Appollo Bay

Hi Everyone, I am having a very quiet time here in Appollo Bay. It has been disappointing weather wise too. Mostly rainy, both heavy rain and light showers, overcast for most of each day and quite cold. I am at a caravan park outside Apollo Bay, called Marengo Holiday Park, about 2 kms from town, which made it a bit difficult!
I found a masseuse when I first arrived, and as I have been having some trouble with my neck and shoulder I booked in. She half killed me , but that did the trick,  I went back yesterday for another go and feel really good at the moment.
 I have taken some short walks around the beaches, the colour of the water is beautiful blue/green, and the rocks are greeny grey.
I stayed at Colac, with a solo lady I met at the motorhome rally at St Arnaud, she took me for a few drives, and out with some various friends for meals, and then when I got here she came down and we went for a drive around. This is what is difficult with a motorhome, no wheels once you have parked.
 I am also having trouble with (one of) my tvs! One doesn't work, I',not sure why, and the other one doesn't get a decent picture, only SBS and Win, neither of them working properly, pixellating and picture failing on and off all the time. I am totally fed up! Apparently bthe park is not a good reception area! 10 days and virtually no tv!
As I said a very quiet time, but I am getting lots of handsewing done!
 Keep well and safe travelling to my fellow travellers, always  thinking of you
 Love vicki

solo rally

Hi Everyone, I have been attending another motorhoming rally over th last ew days. It is at ST Arnaud, sort of eastern, mid victoria. ( I am sure it has an official name). I left Nagambie and drove through some minor roads to Heathcote, and then on to Logan, which is actually only a pub. They allow parking behind the pub, very quaint!, they have a shetland pony which has been photographed in the bar, it is an appaloosa (spotted) and its name is Henry.
From there we drove on to St Arnaud, where we parked at the recreation ground. A lot of sporting facilities, a good club house and a few pokies! plus a good restaurant! There were  about 30 motorhomes from the solos, plus quite a few from other chapters, all up about 60-70 motorhomes. There was a lot of stuff happening at St Arnaud over the weekend, we had a welcome from the Mayor on Friday night, and a bbq. there was a street market, on saturday morning and then we went to a concert by Eric Bogle with a meal on sat night. That was quite good, then Sun there was a symphony orchestra production of Beethoven's 5th. plus a monster town garage sale. There was a small quilting display and I chatted to the ladies whose work was on display , and tomorrow I am joining them at their quilting day.
 I met some lovely ladies,who have kindly extended offers of hospitality for me and doigs donga! So I think it was a great weekend. The solo folk have been  tremendously helpful. One couple from qld. have sorted out my bedroom tv, a fuse in the power cable was blown, and they also sorted out my "little" problem with the toilet, a new o ring got that happening. Amazing the help all these people offer to pefect strangers!
I hope you are all having a wonderful time as I am. my thoughts are with you all
much love
vicki

Revisit Kinglake

Follow up to Kinglake

Hi everybody,
I have been having a really lazy time at Nagambie, Victoria, with my friend from way back in Exmouth and Donnybrook, days. We have talked our heads off , drunk bottles of bubbly, put a few bets on the horses, (Melbourne Cup) and Oaks etc. On the weekend we went to see her daughter, who I last saw when they left WA, in 1988!
Courtney is a beautiful young woman whom I have the utmost admiration for. She and her partner had been in their own home at Kinglake for 6 months when the fires went through in feb 2009. They lost everything! Apparently as most people, they also didn't have top insurance cover, but they did have some. They strated to rebuild quite soon after, and have now got a gorgeous new home on their land. Her man works in WA in the mines, fly in fly out, so she carried most of the load of the rebuild, while also still being at uni finishing her degree and working full time. whew!
Imagine having to go out and get everything from scratch. Undies, all clothes, shoes, bedlinen, china, cutlery, just everything.!! She made the comment that she washes her clothes frequently because she still doesn't have enough work clothes for a week's work! I don't know how she stood up to all that trauma!!
Any way we had a wonderful yak, and she recalled the times when as a child she came over to wa to be with her fatherfor summer holidays and visited my ex-husband and seeing my kids, Genevieve and Ben, I hadn't really thought about that, so it was interesting to have some insight into what was going on in the family after I had moved on.
I had a phone call today from sister Jean who is cruising on Radiance of the Seas on her way to NZ. The ship was in Melbourne, and tonight we saw it on TV before it left harbour for Hobart! Once again I am quite envious of any one else cruising when I am not!
I had a few bets on the Melb Cup, had 3rd, on a bet plus a sweep. Then proceeded to put those winings on Oaks day, and those winnings (some of them), on Stakes. whooee! $241.00 on one race, $200.00 on another and generally picked a few winners! Not so good for my hosts though!I have really enjoyed chilling out in Nagambie, and ready to move on tomorrow.
Hope you are all keeping well and safe travelling. love vicki

