Day 3 quilt
Day 1 quilt, I have finished the central block.
day 2 quilt, combined techniques
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Quilting at Eumundi
Day 3 quilt Day 1 quilt, I have finished the central block. day 2 quilt, combined techniques
Quilting at Eumundi
Hi All, This is one mainly for the quilters!
I arrived at Eumundi in Qld, on a wet and miserable day, drove to the showgrounds/camping spot. Only to find the solid ground was on a quite heavy slope, and because of the the oval was not available! Great! I parked on the least sloping section after driving all over the area! Spent the night dragging my bedding back onto the bed! Not a happy vegemite! Thursday I drove back into town to have a look at the place where the quilting was and a parking place was available and fairly flat, Got back to the showgrounds and the caretaker had tried to make me a ramp to drive up onto to get a bit more level. Not very successful, but I guess he got marks for trying! In the meantime the rain was still pouring down, (and did I say it was no power?). I had my first moment of depression in the whole trip, I thought, what am I doing here in the rain and cold? Vicki go home! Well I had paid for my workshop , so I wasn't not doing that! Friday morning bright and early I headed into town and parked at the school hall , got a fairly flat spot, only took up one "official" parking space, as I overhung some bare ground. Took my stuff into the hall and we were off. A lovely bunch of ladies doing the same quilts as me, from all over Australia and a lady from Nz. So I missed out as the most travelled to get there! My sister Maxine's friend Heather, came over from WA, It was through her I was there> I had never heard of it. Not surprising as it was the first event. I think it will be a goer though!
I was booked in to do a Karen Styles quilt, she is from Somerset Quilting/patchwork? Her quilts are reproduction ones, as ypou will see from the photos, fairly intricate, and done by hand! (another one!) First day was a lovely Lemoyne star quilt. I managed to achieve one star and half of a 2nd! Friday night there was a meal and a"trunk " show, where the tutors show their work, from suitcases! I took lots of photos, generally got someones head in them. I went off to bed in the car park, ready to pay first thing in the morning as the "famous" Eumundi markets were on and the school makes money by charging for the parking. We were warned to pay up, no arguing, and the quilt people would refund us our parking money. I was quite happy to pay up to 20 dollars, However the man made me move to another area and only took $5. Problem was he moved me to a shady spot, and remember this was day 5 without power and no sun! When we came out from 2nd day of sewing and I moved the van back to my original spot, I was on flashing battery warning. I showered quickly and changed as we went out to dinner, and after wards went to bed and read by torchlight! Day 2 in quilting was an unusual, theme, Each of the 3 tutors taught their techniques, on one overall quilt, moving around the room , so each person got 2 hours from each tutor, but only working on one quilt. Does that make sense? Anyway, another handmade quilt, some different methods, more fabric, more templates, english paper piecing, etc , get the picture? Day 3 another quilt!, fabric, templates, english paper piecing, hand piecing, reproduction fabrics! All these quilts are at least 60", mine of course, are 80 and 90 ", never do things by halves when you can do it the hard way. Now I have 4 reproduction quilts on the go, but I don't need anything else! who can believe that? So endeth the Eumundi lesson!
Next on the agenda, was catching up with various motorhoming groups in some nearby places as I am booked into Noosa, for 10 days from Monday. First I went to Kandanga, bowling club, very welcoming group, had dinner at the club for a very reasonable cost, spent a few days there then drove around in a circle to Kenilworth, via Buderim, the ginger factory and across the road to the chocolate and Macadamia nut factory!! Filled the fridge with goodies!! Kennilworth has a great cheese factory, with lovely goodies also, including wonderful icecreams and other wonderful things to eat. (Its a wonder I am able to lose weight at all, even maintaining it would be a miracle considering all the fabulous tastes I have been trying!) but I am! losing a bit gradually. that is.
Met more great people at these 2 motorhoming chapter gatherings, everyone is so welcoming. doesn't matter who or what you are, if you are driving a motorhome, it is welcome with open arms! Some even acknowledge caravanners!!
Anyway, it turned wet and cold at Kenilworth, the ground underfoot positively saturated, one was wading through deep watery grass, ugh!! I succumbed and bought gumboots, finally! Very pretty, pink with black ponies or something, one is faded so I got a good deal. Who cares if they are faded so long as I can walk in the wet conditions with my feet dry? I was going to go and visit another chapter gathering, but friends warned me it was just as wet, as Kennilworth , so I decided to come back to Kandanga, just a donation to the bowling club, I have power, and there is a combined toilet and shower, unisex, but that doesn't affect me as I use my own in the night time. Dinner at the club on Friday night and dinner at the pub Sat night!, great, monday Noosa here I come.
I hope I can put the photos in, but if not you may get them shortly. Keep your chin up and keep smiling, Love and best wishes to you all
love vicki
I arrived at Eumundi in Qld, on a wet and miserable day, drove to the showgrounds/camping spot. Only to find the solid ground was on a quite heavy slope, and because of the the oval was not available! Great! I parked on the least sloping section after driving all over the area! Spent the night dragging my bedding back onto the bed! Not a happy vegemite! Thursday I drove back into town to have a look at the place where the quilting was and a parking place was available and fairly flat, Got back to the showgrounds and the caretaker had tried to make me a ramp to drive up onto to get a bit more level. Not very successful, but I guess he got marks for trying! In the meantime the rain was still pouring down, (and did I say it was no power?). I had my first moment of depression in the whole trip, I thought, what am I doing here in the rain and cold? Vicki go home! Well I had paid for my workshop , so I wasn't not doing that! Friday morning bright and early I headed into town and parked at the school hall , got a fairly flat spot, only took up one "official" parking space, as I overhung some bare ground. Took my stuff into the hall and we were off. A lovely bunch of ladies doing the same quilts as me, from all over Australia and a lady from Nz. So I missed out as the most travelled to get there! My sister Maxine's friend Heather, came over from WA, It was through her I was there> I had never heard of it. Not surprising as it was the first event. I think it will be a goer though!
