Back to NSW

We are sad to have to say goodbye again to family and friends after a great week on the Sunshine Coast, we miss you all dearly.  Aunty Win's 90th birthday lunch was a highlight, we got through our todo list of appointments, and our first experience with an Air bnb was a success.

A fast drive back to Finley packed like Santa's sleigh, with presents for the Munro's from their siblings, so we are overnighting in Coonabarrabran at a motel as no room in our van to sleep.

Enjoying the Coast

We have had a few lovely days walking along the beaches and catching up with friends at Clontarf, Bribie Island and back on the Sunshine Coast, as well as getting the van serviced, doctors check ups, and a hairdresser visit.

One of the usual summer storms rolling in from the west over Brisbane - taken from Clontarf.

Thong tree on Bribie Island

Cania Gorge

Having a few days in the bush again, having caught up on my work and end of month balancing, this time at Cania Gorge as the coast was going to be wet. The camping park is great, only 4 of us in vans, and a group of young lads camping in tents. Plenty of bird life and a great 9 km walk this morning into the gorge which is accessible from our camp ground, to a lookout, a few caves, dripping rock and the overhang. Not as awesome as Carnarvon Gorge, but still picturesque on a smaller scale.  We had a dip in the swimming pool which cooled us down just nice. Just relaxing now for the rest of the afternoon.

Derek competing with the overhang rock.

Farewell Ayla and FNQ

It was a delight to spend the time with Ayla, Sara and Craig, but a teary farewell to them and Far North Qld but not the humidity, now we are heading south to the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane before our return to Finley just before Christmas.

Sugar mills are still pumping, mangoes are $10 a box and lychees $10/kg.

Seriously? #4

After making a mercy dash back to an Apple IT repairer in Cairns after the work computer wouldn't turn on today, we headed back up to Port Douglas along one of Australia's most scenic coastal highways.  And, as if we haven't encountered enough nature on the road these days, there was a dingo standing right in front of us.  Derek says in the 9 years he did this same drive for work when we lived up here, he never once saw a dingo.......let alone 2!

Port Douglas

We are at beautiful Port Douglas enjoying a few days at the beach. It has been fun re-exploring the town as it has been at least 9 years since we have been this far north. The humidity is a bit of a killer making our daily walks uncomfortable, although still managed the climb up to the lookout, around the foreshore and down to the marina.  I thought I would try out the "palm tree pose" photograph after watching 2 European girls for 5 minutes trying to get it perfect.

Ayla Grace Hovell

Our beautiful granddaughter Ayla was born after a very short delivery on the morning of the 16th. Sara and bub are doing very well. We had left Carnarvon Gorge and had decided to get a little closer to Cairns, but our 8 hour day of driving turned into 14 hours and we drove the 1200 km we still had to go to get to Cairns, and got to meet little Ayla on her first day, albeit 9.30pm after Craig sneaked us into the hospital.

first day

2nd Day

Carnarvon Gorge

13-15th Nov. Three nights camping at Carnarvon Gorge were fabulous.  We hiked a total of 24 km in 2 days.  Wore our poor feet out, but each part of the Gorge was so different from the next.  Even did the climb up Boolimba Bluff 200m high, 6 km return with 300m of verticle climb up ladders and steps.

Plenty of wildlife in Takarakka camp ground including kangaroos and platypus.  Very quiet, and we felt like we had the gorge to ourselves. Definitely a place to return to.

The Gorge, and climb and view over the Visitors Centre From Boolimba Bluff

Seriously? #3

The drive today was from Lightning Ridge to Carnarvon Gorge (7 hrs). We had kangaroos in the middle of the road,  horses and cows jumping out at us, and emus and teddy bears watching from the side - all in the "middle of nowhere".  Seriously!

Lightning Ridge

Lightning Ridge was well worth a visit and with so much that we didn't get to see means a trip back for sure. The weather was comfortable, and we walked around the town for most of the afternoon, as well as a visit to the arteasian bore, naturally heated to 40 degrees c. We felt like cooked lobsters after a quick dip.

We did one opal mine tour...but with a difference.  The owner had carved over 700 sculptures in the walls, really unique.  Also the place is a cross between eccentric and just plain stuck back in time.  We felt we had been dropped into an Aussie cartoon strip, real life caricuture.