Old Friends

Hi Everyone,
This will only be a short blog as I have been having a quiet time.  I had a great time in Bright, doing another patchwork class, I actually managed to get it half finished, and hope to show it to you on the next page.
After Bright I drove to Wangaratta, and then to Strathmerton to have the reversing camera replaced. The Wangaratta caravan park I stayed in was quite lovely, except it had a peacocok roaming around and they are incredibly noisy! I would rather have roosters!
On my way to Strathmerton, I developed another problem, a fuse blew that was connected to my tail lights! I called into Cobram to an auto electrician, who happened to be the RACV so that meant as he "fixed" it there was no charge!
Unfortunately as I carried on to Strathmerton it blew again! I camped at the local rec ground, the night before and then sat it out with the motorhome bloke while he sorted out the camera. When he got up on the roof, he found the wires were all touching, ( a big no no!) and then he sorted out the fuse! No more problems, thank god!
Then I drove to Nagambie and have spent the rest of the week catching up on 25 years of news with my old  Exmouth and Collie, friend Merrilyn. Drinking "bubbles" and talking! We haven't finished yet!
So good luck with your bets on the Mebourne Cup! keep safe and well,
love vicki

Vicki in Victoria

Hi All,
Since leaving Mildura/Wentworth I have travelled with Carol and Rob, and Rob's brother Graeme and wife Hazel, to Corowa, in NSW, and back to Victoria. In this area you cross back and forth across the border almost on a daily basis! Half the time I don't know where I am!
We drove together to Pental Island, near Swan Hill, and had a very pleasant night with a big open fire in a "bunk" room that is open to everyone. celebrated Carol's birthday, with a cake and candle! Next day, off to Corowa, and I am having trouble with my reversing camera. We stopped at a place along the road that was a motorhome building business, Graeme had a hatch that kept popping open, they repaired it on the spot.
Arrived at Corowa and had a lovely 5 days, with the others in caravans, it meant we had vehicles to sightsee, and as Rutherglen is just down the road we went wine tasting , again!
 Rob replaced my 2 way radio aerial , that fell off on my way from Dorrigo, Got a ladder and tried to fix my reversing camera, (again) and sorted out my tv problems. He and Carol are great friends!
After a wonderful 5 days we parted company, Rob and Carol to return to WA, Graeme and Hazel to go south to Portland, Vic. and me to head further east. I have been calling my friend at Nagambie, but no answer. After travelling to Beechworth, a lovely Township that has retained most of its, old style shop facades, got a great sweet shop, wonderful dress shops, a fabulous antique jewellry shop, (and No I didn't, although the temptation was huge!) and lots of lovely historic buildings dating back to 1860's. I continued on to Tallangatta, a little town that was moved in the 1950's due to the damming of the river (forget which one!) and Lake Hume was formed, apparently nearly as bigv as Sydney Harbour.  On the way I drove around the Lake and crossed over on an unusual bridge at Bellbridge, (photo),  and saw some very beautiful scenery. The usual hairpin bends and lovely mountain roads, but not too steep.
More trouble with the reversing camera, so I decided to backtrack to the motorhome place near Yarrawonga to see the people there. Spent more than 3 hours with "the man", but no luck! planned to get a new one, he could do it next week, so I slept on it. Drove to Numurkah towards my Nagambie friend and Hallellujah, she called me! She is away for a few days so we arranged for me to go there Thursday week. Bit the bullet and decided to go with the new camera, to hell with the cost! I have got pretty good with side mirrors, but it is vital for the reversing camera for backing into parking spots.
So to fill in the time I backtracked, again, heading for Bright  as they are having their Spring Festival, including a patchwork exhibition!
I am at Myrtleford, another lovely highland town with Bright on the itinerary for tomorrow. Next Blog!
Love to all and safe travelling to all,
vicki

Vicki in Victoria

Mildura Country Music Festival

Mildura Country Music Festival

Hi Everyone!