I was booked in to do a Karen Styles quilt, she is from Somerset Quilting/patchwork? Her quilts are reproduction ones, as ypou will see from the photos, fairly intricate, and done by hand! (another one!) First day was a lovely Lemoyne star quilt. I managed to achieve one star and half of a 2nd! Friday night there was a meal and a"trunk " show, where the tutors show their work, from suitcases! I took lots of photos, generally got someones head in them. I went off to bed in the car park, ready to pay first thing in the morning as the "famous" Eumundi markets were on and the school makes money by charging for the parking. We were warned to pay up, no arguing, and the quilt people would refund us our parking money. I was quite happy to pay up to 20 dollars, However the man made me move to another area and only took $5. Problem was he moved me to a shady spot, and remember this was day 5 without power and no sun! When we came out from 2nd day of sewing and I moved the van back to my original spot, I was on flashing battery warning. I showered quickly and changed as we went out to dinner, and after wards went to bed and read by torchlight! Day 2 in quilting was an unusual, theme, Each of the 3 tutors taught their techniques, on one overall quilt, moving around the room , so each person got 2 hours from each tutor, but only working on one quilt. Does that make sense? Anyway, another handmade quilt, some different methods, more fabric, more templates, english paper piecing, etc , get the picture? Day 3 another quilt!, fabric, templates, english paper piecing, hand piecing, reproduction fabrics! All these quilts are at least 60", mine of course, are 80 and 90 ", never do things by halves when you can do it the hard way. Now I have 4 reproduction quilts on the go, but I don't need anything else! who can believe that? So endeth the Eumundi lesson!
Next on the agenda, was catching up with various motorhoming groups in some nearby places as I am booked into Noosa, for 10 days from Monday. First I went to Kandanga, bowling club, very welcoming group, had dinner at the club for a very reasonable cost, spent a few days there then drove around in a circle to Kenilworth, via Buderim, the ginger factory and across the road to the chocolate and Macadamia nut factory!! Filled the fridge with goodies!! Kennilworth has a great cheese factory, with lovely goodies also, including wonderful icecreams and other wonderful things to eat. (Its a wonder I am able to lose weight at all, even maintaining it would be a miracle considering all the fabulous tastes I have been trying!) but I am! losing a bit gradually. that is.
Met more great people at these 2 motorhoming chapter gatherings, everyone is so welcoming. doesn't matter who or what you are, if you are driving a motorhome, it is welcome with open arms! Some even acknowledge caravanners!!
Anyway, it turned wet and cold at Kenilworth, the ground underfoot positively saturated, one was wading through deep watery grass, ugh!! I succumbed and bought gumboots, finally! Very pretty, pink with black ponies or something, one is faded so I got a good deal. Who cares if they are faded so long as I can walk in the wet conditions with my feet dry? I was going to go and visit another chapter gathering, but friends warned me it was just as wet, as Kennilworth , so I decided to come back to Kandanga, just a donation to the bowling club, I have power, and there is a combined toilet and shower, unisex, but that doesn't affect me as I use my own in the night time. Dinner at the club on Friday night and dinner at the pub Sat night!, great, monday Noosa here I come.
I hope I can put the photos in, but if not you may get them shortly. Keep your chin up and keep smiling, Love and best wishes to you all
love vicki
Monday, June 25, 2012
Where did NSW go to?
Hi All!
I really am being very slack! I have been throiugh a whole state and haven't filled you in yet! So, NSW, well I had a nice time after I got organised.
Lets go back to my arrival at Bateman's Bay, I was late as I HAD to stop and do a patchwork class at Narooma, so I arrived in the dark and rain! The park directed me to my site, which had a vehicle parked on it! No worries, I will just park beside it, driving forward, as in the morning I will set up properly. First get some power on, where is it? I'm slopping around in a downpour, getting seriously cranky and wet, my shoes, (and feet) soaking, eventually I rang the office and they came down and pointed out the power box on the next site. So I just crawled into the shower and had a cup of soup and put the heater on, and then to bed, get the picture? Next day I got sorted for my 10, 9 left, days in batemans bay. I spoke to the folk over from me, (their car!) and learned , 5 mins after I had put up my awning, there was a major storm coming, with king tides and big swell! A couple of weeks previously, there had been a flood in the park, the creek about 20 metres from my van overflowed its banks! The park was quite hilly! but I was parked at the bottom! I put my rear stabiliser legs down, something I only do when I am stopping for several days. Thank heavens! That night we had 120 knot winds, lashing rains, the whole works. The van rocked and was buffeted all night.But the van withstood the lot. In the morning I walked over the road to the lovely little cove and it was amazing, what a night can do. High tides had washed up a ton of debris, tree trunks , the sand washed away and lots of pebbles fom somewhere! So that was the start of my days in Batemans bay!