Overnight in Forbes

Made it to Forbes after a late start.  Over 20 camping along the lake in the heart on town.  Beautiful spot, good on Forbes for being so kind to RV's. 

We are excited about the trip ahead as we haven't been through central Qld. Derek has tomorrow planned with the Australia world cup match tomorrow morning, a car museum here in Forbes, then 51/2 hours to Lightning Ridge - opal paradise. another big day.  Trying to take it "slower" this time.

Baby Hovell due 20 November

We are hoping our newest little grand daughter can wait until her predicted date of 20 November to make her entrance into the world, to give us time to do the 2700 km over a planned 10 day road trip to get to Cairns, leaving tomorrow.

1st Anniversary of Derek's Surgery

The 4th November was 12 months since Derek's surgery.  Although we had to go to Yarrawonga to pick up some alloy wheels for the Landcruiser (second hand), we used the day to enjoy the sunshine and ride our bikes around the lake, have fish and chips, and reflect with gratitude on what happened 12 months ago. In the evening we helped celebrate Jacey's 6th birthday with pancakes, cake and sparklers.

 

Love'n the Landcruiser

We are still trying to work out the best way to travel around this great country.  I have never pictured us towing anything, thats why we bought a Hiace Campervan which has been perfect for camping in Queensland.

But... the weather is just too cold, and we are starting to see that we are not going to enjoy 9 months of glorious warm weather like Qld.  It is November and I am still in long sleeves and long pants, and a doona at night and flanelette sheets.  We went to Melbourne yesterday and the temp was 11degrees at 1pm, yet 17 at 8am when we left Finley. We had only travelled 3 hours south.

So we look like getting a caravan so we can travel no matter what season it is.  So after saying I preferred a Landcruiser over a dual cab vehicle, we had one within a week.  Derek's favourite passtime is looking at cars, and now caravans.

It is a one owner, 100km, not even a shopping centre scratch on it, never towed anything and never been off road.  It is immaculate and we bought it private in Melbourne.  Now just trawlling through the mountain of info needed to make an educated decision about which van to buy.

Best Buddies

Jordan and Derek spend tonnes of time playing Subuteo

Watching the English Premier League which warrants sleepovers, and middle of the night soccer parties, especially now Brighton were promoted. 

This night they were watching Australia play

and now the weather is warming up our backyard has turned into a soccer field, and they play a tournament ever day after school.  Sometimes the girls join in, or just keep score on the Ipad app.

Seriously? #2

Someone stuck eyes on it too.

Glenrowan - Ned Kelly's Last Stand

Had another lovely couple of nights camping at Glenrowan in Victoria. It was a rural camp ground with plenty of kangaroos and birds, and situated under Mt Glenrowan aka Mad Dan's Lookout - another summit beconning to be climbed. So we set off up the Chick Hill Track(40 minutes sheer uphill), then across the top of the ridge for another 4 km, then the final climb up Mt Glenrowan summit 509m above sea level. From here we could see the spectacular view of the Victorian Alps. A 3 1/2 hour round trip with 1/2 at the top.

We spent the afternoon exploring Ned Kelly history in Glenrowan including the museum.  Fascinating since I studied him in my History degree, and now got to see where it all happened, although he did cover a lot of territory in NSW and Vic.

There were several friendly and interesting RVers also camping near us, we are considering a small off road caravan as the weather in Victoria is still so cold at night, and not much fun eating outside.  We are loving daylight saving!

Griffith Citrus Fest

Today we all went to Griffith (just a 2 hour drive up the road) for the annual Orange fest. The sculptures up the main street are based on the famous lemon sculptures in Menton, France.. More than 100,000 oranges and 100,000 rubber bands are used to construct over 70 sculptures by 700 volunteers. Hard to pick a favouite. Glad we have daylight saving as we didn't get back until 7.15pm - still light, and no kangaroos to contend with.

When shopping becomes an overnight trip !

I decided we needed a computer back pack bag from Anaconda and the closest store was Albury, nearly 2 hours away.  So with a shopping list from J&J and Finley basketball club, we made the trip to Anaconda, Spotlight, Bunnings, BigW, Target, Office Works and a hobby craft shop. There is also Myer which  we didn't need this time. After a full day shopping we camped overnight in MaDric - just out of town on the banks of Lake Hume. With a few hours spare before dark we had a drive, long walk, cooked dinner and relaxed a bit around the lake before the cold night air set in. We had only 4 other neighbours also camping overnight. Slow start next morning as it was hard to leave the beautiful spot, but home for lunch. Such a lovely day and a half shopping trip.

