Last Post

I've been home for a few weeks, flat out getting caught up as well as spending time with overseas visitors, and can now breath a bit easier (until the thought Christmas isn't far away arises).  The van is nearly unpacked (not important, not urgent task), thus I haven't started doing the things I want to it.

Looking back on the travels, it all went well!  10,900 kilometres were covered, and most of this only in the lower half of Queensland - this is a big, open country once you get away from the coast and big cities!   The trip home was a straight run from Brisbane to Tasmania (Lanceston) and that was 1,740 kilometres, requiring 202 litres of petrol at a cost of $291.77, with one night only in a caravan park at a cost of $17.  Fuel for the entire trip was 1208 litres, costing $1,771, for an average consumption of 11.36 L/100Km (24.9 miles/Imp.Gallon).

Has it been successful?  My word it has!  It is a unique lifestyle and while a lot of different types of people are wandering about out there in a great variety of rigs, they generally agree it is the freedom that attracts them most.  There was Kev, with a caravan and ute, which represented his major assets after a particularly unpleasant divorce late in life:  He said he could probably get a housing commission unit somewhere, but preferred the freedom of the road - he often had to stay for periods in a long term free park area to save enough money to continue traveling.  There was an elderly lady on her own in a campervan slightly larger than mine (remember, mine is very basic) which gave her just enough room to have a shower & toilet; she'd been traveling for years, for the main reason, apparently, that if she were at home she was overly imposed on by her children and grandchildren! 

Then there are retired or semi-retired people who can take extended trips but return home for part of the year.  One couple from rural Queensland had a farm, left it in their son's capable hands for long periods and hitched their sizable van to their 4WD, setting off for pleasant settings where they enjoy the very relaxed lifestyle, meet lots of different people and swap stories.  They are also full of advice from their wealth of experience but at the same time always looking for new ideas and better ways to do things. 

One couple had a large converted bus pulling a medium sized caravan; they'd (he?) gutted the caravan & turned it into a workshop.  They would do repairs, make craft items for sale at markets and they go where the spirit takes them.  There are many people with larger units they live in and their intention is to live on the road for as long as they can:  Given you could spend nearly a lifetime and not see all of this country, they do intend spending the rest of their life trying.  One chap I met, very helpful and obliging when I needed my starting battery charged, informed me that after he fitted out the large Mercedes bus for living in, he and his wife went on a trial run:  On returning home, he started planning his next trip, whereupon his wife informed him she wasn't going traveling anymore, "...so I found a woman who would..",  he informed me! 

There are numerous free camps, reduced price camping, E.g. in showgrounds in some towns and caravan parks throughout the country.  Thus, traveling is very flexible and well accommodated at various rates, according to your affordability or comfort level.  As for my preference, I like free camping as much from an affordability point of view as well as my preference for my philosophy that camping is roughing it to some extent (reduced 'roughing' with increasing age). 

In choosing my 'unit', I opted for maximum flexibility but reduced comforts (bearing in mind some units have all the comforts of home).  The small vehicle means I can get into nearly all carparks and when finished 'nomading', I can keep it for a runabout vehicle for daily use, it can get me to Brisbane economically (with cargo!),  plus have the odd gettaway to the lakes, seaside or??  The main limitations are once set up you have to pack up again to go anywhere (I.e. if you run out of coffee and have to run to a shop to get more), lack of off road capability but at my age I'd rather not - or go on a tour - and limited space.  Any unit is a compromise, with many factors to consider depending on your preferences; I'm happy with my choice.

As for the future, I intend returning to Brisbane in February 2012 and setting off for the Top End from there when it starts to cool off to do The Big Lap around Australia.  Meanwhile at home, I've put a few thousand Km on the car with overseas guests (great time, they've now returned home), Christmas with the family, getting the van ready for the next trip, a pleasure cruise on a motor yacht around Tassie's East Coast and - in my 'spare time' - weeding weeding weeding. 

So I will close this blog with this entry:  I intend starting a new one for The Big Lap.  Thanks to all who have been following, it has been interesting to note the location of some followers, including Alaska - if that's you, Mike, I'd love to hear what you've been up to since the Uhlmann days. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!

Homeward bound

After leaving Brisbane Sunday 5th Nov at 0615, I had an excellent run out of Brisbane and thus made good time during the day.  I camped at a freecamp just south of Moree in NSW, a distance of 520Km traveled during the day.  The day was quite warm (for me, anyway, at 29 degrees C) and part of the night as well but it cooled off before morning. 

Today (day 2) a distance of 556Km was traveled and I'm camped on Bland Creek, north of West Wyalong.  There were some impressive views so I took a couple of photos to post.  The area passed through is mainly farmland, growing wheat, cotton and I saw some paddocks of corn as well.  On some paddocks harvesters were getting the wheat crop in.

Tomorrow I'll continue to the spot on the Murray River where I spent my first night after crossing Bass Straight in July.  From there, it's through Shepparton (to stock up on canned fruit and other goodies at the SPC Ardmona Outlet to take back to Tassie) and on to the ferry in Melbourne for crossing to Tasmania Tuesday evening.  On arrival, a quick stop in Launceston and on to Hobart and home.

Being able to freecamp has really made this whole trip possible.  I was talking to a couple from WA last night and they were saying there is pressure on from caravan park owners in some areas to close off freecamp sites.  Many campers I talked to said if they couldn't freecamp they wouldn't travel; besides the cost they also like the freedom.  One aim of this trip was to determine the feasibility of freecamping and getting the van set up for it-that has proven successful, so in 2012 I am hoping to "Do the Loop" around Australia.  We shall see.

Last day

Kingaroy

A dynamic centre in a fertile area.  Peanuts are what it is most noted for but the area supplies a large percentage of the nation's beans also.  The soil is rich red and rainfall is reliable and sufficient; it is green and the pastures well kept. 

The local museum is interesting, with emphasis on peanut farming but also other interesting items & historical information on the development of the area.  Peanuts, of course, are amazing and something dear to my heart with memories going back to the tin 5lb pails of peanut butter that were the mainstay of my youth.  Many times - to Mum's dismay - I'd come racing in from some "very important boy business", ask when lunch/dinner was going to be ready, and any period longer than four minutes resulted in quickly making a peanut butter and jam sandwich before racing out the door to get back to 'business'. 

Free Camping

From here, the plan is to free camp for one or two nights at various spots, working my way to Little Yabba Creek, where I'll camp for 4-5 days.  This is to test suitability for free camping in various circumstances and periods (I.e., how long can I stay on the road away from 240V).   "Free Camps" are generally clear relatively flat areas where you can camp at no cost.  Amenities are basic but most have a toilet.  They may also have water, showers (pay or donation), picnic tables, BBQ's and rarely power,  but not necessarily so you have to be reasonably self contained.  Most are pleasant natural settings and well maintained.  Some also have time limits, from 20 - 48 hours, as they are maintained "for the convenience of the traveling public":  This insures better turnover prospects for local business as well as avoiding  permanent camps.  It is a great system as most people I have talked to state they could not afford to travel if they had to pay for a caravan park every night. 