Luckily the weather cleared up and the sun came out, sort of! There was a very efficient courtesy bus service to the Clubs in town, and I learned to get them to pick me up, walk in one door and out the next, go and do my shopping, and then come back, eat lunch cheaply and get a ride back to the park, after I paid a taxi $17.00 for the ride into town. The trouble with the travel auction system is, you don't know where in the towns the parks are, and I am finding they are often out of the edge of town. therefore I sometimes have difficulty getting around, but as I say in Nsw and Victoria, and I hope in Ql, the good ole' Leagues and Rsl clubs, run courtesy buses for all!
After bateman's bay i travelled to Huskisson, near Shoalhaven, where I stayed for a couple of days, was going to go on a whale watching cruise, it is quite a famous area for it, but guess what! the bad weather which was still hanging around meant the cruises were cancelled! aa!!! I drove out of there in disgust, although it was a very pretty beach. Next spot was to catch up with a fellow patchworker from my last years Dorrigo trip. Caroline lived at Leura in the Blue Mountains, Gorgeous drive up there, I took the Richmond/ Springwood road, complete with fabulous views and hairpin bends. Then hit the main road up to the mountains and an hours worth of roadworks! God help the poor people who commute down to Sydney, apparently it has been going on for some time. I drove up on a Friday, but it was the middle of the day and I sat at two points for over half an hour waiting for access to the road!
Caroline lives in a gorgeous cottage, thank god centrally heated, with a cute burmese pussycat. we had a lovely time together, talking pachwork, and between the rain showers, she drove me to Katoomba and to see some patchwork shops! Naturally! Saturday morning we drove down to Penrith to see another shop! So I got to see a bit of the local area.
I took off the next day for the central coast, and tried once more my friends from the 2010 trip. I had been calling them for weeks, but that morning I found a different address card for them and thought I would give it one more try. Guess what, first ring almost, Hazel answered! So I called into them at Toukley. They have a lovely home looking over the lake. I stayed the night with them and we had a really nicee timne, Hazel and I bonded over beading classes on the Aurora, and then we were on the same ship back to Australia from July, where we also beaded away! So I got my beads out and we each made a new pattern Hazel had, really lovely Bracelet. When mike got home it was a great reunion. We went out to dinner at a nearby club, they really get some great cheap meals from them, and they are all over the place. Something us west australians aren't used to, I suppose the pokies are what subsidise the prices, and really that is not a great thing to be encouraging, the gambling, but you get some great benefits!
Headed off the next morning to Grafton, via a place called woolgoolga(?) i think, where I sat for about 2 hours at the lighthouse lookout, as whales had been seen. But not by me! They were all gone by the time I was there! Stopped the night at the Grafton Greyhound Club, hardly any room as they were gearing up for a big racing carnival, lots of sleek greyhounds being walked around by their owners/trainers. As I only wanted one night they were ok, I was sort of parked outside the gate with my power cord through the fence! I know Grafton is famous for its Jacaranda trees, but I didn't realise how many trees there were.! I just thought they must have yhad a few streets of them, but practically every street is lined with them, It must be spectacular in the spring! Another thing was in the old part, at least, 90% of the houses are 2 storey, and what I would have called "Queenslanders". I was really surprised. They look so fresh and pretty, but the painting must be a nightmare!
Leaving Grafton, I took one of my now famous, backroads, along a river and across a ferry, on my way to Ballina, and again was surprised to find sugar cane growing . I didn't know they grew it so far south! There was a lot of it and a couple of sugar refineries. I carried on up the coast from Ballina toByron Bay, to the lighthouse and the most easterly point of Australia. I drove the motorhome up to the lighthouse parking area, where they charge 7 bucks for an hour up there, but the car park was chokkers, so I managed to take some photos from the vehicle and turned and drove back down, no charge! Byron Bay was full of trendy people, and backpackers, it is a strange mix. The cars are either latest european models or " wicked" vans! I continued on to a free camp at Stott Island, no 1 in the camps 6 book for Nsw. Some West Aussies pulled in towing a poptop, and she was a hairdresser, so I had a haircut, a pretty good one too! They knew people from Geraldton, the name was familiar but noone I knew! Funnily, before they pulled up, a fellow who was already parked there in a motorhome, who had an Italian accent, asked me if I was italian, and then when the wa couple pulled in and she was doing my hair she said it too. ( I used to get asked it a lot when I was younger). She knew Teresa Italiano(?) fromGeraldton a hairdresser.
So there I was leaving Nsw and heading into Qld, but that is for the next blog! To all of you with troubles, my thoughts are often with you. I hope those special people I know who have health worries, are feeling better soon. Keep in touch and God bless,
Vicki
I really am being very slack! I have been throiugh a whole state and haven't filled you in yet! So, NSW, well I had a nice time after I got organised.