Busy catching up.

It has taken a week to unpack and wash inbetween minding the kiddies for 4 days whilst J and J were on a pioneer trek and catching up with work.

We instantly picked up Jaydes cough and ended up with dry sore throats and head colds again. Grrrrr.  We planned to take them all camping, but with Jayde being so bad we just did a few day trips including icecreams and playground time on the Murray R at Tocumwal, and Inflatable World in Shepparton.

We loved having sleepovers and spending time with them after being away for so long.  We even managed to teach Jacey to ride her bike, that is 3 out of 3 now and Jayde is keen to start learning too. So all 3 rode around Finley Lake. Jordan said I was Magical....that I could teach them to ride.  So sweet!

In the process now of relaxing and finding time to plan a few trips away for next year....maybe Flinders Ranges and Eyre Peninsula, southern NSW and climb Mt Kosciusko, and Dandenong Ranges and Wilsons Promontory nr Melbourne. 

Selwyn Ski Resort

We enjoyed a fabulous day just 38km from Adaminaby in the Kosciuszko NP. My confidence was a little shattered on day 2 skiing at Mt Hotham in August, as I was full of flu. Derek and I did awesome today, and managed to keep up with Jenna by the end of the day.  We all did a blue run too.  The wind kept it very cool, but the sun was glorious.  We were lucky the ski season got extended, but there was still only less than half a dozen on the slopes at any one time. This was the last week.  We also explored the ruins of Kiandra the birth place of skiing in Australia and a gold mining village, saw wild brumbies, a stray goat, and many dead wombats. Awwww!

Kiandra, old gold mining town and the birthplace of skiing in Australia.

Canberra to Adaminaby

Early start to get around Sydney and arrive in time for lunch and our first visit to Canberra and a visit to the National Art Gallery Sculpture Garden. We had to do something cultural and some of the sculptures were as awesome as they were weird, plus a walk along Lake Burleigh Griffith. Onto Adaminaby near Mt Kosciuszco NP for 2 nights in a motel. Just had time for a geocache find at Old Adaminaby before dark, which had to make way for a lake as part of the Snowy Mountain Scheme in 1957.

Canberra Lake Burleigh Griffith

Lake Eucumbene is very low at the moment. Some of the ruins from Old Adaminaby.

Toowoon too soon

Each day as we head south we are noticing it is getting cooler again.  We are camping in our campervan at Toowoon Bay inbetween Newcastle and Gosford after a lovely coastal drive. Too cool for swimming, too windy and all too soon we will be back in Finley,  but let the adventure continue for another couple of days.  Jenna has been such a treat to have on our road trip.

Road trip back to Finley with Jenna

Yesterday we flew from Cairns to Brisbane, and today was the start of our road trip back to Finley with grand daughter Jenna. Late breakfast stop at Coolangatta, then we were lucky enough to not only visit Byron Bay lighthouse on the most easterly point of Australia, but we were allowed to join a tour and climb to the top.  No whales sighted today, hoping to see some in the morning from our beach front camp spot at Woolgoolga NSW.

Kuranda Village

Ice cream treat at Kuranda Markets before heading back to Brisbane and Finley on Monday.

Cairns - Sara's Baby Shower - Baby Hovell due 20 Nov

Sunset over Welcome Bay Fitzroy Is

Fitzroy Island off Cairns

Five days to enjoy more snorkeling this time on the Barrier Reef, hiking and controlled eating. It is a great time, island is quiet, we have missed the school holiday rush.  The weather is spectacular and the water beautiful and warm and clear.

Awesome Cruising week

We had a great time with P&O, enjoyed the Cultural show and long canoe ride at the more westernised town of Alotau, saw a glimpse of the culture of the Trobriand Islanders with our personal tour guide Susan, and a glorious day snorkeling on the uninhabited Conflict Islands. Derek spent his 60th on board the Eden with a full day of entertainment as it was too rough to tender ashore at Kitava.

PNG Islanders at the cultural festival

Me and Derek and friends on canoe ride

Susan and her husband and his morning catch.

Conflict Islands