Things we did in March 2014

Hi All

We hope this blog finds you all safe and well, We left Cranbourne and headed to the Melbourne port to board the Spirit of Tasmania which we had to be there for 5.45am as there was a cruise ship in port at the same time so we were advised to be there early.

The we departed on time and sailed down Port Phillip Bay towards the heads and into Bass Strait it was very calm sailing, Lee rang our friends, Andrew and Helen who live in Lonsdale, to let them know we were on our way to Tasmania, they went down and wave a towel from the Point Lonsdale jetty.

We past thought the heads and the sea became a little more choppy but then well past the heads it was quite calm again, we had recliner seats on the ferry as it was a day sailing and we could walk around and read.

We arrive in Devonport and the next day we went down to Launceston to book in to the motel and then go and pick up our friends Rocky and Sue, from the airport.

We had three nights in Launceston where we had day trips out and about, the highlights were Cataract Gorge, Tour guild around Town, Drive up the west side of the Tamar River and then over the Batman bridge, while we were taking photos of the bridge and a car pulled up and in it was a old work mate Danny from Perth, fancy seeing him at the bridge.

We continued up the east side of the Tamar river to Low Head and then back down to Launceston to have a few drinks.

We then toured east to Scottsdale, St Helens where we were to stop for the night but there was no accommodation left in town, so we contained down to the coast to find some room for the night, we found a house to rent for the night in Swansea.

We then headed for Port Arthur where we spent 2 nights, there is a lot to see and is very interesting, the entry ticket is for two days so we took advantage of this offer.

We then headed to Hobart for three nights the highlights were Mt Wellington, Cadbury Chocolate Factory, Old Hobart Town, Constitution dock where we saw Wild Oats yacht and the air walk in Huonville,

We then moved on to Strahan, passing though New Norfolk, Hamilton, Ouse, Lake Stain Clare and Queenstown look like moon scape from the old gold mining days.

Strahan, We did the Gordon River cruise which was awesome day out and a wonderful lunch and great commentary along the way by the Captain.

We left Strahan and head for Cradle Mountain but on the way the weather changed and the rain came we only managed to get some good photos of the mountain,

We then headed fro Burnie for the hight but again no room available so we found rooms in Somerset, the next morning we head west to Stanley to see the Nut and other highlights.

Then back to Launceston via Devonport, Latrobe, Deloraine Hadspen to drop of Rock and Sue in the morning at the airport. After saying goodbye to our friends we went back into Launceston for lunch, then drove to Perth. A little place, but at least we can say we have been there. The next day we headed back to Devonport via Sheffield. A pretty place with lots of muriels painted on the sides of buildings. We even had our photos taken with a baby Alpaca. (so cute). We finally sailed at 7.30 pm , and we were glad we had booked a cabin for the night. The trip to Melbourne was smooth .

Hope you all stay safe and well till next time

Regards Jim & Lee

                                                                   On the ferry

                                                      Point Lonsdale

                                                             Arriving in Tasmania

                                                            Ships Masts in Launceston

                                                            Cataract gorge

                                                               Cataract gorge

                                                        Low Head Light House

                                             Tree of Carving with the Sculpturer

 Pinky the beer drinking pig

                                   
                                           Tassie Devil

                                       Can you see my halo (they don't call me JC for nothing)

                                               It's a bit windy and cold on top Mt Wellington

                                                           Air walk Lee at the end

                                           Lee with her friends (even the dolls are bigger)

One little old lady drives this mean machine, the Water Buffalo Horns are 28 years old 

Heading to Adelaide for a Wedding

Hi All

The free camp in Langhorn Creek is called Frank Potts reserve, we stayed two nights and it was great, well maintained and clean but you need to get there before 2pm to get good spots, There are lots of places close by to visit, we left here and headed for Adelaide.

We arrived in Windsor Gardens Caravan Park in Adelaide and set up our caravan for a week and then the next day we pick up Terry and Lynda form the airport and took them to there new home for 6 nights in the Camp Trailer next to our caravan.

The weather in Adelaide was very hot well over 40 for 4 days, No body liked it at all, lucky because on the wedding day it cooled to around 34 a very nice change for all. After Adelaide, we headed to Loxton, near Berri and Renmark. Great spots. Right on the Murray River. Did a bit of fishing, (caught

a couple of little ones , I can use for bait. We then headed to Laanecoorie , (a great free spot.) and stayed 4 days. Then it was back into Melbourne to Bob's place in Cranbourne, Bob took on a couple of day tours to the south of Cranbourne very nice places and we had a few great days out touring.

We are now on the Spirit of Tasmania , heading to Tasmania. There we will pick up friends Rocky and Sue from Perth and travel around for 2 weeks sightseeing and checking out the free camp site around Tasmania, our next blog will be from Tasmania.

Thank you Helen and Andrew for waving the pink towel from Heads as we entered the Tasman Sea on broad the Sprit of Tasmania Ferry, The grossing was like a bath tub very smooth Lee hopes the night crossing back will be much the same, here's hoping

Next blog after we leave Tasmania

Stay safe and well Jim and Lee

 Melbourne Eye

 A Lock in South Australia

 Our caravan in Loxton Caravan Park

 Port of Renmark

 Ps Industry 

 Bull in Birchip 

 Clock tower in Birdchip

 The Happy couple on there Day

The gang having a few drinks at the reception

On the move again

Hi All

We are on the move we have left our host Bob in Cranbourne so he can have some peace and quite again in his home with Mrs P the cat.