I have had a hectic week since my last blog! I drove 1378 kms (about) to Wentworth to meet Carol and Rob, old exmouth friends, and Rob's brother and wife, for the CMF. I did it in 2 days really and the last day was 780km, I was totally stuffed when I arrived! I was driving on automatic pilot. The problem was my GPS twice got it into its head to take me "off road - sealed- that is" and I had a 57 km section of stony, corrugated, 6 flowing creek crossings! windy and hilly, etc. get the picture? that took me 2 hours to cover as I barely managed 30km per hour! Hanging on to the steering wheel like grim death! When I finally got back onto sealed roads I had to crank up the speed and was doing about 90-95 kkms per hour. That's fast for me! Had to fill the motor home with diesel twice in one day, that was a first!
Luckily the GPS decided to behave as I was arriving in Wentworth, as I would never have located the caravan park, as it was tucked away down by the river, The Darling, now. Next morning it was off down to the main street for markets and outdoor music, got very hot, and , darn it! I had to buy a top as I was soo over dressed! It was pretty warm out on the open listening to the music, you take your own chairs and that was the routine for the week. The advantage of staying at Wentworth is that all the acts, come to the several venues in town and we can walk to them, so that having a few drinks is easy for everyone!
 A few nights we ( read Rob) drove to Coomealla, either the golf club or service club, and had meals there, and then listened to music in different lounges/auditoriums. These clubs are massive places, considering the towns are pretty small, but apparently they were all constructed before Victoria got pokies and everyone used to cross the river to gamble! I think we are pretty lucky in WA not to have them, with the accompanying gambling problems, although they generate money for local infrastructure.
Anyway the music was what we were here for! Pretty well all country and western, with country /rock and roll, folk, and a bit of old style popular. The musos' are very talented, and the backing groups are amazing, someone arives for their gig, gives the backing group some sheets of music, (unrehearsed) and they play like magic! I was mostly blown away by the quality! Got really wrapped up in some of them and spent a small fortune on cd's. The whole group of us (11) would buy some each and share them around and copy them on to our ipods. So of course, my ipod was full before I left WA, and I had already bought more cd's, so someone went into Mildura for something and I came out with an ipod classic - 160gig! I am filling it fast! The "acts" are noone I had ever heard of before, they are known as "independant" country stars, as opposed to Tamworth country music stars, but it is amazing that 95% of the venues and shows are free! Some of the Clubs expect you to buy a meal to get a reserved seat at the shows, but that is very cheap anyway, and sometimes you can get into the venue after the "diners" have been seated.
The accomodation of all sorts, has been booked out for months, I booked in about Feb I think, and only today has there been some departures, it winds up tomorrow after a big outdoor show at a oval in Mildura where every artist performs one song. We only had one day when we couldn't sit outdoors because of rain, and we were all transferred to the Wentworth services Club, a huge venue. Most of the time I haven't lasted the length of time at the venues, there is a lot of sitting, of course, and my light weight portable chair, is just not comfortable enough, but I have thoroughly enjoyed all the acts I have heard. Am tempted to book in for next year! I better wait a bit and see where I am! Obviously it overlaps with Dorrigo and I would need to decide whether I am going to do that again, or not, first. Probably patchwork would win out. Any way I must close, I haven't taken too many photos, so you may be saved the problem of looking at them! I will be checking out the camera in a minute!
Good health and good luck, and happy travelling to those on the move!
Love vicki

Misty Mountains

Misty Mountains

Hello Everyone,
I have been a bit slack, lately, but i am back on the ball now! i spent a few days in Brisbane with my cousin Kim, again, we really just relaxed totally as Kim was getting a cold. We finally set off towards the south as I needed to head that way and Kim needed to get to Coolangatta in a couple of weeks. We went to Tambourine Mountain as I wanted to revisit the gorgeous little village I had been to with my friend Meg about 8 years ago. Took us a couple of wrong turns, but we finally found it. It was just as I remembered it!  The road is very scenic- read hilly and windy! There is nowhere to stay there so we continued on to Canungra, and stayed at the showgrounds which were beautiful, with  a little creek behind and they supplied firepots and wood. Really enjoyable. I took off for dorrigo via Casino and a night at the RV village, It is huge! Somewhere along the way ,I took a wrong turn and ended up on the Eastern Dorrigo Way! A pretty horrendous road as i soon found out! after about 10 kms there was a strtetch of 5kms of dirt, quite good actualy,then some more bitumen, and then some more unsealed road, with a sign grader ahead! Ok I thought, it won't be too bad. Ha!! Following the road I found it was slippery, very twisting and hilly, I couldn't turn around and the surface was very greasy, so I just pushed on at 20kms  an hour. which meant it took me an hour! by the time I got into Dorrigo I was a complete mess!
Luckily once I got settled into Dangar Falls Lodge and sorted out my patchwork, I was ready to go. The tutors all stayed at the Lodge so I was able to get rides in, and then I met some ladies who were staying further out so I got rides with them. I had a wonderful time again, although I did some similar types of projects, they were vastly different techniques. It is always good to learn new things.
 So I did a seascape, very imaginative!, started a gorgeous solarsystems quilt, did a Carolyn Sharkey silhouette landscape, and then the stained glass wall hanging. Not bad for 6 days ! my back will take about 6 weeks to get over it! Now I am hell for Leather to Mildura for the country music festival. Got as far as Armidale, in horrendous conditions, over the Great Divide Range, in very strong wind conditions, (across the top of the range), and then hail or possibly sleet! I was glad to pull over at Armidale.
Until next time Vicki

Fiji

Hi everyone, sorry about the delay, had a bit of a problem whilst in Fiji. Couldn't access the internet at all. First photo is yours truly on wharf at Levoka.