Lets go back to my arrival at Bateman's Bay, I was late as I HAD to stop and do a patchwork class at Narooma, so I arrived in the dark and rain! The park directed me to my site, which had a vehicle parked on it! No worries, I will just park beside it, driving forward, as in the morning I will set up properly. First get some power on, where is it? I'm slopping around in a downpour, getting seriously cranky and wet, my shoes, (and feet) soaking, eventually I rang the office and they came down and pointed out the power box on the next site. So I just crawled into the shower and had a cup of soup and put the heater on, and then to bed, get the picture? Next day I got sorted for my 10, 9 left, days in batemans bay. I spoke to the folk over from me, (their car!) and learned , 5 mins after I had put up my awning, there was a major storm coming, with king tides and big swell! A couple of weeks previously, there had been a flood in the park, the creek about 20 metres from my van overflowed its banks! The park was quite hilly! but I was parked at the bottom! I put my rear stabiliser legs down, something I only do when I am stopping for several days. Thank heavens! That night we had 120 knot winds, lashing rains, the whole works. The van rocked and was buffeted all night.But the van withstood the lot. In the morning I walked over the road to the lovely little cove and it was amazing, what a night can do. High tides had washed up a ton of debris, tree trunks , the sand washed away and lots of pebbles fom somewhere! So that was the start of my days in Batemans bay!
Luckily the weather cleared up and the sun came out, sort of! There was a very efficient courtesy bus service to the Clubs in town, and I learned to get them to pick me up, walk in one door and out the next, go and do my shopping, and then come back, eat lunch cheaply and get a ride back to the park, after I paid a taxi $17.00 for the ride into town. The trouble with the travel auction system is, you don't know where in the towns the parks are, and I am finding they are often out of the edge of town. therefore I sometimes have difficulty getting around, but as I say in Nsw and Victoria, and I hope in Ql, the good ole' Leagues and Rsl clubs, run courtesy buses for all!
After bateman's bay i travelled to Huskisson, near Shoalhaven, where I stayed for a couple of days, was going to go on a whale watching cruise, it is quite a famous area for it, but guess what! the bad weather which was still hanging around meant the cruises were cancelled! aa!!! I drove out of there in disgust, although it was a very pretty beach. Next spot was to catch up with a fellow patchworker from my last years Dorrigo trip. Caroline lived at Leura in the Blue Mountains, Gorgeous drive up there, I took the Richmond/ Springwood road, complete with fabulous views and hairpin bends. Then hit the main road up to the mountains and an hours worth of roadworks! God help the poor people who commute down to Sydney, apparently it has been going on for some time. I drove up on a Friday, but it was the middle of the day and I sat at two points for over half an hour waiting for access to the road!
Caroline lives in a gorgeous cottage, thank god centrally heated, with a cute burmese pussycat. we had a lovely time together, talking pachwork, and between the rain showers, she drove me to Katoomba and to see some patchwork shops! Naturally! Saturday morning we drove down to Penrith to see another shop! So I got to see a bit of the local area.
I took off the next day for the central coast, and tried once more my friends from the 2010 trip. I had been calling them for weeks, but that morning I found a different address card for them and thought I would give it one more try. Guess what, first ring almost, Hazel answered! So I called into them at Toukley. They have a lovely home looking over the lake. I stayed the night with them and we had a really nicee timne, Hazel and I bonded over beading classes on the Aurora, and then we were on the same ship back to Australia from July, where we also beaded away! So I got my beads out and we each made a new pattern Hazel had, really lovely Bracelet. When mike got home it was a great reunion. We went out to dinner at a nearby club, they really get some great cheap meals from them, and they are all over the place. Something us west australians aren't used to, I suppose the pokies are what subsidise the prices, and really that is not a great thing to be encouraging, the gambling, but you get some great benefits!
Headed off the next morning to Grafton, via a place called woolgoolga(?) i think, where I sat for about 2 hours at the lighthouse lookout, as whales had been seen. But not by me! They were all gone by the time I was there! Stopped the night at the Grafton Greyhound Club, hardly any room as they were gearing up for a big racing carnival, lots of sleek greyhounds being walked around by their owners/trainers. As I only wanted one night they were ok, I was sort of parked outside the gate with my power cord through the fence! I know Grafton is famous for its Jacaranda trees, but I didn't realise how many trees there were.! I just thought they must have yhad a few streets of them, but practically every street is lined with them, It must be spectacular in the spring! Another thing was in the old part, at least, 90% of the houses are 2 storey, and what I would have called "Queenslanders". I was really surprised. They look so fresh and pretty, but the painting must be a nightmare!
Leaving Grafton, I took one of my now famous, backroads, along a river and across a ferry, on my way to Ballina, and again was surprised to find sugar cane growing . I didn't know they grew it so far south! There was a lot of it and a couple of sugar refineries. I carried on up the coast from Ballina toByron Bay, to the lighthouse and the most easterly point of Australia. I drove the motorhome up to the lighthouse parking area, where they charge 7 bucks for an hour up there, but the car park was chokkers, so I managed to take some photos from the vehicle and turned and drove back down, no charge! Byron Bay was full of trendy people, and backpackers, it is a strange mix. The cars are either latest european models or " wicked" vans! I continued on to a free camp at Stott Island, no 1 in the camps 6 book for Nsw. Some West Aussies pulled in towing a poptop, and she was a hairdresser, so I had a haircut, a pretty good one too! They knew people from Geraldton, the name was familiar but noone I knew! Funnily, before they pulled up, a fellow who was already parked there in a motorhome, who had an Italian accent, asked me if I was italian, and then when the wa couple pulled in and she was doing my hair she said it too. ( I used to get asked it a lot when I was younger). She knew Teresa Italiano(?) fromGeraldton a hairdresser.