On leaving Kingaroy I camped at Wooroolin Rest Area, which is next to a disused rail and wheat shed, with a large dam just beyond.  Very peaceful, but again, a town much reduced from what it was.  The thought occurred regarding rail - when the trains no longer run, there would be an affect on goods brought in, perhaps increasing isolation by removing a means of transport for locals and other implications suddenly absent and thus decreasing quality of life. 

From there I spent two nights at Kinbombi Falls, a popular spot near a rugged gorge and waterfall.  There are good tracks down into the gorge at a couple of spots and on one trip a wild dog/dingo was seen running off through the scrub.

The next stop, First Settlers Park at Benarkin, again a much reduced town by an abandoned rail line.  Large trucks kept a busy stream into a nearby area and initially I thought it must have been a mine but found out on traveling on the next day that a large undertaking to widen a steep and bendy portion of the highway resulted in the removal of a huge amount of earth.  

My next planned stop was closed so I continued on to Little Yabba Creek, near Kenilworth, arriving Wed 12th October:  My planned stay of 4 nights will actually be 6 nights.  This is my final stop before going to Mooloolaba and thence to Brisbane.  Bevin and Kath were parked nearby, friendly, interesting and a good sense of humour.  Bevin also showed me how to fold the shower tent, a frustrating task if you don't know the 'secret twist of the wrist'.  They had a gas bottle stove, not nearly as complex as the Boulder Creek chap but serves their purposes well:  Another nearby camper had his version, which he used mainly as a firepot and we sat around it one evening discussing this life on the road. 

My stay here is planned to test the sufficiency or otherwise of the electricity storage & replenishment to determine how long I can free camp away from 240V.  In short, it appears to do well, depending on sunlight of course.  We've had overcast times as well as a few thundershowers but the sun was out enough to keep things up:  The weather forecasting has been unreliable, as today is a prime example where a fine day was forecast and it is raining.  A pleasing result, as a lot of thought went into two 105AH batteries, a 100W solar panel, a few bits of wire & a few Anderson plugs, but as I stated earlier, the learning curve is high and the critical factors need to be known (I have a great fear of what I do not know, especially when about to shell out a few hundred for a single battery/solar panel/regulator) as mistakes can be very expensive.

I needed to run into Kenilworth for supplies, a hassle as things need securing for the run and then set up for camping on return:  A hassle I knew I'd face at some stage but 'traded off' when deciding to purchase this type of camping unit.  The main worry is security of things left, as well as having the campsite taken over, rather slim odds, but one is known to be a bit paranoid.

While here I also tested the shower tent and solar water heater and am reassured with the result.  A recently purchased small kettle BBQ was also tested.  The first lot of charcoal proved a disaster (I think it had sand mixed with it to 'bulk' it up and wouldn't burn well), another lot has proven successful.  Like anything new it needs a bit of trial and error to get decent results.

Today is Monday and I will catch up on my notes etc. so I can head to an area where there is phone coverage and manage my email, blog and whatever else turns up.  Hopefully it will be dry, as I will pack up my awning & toilet tent in preparation for an early getaway tomorrow morn, 18th Oct.

Thus draws a close to my introduction to Grey Nomadism, as I will stay in Brisbane until the dash back to Tasmania.  It has been a good project, challenge and experience.  This is a large and diverse country with so much to see and learn.  A lucky market 'find' was the book "Heroes of the Outback", a compilation of three books - biographies I believe -  by Ion Idriess.  After reading it, I am more determined to continue my plans to travel around and through Australia.

Bush Turkeys (no, not the released clowns, but a bustard native to Australia)

One bird clearly visible in the Bunya Mountains National Park is the bush turkey.  The males rake up a huge mound of litter to attract females, who then lay their eggs in it and clear out.  The litter composts, forming heat to incubate the eggs, with the male guarding over them and also adjusting the litter over the eggs to keep them at the right temperature.  There are numerous mounds to be seen, most of them seemingly abandoned, but one had a male in attendance, dutifully raking litter from a broad area by the size of the mound - close to three metres high!  He was so intent on his work he walked (raked?) to within a metre of me:  Of course, he could have just wanted his photo taken, for I took a few of him close up, then he raced up the top of his mound and posed for more!  So I ran some prints off, stuck them on trees within a kilometre radius, "Handsome male with large mound seeks fecund females".

BunyaMountains National Park

This Park is in the Bunya Mountains and is the largest stand of Bunya Pines in Australia.  Bunya pines, Araucaria bidwillii are a remnant of the Age of Dinosaurs and not a true pine at all.  They grow quite large and at one time were logged as a commercial timber, however, most of the remaining trees are now in reserves.  This National Park dates back to 1908, with subsequent additions increasing the size from it's original 9,112 ha. to 19,493 ha. today. 

"From December to March, bunya pines drop cones containing edible 'nuts'.  For countless generations, large groups of Aboriginal people gathered at the Bunya Mountains to take part in what today are known as the bunya festivals, coinciding with this natural event."

 "Custodians of the Bunya Mountains and Blackall Ranges (nearer the coast) invited people from as far south as Clarence River in northern NSW, west to the Maranoa River and east to Wide Bay to join such gatherings.  For local and visiting groups, bunya festivals were a time for ceremonies, settling disputes, renewing friendships, passing on lore, sharing ideas and revitalizing spirituality." (Nat'l Park brochure)

The area was recognised for it's natural beauty by European settlers as far back as the 1860's.  It's mountains are covered in a variety for forests and natural meadows, there are expansive views and it is generally cooler in summer.  The rainforest is very pleasant to walk thru, being relatively open due to the high canopy, contains a diverse flora, including many epiphytes - many of them orchids - living solely in the canopy of the trees.  There are excellent walking tracks taking one thru the Bunya Mountains which go thru the range of forests - rainforest, grass tree forests and eucalypt forest - as well as some of the natural meadows and other features such as creeks and waterfalls.  There are plenty of birds, as evidenced by the constant chorus of birdsong, however most are shy and if seen at all only fleeting glimpses as they flit through the low scrub.  One notable exception is the bush turkey - they seemed so engrossed in building their mound that they would hardly notice you unless you were very close (one or two metres).  Full compliments to the Queensland Park Rangers for such excellent work.  

Covering all bases of threats to both plant and animal, Mother Nature included stinging nettle, a stinging tree - capable of reaching great size - and plenty of ticks; probably on the theory of 'what doesn't kill us makes us stronger'.  Thus, amidst such beauty one must not be too complacent.