This is Reef Endeavour at Savusavu, a really pretty place, we tok a trip from the harbour to a national park, which included a gorgeous waterfall where I managed to take a swim. It was freezing cold water but hugely refreshing, and when you swam under the waterfall it was like a massive hailstorm massage.! The weather was very nice, not too humid, and really balmy breezes.
Here I am in the creek/ river from the Booma
waterfall, behind the waterfall, the crew were diving off rocks into the water. Definitely not my cup of tea! We had a lovely picnic lunch with all conveniences, including the ships bar! and then it was off to a village (with an unpronounceable name) for a Kava welcoming ceremony and dancing and a Lovu, (which is like a hangi) all very tasty, especially after we were told the ships chef had supervised the cooking and supplied most of the food!
We met some lovely people on board, 2 sisters from WA, a scottish chap and his aussie wife who was a scream! an unfortunate Hawks supporter, and many other interesting folk. Kath and I had a really good time, the "ship" was only half full, which meant the crew knew all our names and were very keen on looking after us!. I did some snorkelling, and saw lovely coral, beautiful tropical fish, and the water was absolutely blue! Really amazing.

We spent another couple of days at Club Fiji Resort, in a beachside bure, the place was gorgeous! We lolled under thatched roof cabanas, read books and generally totally relaxed. The resort supplied a shuttle into Nadi, so we took it and wandered around, the shopping was pretty nice! Naturally I couldn't help myself and just HAD to buy myself another pearl! Very similar to my Tahitian pearls, I don't know how many more i need to provide for my grandaughters!
I am now back in Queensland, met up with my cousin Kim again, and now heading south to Dorrigo for my patchwork workshop, so I think i will only be posting new blogs fortnightly.
So until October, keep smiling and keep healthy,
regards Vicki

Back to WA

Hi All, I flew back to Perth on Friday and picked up the hire car and drove to my sisters in South Yunderup. We all went down to Busselton for Mums' 97th birthday last Saturday. Had a nice lunch together, she is very well, a bit forgetful of course, (who am I to talk!) but other wise still her same old self. Amazing really!
I then did my Patchwork shop duty for 2 days, went up to Perth for specialist visit, my sister looked at a new sewing machine, and other wise had a peaceful time. Then Thursday we drove to Dongara for our biannual quilt retreat. Our numbers were down a bit, only 10 of us, but we still achieved a lot. On Saturday we all got together and "pieced" a new charity quilt, which Meg will quilt ready for our April retreat. We had our "annual general meeting" and generally had a great time. On Sunday after lunch we broke up, and went our merry ways. My sister Jean and I went on up to Geraldton as I needed to do some banking business on Monday.
Got that tidied up and found I could still afford to keep travelling! and then we were on the road back to South Yunderup. Made good time and arrived back by 4 pm. after nearly 500 kms. Now on my way south to my other sister and to see my daughter. Couldn't catch up with my son as he and the family went to Bali for a trip.
Good luck, good health, and I want you all to say a prayer for my friend from Adelaide who is waiting for a Kidney transplant. Good luck  Adele I am thinking of you.
Love to all, Vicki
ps sorry there are no photos!

Finally Qld!

Hi Everyone, I am actually back in WA,but this starts in Qld!
I have travelled through some beautiful countryside and include (or in the next blog) a few lovely photos that I should have put in the last blog. One of the photos is of Parkes "Dish" which was incredible when viewed in the "flesh" so to speak. Huge , but not really intimidating, set in a natural bush setting and to think that 40 odd years ago, Australia was in the forefront of recording mans first steps on the moon. (I remember it well!)
After Parkes I spent some time at some of the towns with artesian pools, Moree, Goondiwindi and then Esk. Some great caravan parks with wonderful hot pools, I dug out my swimsuit, ( a WEE bit tight) but what the heck! I just jumped in. I swear the hot pools eased my back pain for a few days.
As I ventured further north and east, I was gobsmacked at the damage the flooding had caused in the Lockyer Valley. TV doesn't do justice the breadth of the damage. I drove through the Helidon/Grantham/ Gratton area, fabulous black soil that looks like it could grow anything, and there were all these houses surrounded by cyclone fencing and Danger signs everywhere, 90 homes in all were declared uninhabitable in quite a small area. I felt for the families who have lost it all. In the recent papers, the local shires have allocated new land to the 90 householders via a ballott system, so although these disasters occurred about 6 months ago, they can now start getting on with their lives.
The weather is fInally warming up and I have managed to get back to free camping, ((maybe get my budget back on track), and stopped at a lovely spot on the way toMaleny. I was very keen to visit this area as Paul Mercurio has been on TV with his cooking show, showcasing the produce of the area! It is up in the Mountains inland from the Glasshouse mountains and is really beautiful. I dropped into a couple of markets at Kilcoy and then Maleny as I travelled across the mountain ridge.
 I stayed at the Maleny Showgrounds, which were very nice, a lot of free/cheap camping there!, Monday morning (last) I drove down from my mountain refuge to Caloundra to the Sunliner motorhome people to have a few things checked out in th van. While waiting for thm to do their thing, I drooled over the new models in their show area! wow! I had my leaking hatch checked out, and the reversing camera, which is giving me some grief. and I have temporry repairs and was off to Brisbane.
After a trying attempt at finding a caravanpark in the vicinity, I finally booked into Dicky Beach(!)  a very nice park! then set off the next mornign to my Brisbane booking. More dramas, as it was a public holiday, and as my cappucino machine was supposed to be being picked up by courier for repairs!, I had another days delay for that.! After all that stress, was it any wonder when I arrived at my prebooked parking for the motorhome, I was too big! Luckily I always plan on being very early for my airport arrivals, I had time to be forwarded on to another airport parking place that could accommodate my big rig! I had a pleasant flight from Brisbane to Perth on Friday, picked up my hire car and drove to sister Jean's place at South Yunderup by 6pm.
 Saturday we drove down to Busselton for Mum's 97 birthday lunch with Jean and her husband Lawrie and my other sister Maxine. A very fattening and satisfying luncheon was enjoyed by all!
So look at the next blog for the photos, (unless I manage to insert them ) happy travels and enjoy yourself, life is shorter than you think!
Vicki

