, what we were not expecting was Ashlee's uncle to be in hospital with terminal cancer and Ash being told his life expectancy was not long, so with that very sad news both girls flew home and were picked up at the airport by Ashlee's parents. It was just as well they left when they did because after Ash and her parents visiting Uncle Kev straight from the airport he passed away that night.

With Trev and I left to our own devices we were thinking we would be fishing as much as we could, but with the death of Ash's uncle Trevor started thinking he should be home for the funeral and support Ashlee and her family. We had one last night where Trev went to Coral Bay to visit some mates and I went over to my camp neighbour along with about twenty other campers and helped him celebrate his birthday with a karaoke night, it was all good fun but I told others I had to leave because of my bad singing.

MOST NIGHTS WE HAD A FIRE

The day suffering a bit I started to pack up our camp, the next day we both left Ningaloo, we stayed the night at Edegee free camp and next morning Trev headed straight for home and I went down to Geraldton where I stayed another two nights out with Geoff  and Vickie at their daughters block.

GEOFF & VICKIE's DAUGHTERS BLOCK

Friday I arrived home, the sun was shining, no wind but it does get chilly late afternoon.