Hellio
Here I am giving the tablet another go. My pre paid wi fi ran out!
I parted company with Rob and Carol, and Graeme and Hazel, on Monday,( i think)! I h
keaded east, and they south. I went as far as Nyah, a pretty freeU Camp, along the Murray. Conditions were good, as far as access goes to the riveSor. It is flowing quite strongly, but not overly high. When i pulled in there were arouen 30 odd vans parked, around the place, both caravans and motorhomes, also the occasionakil tent! The spot, is behind the Nyah harness racing track, with a large "parkland area', amongst shady river gums. there are toilets and hot showers available across the track, also drinking water. and the most essential! a dump point! The present occupiers where i parked, were a group of 3 motorhomers and 2 caravans, with room for me nearby. Happy hour was underway, and I was invited to join, as soon as I got set up. Very pleasant couples, the motorhomers were a variety of vehicles, but all were towing small cars. It certainly makes life easier. I spent 3 nights there, and gradually they drifted off, being replaced daily by new neighbours!
I headed further east, retracing my tracks, through Swan Hill and Kerang, before heading notrth to Deniliquin. This is nice town, where a big raly had bee n held, just after i left Tasmania, in 2011. Somehow, i had kept missing it. I parked at mIUa "carotel" within walking distance of the centre of town, and across the road, diagonally, from the RSL Club, ( very important!). I was back to using caravan parks, as it was very cold at nights! I could only stop 2 nights as there was a big geneaology conference on over the weekend, and the town was booked out! I did a long walk into town, lovely old buildings, and pubs and shop frontages, and found the visitors info centre,housed in the Peppin -House/museum. A good display of early history of merino pedigree, wool history and breeding rams, look like the ones on the australian shilling, also WW2 airforce bases from around the area.
I was pretty gobsmacked, as I drove north away from the Murray, at the extent of the irrigation, systems in place over here. Miles away from the river and you are driving along and over, these huge channels/canals, carrying water inland to farming properties. We are growing rice, down herE! This is inland Australiah, not south east asia, with big annual rainfalls. No wonder SA is screaming for mor water to be let down the river. I consider myself fairly well educated, about my country, but I am really amazed. I certainly can't see why we in WA cannot do a proper job of moving the Ord river water south with channels, even with high evaporation, there must be lots of water loss from these channels, in the summer. Well thats my political rant, for this month!
So i headed further north to Jerilderie, once again utilising a caravan park, met another solo widowed woman, she more recent than me, but we had lots in common, we spent apleasant couple of happy hours, and swapped addresses, and then we parted our ways, she for the south and me to turn easterly towards Wagga Wagga. I came across some lovely rolling hilly vountry, but higher, than what I would call hills in WA! Saw a magnificent "wedgetail"(I think) , eagle, sitting on a fence post, with his wings partly out. Fabulous site, but of course, the camera out of reach! It is certainly not as convenient, having the bigger, fancier, camera. It is not readily to hand, and also in a case, so not so quick, for these unexpected photo ops! I don't often see live, animals! Mostly it is roadkill!
I came across a small town, Lockhart, known as the verandah town, traffic everywhere. So I pulled over and parked, walked along to see what was happening. It was a local, art/sculpture/music festival, over 3 days, the picnic races had been on Friday, this was saturday. The place was hopping, BIG DETOUR AROUND TOWN, THE MAIN DRAG, THE HIGHWAY, WAS CLOSED, STALLS, FOOD, AND THESE FASCINATING OUTBACKTYPE SCULPTURES, MADE FROM FARM "JUNK". Big prize money paid, they looked very good. also lots of "stuff" made from barbwire, other "parts" turned into light fittings, garden pots, really interesting! plus the prices were quite "high"end!
Friday, October 19, 2012
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Patchwork and Country Music
Hi All! I have given up on the tablet, as far as writing my blog goes, at least! I always re read my last one so I don't double up one the story and I can hardly believe it was so bad! I know I was frustrated by using the touch screen typing keyboard, but really!! I could barely understand it and I wrote it! Never again!! Promise!!