So there I was leaving Nsw and heading into Qld, but that is for the next blog! To all of you with troubles, my thoughts are often with you. I hope those special people I know who have health worries, are feeling better soon. Keep in touch and God bless,
Vicki
Monday, June 4, 2012
Farewell to Victoria
Hi all,
as you can see from the title of this post, I have left Victoria. I spent a lovely 10 days in Lakes Entrance, I was in a nice caravan park, unfortunately it was a fair way out of town, (Lakes' is a long thin town, along the shore). Lucky for me there was a bus service that did a loop around town and stopped right outside the park, only $1.80 for whole day. I used it quite a bit!!
I was waiting for mail and lots of parcels, wine club, my health supplements, more coffee supplies, etc. Also I had a little drama back in woodleigh, I lost/ mislaid a diamond earring at the hairdressers (I hoped!) and was waiting for Glenda to retreive it for me and then send it on. As it happened I did leave it at the hairdressers, and Glenda sent it to me by registered mail! Ha! It was posted in Loch on Monday at 1140am. and didn't get to Lakes Entrance until Monday following, a huge distance of about 200kms! I was getting beside myself as you might imagine! I was leaving town on Monday and went to the PO to see if they had news of it,"no", I explained we had tried to track it over the internet as I had the registering number, and they checked and Lo and behold! it was at Lakes Entrance! I wonder how long it had been there? there is nothing to say when it had arived. as I only got to sign an electronic gadget, not the book like in the olden days! I also had a problem at the bank, which took about 2 hrs to sort, as I had to go to the library , get on the internet, and then print out stuff for the bank, then go back to the bank with it. By the time I left Lakes it was mid afternoon! So I only drove to Marlo, where the Snowy River meets the sea! (see pic at end)
But I digress, while I was in Sale I took a lovely 3 hour boat cruise on the Lake, to Metung for lunch, and it was very pleasant, beautiful day, yummy lunch at the pub! gorgeous scenery along the water front. Carol's friend took me to a Cancer big morning tea, very nice, they had an auction, I tried to do my bit for fundraising, and bid for a gourmet organic hamper. yum! I got it too! Carol's friend is a patchworker also, so that was the connection, unfortunately the lady isn't well as she also has cancer, and was quite exhausted by the mornings event, I wish her well.
Margaret, from Sale, (and previously from Exmouth) came over on Saturday, with another girlfriend, and I packed my toothbrush and we went out to Tylers Lake Beach, where she has a holiday cottage, very comfortable, and we had a nice pub tea. Poor Margaret, must have been really worn out as she slept until about 10.30 ish! But what the heck! that is what relaxing weekends are about! We drove back to Lakes and went to a Yumcha floating restaurant for lunch. Fabulous food, I was sorry to leave! I know Margaret will be going back!
From Marlo, I drove on to Mallacoota, the last coastal town in Victoria, great pub food! had a beautiful site right on the waters edge. Mallacoota apparently has the biggest caravan park in Victoria/ australia? over 700 sites! I would hate to be there in summer or school holidays! Then crossed the border into NSW. Nothing out of the ordinary at the border, I only knew I had crossed because Victoria said farewell! NSW didn't welcome you in! The road was very beautiful, steep hills/mountains, nicely winding roads! thank you! and veeeery tall straight trees, not as big as Karri around the trunks, but still very tall. Drove to Eden on the east coast, this is the harbour where all the Sydney/Hobart yacht race boats limp into if they get into trouble. It is a pretty harbour with a hill top ridge dividing the harbour into 2. Twofold bay it is called. ( I think that is the best way I can describe it.) I drove up to the lookout, very beautiful views, and walked back along the path, and there was a huge black snake, just beside the path!!! I almost had a heart attack!, I am sure it wasn't there when I went out to the lookout. It was near a wire fence, stoppng people from falling over the cliff, and as I watched, it uncoiled itself and went through the wire and disappeared! I waited and warned a couple who were still out at the lookout, in case it came back further along the track. I am no snake expert, it could have been a python for all I know! But I thought of all the time I have been on the road and it is only the 2nd one I have seen (fairly close up). Certainly as close as I fancy anyway!
I had the best seafood lunch I have had since I started travelling, finally, at Eden, down at the fishermens wharf. Luscious oysters, Mussels Kilpatrick, (have never had them before!) scallops in wine, prawns with garlic and something, and fabulous fish. Not cheap, but sooo delicious!
Next morning I was on my way again, along the coastal road to Tathra, but not before I went down to the fishermens Harbour and got some smoked (locally) mussels and salmon. Yum! Tathra was another delightful place on the beach front, pretty ordinary caravan parks, but they are getting pricey! I can't wait until it gets warm enough for me to free camp again! Friday, I was on the road again to Narooma, a patchwork shop the attraction, although there were some at Merimbula, I couldn't face the traffic and the bustle of the place to try and find it. I had been advised that Narooma's was a great shop. You got it, they were right!! So good in fact, that she was having a workshop the next day, so I decided to delay my leave until after it was over! I enjoyed it, the ladies were friendly and curious, as everyone is I meet, about my travels,and I almost finished a very smart bag, certainly I will this week. Only have to sew the side seams and put the straps and binding on. I was so late leaving to get to Batemans' Bay, that I was driving in the dark, and that is almost a first, (2nd actually). I arrived at my park in the dark and rain! ugh! any way that is for next blog.