Natural meadows, called 'balds', give a good view from the range out to the broad flat land surrounding it.  The balds are natural and a unique ecosystem, requiring management to keep them as such.  They were most likely burned regularly by Aborigines and if protected from fire will gradually be taken over by scrub, then forest. 

The stay in the campground was a privilege!  The grass is kept 'mown' by wallabies, the bird life is plentiful - the 'usual suspects' being currawongs, magpies and ravens. but also the odd satin bowerbird and superb blue wren.  My plan was to walk the tracks adjacent to this camp, which covered the eastern side of the range, then on my way out, do one of the walks on the western side.  However on the day I left it rained so I went to Kumbia, connected up to 240V and stayed for two days, the final morning being awakened by a very good thunderstorm!  The rain subsided mid-morning and I then moved on.

Tree Homicide

The beauty of the Bunya Mountain National Park rainforests also harbours the deadly Strangler Fig, but unlike Drop Bears, this one is only of concern to other trees.  The fruit of this tree is attractive to a range of birds, who, after eating the figs, drop the seeds high into the crowns of other trees.  The seeds sprout and send aerial roots twining down the trunk of the host tree to the ground.  These roots establish themselves and the grim game is on.  The fig sends down more and more roots which ultimately completely encircle and strangle the doomed host tree.  The host tree dies of course, and the Strangler Fig then continues to grow in it's own right, and can become quite massive.  If they are in a more open area, they keep sending roots down and become a large tangle of roots at the base -one huge tree in one park in Brisbane it is a great Hide-and-Seek area for the children.  I failed to see a single Strangler Fig in a Bunya or Hoop Pine, and I must ask the Ranger about this:  They are certainly villains, even attacking their own kind.  Sneaky?  Foul Play?  Part of the "Survival of the fittest" game.  And people picture Mother Nature as some warm, fluffy old duck wrapped in soft cuddly clothes.

And back again in Brisbane

The week at Bargara was very relaxing.  The resort is right on the beach, and a lovely beach it is!  Apparently it is an egg laying area for turtles, so much of it is protected (and rightly so).  Bundaberg is nearby and that is where they make Bundaberg Rum, so a factory tour was certainly on the "Must do" list.  Six million litres of rum are produced each year, 97% of which is consumed in Australia.  They were preparing a special release and our tour group was privileged to see the much more manual intensive bottling process:  The special 1 litre bottles are put onto the line manually, washed & filled as per normal (automatically), and the hand corked & sealed.  The release was going to be in five days hence, and the waiting line had already started!  There are actually Rules for Lining Up!  Collectors are certainly keen!!  We got to sample some rum and I bought a few bottles also.

The Big Barrel, the information centre for Bundaberg Ginger Beer, was also on my list.  It wasn't a factory tour, rather a self guided tour through the Centre describing the history, process etc.  Very interesting, informative but perhaps, having brewed ginger beer in the past, not as enlightening as the rum factory.  

The town of Bargara is a bit out of the way, but is a popular holiday destination as well as a very pleasant place to live.  Being out of the way a bit it was later being 'discovered', but there are a lot of very nice new houses, with the older original ones on the market, most likely to be torn down by a new owner, either for a new modern house or a block of units.  The beachside land is beautifully developed into parklands, with walking tracks, picnic tables and BBQ's for quite some distance.  Very pleasant and much appreciated, judging by the numbers using it.

The daily routine wasn't strenuous by any stretch of the imagination:  Walk along the beach, perhaps a stop for coffee or ice cream, a drive to see the area or washing clothes (real washing machine & dryer!), long shower in the heat of the day and then tea followed by another walk.  I tried fishing but the afternoon winds were quite strong & the beach reasonably shallow so I couldn't get out beyond the breakers, which were quite a way out:  I didn't have to clean any fish either.

The week ended too quickly and the drive to Brisbane on 24 September was an uneventful five hour drive.  To date I've traveled 4328 km since leaving Brisbane on 30 August on this trip, and 7,737 km since leaving Tassie.  The aim was/is to trial the Grey Nomad life and it has been an experience!   Living in a van takes some adapting, it seemed every time I stopped I re-arranged things; yet I still seem to dig deep when I need an item, but less and less.  Power capacity has been greatly improved with the solar panel charging my stand-alone single 105AH deep cycle battery which keeps my laptop running and therefore communication with the world.  I'll be replacing the current house battery - a normal car battery - with two 105AH deep cycle batteries to allow me to free camp longer.  Cooking is pretty basic, mainly to keep washing up to a minimum:  Water isn't so much the problem, rather disposal of grey water.  The people and their rigs vary greatly.   At the top are large motorhomes with all the comforts, some including a car in tow.  A fellow in Gin Gin was getting his converted large bus cleaned up after 6 months free camping in remote areas, to return home again.  Another couple I met sold up, bought a motorhome to live and travel in.  Many have a 4WD with a caravan or campertrailer and go out on trips, returning home for a while to plan the next one.  There are even some traveling on a motorcycle with a trailer.  They all seem to talk about the freedom, some of them find it the best lifestyle for their economic circumstances and they all seem to agree it's a good life!  One fellow told me he and his wife returned after a few months away and he was looking forward to the next trip:  When his wife said she wasn't going anymore, he found another woman and took off again!  There is always someone willing to help if needed and they are a supportive community generally. 

Despite it's penchant for gravel roads & garden paths, the GPS is essential.  Having the Camps6 sites programmed in is terrific as they can be a bit out of the way at times.  For getting around larger towns & cities - essential!  You can quickly find the nearest petrol station, shopping centre, specific shop, Eg Jaycar, even the nearest toilet!  With the advantage of Bluetooth as well, you can be assured of never missing a telemarketer's call.

Now to plan the next rip.

SCRATCH SCRATCH Scratch scratch

Beware the sand flies of QLD beaches.  Three days minimum - scratch scratch scratch.  Sure cures (so I was advised) include Listerine, Dettol & baby oil (50-50), vinegar - all of which were at the shops, meanwhile I was mile away in the very pleasant setting of Boulder Creek Rest Area, a free camp by a mountain stream.  It is ~50km west of Mackay, up yet another gravel road and difficult to find - the first time:  It was pretty crowded tho, as many keep returning. 

