We Are Away

Friday 27^th July

We are off – like a bride’s nightie – like a bucket of prawns in the sun!!!! However you look at it, we are gone!!!!!

After one month to the day since we purchased Indy, we are finally escaping the gravitational pull of Bald Hills and beginning our travels for real.

Our good friends, Bob and Fran kindly said to us ‘Come and stay with us for a few days till you get everything finalised’. Rookie error. We ended up residing in their back room for three weeks (for which we shall be eternally grateful). We managed to get everything done that needed doing and a few extra things besides. Thank you, thank you sooooooooooo much.

We have travelled to Childers today and are camped 7 km north at (131) Apple Tree Creek Rest Area and are staying here tomorrow and Sunday for The Childers Festival –Savour It!

Saturday 28^th July

A day of rest…..at last!!!! We went for a leisurely walk around and found a convenient little tea room and had a lovely Devonshire Tea….then it was back to camp and Ron read his book and I did some crocheting till the sun went down….beautiful and warm in the sun but that wind was cool.  We spoke to a few of our neighbours….they were all Tasmanians!!!!! Super friendly….life’s good!!!!

Sunday29th July

Went to the Festival……fabbo…..we parked at the High School and walked up.  There must have been well over 200 stalls, mainly clothes and food and heaps of free entertainment. 

We went to ‘The Palace’ which is now the Tourist Information centre, Art Gallery and Memorial to the Backpackers who died in that dreadful fire back in 2000.

At the gallery there was an amazing exhibition of dot paintings in 3D!!!!!!!! The artist, Roger ‘Bushfire’ Saunders was running a workshop and I did a small painting of a turtle and collected my 3D glasses so I can actually see it……it is really amazing!!!!!!!

I also bought a CD of traditional Chinese Music to do my Tai Chi with and of course splashed out on yummy food stuffs.

We’ve got to get out of here…….free camping has cost us a fortune!!!!!!!!!!

Top of the Range

Saturday 21^st July

This not only refers to Indy but also our location.  Indy can race but does not like hills…a rather unfortunate trait considering our present location.

We left Nobby about 11.00am and drove up through Toowoomba to Ravensbourne Rest Area (487) another free spot.  It is right on the edge of Ravensbourne National Park and we walked from our camp up to the look out as soon as we arrived.  Splendid views….the camera does not do it justice!!!!

It was very cold and windy and since Saturday night is bath night, I figured it was time to christen the shower.

It was an experience to say the least……if only I was 2 foot shorter and 5 stone lighter!!! But the water was hot and plenty of it and it warmed me right through! I even washed my hair. It will be such a boon when we finally start travelling!!!!! Ron has used it as well and it is an even tighter squeeze for him but he loved it too.

Sunday22nd July

Left Ravensbourne and took a detour to Lake Cressbrook (485)….so pretty we decided to have brunch – bacon and egg sandwiches.

 It cost $2.50 to get in and the bar-b-ques were free. There was also a nice looking camping area for $7.90 per person per night.

                       

 Ron cooked up our brunch and the magpies came in to sing for their supper!!!!

We drove back to Bob and Fran’s via Esk and through Toogoolawah and Kilcoy. At Kilcoy we stopped at Anzac Memorial Park (508) and used our first Public Dump Point.

 I had my first drive of Indy.

 Sunday night we went to Eaton’s Hill Hotel for dinner with Nelma and Basil. It is apparently the largest hotel in Australia and the food was to die for and the décor divine.

Monday 23^rd July

We spent most of the morning at the bank because we could not access the Term Deposit on line.  We could see it was there somewhere but could not actually bring it up to display the details.  We spoke to two tellers and the manager, neither of whom could work out what or why and because their customer computer was down for maintenance, we couldn’t check anything there either.  We were packed off home with the internet teams phone number and wished ‘Good Luck’.  After about half and hour on the phone with them, it was discovered that when you bring up the account number you must double click on it and all will be revealed!!!!!!!

Tuesday 24^th July

Tonight was out to the local Chinese with Bob and Fran….Yummo!!!!

Wednesday 25^th July

A quick trip to the Gold Coast to Dometic to buy a new door for the fridge ($359.00). A bargain when you consider that a new fridge that size costs $1699.00!!!!!

Then it was off to RV Warehouse to get our grey water tank – FINALLY!!!!!!!! ($318.00) That included $30.00 for some do-hickey to tie the awning down when it is a bit windy.

Thursday 26^th July

Sold the Starlet for $200.00 (less than the fridge door!!!!!!)  and went shopping for supplies for tomorrow we are heading out for real!!!!!!

Another Short Trip

Wednesday 18^th July

As tired as you must be of hearing this, imagine how tired I am of writing it…..

We’re still here!!!!!!

Our grey water tank is getting fitted next Monday (a week later than expected) and then hopefully………

Tonight is the Cricket Umpires’ Annual General Meeting so we are off to that. Pre meeting drinks at the Breakfast Creek Hotel (can’t be all bad) and then the meeting.

Had a good time as per usual. Ron has put in an expression of interest to be the Statistician….can do it all on line and will give him something to do while we are on the road.