Bye for now and keep smiling! Love vicki
Snowy river estuary, meeting Bass Strait .
as you can see from the title of this post, I have left Victoria. I spent a lovely 10 days in Lakes Entrance, I was in a nice caravan park, unfortunately it was a fair way out of town, (Lakes' is a long thin town, along the shore). Lucky for me there was a bus service that did a loop around town and stopped right outside the park, only $1.80 for whole day. I used it quite a bit!!
I was waiting for mail and lots of parcels, wine club, my health supplements, more coffee supplies, etc. Also I had a little drama back in woodleigh, I lost/ mislaid a diamond earring at the hairdressers (I hoped!) and was waiting for Glenda to retreive it for me and then send it on. As it happened I did leave it at the hairdressers, and Glenda sent it to me by registered mail! Ha! It was posted in Loch on Monday at 1140am. and didn't get to Lakes Entrance until Monday following, a huge distance of about 200kms! I was getting beside myself as you might imagine! I was leaving town on Monday and went to the PO to see if they had news of it,"no", I explained we had tried to track it over the internet as I had the registering number, and they checked and Lo and behold! it was at Lakes Entrance! I wonder how long it had been there? there is nothing to say when it had arived. as I only got to sign an electronic gadget, not the book like in the olden days! I also had a problem at the bank, which took about 2 hrs to sort, as I had to go to the library , get on the internet, and then print out stuff for the bank, then go back to the bank with it. By the time I left Lakes it was mid afternoon! So I only drove to Marlo, where the Snowy River meets the sea! (see pic at end)
But I digress, while I was in Sale I took a lovely 3 hour boat cruise on the Lake, to Metung for lunch, and it was very pleasant, beautiful day, yummy lunch at the pub! gorgeous scenery along the water front. Carol's friend took me to a Cancer big morning tea, very nice, they had an auction, I tried to do my bit for fundraising, and bid for a gourmet organic hamper. yum! I got it too! Carol's friend is a patchworker also, so that was the connection, unfortunately the lady isn't well as she also has cancer, and was quite exhausted by the mornings event, I wish her well.
Margaret, from Sale, (and previously from Exmouth) came over on Saturday, with another girlfriend, and I packed my toothbrush and we went out to Tylers Lake Beach, where she has a holiday cottage, very comfortable, and we had a nice pub tea. Poor Margaret, must have been really worn out as she slept until about 10.30 ish! But what the heck! that is what relaxing weekends are about! We drove back to Lakes and went to a Yumcha floating restaurant for lunch. Fabulous food, I was sorry to leave! I know Margaret will be going back!
From Marlo, I drove on to Mallacoota, the last coastal town in Victoria, great pub food! had a beautiful site right on the waters edge. Mallacoota apparently has the biggest caravan park in Victoria/ australia? over 700 sites! I would hate to be there in summer or school holidays! Then crossed the border into NSW. Nothing out of the ordinary at the border, I only knew I had crossed because Victoria said farewell! NSW didn't welcome you in! The road was very beautiful, steep hills/mountains, nicely winding roads! thank you! and veeeery tall straight trees, not as big as Karri around the trunks, but still very tall. Drove to Eden on the east coast, this is the harbour where all the Sydney/Hobart yacht race boats limp into if they get into trouble. It is a pretty harbour with a hill top ridge dividing the harbour into 2. Twofold bay it is called. ( I think that is the best way I can describe it.) I drove up to the lookout, very beautiful views, and walked back along the path, and there was a huge black snake, just beside the path!!! I almost had a heart attack!, I am sure it wasn't there when I went out to the lookout. It was near a wire fence, stoppng people from falling over the cliff, and as I watched, it uncoiled itself and went through the wire and disappeared! I waited and warned a couple who were still out at the lookout, in case it came back further along the track. I am no snake expert, it could have been a python for all I know! But I thought of all the time I have been on the road and it is only the 2nd one I have seen (fairly close up). Certainly as close as I fancy anyway!
I had the best seafood lunch I have had since I started travelling, finally, at Eden, down at the fishermens wharf. Luscious oysters, Mussels Kilpatrick, (have never had them before!) scallops in wine, prawns with garlic and something, and fabulous fish. Not cheap, but sooo delicious!
Next morning I was on my way again, along the coastal road to Tathra, but not before I went down to the fishermens Harbour and got some smoked (locally) mussels and salmon. Yum! Tathra was another delightful place on the beach front, pretty ordinary caravan parks, but they are getting pricey! I can't wait until it gets warm enough for me to free camp again! Friday, I was on the road again to Narooma, a patchwork shop the attraction, although there were some at Merimbula, I couldn't face the traffic and the bustle of the place to try and find it. I had been advised that Narooma's was a great shop. You got it, they were right!! So good in fact, that she was having a workshop the next day, so I decided to delay my leave until after it was over! I enjoyed it, the ladies were friendly and curious, as everyone is I meet, about my travels,and I almost finished a very smart bag, certainly I will this week. Only have to sew the side seams and put the straps and binding on. I was so late leaving to get to Batemans' Bay, that I was driving in the dark, and that is almost a first, (2nd actually). I arrived at my park in the dark and rain! ugh! any way that is for next blog.
Bye for now and keep smiling! Love vicki
View from park at Narooma
Friday, May 18, 2012
Home again
Hi I have been really slack about posting a new blog these last few weeks. It's not like I have been rushed off my feet!