Finally Qld!

Headin' north

Hi Everyone, I finally feel like I am getting somewhere! I haven't actually travelled far since last week, but I have been heading northeast (a bit) and am now starting to work on my tan again!
I travelled to Parkes and visited the "dish" telescope. it is really quite large, it is on about a 3 storey base, and is spectacular. I travelled on through Gilgandra, the home of the "cooee" march which occurred at the beginning of WW1 and gathered men from the towns between Gilgandra and Sydney to enlist to go overseas. They started in Gilgandra and walked to Sydney over about 2 months (I think) they gathered up about 300 plus men.
Then on to Coonabarabran to meet a fellow who was on my Lake Eyre flight tour, I was giving him some of my photos I took. I parked the van at his property and stayed the night. I then forwarded to his daghter in law, about 30 photos he chose, to her computer! Alec has about 1000 Aberdeen Angus cattle which he works with his son, over 2 properties on either side of the road. they have 3/4 grandsons and none of them are interested in the land, I found that rather sad, as Alec's parents had begun the property almost 100 years ago.  He took me out in the 4x4 to see the cattle! and a heritage listed shearing shed. He has a huge house with wonderful scottish antique furniture, that really wouldn't look any good in any other size house.
Then on through Gunnedah to Narrabri for the weekend. I was meeting a group of motorhomers who were having a gettogether. Unfortunately only 4 of them turned up, but one couple were transplanted Western Australians, so that was interesting. The weather was getting nice and warm, I finally started to wear t- shirts again, and even got out the shorts, need a wax job though! The forecast was for showers starting on the weekend, but although overcast today, no sign of rain yet. It came up very gusty winds and although I had put up the annexe, I had to take it down. I sat out side in the sun and read one of my books and got out my hand sewing again and started up my tan again!
I also had a bit of trouble with my set top box, but I stoppped off at an electrical place and the guy very kindly retuned it for me and now I am back in the throes of tv watching again! I could have done with the ignorance after watching the Dockers on Friday night though! I'm really afraid it looks like the end of our hopes for the season! The next few weeks games are really going top be tough.
Well I hope all your footy teams are doing better for you! Good luck and laugh longer. Love
vicki

Sort of beyond the black stump

Hi Everybody,
I arrived at Hay, and went to the showgrounds which were very pleasant to stay at, amentities were good for the price! I parked near a couple in a 5th wheeler who were having their first trip with it. It was nice to feel superior for a change! I lent them a power cord first and then they were happy to use my great little tables.
I walked over to the Hay railway station, which has been restored beautifully and houses a museum from the days of WW 2 when Hay housed 2000 POW's at a time, variously the Dunera Boys, Jewish mostly, then Italian and finally Japanese prisoners. There is a story about the Dunera Boys on tv or movie. Then I walked over to one of the local clubs for lunch, which while I was waiting I played the pokies and won $52.20! was I pleased!
Later on we had happy hour and had a few drinks. The couple claim to know friends of mine from Victoria, maybe maybe not!
Set off to Griffith, and found my Gps has a defiinite mind of its own. Obviously there are often several routes to places, but mine directs me sometimes over the worst roads it can find! I ended up choosing a sealed road (57kms) over an unsealed road (27kms) and found the sealed road was a goat track with bitumen over corrugations! Maybe i should have chanced the dirt road! I thought the van was going to be shaken to bits!
Then on to Lake Cargellico, a lovely spot, nice people and the caravan park supplies a sausage sizzle and damper on thursday nights, but they also did a pumpkin soup, jaffles and damper on sat night. they have a roaring camp fire going that burnt all day and night. I did my washing as the days were absolutely warm and sunny. I sat out and read and dozed, but when the sun slips down low doeas it get cold!Brr.
Drove off this morning to Parkes , via the Utes in the Paddock, amazing artwork, about 14 Holden utes, upended and painted by various artists to represent all sorts of things, very quirky.
Hope you are all keeping well these cold wintry days, can't believe I will be home in 19 days! see you around!
 love vicki