Kev was camped next to me and was working on his fridge, as it wasn't working on gas.  I guess I helped him but he showed me how to unblock the gas jet, which apparently will sometimes get blocked from waxes in the gas.  He's been on the wallaby track a while and explained that things going wrong are to be expected, which comment was confirmed by the lady on his other side, a great grandmother who's been traveling solo for quite a few years.  Russ & Bev were happy to discuss their stove made from a 9kg gas bottle and it was a very versatile unit indeed!  It had a plate, grill and a camp oven that fitted snuggly into it.  An ingenious and practical recycling to say the least.  Many campers also had dogs with them so I got in a bit of dog walking as well, although they were small and not really happy about rock hopping across the creek - unlike Big Red.  Two pleasant nites (bar 'scratch scratch scratch') were spent there, then moving on to Gin Gin - near Bundaberg - for a nite.  I left early to be sure to get a spot, as many campsites fill quickly but Gin Gin is huge!  Also popular.  I wanted to be close to the Don Pancho Resort, Bargara, where I'd booked in for a week from 17 Sept. 

From Townsville to Bundaberg was interesting, especially after the wide flats of the outback.  There are more hills which appear to be remnants of volcanoes or some ancient geographic uplifts.  Eons of erosion have produced flats and where there is access to water (artesians, mainly, I believe, although some of the rivers could supply irrigation) cane is the main crop.  I also saw some banana plantations and even a few paddocks of corn.  Between the major cities there isn't much so as soon as the petrol gauge gets to 1/2, I look for the next servo, usually a roadhouse.  Away from towns and access to water there is a lot of rough grazing and bushland.  The roads are generally good but there are roadworks everywhere repairing damage from the devastating floods a few months ago.  Along the coast the traffic is very heavy but moves steadily:  In the outback I'd travel at 80-90 km/hr and move over when approached by the odd faster vehicle but on the coast there is always someone behind so I travel at or just under the speed limit and continually get passed!  But I get there, and "there" currently is Bargara, near the sea and now to get on with enjoying my week!

Townsville

The Strand in Townsville is certainly a vibrant, busy place.  It is a beautiful long beach area that consists of a terrific waterpark for children, BBQ areas, various memorials, including their Cenotaph, a Coral Sea Battle Memorial and a National Servicemen's Memorial.  Townsville hosted a National Servicemen's Reunion on the weekend, a well attended event of which a friend from Tasmania attended and we'd agreed to meet while he was in Townsville.  Said mate attended a reunion there a few years back and we set off to re-visit the Thuringowa RSL Club - it is an unusual Club indeed, being way out of town, in a paddock on it's own, and certainly not easy to find, but we (he) did!  We talked to some recently discharged Diggers and enjoyed the ambience of the Club!  Activities organised for the reunion included a concert, Dawn Service, March and Memorial Service and other social functions.  The concert featured Normie Rowe and Judy Stone as well as the brilliant 1 RAR Band - a great open air concert on The Strand!  Well done Townsville!  On Sunday we attended the Dawn Service and then I got photos of him marching into Anzac Park, and while he attended the Memorial Service & BBQ after, I had to leave to get to my next planned stop, called Funny Dunny.

Funny Dunny sits about 20km off the main road and is close to the beach.  So what's funny about the dunny?  Can't say, as it is one of the modern functional composting toilets found in remote areas, so my guess is the original may have been unique.  The area is a popular recreation area with use over the years obvious.  It also, unfortunately, has those nasty little sand flies and I can state from experience that Listerine doesn't deter them.  Unfortunately I haven't yet found the Nature's Botanicals insect repellent - designated for horses but is a natural product used by stringers apparently.  It is a pleasant spot with quite a compliment of bush turkeys - start tossing out a bit of food and a dozen of them will soon gather around!  Two nites were spent here with the thought of perhaps a fish feed but they are not biting (I should have been here yesterday:  Further up by the channel - 2km up the beach - is where they are....).  It has been a good rest tho and a good test for the solar panel, which proved successful! 

Townsville!

Now in Townsville, a bit ahead of plan but the blown tyre sort of changed things:  Now running two new front tyres and much more relaxed. 

I've had some funny things happening with my photos and posting them on the web album.  Internet is sometimes on the fringe and I suspect they may appear not to be loading, so I load them again.  I think it's tidy now, hope you don't find them too boring.

I'm in a caravan park on the beach, very pleasant indeed, the plan for the evening is to sort of meander down the Strand and find a nice restaurant for tea. 

On and on

From Carnarvon Gorge I headed to Sapphire, with a stop overnight at Springsure, under an awe inspiring sandstone bluff which is floodlit at nite.  For some reason my GPS seems to think I prefer gravel roads, for it not only took me along one, but led me up the garden path to Mt. Ogg station, a dead end, and then got lost itself!  Getting dark, cows & roos sharing the road and the petrol gauge dropping like a rock, but fortunately the GPS got itself oriented again & got me out, an hour late but I filled with petrol in Rolleston and continued to Springsure (and on to Sapphire the next day).

Sapphire is a very interesting place in the gem fields, with Rubyvale just up the road.  A lot of sapphire mining and very interesting sapphires as well, but no rubies.  Sapphires come in a range of colours with orange being the most rare and yellow next.  A fossiker camped at the rest area took great delight in telling me all about it, as well as his life story - I gather it can get lonely out on the diggings, esp since there are enough paranoid fossikers with guns to pretty well prevent a lot of wandering onto neighboring claims!

Sapphires are spewed up by volcanoes, erosion then deposits them in streams which eventually get buried themselves, so the miners dig down until they hit the 'wash' layer which is the sapphire bearing belt.  They mine this, then screen & wash it to find the sapphires.  There is also topaz & zircon.  Said chap had an orange sapphire, 3 carat polished, which he told me was worth $900.  If it were cut it would yield a 1 carat gem worth the same price.  He intends to keep it and have it mounted in a ring for himself.

 Longreach was the next stop, with the Stockman's Hall of Fame firmly on the agenda, and an informative & interesting place it is!  They have a show they put on also, which is very enjoyable. 

The Qantas Museum was also visited with the tour of the Super Jumbo quite interesting and informative. 

Spinifex and Dinosaurs!

Moving on from Longreach to Winton, and the change in the vegetation is quite marked:  From rough grazing to what appears natural bush and it looks drier.  Winton is a jewel in the Outback, being well set up for tourists and having some very interesting attractions.  The main draw for me was the home of 'Waltzing Matilda' but the dinosaur discoveries were also unique as it is the only place in the world where they have footprints of what is termed 'The Dinosaur Stampede'.  An incredible sequence of circumstances resulted in this rather amazing feature.  First, was a mud flat just the right texture to capture the tracks, being located next to a creek where critters went to drink.  Then, while a lot of smaller dinosaurs were having a drink, a T. rex equivalent runs out of the bush for dinner.  The smaller dinosaurs run everywhere, leaving plenty of footprints, plus Rex's prints are very well captured.  Then just the right type of flooding to not wash the prints away yet cover them with silt happened, eventually deposits covering them to at least 70m which was then washed away again (its only took 100million years).  They were discovered but not recognised for what they were for a few years, then the penny dropped and preservation of the area of footprints undertaken.  Now there is much effort into finding and re-assembling dinosaur bones.