I flew back to WA from Melbourne in mid April. Leaving from my friends farm in Woodleigh, I was driven to the bus at Loch and went into Southern Cross Station , then transferred to a shuttle to get out to the airport. Spent a couple of hours in the Qantas Club, that place is a godsend!, and then nhad a good flight back to WA. picked up a hire car, although prebooked, I didn't get what I asked for! Sometimes I wonder whether it is all worth it?
I spent the night at Carol and Robs' and then hotfooted it down to South Yunderup to pick up my sewing things and then into Pinjarra for patchwork! Read on and you will find how I spent the next 2 weeks glued to the seat of the car! I did almost 3000kms and drove up and down to Perth , to Bunbury and Busselton, to Jurien and geraldton, then back to perth and Bunbury and busselton. get the picture?
I visited mum, who of course is one of the main reasons I travel back to WA, also to attend my patchwork groups retreat. (thank god that restores my sanity!) I managed to finish my friend Yvonne's quilt, with some help from Jean, my sister, thank you (XX). I also caught up with Kath in Busselton, and visited with my daughter in Bunbury. Least said about that the better! She is having a few problems at the moment, and don't start me on that or my blood pressure will go through the roof! (I also send this to her, sooo!!) One morning we woke up to the most beautiful sunrise, Lawrie took the picture, as I managed to take my camera over to WA but not the charger
Had a wonderful retreat with my patchworking friends at Jurien, then went on up to Geraldton for the night so I could see my son and his wife, and the grandchildren. They are all growing up so much now, I really see a difference in their maturity each time I visit, Genevieve's children too. Jye, genevieve's only boy, now towers over me, and had to bend right over to give me a kiss!
Got a clean bill of health from the specialist, which was good, also he did my medical for the Next years trip.
So finally the trip was over, I was only home for 2 weeks this time, flew back to Melbourne and stayed the night in a hotel opposite the station.!! Ha!! I chose this hotel as it said on wotif site, it was opposite the Southern Cross Railway station. Now, I am not a Victorian, and how was I to know the station is about a mile long on Spencer/Flinders st? (whichever?) So I come out of the station and can't see any hotel, I ask someone where is Little Collins St? "oh just up there, next corner" I drag my 25.8kg suitcase and carryon bag and enormous handbag, along the st for about a mile!! dislocating my shoulder in the process!! Then find it is a hotel with steps up to the foyer!! Who the hell designs these places anyway?? Well I had a good nights' sleep! and then back by bus to Loch and pick up by my friends' daughter and back to the farm at woodleigh. Where the weather had changed for the worst and I slept inside the house for the next week. Complete with a wonderful wood heater, which kept me cosy.
I had the loan of a vehicle again, not the convertible this time, but the farm ute! and was able to go into Korumburra to patchwork stitch and sew. Did I tell you in the last blog that I had started a new quilt, a reproduction one from 1920's, called the Farmers Wife, all 111 blocks, 6 inches, sewn by hand! Got hooked into that before I went home, managed to knock off a few blocks , and have been happily stitching eversince! have finished 8 blocks now.
I booked the motorhome in for a tooilet service back at Hastings, and went off there on Thursday, a week after I got back from WA. and apparently got the toilet fixed. Guess what? it isn't!!! I only found that out yesterday, as I have been cheating and staying with friends, since it was serviced, in their houses! Monday morning I will be on the phone again.
My Woodleigh friend, who dates back to when I lived in Donnybrook in 1980's, and I were continually playing catchup, as we crossed paths for only a day at a time, hence the reason why I stayed there so long! She came back from working away (in WA), so I stayed another couple of days and then pushed on east to Sale again, to catch up with another old friend. (from Exmouth days 1970's) She is a teacher so I arrived on the weekend and we had a good catchup, We actually visited her in 1977 when we went around Australia in our Kopmbi van, at that time she lived in Heyfield, a pretty little town just outside Sale, and she also recalled visiting us in Donnybrook in the 80's, as she went sailing with us on our yacht. But it has been a long time. Margaret had Monday off, so we did a little sightseeing tour around, and lunched at a wonderful place with a great range of local wines!! I was at Salwe over Mothers Day and she visited her children up in Melbourne for the day, so I had a quiet time catching up on washing and watching dvd's of Downton Abbey, (bliss).
Next destination was Raymond Island to visit Bet, Carol's mother, who I went to Usa and a Carribbean cruise with in 2009. I met her at Paynesville, which is a wonderful haven for yachties and other boats on the Victorian lakes, and you take the ferry over to Raymond Island, only about 10 minutes, and a great service for the residents. Raymond Island is home to a large colony of Koalas, every house has koalas in their trees etc, (not this week!) Bet took me for a drive around the island, it is apparently 9 miles by 7 miles large and we only managed to see 1!! Oh well them's the breaks! I went over to Bairnsdale with Bet as she had a meeting at the RSL Club, so I amused myself "playing" the pokies! Losing !! Then we had a lovely afternoon tea with some of her friends and dinner with her sister in law and niece, lots of champagne being drunk, Bet is a woman after my own heart! She arranged for me to go down the road to a neighbours for a stitch and bitch session, lovely!! I finished off my stay with a quick trip to the local dentist! where I found I need some majpor work to be done, so I have already booked into Geraldton for August! and here I am noe in Lakes Entrance for 10 days, planning my route to Qld . God bless to all especially Adele ( keep strong!) and I will send again soon
Love Vicki
I flew back to WA from Melbourne in mid April. Leaving from my friends farm in Woodleigh, I was driven to the bus at Loch and went into Southern Cross Station , then transferred to a shuttle to get out to the airport. Spent a couple of hours in the Qantas Club, that place is a godsend!, and then nhad a good flight back to WA. picked up a hire car, although prebooked, I didn't get what I asked for! Sometimes I wonder whether it is all worth it?