Sort of beyond the black stump

Swan Hill

Hi everyone,
Here I am at Swan Hill , Victoria, having driven over from SA after I needed a wheel alignment and couldn't get it done in SA unless I drove back to Adelaide. So 2 new front tyres later, and a wheel alignment, I was still in Swan Hill as my Dr rang, and was sending me a script so I had to stay in Swan Hill and wait for the mail.
I visited the pioneer settlement, which I had last seen in 1977 when John,(my first husband,) and the kids and I went round australia in a Kombi Van. It hadn't changed much! So I spent a whole day a5t the settlement and did a 2 hour trip on the paddlesteamer Pyap, which was flying the Murray River flag.

Then I waited for 3 days for the scripts which didn't turn up! Something that
I didn't expect was that in Victoria they have already gone digital with tv. which explains why I didn't receive tv once I hit Victoria!, So I made enquiries and decided I needed a new tv/set top box. My tv in the bedroom was not working on dvd so I went ok, one new tv, and that was hangingoff a bracket, so no room for a set top box and the other tv is on a shelf so it could use the set top box. But I bought one too big, so I took it back to retravision, and between all the attempts at parking and getting the electronics people to install, it took all day, but only $54 for instalation. I highly recommend swantronics! They were marvellous! But at the end of that I was sick of Swan Hill, so I drove off to Kerang. Nice park on Loddon River, I met a couple from Pental Island caravan park whom I met a week ago. Also "Cuddles and Co", staying at the park, travelling buskers they were playing at the Kerang markets, we hd a campfire each evening, a few drinks and a song or two. They were very pleasant evevnings. Tonight it started to rain fairly early in the day so we only had a short time around the campfire. But a very pleasant time. There were bunch of dancers, ballroom, staying at the park. Evidently each year they come and stay and dance their little toes off. A dance Friday night, a Ball sat night, another dance sun afternoon and then for those who wish to stay , a club dance on Monday night, these ballroom dancers are really into it!
I didn't join them, no partner, but who knows! there apparently is a booklet detailing all the dance club events through out the states. Might have to get one to see when the dances are.
Keep your feet twinkling! and keep healthy
Love Vicki

Goodbye SA

Hi Everyone,
As you can see from the title, I am finally on the move again.!
When I posted the last blog I was just back from the Lake Eyre trip. I stayed on in Adelaide for another couple of nights, did my washing, etc. But mainly because I was getting Doigs Donga a service as I had driven another 20,000kms and hit 62,000. so it was time.
Not too expensive as when I had had it done at Skippers in WA they gave me the rest of the 4gallons of oil . So I was able to halve the cost of that. However they told me I needed a wheel alignment, and the front tyres were getting quite worn. As I was heading back to Loxton to my cousins' again, I thought i would get it done there. I knew there were quite a few tyre places there and thought great!
Ha Ha!! No such thing! nobody does truck wheel alignments in SA except in  Adelaide!!! Did the service people tell me that? No! So here I was in Loxton and faced with the option of returning to Adelaide, waiting til I got to Brisbane, or seeking out somwhere else. The people in Loxton were very helpful and found me somewhere in Renmark that used to do it, That guy passed me on to Mildura, who passed me on to Swan Hill. So guess where I am heading for now? You got it ! Swan Hill! A bit out of my way towards Brisbane but at least it is not backwards!
I had a quiet few days in Loxton with my cousin, we talk non stop about the family tree, our childhood days when she used to stay with us on "boarder weekends", and about Loxton and its history. We stayed mostly in as it was bitterly cold there, ave 13o, and -3 a couple of nights. I stayed in her house but even though she runs a heater, it doesn't get into the bedrooms! brr! We went out for lunch one day, a friend of hers had a birthday, to the Loxton Hotel and on Friday night we went to the Loxton Club. I bought  $5 of raffle tickets and won the meat tray! I shared it with Pauline as I didn't have room in my freezer.
We went to the local football match on Saturday afternoon as all 3 of her grandsons play for Loxton, but only one was playing that day. Needless to say Loxton got thrashed!
I took off about 10 ish to Mildura and checked into a nice caravan park, did a load of washing and 5 minutes after I finished hanging it out, it started to rain.
So I thought I would get this out while the clothes were in the dryer. The people parked behind me are Victorians, surprise , surprise! but they know an ex victorian, nurse friend of mine, who worked at St Johns in Geraldton. So those of you from there, please pass on to Nannette, hello from me. ( I don't know their name, but I will get it as soon as it stops raining!) No such luck! but I remember they said they were from Ouyen, where I believe Nannette comes from and they saw her a couple of years ago. In Geraldton (I presume), or at Victoria( maybe when her father died?)
 Well the rain is definitely pouring down and I am snug in my little house with the heater going. Only problem is I can't get the TV to work. what about Downton Abbey?? Yvonne can you tape it for me? Can somebody?
I tried real hard to win the 30 million but only managed 3 numbers and a supp! Guess I am still on the pension!
Wishing you all good luck, good healthand good weather!!
Love vicki