We have been invited to a wedding in Adelaide so we left Cranbourne and because of the hot weather in Central Victoria we decided to head west along the Great Ocean Rd, we found a great little free camp called Johanna Beach where we stayed for a night.

We then moved on along the Great Ocean Road watching out for the foreign drivers that do not have a clue on how to drive, we are pulling a 2.8 ton Caravan and they pull out of the car parks 25 to 30m in front of you then drive at 50kmh (their are some crazy people out there) we managed to miss them and then they pulled into the next viewing area.

We decided too drive onto Beachport we had a quick stop here on the way from the west over 2 years ago. We booked into the Beachport Caravan Park for 3 nights, there are a few WA travellers staying here for a while, there is a long jetty to fish from, I did throw a line or two in and got two small herring in SA they call them (Tommy roughs) they will become bait for the next fishing day.

Tomorrow we head of for an other free camp near Langhorn Creek the so I can have a few tasting of the grape in this area, will let you know how it goes in next blog

Stay safe

Bob and Lee on Arthur's seat

 Free camp at Johanna off Great Ocean Rd Vic

 Anther picture of Camp

 Looking from caravan park grounds Beachport

Anther picture of Beachport 

Ararat to Geelong

Hi All

We had a change of heart and stayed at Green Hill Lake free camp near Ararat instead of Halls Gap, we did day trips to Stawell, Dadwells Bridge where the big Koala lives, then we got on the dirt roads and went to Roses Gap, Halls Gap, Mt William and Jimmy's creek camp ground and then head back through Moyston.

There are lots of great views overlooking the Grampians along these roads we also picked up some wood for the fire pit back at camp, because we where going to cook a damper for the first time and have a few drinks with the nice people we have met up with in the camp.

We are now in Hamilton and today we took a drive to the falls Wannon Falls and Nigretta Falls and both had water flowing over the falls,

we also stopped at Coleraine where they have an old Train Station that now house's the Information Centre and some old pictures and notes from the past.

We have been to the Ansett Museum in Hamilton as this is were Reginald Ansett was born and grew up, he started offering to take passengers from Hamilton to Ballarat in his Studebaker, by 1935 he had a fleet of vehicles travelling to Melbourne, Mount Gambier, Naracoorte and Warnambool then a year later the first Ansett flight took to the skies a must see if you are in Hamilton Victoria.

We stayed at Meredith free camp just east of Colac for a night and it blew a gale, we then moved onto Geelong and had another look round town and I did a bit fishing with no luck again! I then took my metal detector to the Eastern beach but also no luck only found tent pegs and bottle tops will try again some other morning that all for now.

We are flying up to Townsville for Christmas on Thursday 19 Dec so I will restart blog in New Year

So we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year for both of us. 

 View from Lake to Caravan 

 View from Caravan to Lake 

 Big Koala just past turn off to Halls Gap

 Lee overlooking the Lake in the Grampians  

 More views of the Grampians 

 Our first try at making Damper

 What a good job we did 

 Nigretta Falls 

  Wannon Fall 

 Sir Reginald Ansett early mobil phone place in his Studebaker

 His Studebaker

 Hamilton Botanic Gardens

 Some type of Pine Tree in the Gardens  

In and around Maryborough Victoria

Hi All

We spent 4 nights at the Laanecoorie not free camp, but only $5 Pn which we call free, I when out with my metal detector looking for gold but only found old nails and bit of rusty tin but it was good to have a look. When I got back to the caravan park we met up with Ron and Marie, Ron invited me to go out looking for gold nuggets the next day, which I jump at so I could learn more about detecting.

We started off at 0630 and only went 4km for camp and started detecting Ron showed me what to look for around in the area's where gold might be located, by pointing out the kind of ground and trees around the area. Ron found a couple of small nuggets and called me over to try my detector over a spot which he thought may have a nugget, I started to try and find it with my detector but had no hope as the ground had lots of iron stone and was just to noisy so he told me to sort thought some of the soil with my hands and pass it over his detector to find the item that was making all the noise and I found a small nugget in some clay which Ron call it a Kinder Surprise, I think I have got the fever and may have to look for a real Gold detector.

We were to stop at Avoca, but when we pulled up in Maryborough we thought we would stay a week and make day runs form here, Maryborough has lots of history and there are lots of small towns and villages around the area.

We had to do some washing and as we have not got a generater on this trip we had to stop over in the caravan park which is right next to the lake and we can walk to Town.

We have driven around the area and have seen Castlemain, Maldon, Avoca, Ballarat, Beaufort and all villages between these towns.
We move on to Halls Gap on Friday morning for 3 or 4 nights and will have a look at the local town around the area. 

 Bush-ranger Captain Melville Cave in Kooyoora State Park

 The nugget I unearthed just a little small that the one below

 A few wineries around the area

 This nugget found near Maryborough

Lee outside a small house in Inglwood