Well back to my life! when I landed in Brisbane, I discovered I had accidently left the fridge door closed, and with the moisture from the defrost, and a mopnth closed, you can imagine the state of it? or can you? I know I have never seen a more revolting sight!! I spent about 4 hours scrubbing and cleaning and pulling all the shelving and partitions out and using bleach etc! finally it was clean! there is still the occasional whiff! though. I have tried wiping it over with vanilla and hope that will finally do the trick! I pushed off from Brisbane, down to the goldcoast to Miami!! whoo! and then to Mullumbimby, trying to find a different route to Dorrigo It is beautiful driving through the mountains and winding across the ridges. I love the trees and then the vistas opening out across valleys and more mountain views! beautiful! From Mullimbimby I headed south westerly towards Grafton, but free camped at a lovely spot beside a river, then headed down to Dorrigo through the Nymboida national Park. Making sure I was not on last years road! I was sort of parrallel to it! but definitely all sealed! Came in past the showgrounds where I had enquired about parking, but realised it was firther out than Dangar Falls lodge camp ground. So I booked in again for the first 4 days and waited to catch up with my friend Caroline. The tutors all stay at Dangar Falls lodge, so I can always "bum" a ride into town with them. I didn't have the optima;l parking space, only 1! so I was looking for other options! Caroline took me to meet her aunt who lives in town, at the end of the firstday, and joy of joys, she had a lovely flat 20 0dd foot verge for me to park on! At the end of my 4th day I move the "donga" into town to "aunt Lou's " verge. Easier for Caroline to drive me and me not bothering the tutors each morning for a ride! On to the patchwork! I did a 2 day course with Margaret Macdonald using circles, different techniques demystifying the difficulties of using circles. Very stressful for me as I didn't seem to have the "right" fabrics, so I was back and forward to the shop getting more! I achieved 3 blocks finished! Then I moved onto Jane Mcdonalds Tesselations, using Japanese fabrics, I chose to do the small version, not thinking that that meant tiny pieces of fabric! At least it was done with the machine! after a day I had managed about a third of the finished size, which is a wall hanging about 24" by 36". So that was positive. I had a day off between the next project, which is handy as I can unkink my back and neck and shoulders , by having a massage! (does anyone else notice the vast difference in massage styles?) still i felt better for it! Then my third project! Another reproduction quilt! At least this one is done by machine! Anne Sommerlad is the designer and she has some beautiful patterns, based on reproduction quilts. I am tackling Johanna Southcotts coverlet. After lots of quibbling over the fabric choices I finally settled on some of mine and lots from the shop!!! Helen in the shop is marvellous at helping with your choices! So it was nose down to the machine and I achieved about half finished and it is a big quilt, (are there any other sizes?). As usual we had some l;ovely meals, a welcome and closing dinner at 2 different restaurants, all our lunches are spread around the towns businesses too. everyone gets a piece of us being there! About 200 of us ladies hiting a small town like dorrigo for a week, must give them a boost! Apart from the massage, I restricted myself to fuel, fabric and meals and drinks! plus droppped into the local butcher as I was heading out of town. gorgeous meat! And I won one of the daily raffles! more fabric and patterns, I shared it with Caroline for all her driving me a round.
So Fridy i started the mad dash to Wentworth for the Mildura Country Music Festival. I allowed myself 3 days this time, the gps told me it was 1426kms from Dorrigo, and I wanted to do a bit different route, but of course the quickest is the way I have already been! So only a few minor route changes. My first stop was a camp spot at Premer, I pulled in about 2.30 ish, only did about 374kms I think. I filled up with water, using the neighbours hose (with his permission) and was on power, only 12 dollars a night, honesty box. Walked up to the pub for a meal, and when I came back, this couple (the neighbours!) were grizzling to some other couple that i was parked too close to them! I have very sharp ears! I put my purse in my van and then I went and fronted them! Asked them why didn;t they ask me to move further away earlier? I had been there for several hours in the daylight, and that they shouldn't bitch behind my back! frankly I was stunned! these were motorhomers! (well 5th wheleers actually). I thought they would have been a bit more tolerant. Of course, I stewed all night over it, (it was a first!) and took off at bout 6 am for my next leg, Lake Cargelligo. Punching into a head wind all day, and the previous one too, chewing up fuel like mad! These sort of travelling days cost the earth, refuelling etc. Got to Lake C and they had the camp fire burning and everyone lovely and friendly, restored my faith in the travelling public! On my way from Premer I called into Coolah, where a motorhoming couple have set up a "homebase" for motorhomers. They were flogging it at Yarram and Sale rallies, and sounds very feasible, If only it was closer to WA! I dropped in on them and was shown around, they are alovely couple, I reckon it could be set up in WA if you could find the right property to connvert. From Lake C I did a 551km run to Wentworth. Certainly easier than last years mammoth runs of 700kms plus a day! Started off with no power for the first night then moved to a powered site, a fair way away from Rob and Carol, but closer to the music venues! Now I am getting my fix, of country music for the year. Some old faces and voices! and some new ones, I am getting a "few" new cd's to put on my ipod and keep me bopping along as I drive the highways! The weather has turned hot and it is hard to find a shady spot down at the Wentworth wharf for the outdoor concerts! Noone is on the sunny lawns, we are all crowding under the beautiful shady rivergums! Still a few days to go but it is well worth the visit.