They are the only sequence of prints of moving dinosaurs on earth, and were studied by the animators of Jurassic Park to make their models move as they would have 100 million years ago.  They have subsequently discovered a lot of dinosaur remains in the area, many new species:  Apparently Australia was thought to have had very few dinosaurs but they now know there were a great deal of them here.  There are also many fossils of ferns, redwoods and Australian pines (araucaria).  A totally amazing and unique experience!

The Waltzing Matilda Centre is a Must See and is certainly very well done.  It goes thru the history of the song and I certainly learned much from it:  It's origins are actually Teutonic, I'd tell you more but that would ruin your visit there.  It is an iconic song to say the least.

There are also boulder opals found in the region,  while the re are very good ones to be found, most are rather ordinary:  As the Park Ranger stated, "No one I ever heard of got rich opal mining in the area.".

Not far from the Dinosaur Stampede (well, only about 70km) is Old Cork Station on the Diamantina River, so I headed off there as well - all gravel road and all pretty bumpy.  I found the River but never did find the Station House, tho only a few km from it.  I took the River Road back, not a wise move as it turned out.  That country is flat as, so any slight dip soon becomes a rather good waterflow in the rains:  Driving along at 70-80 km/hr and you suddenly dip slightly BUT in the recent floods the bottom of that dip is scoured out, causing some interesting and unique waltzes of the van!  While the song goes "...for the rain never falls on the dusty Diamantina...", it's pretty well true because the region was dry as and very dusty too:  The recent rain (probably a 1 in 100 year event) was the exception, and that only to prepare the crossings to add interest to my trip.  I might add the weather is clear, sunny and warm.

The campsite by the Long Waterhole was enjoyed for the nites in Winton, and that's it for now - time to move on again.  Rather a long blog but I've discovered I need to allow extra time in my trips for actual travel time and for collating facts, photos etc.

Qwik update as I sit in the waiting room of Barr's Tyres in Charters Towers.  On the way up from Winton a front tyre blew.  I was going to replace them when I got back to Brisbane but not really comfortable about driving all that way with no spare, given the other front tyre is well worn also.  It is amazing how many discarded tyres & tyre bits are along the highway - I  noticed every one of them!  Just to keep my paranoia up, when I went to start the vaan this morning the battery was dead.  I organised with a neighbor to charge it but it seemed fully charged, so to the obvious, and Yes, the terminals were dirty!  Should be off soon to Townsville and lunch with a Tassie mate who is there at the moment.  Tonight I'll free camp just out of Charters Towers.

Cheers all!

Carnarvon Gorge

What a fantastic place!  The Gorge cuts thru a sandstone belt with gorges leading off to the sides as well.  The vegetation varies from drier eucalypt to wet rainforest in the gullies.  The view from Boolimba Bluff takes in much of the Gorge and is well worth the steep climb up:  There is a section ONLY 300m of 1 in 3 incline which was achieved but with a few rests.  The view from the top was well worth the trip.  Mickey's Gorge was also quite spectacular, as well as a much easier walk.  I can certainly recommend a visit if the opportunity arises!

Leaving the area at 3pm for the Springsure campsite was interesting as my GPS took me thru the scenic route along the backroads, complete with getting lost and the petrol gauge getting uncomfortably low.  The road was gravel and mainly access to more out of the way stations, including Mt. Ogg where the road ended!  It was getting dark, there were cows  roo to worry about, I had no idea where I was nor did the GPPS, but suddenly the GPS figured out how to get me out and all ended well, if an extra hour longer.  Partway along I heard a conversation on the radio about dropping some plugs off with Sally, who was at the gate collecting them mail, and a few minutes later I passed a lass on an ATV:  We waved and I bet she thought "I wonder if that crazy Tasmanian knows he's lost?".  The road ran thru a valley with sandstone cliffs rising from it a little back from the road, a very pretty drive.  A few stops due to cramp, plus a few quick leaps out of bed during the night, but the view was still worth it.

I finally made it to Springsure at 7pm where the campsite was under a huge bluff, lit up with floodlights, a very nice backdrop.

The next day was a drive to Sapphire, passing thru Emerald on the way.  The day was spent affixing Anderson plugs to both batteries & the solar panel, plus helping a fellow from WA in the adjacent van switch from halogen spots to LED's.  They invited me for tea and a good chat after.  Tomorrow it's off to the gem fields & local tourist attractions:  I would guess this would be a good spot to pick up some sapphires!

Townsville Ho!

After a fortnite of life in The Big Smoke with it's temptations and hustle & bustle, it's off again on to a quieter place.  Brisbane is a beautiful city with plenty of lovely parks, great weather etc but it is still a city.  So I am taking a circuitous route to Townsville to meet up with Tasmanian friends on 10th September.  The plan is to take an inland route via Carnarvon Gorge, Emerald/Sapphire, Long Reach, Winton and then up to Hughendon, Charters Towers to Townsville.  I leave Townsville on 12th Sept and meander toward Bundaberg, where an opportunity for a weeks stay availed itself from 17-23 Sept.  Then back to Brisbane.

Determining how much power I need to produce to be reasonably independent is proving a challenge:  One fact I discovered on my last trip is that you can't count on 'free camping' when you like.  In the area I traveled many of the campsites were pay sites - while reasonable, it begs the question of  "Is the expense of being reasonably self sufficient justified?"  More information needed, this trip should help. 

In Brisbane I obtained a portable 100W solar unit to trial:  If it provides enough to keep me 3-4 days away from a power point, that should then suffice, else I will need to look at permanently mounting a panel on the roof, with perhaps an extra 105AH deep cycle battery (checked into on arrival here but VERY expensive).  So this run will provide me with additional knowledge as to the final setup.  An isolating solenoid kit was obtained as well, yet to be installed. 

The van is great for city running as it isn't much bigger than a car and fits into most parking spaces.  Dodging traffic in Brisbane was feasible and fun, although I'm sure it is a big help to have Tasmanian license plates!  Avoiding the CBD is also essential for me but it should be OK there as well, just not in peak hour.  A good GPS helps as well.  My time here has been very useful in getting bits & pieces I need, helping the family I'm staying with and indulging in pizza and ice cream.  So, the van has once again been reorganised and I am looking forward to traveling through some important historic places.  

