Monday, June 30, 2008

Port Augusta

Quiet day today as we recovered from the driving over the past two days. We then prepared for the journey ahead. No rush this morning and some people got to sleep in, yes even on holidays in a caravan some people sleep in.

Nothing much in the morning apart from washing, kicking the footy, playing games, kicking the footy, having morning tea and did I mention kicking the footy??

After lunch we had a quick look around Port Augusta, heading for the Australian Arid lands Botanic Garden. From here we were able to get some good views of the Flinders Ranges, we intend to visit this area on another trip.




Then to the water tower to get a birds eye view of the surrounding area. Josh was not too sure about coming down the stairs but in the end we all made it up and down safely.




After that is was grocery shopping ready for the next few weeks. We have heard that it is fairly expensive to buy from here to Alice Springs and so we have stocked up on some of the essentials to get us through.

Back to the van, a roast for tea, watched Black Beauty, a bit of TV and then off to bed.

Gee holidays are good!!

Sunday, June 29, 2008

Coonalpyn - Port Augusta


What was meant to be a quiet night turned out to be not so quiet. First a car pulled up and headed for the unit at the back of the park, then the first of four trains passed by, and then at about 11:15pm a car pulled up at the back of the van and headed for the showers. Or at least that is what we think they did! They left just after midnight; in all honesty they made very little noise but was not sure what they were doing at that late hour.

It was also the first night in the van for a while and so it takes a little while to relax and get used to the new environment. I am sure after three months I will be used to it and will have to get used to the bedroom again.

Woke up and got ready for another day in the car, today the destination was Port Augusta where we are to spend two nights before heading off on our circle. This is the point where we turn right and head up the centre or go straight on to Perth, we are turning right!

After breakfast we headed off in a little bit of rain towards Adelaide where I was hoping to find a Harvey Norman to get the GPS fixed. Yes one day into the trip and it is coming up with a fatal error screen and I cannot see the maps. Chels wanted to know what we were going to do now, and of course the answer was, we were going back to the traditional way of travelling, with a map. I am a little annoyed that it has already broken, but what can you do, will have to get this fixed though.

Anyway, we were in the car on the way, travelling into a fairly strong headwind towards Adelaide then onto our destination. After filling with petrol in Adelaide, we continued on to Dublin for morning tea, a little later than we had planned but had trouble finding a park and rest area.


It was then onto Snowtown for lunch where we met another couple who were doing the same trip as we are undertaking. While having lunch, it suddenly came to me that this was the location of the infamous Snowtown murders. I had seen this story on the television some time ago and now saw where the bank was located.


On a positive note, they had some lovely murals painted on some of the walls which were very interesting to see.


It was a very strong headwind all the way to Port Augusta, creating a dust storm at one stage that was blowing across the road. Once we were through it, it all cleared again and became a very pleasant afternoon although the wind continued to blow.

We arrived at Port Augusta just after 3:30pm and found the caravan park, Port Augusta Big 4, our camp for the next couple of nights.

After setting up, it was time to kick the footy, just for something different, this is of course Josh’s favourite pastime.

An early night for all tonight as we catch up with some of the sleep we have missed out on!

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Melbourne-Coonalpyn


What can I say, the day has finally arrived and we are on the road and on our way for three months. After years of saying we want to do it, it is actually happening!!

I woke at 5:30 this morning with the thought that today was the day and we are now leaving on our incredible journey.

Travelling are myself (Stuart), my wife (Cathy), my children Chels and Josh, and my mother-in-law (Skinny). Yes that is right, I have my the pleasure(??) of my mother-in-law for the next three months travelling in the same car and van.

We are travelling in a Hyundai Terrican and towing a Jayco Expanda (16-49-1 for anyone who knows the different models) and plan to call it home for the next three months on our journey.



Today we left Melbourne at about 8:15am, being waved off by our neighbours Betty & Clive as we drove down the court. Betty had made us morning tea that we ate at Ararat before continuing on our journey.

We ended the first day at Coonalpyn (SA) in a caravan park where we were the only campers. When we pulled in and the sign said to find a site, set up and the money would be collected later. It looked like everything was closed but then we saw a man riding a bike towards us and he turned out to be the manager. After paying our $17.00 for the night we set up and made ourselves right at home.

Tomorrow we travel to Port Augusta where the circle actually begins. We leave here and travel north to Darwin, stopping at many places along the way. Then on to Broome and down the west coast to Perth. From here it is back across the Nullarbor to Port Augusta and then home in time to see the Hawks win the AFL Grand Final (well I can only hope!!)

The plan is to take three months to complete this journey with plenty of fun and excitement along the way.

Read on if you are interested!!

Friday, June 20, 2008

Getting Ready

With only one week to go before we head off on our journey, we are getting things ready to leave next week.

The van is booked in for a service on Tuesday and we will have it back on Wednesday afternoon. The car has been services and is ready to go.

The kids have one more week of school, I have a few more days of work to tie up some loose ends and Cathy has finished.

Cannot wait to go!!!