So keep smiling and hopefully keep healthy, and I will keep you informed of my travels! love vicki
Well back to my life! when I landed in Brisbane, I discovered I had accidently left the fridge door closed, and with the moisture from the defrost, and a mopnth closed, you can imagine the state of it? or can you? I know I have never seen a more revolting sight!! I spent about 4 hours scrubbing and cleaning and pulling all the shelving and partitions out and using bleach etc! finally it was clean! there is still the occasional whiff! though. I have tried wiping it over with vanilla and hope that will finally do the trick! I pushed off from Brisbane, down to the goldcoast to Miami!! whoo! and then to Mullumbimby, trying to find a different route to Dorrigo It is beautiful driving through the mountains and winding across the ridges. I love the trees and then the vistas opening out across valleys and more mountain views! beautiful! From Mullimbimby I headed south westerly towards Grafton, but free camped at a lovely spot beside a river, then headed down to Dorrigo through the Nymboida national Park. Making sure I was not on last years road! I was sort of parrallel to it! but definitely all sealed! Came in past the showgrounds where I had enquired about parking, but realised it was firther out than Dangar Falls lodge camp ground. So I booked in again for the first 4 days and waited to catch up with my friend Caroline. The tutors all stay at Dangar Falls lodge, so I can always "bum" a ride into town with them. I didn't have the optima;l parking space, only 1! so I was looking for other options! Caroline took me to meet her aunt who lives in town, at the end of the firstday, and joy of joys, she had a lovely flat 20 0dd foot verge for me to park on! At the end of my 4th day I move the "donga" into town to "aunt Lou's " verge. Easier for Caroline to drive me and me not bothering the tutors each morning for a ride! On to the patchwork! I did a 2 day course with Margaret Macdonald using circles, different techniques demystifying the difficulties of using circles. Very stressful for me as I didn't seem to have the "right" fabrics, so I was back and forward to the shop getting more! I achieved 3 blocks finished! Then I moved onto Jane Mcdonalds Tesselations, using Japanese fabrics, I chose to do the small version, not thinking that that meant tiny pieces of fabric! At least it was done with the machine! after a day I had managed about a third of the finished size, which is a wall hanging about 24" by 36". So that was positive. I had a day off between the next project, which is handy as I can unkink my back and neck and shoulders , by having a massage! (does anyone else notice the vast difference in massage styles?) still i felt better for it! Then my third project! Another reproduction quilt! At least this one is done by machine! Anne Sommerlad is the designer and she has some beautiful patterns, based on reproduction quilts. I am tackling Johanna Southcotts coverlet. After lots of quibbling over the fabric choices I finally settled on some of mine and lots from the shop!!! Helen in the shop is marvellous at helping with your choices! So it was nose down to the machine and I achieved about half finished and it is a big quilt, (are there any other sizes?). As usual we had some l;ovely meals, a welcome and closing dinner at 2 different restaurants, all our lunches are spread around the towns businesses too. everyone gets a piece of us being there! About 200 of us ladies hiting a small town like dorrigo for a week, must give them a boost! Apart from the massage, I restricted myself to fuel, fabric and meals and drinks! plus droppped into the local butcher as I was heading out of town. gorgeous meat! And I won one of the daily raffles! more fabric and patterns, I shared it with Caroline for all her driving me a round.
So Fridy i started the mad dash to Wentworth for the Mildura Country Music Festival. I allowed myself 3 days this time, the gps told me it was 1426kms from Dorrigo, and I wanted to do a bit different route, but of course the quickest is the way I have already been! So only a few minor route changes. My first stop was a camp spot at Premer, I pulled in about 2.30 ish, only did about 374kms I think. I filled up with water, using the neighbours hose (with his permission) and was on power, only 12 dollars a night, honesty box. Walked up to the pub for a meal, and when I came back, this couple (the neighbours!) were grizzling to some other couple that i was parked too close to them! I have very sharp ears! I put my purse in my van and then I went and fronted them! Asked them why didn;t they ask me to move further away earlier? I had been there for several hours in the daylight, and that they shouldn't bitch behind my back! frankly I was stunned! these were motorhomers! (well 5th wheleers actually). I thought they would have been a bit more tolerant. Of course, I stewed all night over it, (it was a first!) and took off at bout 6 am for my next leg, Lake Cargelligo. Punching into a head wind all day, and the previous one too, chewing up fuel like mad! These sort of travelling days cost the earth, refuelling etc. Got to Lake C and they had the camp fire burning and everyone lovely and friendly, restored my faith in the travelling public! On my way from Premer I called into Coolah, where a motorhoming couple have set up a "homebase" for motorhomers. They were flogging it at Yarram and Sale rallies, and sounds very feasible, If only it was closer to WA! I dropped in on them and was shown around, they are alovely couple, I reckon it could be set up in WA if you could find the right property to connvert. From Lake C I did a 551km run to Wentworth. Certainly easier than last years mammoth runs of 700kms plus a day! Started off with no power for the first night then moved to a powered site, a fair way away from Rob and Carol, but closer to the music venues! Now I am getting my fix, of country music for the year. Some old faces and voices! and some new ones, I am getting a "few" new cd's to put on my ipod and keep me bopping along as I drive the highways! The weather has turned hot and it is hard to find a shady spot down at the Wentworth wharf for the outdoor concerts! Noone is on the sunny lawns, we are all crowding under the beautiful shady rivergums! Still a few days to go but it is well worth the visit.
So keep smiling and hopefully keep healthy, and I will keep you informed of my travels! love vicki
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