Journey's End (for now)

Tomorrow it's back to civilisation (?!?) after eight days traveling about behind the Sunshine Coast.  I went to Borumba Dam where I thought you could camp on the waters edge, but the campground 1km from waters edge (BUMMER!).  I'd purchased a fishing license hoping to use it there but the dam access was limited - great if you have a boat as the ramp is excellent, other than that it is steep & scrubby along the banks.  The campground manager is a metallurgist (retired) and has worked around the north of Australia, with high praise for the Kimberley's but loves the northern remote areas generally.  He and his wife run  the camp, and an excellent job they do.

From there I went to the southern end of Wivenhoe dam for two nights, camped near the waters edge.  It is a very popular campground, on the waters edge but the fishing wasn't great at this time.  Lots of campers with canoes and they go out after fish and redclaw, a feral yabbie type that is quite good eating, I've been told.  So, a yabbie trap is on my list.  And now as the sun has set, I shall get my fire going again and enjoy my last evening in camp.

On the (backroads) again

Continuing the wandering - I will include names of places I visit even tho they may not mean anything to some, or in fact, be able to be found w/o a copy of Camps6 Australia Wide" BUT some of you out there said "Keep us informed of your travels".  Left Little Yabba Picnic Area for Browns Creek Campground near Eumundi, with a stop at a rest area near Kenilworth to get online and do emails.  Both of these are 'free camp' areas, thus very few facilities, certainly no power.  Three nights is the limit away from power to charge the batteries as the fridge cut off after 1 1/2 days. 

At Browns Creek, a Census lass came around, so I filled out the form: Just grey I guess, not invisible.  The Browns Creek Campsite was nearly full when I arrived reasonably early in the day, I suspect some campers didn't take much notice of the 48 hour limit.  It is also not far off the Bruce Highway, a very busy (therefore noisy) highway. 

I phoned a Grey Nomad couple in Buderim and arranged to catch up with them on Wednesday, which I did after visiting the Eumundi Market and a drive down the coast road from Noosa.  They have done a fair bit of camping in various vehicles so it was very educational for me to talk to them, as not only what areas to consider visiting, but also setting up, esp. for solar, as they had set up their current unit, a small truck with a poptop camper integrated onto it.  Overall, it is not much longer than my vehicle but has it's own dedicated dining area and bed, so there isn't the evening & morning re-arranging for sleeping & day use.  I'm jealous, of course, however my view on camping is that you are roughing it a bit:  With two people the extra 'convenience' would be essential.

 

A lot of good knowledge & experience in relation to solar power, extra water, great tips and places to camp was imparted  quickly, with enough notes to support my not-so photographic memory, BUT what I did photograph was a squirrel glider on it's nest box on their deck!  There is a family of 6-7 living there and they come out late in the evening after the kookaburras (who fancy a tasty squirrel glider) have gone to roost.  What beautiful animals they are and they bring a lot of joy to their hosts (and visitors as well!). 

 

Leaving there this morning (11 August) I set off for Borumba Campground on the Borumba Dam, but as there is no power there I stopped the night at Island Reach Camping Resort in Imbil, not far away.  Once again, the GPS 'guided' me over all nature of road whereas on the map it looks straightforward to travel on main roads.  However there was a bonus as I traveled thru a State Forest with signs pointing off to a scenic lookout well worth visiting, even if I'm not sure if I could find it again. 

 

Met my first Solo Grey Nomad today, a chap roughly my age with more stress than he can handle at the moment so he took off for a few days with three dogs.  He designs & builds houses, tho now retired, but has undertaken to build a house for his daughter, a work-in-progress interrupted by some acute health problems, thus the stress.  He did admit he is reluctant to go to Brisbane for the treatment he needs, hoping - as we mere males do - that with a bit of rest today, tomorrow we will be Superman again.  Again, he had a wealth of experience traveling and was also knowledgeable in solar power and power options generally for free camping.  He had a gas fridge he bought for $350 and reckons it cost him 80 cents/day to run.  He also has a portable solar panel and was happy to discuss it's virtues.  An interesting chap, and in the last couple of days there is much information to think about.

Yabba Creek!?!

The week and a bit in Brisbane has been productive and also relaxing.  Of first priority was a decent GPS; I settled for a Garmin nüvi 4190T and am very happy with it.  A major reason is that there is a download available from Camps6 Australia, loading all the camps listed in their book onto the GPS, which to me is invaluable.  It also has Bluetooth so I can talk handsfree when a call comes in (there is never anywhere to pull up when the phone rings when you are driving), so I will be assured of being contacted by all the telemarketers out there!  For city driving there is Advanced Lane Guidance, a 'must have' for me as my 'scenic tour' of Melbourne proves.

I have re-arranged the van somewhat, with the aim of anticipating usage and sorting things more in the order I will use them, E,g a set of clothes, rather than have all trousers in one cupboard, shirts in another etc.  That way some of the 'deeper' storage areas don't need to be constantly accessed (usually a procedure involving moving a lot of other things to get to them).  I also purchased some bins to better sort things and have them more readily available. A new summer weight sleeping bag and setting up the awning should help as the weather is now warming up.  As extra tabs were required for the awning, the sewing machine was required!!

So on Sunday, 7th August, I keyed '162' into the GPS and set off following it's instructions.  Let me explain this a bit more:  The sites in the Camps6 book are listed by State, name and number.  On the GPS, you select the State and the names are listed, so you can scroll thru them to find the one you want, or you can key in the relevant number as a quick means of selecting your goal.  Such is faith (or perhaps laziness) that I didn't bother checking the map, until, after continuing along ever narrowing & winding roads, -  to the strains of "I'm Just an Okie from Muscogee" appropriately - I came to the end of the road!  The GPS stated I had a few more Km to go, but I was in a cull-de-sac surrounded by houses.  So I looked at the map.  The first thing I discovered was I should have keyed in '168'.  I then noticed some vague tracks shown on the map, but if they existed, I doubt if they'd have been trafficable by my van, as I was on quite a hill and the only way was down, sharply!  So I backtracked to the main road, continued on and along the way noticed the path the GPS was trying to take me originally was a very deep, steep rugged valley!  Arriving at the Little Yabba Picnic Area, just south of Kenilworth, QLD, I set up the van, complete with awning!  The only other vehicle was another HiAce from Tasmania!  We exchanged greetings, spent the evening in polite conversation and thus was the first day of my true goal-less Grey Nomading.  From here I'll review other camps in the area to decide where to go next, meanwhile, I shall spend the day here and move on tomorrow (Tues).  Unfortunately there is no phone reception here; tonight is Census night, so that could be interesting!

Brisbane!

Arrived Brisbane on 29th July!  I'll base myself here until November, looking at exploring QLD & perhaps northern NSW, if it's not too cold down there.  I'll spend maybe a week-10 days here before venturing off again so I'll have to work out where to go/what to see.