Thursday 19^th July

Set off for Warwick for the Jazz and Jumpers in July festival and have stopped overnight at Allora in a free camping spot. It is a pretty little Rest Stop (747) just on the North side of town next to Dalrymple Creek. It is really lovely. A tad cool. The forecast is for a minimum of 4 degrees tonight and then a balmy 6 degrees tomorrow night.  Fran packed us off with a container of home-made biscuits and a jar of lemon butter (made by the Church ladies) so while we may freeze to death, at least we shan’t starve!!!!!

 

Our camp at Allora

 Friday 20^th July

Set off to Warwick and ‘Jumpers and Jazz in July’ – where artists dress the deciduous trees in jumpers (to keep them warm). I love the quirkiness of it all. I bought a silver charm (a Saxophone – very jazzy – although I only come for the jumpers and don’t like jazz at all, not even a little bit!!!) to commemorate our visit.

Note my flash new glasses and the scarf I knitted to justify having a craft cupboard in ‘Indy’.

Drove to Nobby and another free camp spot(742) a Rest Area at Nobby opposite Rudds Hotel (not named for Kevin Rudd but Steele Rudd who wrote ‘On our Selection’ the Dad and Dave stories). Not the same lovely scenery as Allora but OK. Chatted to a couple from Tassie. Ron whipped up a sumptuous feast of bacon, egg, sausage and salad and he is now watching the footy while I write this.

Checked the weather forecast…..tonight’s low will be 2 degrees (brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr)!!!!

Can't wait till we head north!!!!!

May be a while....got a call about our grey water tank.......did not get the right fittings....may be  Wednesday ..............will call us (grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr)!!!!

Independence Day and Beyond!!!

Wednesday 4th July

After a mad rush to finalise packing, we took our bus down to show off to the Tai Chi ladies (very well received it was) and then we set off. We stayed at Bells Caravan Park, Clontarf overnight ($29.00) old but clean, lovely spot; we had a fab walk along the waterfront to the pier at Woody Point. We chose it mainly so we could get to Brett’s early although having access to power for the telly was a definite plus for Ronnie to watch State of Origin.

 I was a little concerned about the petty larceny (or should that be l-arse-eny) epidemic.

Thursday 5^th July

We then came and stayed at Bob and Fran’s while we finish up some odds and sods, sort some paper work and fix up some bits and pieces and then we will finally be off. I can’t wait to get going; it is all feeling a bit anti-climactic at the moment. 

Brett has done an excellent job on the wiring.

Tuesday 10^th July

Left Bob and Fran’s and travelled to (615) Heifer Creek a Rest Stop near Gatton – very pretty. We still haven’t actually left yet, this is just a short break. It’s where we came to practice putting up the tent when we first got it.  And of course, it is raining!!! It actually rained last time as well.  But dauntless we soldiered on….and this is the result:

Not really conducive to testing our Solar Capacity. And, after Ron got all set up for the telly we found out that we have no reception and no phone or internet either….

But, this is the view from our patio! (Feet up, glass of wine in hand)

We lasted a full two days just on battery.

Thursday 12^th July

We have come back to the Gold Coast to re-charge (literally)and are staying at Gold Coast Holiday Park, Siganto Dr, Helensvale….top spot…..lovely facilities….wonderful staff…..$75.60 for two nights (10% discount for CMCA Members)….highly recommend!!!

Name Day

We have decided to name our bus ‘Indy’.  It has soooooooooooo many connotations to it…..Indigo Blue for his colour, Indiana Jones for his adventurous spirit, Indy racing – because if they ever had an Indy Race for buses I’m sure he would win, Independence, Indefatigable (after Horatio Hornblower’s ship) Indecisive (although that’s more me than him), Indiscriminate, Indescribable and many others that we haven’t even thought of yet!!!!!!!

Nearly Done!!!!

Well, all is just about ready.

Yesterday was our big day….At 1.00pm the Estate Agent rang and told us the buyer was coming at 2.30 for her ‘Pre-settlement inspection’….What the… first we had ever heard about it, but OK. At 1.00 the man came to take our old washing machine away. At about 1.30 the removalists came to pick up our boxes to take up to Townsville. My friend Linda arrived on the doorstep at 2.15 to take me for coffee, the buyer and Helen arrived for the inspection, and Steve came to mow the front lawns.  By the time they all left I felt so drained, I was exhausted. (In fact I am feeling tired now just writing about it!!!).

Everything is all done though as far as packing the bus etc. and tomorrow morning we sort of hit the road.  We are only going as far as Redcliffe because we are getting work done on the wiring and Brett needs the bus Thursday and Friday.  He is absolutely wonderful.  Then we have to come back and take it back to the people we bought it from (The Motorhome Conversion Co) next Tuesday to get some stuff fixed up.  I am sooooooooooo disappointed with that company and especially the salesman we dealt with and would not recommend them to anyone. I could do a five page tirade on them but won’t.

Finally we will be going out camping nearby for a few nights while we finalise settlement, arrange mail redirection, banking etc and sell the Starlet. And Ron wants to go to the Umpires AGM.

We are sleeping in the bus now and it is very comfy.  

Parked with The Big Rigs at Maccas



Brett took one look at the wiring and said "Looks like someone shot an octopus"

Note the quilt covers - I cut down the quilts and covers and re made them myself (after I bought the wrong size!!!!)

And of course there is room for a craft cupboard!!!!!!!!