I spent the night at Carol and Robs' and then hotfooted it down to South Yunderup to pick up my sewing things and then into Pinjarra for patchwork! Read on and you will find how I spent the next 2 weeks glued to the seat of the car! I did almost 3000kms and drove up and down to Perth , to Bunbury and Busselton, to Jurien and geraldton, then back to perth and Bunbury and busselton. get the picture?
I visited mum, who of course is one of the main reasons I travel back to WA, also to attend my patchwork groups retreat. (thank god that restores my sanity!) I managed to finish my friend Yvonne's quilt, with some help from Jean, my sister, thank you (XX). I also caught up with Kath in Busselton, and visited with my daughter in Bunbury. Least said about that the better! She is having a few problems at the moment, and don't start me on that or my blood pressure will go through the roof! (I also send this to her, sooo!!) One morning we woke up to the most beautiful sunrise, Lawrie took the picture, as I managed to take my camera over to WA but not the charger
Had a wonderful retreat with my patchworking friends at Jurien, then went on up to Geraldton for the night so I could see my son and his wife, and the grandchildren. They are all growing up so much now, I really see a difference in their maturity each time I visit, Genevieve's children too. Jye, genevieve's only boy, now towers over me, and had to bend right over to give me a kiss!
Got a clean bill of health from the specialist, which was good, also he did my medical for the Next years trip.
So finally the trip was over, I was only home for 2 weeks this time, flew back to Melbourne and stayed the night in a hotel opposite the station.!! Ha!! I chose this hotel as it said on wotif site, it was opposite the Southern Cross Railway station. Now, I am not a Victorian, and how was I to know the station is about a mile long on Spencer/Flinders st? (whichever?) So I come out of the station and can't see any hotel, I ask someone where is Little Collins St? "oh just up there, next corner" I drag my 25.8kg suitcase and carryon bag and enormous handbag, along the st for about a mile!! dislocating my shoulder in the process!! Then find it is a hotel with steps up to the foyer!! Who the hell designs these places anyway?? Well I had a good nights' sleep! and then back by bus to Loch and pick up by my friends' daughter and back to the farm at woodleigh. Where the weather had changed for the worst and I slept inside the house for the next week. Complete with a wonderful wood heater, which kept me cosy.
I had the loan of a vehicle again, not the convertible this time, but the farm ute! and was able to go into Korumburra to patchwork stitch and sew. Did I tell you in the last blog that I had started a new quilt, a reproduction one from 1920's, called the Farmers Wife, all 111 blocks, 6 inches, sewn by hand! Got hooked into that before I went home, managed to knock off a few blocks , and have been happily stitching eversince! have finished 8 blocks now.
I booked the motorhome in for a tooilet service back at Hastings, and went off there on Thursday, a week after I got back from WA. and apparently got the toilet fixed. Guess what? it isn't!!! I only found that out yesterday, as I have been cheating and staying with friends, since it was serviced, in their houses! Monday morning I will be on the phone again.
My Woodleigh friend, who dates back to when I lived in Donnybrook in 1980's, and I were continually playing catchup, as we crossed paths for only a day at a time, hence the reason why I stayed there so long! She came back from working away (in WA), so I stayed another couple of days and then pushed on east to Sale again, to catch up with another old friend. (from Exmouth days 1970's) She is a teacher so I arrived on the weekend and we had a good catchup, We actually visited her in 1977 when we went around Australia in our Kopmbi van, at that time she lived in Heyfield, a pretty little town just outside Sale, and she also recalled visiting us in Donnybrook in the 80's, as she went sailing with us on our yacht. But it has been a long time. Margaret had Monday off, so we did a little sightseeing tour around, and lunched at a wonderful place with a great range of local wines!! I was at Salwe over Mothers Day and she visited her children up in Melbourne for the day, so I had a quiet time catching up on washing and watching dvd's of Downton Abbey, (bliss).
Next destination was Raymond Island to visit Bet, Carol's mother, who I went to Usa and a Carribbean cruise with in 2009. I met her at Paynesville, which is a wonderful haven for yachties and other boats on the Victorian lakes, and you take the ferry over to Raymond Island, only about 10 minutes, and a great service for the residents. Raymond Island is home to a large colony of Koalas, every house has koalas in their trees etc, (not this week!) Bet took me for a drive around the island, it is apparently 9 miles by 7 miles large and we only managed to see 1!! Oh well them's the breaks! I went over to Bairnsdale with Bet as she had a meeting at the RSL Club, so I amused myself "playing" the pokies! Losing !! Then we had a lovely afternoon tea with some of her friends and dinner with her sister in law and niece, lots of champagne being drunk, Bet is a woman after my own heart! She arranged for me to go down the road to a neighbours for a stitch and bitch session, lovely!! I finished off my stay with a quick trip to the local dentist! where I found I need some majpor work to be done, so I have already booked into Geraldton for August! and here I am noe in Lakes Entrance for 10 days, planning my route to Qld . God bless to all especially Adele ( keep strong!) and I will send again soon
Love Vicki
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