Lake Eyre Flight Tour

Lake Eyre Flight Tour

Hi All,
I have had  an amazing 3 days starting Friday at 530am. Brr. Adelaide was really freezing at that hour! I taxied to airport, from where we flew to Olympic Dam with qantas. A short(!?) delay and we were picked up by Wright Air in 2 Cessnas, there were 8 of us, and after stowing the luggage, 7.5kgs each, we were off into the wide blue yonder heading for Lake Eyre. The plane I ended up in was initially, a plane and pilot from Arkaroola station, a chap named Doug, (must be a good guy!) He was hijacked to fly us part of the way as Wright Air's pilot was caught up somewhere and couldn't make it until later! I was beginning to wonder about this trip? Any way as it happened this Doug was very good value he was informative and flew us around so all could see and take as many photos as we could. There were 4 of us in each plane, and ir was fairly comfortable, at least as far as 1st day goes! We had a long flight to Innaminka for lunch, almost 2pm, and then we were hanging around waiting for the other pilot to arrive so Doug could get back to his own agenda at Arkaroola, he had 60 guests ariving for an astrological experience!
Eventually Gerrard arrived and we swapped our luggage over into his plane, also a 6 seater Cessna, and we set off for Birdsville via moomba gas fields (in the distance). We followed the Coopers Creek, which is what feeds into Lake Eyre, it has not quite reached it yet, although it has reached a point where the flood waters have crossed the "Birdsville Track" and so the "punt" ie. ferry, has to be used to cross the Cooper. It was really amazing flying over this land that you know in your mind should be dry and barren and red and it is actually green and puddled with water in hundreds of pools. The Coopers Creek is just myriad streams of water flowing across the country! Incredible! Then we flew over the Coongie Lakes which were another astonishing sight, (I am running out of decriptions here!) Again hundreds of water filled lakes in all directions!
We had a good night at the iconic Birdsville Hotel, it was packed to the eyeballs with travellers. Their food was really good, and we got into the bar in time for "Happy Hour" so that was a bonus! We didn't have particularly early starts, which was a good thing, and after a hearty cooked brekky (outback sized!) we flew off towards Oodnadatta, I think we also flew over a northerly part of Lake Eyre again, and landed at Oodnadatta. This used to be a siding for the Ghan railway, until they realigned it. Another great outback roadhouse cum pub, this time famous because it is "Pink" the whole premises is painted a bright lolly pink! After some time spent stretching our legs we were back in the aircraft and off to Coober Pedy.
Got some good photos from the air as we came into CP of the underground houses and of the mines and mullock heaps. We were met by a bus for the ride into town and were taken around the area and saw the golf course with "black " greens, a mixture of oil and dirt, ending up at our "underground" motel, Radeka's, We had dinner at a "famous" pizza joint, which was quite good, and we went over to the Desert Cave, for a drink, and then off to early bed. In the morning we had a power failure!! we were underground!!  luckily it only lasted for about 30 minutes or so (at least after I woke up), then we had a visit to Umoona underground mine, and opal shop (of course)! At 11 am we were taken out to the airport again and we were off towards Willim Creek, via the Painted Hills. Fantastic sight of many hills with the most amazing colours in them, I wonder if the aboiriginals got any of their ochre and painting colours from there?
 One of my fellow passengers, a young man travelling with his 80 something grandfather, was sampling every place's hamburgers! His final decision was William Creek was the winner. Once again we had some rearranging of our planes, and we continued on to Olympic Dam with a 6 seater and a 4 seater Cessna. There were some disappointments on the trip, considering the price paid, but It was still worth while to do. Maybe more homework on the company running it should have been done, the pilots and planes were charted by the company which we booked with, and I am not sure whether the pilots were supposed to be tour guides as well as pilots, or not. I was glad to get home and back to my own bed!
I will maybe have a rest over the next week as I will be going over places I have already been, I expect to leave Loxton next Sunday and head off up to Brisbane keep well and know I think of you all often.
love vicki

Outback Adventure

Hi Everyone,
Once again I am not running to schedule! I have been having some fun with my photos, and suddenly relisd I hadn't sent my blog off. So before I did some damage with my photos I thought I had better settle down and send this off.
Anne and I had a great trip up to Uluru and back and these are some more photos of that jaunt.
The camel and a younger one, just walked out of the scrub on the side of the road and blithely stepped out and across in front of me!
We made good time to Uluru and checked into the "resort" aka caravan park, very spacious and quite reasonably priced.(probably the only thing at Uluru that is!)