The extra day in Morven was spent catching up on things and exploring the town.  There is a very interesting museum run by local volunteers which is well worth a visit.  There is a Kerosene Tin Hut on the site, popular during the Depression but which is now quite a rarity.  There are also some splendid replicas of early buildings on display, showing the ingenuity of the early settlers.

From Morven I drove to Kumbia and stayed the night there, so as to be at the top end of Bunya National Park:  My plan was to drive thru it the following day on my way to Brisbane.  It is a dense forest with some walks to various points which are both interesting in the forest they pass thru and in the views at the end!  Some campgrounds are located in the park, permission must be organised beforehand, I gather (I didn't camp in the Park but it would be a very nice spot to spend a few days).  I was talking briefly to a Ranger who was concerned about the damage wild pigs are doing to the Park, which I gather is considerable.  It was a fleeting conversation as I really stopped to ask for instructions to get to the Warrego Highway, which he also provided.  Thus I departed, drove thru Toowoomba and on into Brisbane, where I shall have to lay out plans for trips for the next three months.

QLD

On leaving Griffith I traveled thru the Darling Downs to Bourke.  Along the way I passed just west of the geographical centre of NSW:  Being only halfway across the State (from E to W), it brought home how vast this 'outback' is, bearing in mind it continues north thru QLD and W into the Northern Territory and Western Australia.   It was mainly flat, red soil and ranged from orchards/vineyards/intensive cropping up from Griffith in the irrigation areas to extensive grazing above that to natural low scrub - lightly cleared in parts - in the more remote areas.  There were emus and wild goats along the verges, with only a few kangaroo seen:  There was, sadly, plenty of roadkilled roos and also wild pigs, which must be nocturnal as I never saw any.  I stopped at a small roadhouse for coffee and further up went into a lookout over a copper mine. 

Bourke actually has a jetty on the Darling River - compulsory photo - and I took the opportunity to do a bit of shopping before settling into the caravan park in North Bourke for the evening.  The caravan park was a very nice one, with excellent clean amenities and obviously popular as travelers kept rolling in well after dark.  

In the morning I delayed long enough to cook bacon & eggs (muesli bars are ok when you want to get away quickly but...) then hit the road for Charleville, about a five hour drive.    Arriving in good time, I then turned east, continuing on to Morven, and a bit of good luck that was, as at the Morven recreation ground they have it set up for campers.  It is a very pleasant spot with emus roaming about nearby.  So pleasant, in fact, I've decided to spend an extra day.  The neighboring campers invited me for a BBQ and a chat, which made for a very social evening.  

A Night in Griffith NSW

Due to a cold, my first day and a half was spent lying doggo.  I'd hoped to have a decent look about and sample some of the original Italian cuisine on offer in the town, but travel on the ferry has it's risks.  Sunday I got to the fruit & veg market before it closed at noon and then made up a hot lemon & had a snooze.  At 3pm, feeling much better, I went into town & had a very nice spaghetti.  I hadn't been back at the caravan park long & was invited to a BBQ, which I went to on condition I didn't have to eat much. 

Earl (not their real names, I've changed them to preserve anonyminity), had just put an extension on his caravan and that was where we met.  There was his son Tim - quite the computer gamer & hoping to get to a big gathering in LA; Bud, who is doing an excellent job fitting out a 1966 Leyland bus; Bluey, a jack of all trades; and Don & Phyl, who are currently living in the park & working locally.  Apparently Phyl won a couple of meat packs at the local Corio Club the night before and this was the mainstay of the BBQ; she also prepared some excellent salads to go with.  Don, a 6'4" ex-boxer, took over as Chef and no one decided to challenge him - a good thing actually because he did an excellent job!  He covered the grill with oven paper, which helped keep the grill/plate clean but also did an excellent job with marinated meat as it kept it's moisture, didn't burn and thus was great tasting!  Don is currently a truck driver and gave a running commentary of anecdotes while cooking, no expletives deleted.  He also gave me excellent advice on UHF channels & usage, as well as what to do when approached from behind by a faster moving road train:  DO NOT slow down, maintain your current speed as he is adjusting to that, can see much further ahead than you from his lofty cab and when he puts his blinker on, wait until he is well into the other lane before you slow down.

Bluey has traveled about the country, part chasing work and - I suspect - part curiosity as to what's over the next hill.  He has picked up a range of skills and informed me the best way to condition a fry pan or wok:  Heat it with a blow torch until it is nearly hot enough to ignite oil, then pour fish oil in it, running it all over the inside.  Apparently fish oil settles into the pores best.  He also mentioned putting a cast iron plate near the top of my water tank so that it gets exposed when the water drops & then covered when the tank fills again - this will ensure you get the iron you need from your water.  He had numerous tales & bits of advice, and later sent me a photo he'd taken of lightening, which was superb!

Bud was apparently the project leader in the extension, having had building experience.  As stated earlier, the work he has so far done in his bus conversion is excellent.  He intends to do the big loop around Australia and estimates it will cost him around $90,000 - I think that includes his vehicle and the conversion costs.  He ran the bus down to Victoria the following day to register it in Victoria, where apparently it is 1/2 to 1/3 the cost of QLD or NSW.  Tim was going to travel with him and I reckon it would be a great mini-trip!

Tim is in his late teens and into computers, esp gaming.  He has won major competitions in Australia and hopes to go to a big gamers convention in LA.  He was offered a job by a firm in the US, but was under 18 at the time so couldn't accept.  He kept the conversation lively and is knowledgeable on a wide range of topics.

Phyl arrived with salads when the BBQ was cooked and joined in at that time.  She discussed the local area and the changes her & Don had seen in the ~18 years they'd lived there, then later in the evening drove us up to the scenic point overlooking the town.  It certainly was much more widespread than it appeared in the daytime, plus you could see lights from some of the nearby communities, actually as far south as Darlington Point (35km away). 

A fascinating slice of life of a small group with a broad range of experience and skills, a 'can do' spirit and an enjoyment of their lives.

To the Mainland!

The ferry crossing was uneventful, which is good!  Not long before there were 13m swells in Bass Strait.  On arrival in Melbourne I got stymied by new roads and ended up going thru the northern suburbs to get out - a long, slow, gear grinding route - fortunately I had a CD of soothing instrumental music.  Once on the Newell Highway things improved and I made good time to Shepparton, where I stopped in at the SPC Ardmona outlet, stocking up on fruit& nuts to last me a while!  As it was still only mid day I kept going to the NSW border, camping on the Murray River banks, a very pleasant and peaceful spot indeed.  The laptop works well off it's DC adapter, the LED bunk light is truly a marvel and I discovered the pure sine wave inverter was going to be used sooner than expected as my phone badly needed charging.  But important things first - a good brew of coffee!  Plus an early night, as I didn't sleep well on the ferry and was tired.

