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!
Monday, August 29, 2011
Sunday, August 21, 2011
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
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
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Saturday, August 6, 2011
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
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
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