The price of diesel was $1.83, but at Eldunda, (the turn off) it was $1.90, and when we got to Kings Canyon, it was $2.20! We spent the rest of out arrival day just resting, reading, drinking, you know the type of thing! The next morning we took off to the Olgas, there are 36 domes, but you cant get any where to photograph more than a few at a time, except from the air perhaps. Any way it was latish in the afternoon and not very spectacular for colour, at least not with my camera! By the time we returned it was time to go to the sunset viewing area for Uluru. (it is about a 96 km round trip!)
So we settled in with our ground sheet (cos we didn't think of chairs!) but at least we had our nibbles and glases and champagne!

86 photos later I have quite a range of colours of the Rock, but nothing like the professionals get! I thought I wouldn't put them all on the blog! Here I am looking sufficiently outbackish I thought! The next photo shows greater colour differences. It really does look magnificent.

The final photo was one of many I took at Kings Canyon, another 300 kms from Uluru and again we had to backtrack over the same roads to get back to the Stuart Highway. We did the short walk, about 1.5 kms along the creek bed, it was quite relaxing, and Anne (who is a very keen photographer), enjoyed taking lots of photos of the scenery and other things. I even got quite excited over some pretty wildflowers and took lot of photos of the magnificent rivergums in the creek bed.There are also Coolibah trees (from Waltzing Matilda fame growing there too) but we could not identify which ones they were! Oh well you can't be perfect! I can sing the song though!
We retraced our steps down the Stuart Highway, but stayed overnight at a couple of different spots, (somewhat fewer mice!) But went back into Coober Pedy, and also repeated Lake Hart. As we came into Port Augusta, we stopped off for a farewell lunch at the Arid Lands Botanical Gardens and there we parted. Me to come on back to Clare and Anne to return to Port Lincoln, her home. I found it a wonderful experience and we were very compatible (on my part any way), and hope we get a chance to join up again for another jaunt when Anne is free of time. I took a beautiful photo of some Dessert Peas but am not sure what happened to them. I am currently trying to put my photos onto a data stick! So anything could happen to them!!
Anyway I must get some sleep and so Good Luck and Good Night to you all
until next week, vicki

The Great Outback

Hi all, Sorry this is a bit late! I had to collect my photos and then there was no service! So here we are! The first photo is near Lake Hart and is Island Lagoon We stayed near here for the night It was just so amazing! I have forgotten how the outback is so interesting. Some people think it is boring but I have always found it always changing. You get these little hills and of course, at the moment, there is water around, which is unusual.
We went into Pimba and then on to Woomera, which is only another 10 kms. there was a really interesting park with lots of rockets and old planes etc from when woomera was launching these things in the sixties

I am currently travelling with a lady i met through the solo cmca group internet. She is from Port Lincoln, and was widowed last year or so, she bought a motorhome and is warming up to travelling. She has a 3 children all grown up of course, we are much the same age, and have similar interests, wine, wine and more wine!
The countryside we are driving through is very bare i am not the best of photograpers as you know, but I do my best. We went into Coober Pedy. Stayed the night and went and saw the underground bar! naturally, played the pokies, in the undergound pokie parlour!
Went and looked through the underground catholic church. It had beautiful stained glass window. then as the 4th photo shows went into an underground house "Faye's" house, a single lady with help from a couple of lady friends built it over a 10 year period while also working at mining for opal and polishing. It was much better than Turkey's houses in Cappadoccia, there was not the wetsmoke smell in coober pedy like there was in Turkey. I think that is because Turkey"s underground houses are built from volcanic rock. Faye has also built a swimming pool, 3 bedrooms and "partyroom" she evidently did a lot of fundraising for the town. She has retired to Qld but has difficulty getting around now. On our way out of town we saw a mine in action and managed to get a snap as we drove past of a truck in action at a site blasting away "hopefuly" opal ore.
We camped out at Agnes Creek, which was quite pretty, except!!! It was overrun with mice! they are totally fearless, run over your feet, dived into some neighboring folks camp oven (it was empty of food, just soaking in water), ran all around the ground ugh!! We were very careful to keep hatches and doors closed.
Every roadhouse we passed through had them running around the floors! And they all smelt terrible! (the roadhouses I mean) I don't know how they get on in their kitchens?
Any way we kept on driving and here we are at Ayers Rock, oops, beg
your pardon, Uluru/Yulara. paid $1.90 per litre for diesel at Erldunda, but it is 0ver $2. here at Yulara. The caravan Park is quite reasonable though.
Any way must go big day tomorrow which will get posted next week! Hope you are all keeping well. I am!
Love vicki