The 30 year old superdown sleeping bag again worked it's wonders - I slept very warm and discovered it was 3 degrees C when I woke up!  That sleeping bag has sailed the East Coast of Australia, a couple Van Dieman Circumnavigations, countless weeks camping in remote areas doing assessment and bushwalking excursions undertaken by the children.  Magpies and cockatoos were greeting the new day in their usual noisy fashion, the mist rising over the river with the dawn, what better way to wake up?  Other than a quick coffee, things sort of moved at tier own pace.  This included installing the inverter, fixing a cigarette lighter socket serving the house part and also the 12V fluoro light, which started working again when I started to take it apart-I see an LED replacement in it's future.  By 9am I was ready to go, so set off first east along the Murray about 40 km, then back up to the Newell Highway thru Berrigan.  The country is flat as, with cropping where they have irrigation and grazing where they don't.  The weather was sunny and the cumulous clouds were whiter than white against the blue sky.  The horizon seems endless, no doubt because of the flat terrain and the country seems to impose a feeling of limitless on you; I can see how poets like Banjo Patterson were entranced by it. 

On reaching the Murrumbidgee River I started looking for a campsite along its banks, and that is where I sit now.  Met some GN (grey nomads) from Adelaide who have been all around Australia in a caravan & 4WD, which they were happy to discuss.  Then there was the usual talks about generators vs solar etc. giving me the benefit of their experiences on power generally. And so tomorrow it is off to Griffith, maybe for a day or two before continuing on, but now it's off to sleep.

On the Road!

"One small step..." a link to the web album has now been established:  Click on box marked "Viking Journey Web Album" above the entries.  It only has a couple of photos at the moment but additional photos will be uploaded as the travels progress.

All things now finalised, booked the ferry for 20th July - an evening departure & a night crossing.  My plans at this stage are to travel to Brisbane via Griffith, Bourke and Charleville, where I'll head east to Brisbane. This should give me a good feel for traveling and further fitting out requirements for the van - mainly to get it more self sufficient power-wise, with solar the most probable option.  From Brisbane I'll do some trips, including one to Townsville in Sept. to meet up with a Vietnam Vet friend who will be there at a reunion.

Packing has been interesting to say the least.  What to take, or more to the point, what not to take, has been a challenge.  So, first in was the fishing gear (Man School had a unique set of priorities), tools took a while, there are way too many clothes packed and some won't return, and you know, I'm sure that sewing machine will generate a story or two! 

Getting the van ready has been interesting.  Testing it at Cozy Corner on the East Coast was fun, winter not-withstanding.  The discovery of leaking coolant on this trip resulted in replacing the radiator, the only fault found in the pre-departure Service.  The drivers seat had a list to port, so I had it's frame straightened & the padding made more comfortable.  The van is currently set up mainly for frequent connection to 240VAC, with a 12/24 VDC fridge, 1.8A battery charger and a small wet cell house battery.  I intend to mainly 'free camp', so will need some method of storing/generating more electricity for longer excursions.  Studying electricity options proved rather involved, so still have to do more work on the exact details for solar, my preferred energy option.  So far, a 'smart charger', 105AH deep cycle battery, inverter and a laptop DC to DC power pack have been obtained.

A UHF radio has been installed, requiring an antenna bracket on the front bullbar and the discovery that it is very difficult to get any access behind the dash!  I can only conclude that the whole dash comes out as a unit somehow, but equally difficult is finding a workshop service manual. Unfortunately, I purchased a GPS navigation system, which was a 'dud' purchase from a supplier very unwilling to either repair/replace the unit or come up with a refund.  The supplier stalls, balks, gives useless 'instructions', requests returning the unit 'for inspection', which he claims it works fine but the unit is returned in the same condition it left, i.e. not working properly.  Meanwhile charging me postage both ways, hoping by stalling long enough I'll give up.  I will probably have to write off the purchase, but will broadcast the supplier - helomolto - all over the internet. 

I return to Tasmania in November, and will remain until after New Year's, when I plan to head for the mainland again, cross the Nullarbor and into southern Western Australia, where there are some terrific forests & reasonable fishing spots. 

I return to Tasmania in November, and will remain until after New Year's, when I plan to head for the mainland again, cross the Nullarbor and into southern Western Australia, where there are some terrific forests & reasonable fishing spots. 

So, sad goodbyes having been said, the final checks having been made, it is On The Road - with a few nights in Launceston along the way!  One final photo of a snow covered Mt. Wellington on my morning walk on the beach.

25May2011 - First run in the new camper, a round-a-bout way to Launceston for a birthday party weekend.  I headed to Cozy Corner near The Gardens in NE Tasmania.  About 5 hours driving, with a couple of stops for photos,  plus a lunch break at Spiky Beach (opposite Spiky Bridge), a spectacular bit of coastline which overlooks Great Oyster Bay and the Hazards.  Some excellent photos! 

Set up near the beach with the sound of the surf pelting in.  It will take a while learning the setup routine, which will include re-arranging where some gear is stored:  More on that later when I get it worked out.  Tried a bit of fishing but didn't have any bait and they weren't touching artificial lures.

Dark came early, so I went to bed early - not the least because the drive was a bit exhausting.  The sound of the surf was not unlike a strong wind, however the wind was actually very light wind so no worries about losing my poptop.  Slept very well, until nearly 7am!  Cold when I got up but soon dressed & had the kettle on - note to self:  work out how to boil kettle quicker!  The coffee was enough to 'kick start' me, so I left for my next planned stop - the Croppies Point side of Waterhouse Point, where we had anchored on our last Tasmanian Circumnavigation and we had an excellent feed of flathead and squid.

There was a 6 km stretch of bone rattling washboard road to Waterhouse Point Reserve, and THEN signs saying the roads were unsuitable for any but 4WD, so I turned around & headed back over the same 6km of washboard road.  I decided to drive to Launceston.

The van went well, some rattles to be sorted, I don't know if it is the road or it has some sort of vibration inherent - on smooth roads it is fine.  The seat is a bit funny, with a 'list to port' so will need to be looked at.  Also, the coolant indicator came on so I added some water & fixed it.  It is not an indicator I was familiar with, so I stopped & looked it up in the manual.  On the run home from Launceston the van ran much smoother than when starting out, so the few days running were a tonic.   A few things to sort out on the pre-departure service.

In the beginning...

Being my first blog, there is a bit to be learned.  The intention is to post comments on my travels around Australia.  I have just purchased a campervan for that purpose and am getting it set up for the journey.  I will travel up Tassie's East Coast the middle of this week on my way to Launceston for my grand daughter's birthday party as a trial run and perhaps wet a line!  So, on my 68th birthday, I am learning how to "Blog" and preparing for a total change of lifestyle as a Grey Nomad. Should be interesting.

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