The Final Chapter

I guess this will be the last time that I will be adding to my blog. I have really enjoyed writing up about our travels and we have had a really good trip, seeing lots of interesting places and catching up with many friends and family and reading every notice board in every conceivable place in the country. Another one of Keith's delights!
It has been great. Not sure what our travelling plans for the future are but if anyone is wanting to buy a bus in almost perfect condition, please let us know............!!
We now wait in anticipation for our grandchild due to be born in August.......only about 9 weeks to go.
Thanks again to everyone who commented and read the blog. It is nice to know there are some ardent readers out there.

Home Again

It is very nice to be home. We had only been here for half an hour when we had a surprise visit from Cee and Terry, our friends who travelled to Ayres Rock with us. They are on another road trip, just in the car this time, and have come for a very short visit.
Now comes the hard work, unpacking, washing, cleaning and repairing. Oh well, it's all part of the journey.
Never a Dull Moment

Sad but True

Due to our budget constraints Andy kindly brought us home on the back of his truck. If only.........
Yes we broke down again.......the gear box again, just not as bad as last time, we hope!!
Luckily it happened in Emerald so we were able to finish off our holiday with Josh and Rachel and Travis.

The Celebrations Continue

27 Today

Happy Birthday Rachel
We just can't believe our beautiful girl is 27.
Here she is opening her presents with Travis.....and yes it was cold at 6.30am

Blackwater......

......home of Rachel and Travis

.........and Ninja

Emerald.........Home of

........Van Gogh's Giant Sunflower Painting

......and Josh's and Bernadette's new house

Mining Gone Mad

We could not believe the number of mine sites between Eton and Moranbah which is 160 klms and then between Moranbah and Emerald. There are mine camps set up in the middle of nowhere as well. Apparently there are also 24 new mines proposed for this area. We also passed so many of Greyhound buses which are the buses that transport all the mine workers to and from work. There must be a huge fleet of buses just for that purpose.
It is a whole different world out here.

Rain, Rain Go Away

Actually we have been very lucky with the weather and this is the first lot of rain we have had. ........ although it is v-e-r-y cold. We are in Eton about half an hour from Mackay staying with Matt and Tracey so very thankful to be in a house. Keith is like a pig in mud helping Matt sort out his shed.

Bowen from Above

Bowen is a nice little town on a lovely harbour. This is a photo taken from Flagstaff Hill.

Bowen has become famous for having the movie Australia filmed there. It is also still famous for tomatoes as it was when I went to school and of course Bowen mangoes which I have only just found out are Kensington Prides. I have seen them in the shops and thought they were a fancy new breed.

Bowen wowuld have the smallest Target I have ever been in and I have been in a lot!!

My Review of Caravan Parks

Ribas Underground Caravan Park

Wonga Beach Camping Ground

Palm Cove Camping Ground

Yulara Caravan Park

I am sitting here thinking about all the caravan parks we have stayed in and thought all you wanna be travellers out there may be interested. Keith has gone snorkelling so I am filling in time.

RIBAS UNDERGROUND CARAVAN PARK, Coober Pedy
We didn't actually stay underground but they did have camp sites and accommodation underground. Pathetic showers in the block and mice running around the camp kitchen but other than that.........
The owner/manager conducted an underground mine tour and the site fee was halved if you did the tour. We did it but wouldn't recommend it.

YULARA CARAVAN PARK, Ayres Rock
It is actually sitauted about 20klms from Ayres Rock but is the only park there so they can charge the $41 a night. It was a very nice park though. There is no camping in the national park....probably since a dingo took a baby!
WINTERSUN CARAVAN PARK, Alice Springs
A nice clean park a couple of kilometres from town. We felt very safe there as there was barbed wire on the fence and a security gate closed at 8.30pm. It was a Top Tourist park of which we are members.
PALM COVE CAMPING GROUND, Palm Cove
This is a council owned park right on the foreshore and we had water views so the position was fantastic and at $24 a night was cheap but the amenities block was disgusting.....lucky the water was hot. I don't think it had ever been cleaned. Luckily we wear thongs in the shower. The whole park needed a lot of care and attention.
WONGA BEACH CAMPING GROUND, Wonga Beach
This is another council camping ground and was 100% on the one at Palm Cove and was only $20 a night. It is also right on the beach. The park was full of huge wonga trees which are beautiful and shady but they dropped big seeds and everyone had their cars covered up!!
CAPE TRIB CAMPING, Cape Tribulation
This was a nice grassy camping ground with fairly new amenities with a nice big camp kitchen. We often take advantage of the bbq's in the camp kitchens and we did at Cape Trib.
SUNLAND CARAVAN PARK, Cairns
This is probably the best caravan park we have stayed in and at $26 a night was good value. We stayed there 2 years ago and it is just as good. The amenities blocks are very clean and there are plenty of washing machines. The whole park is very neat and tidy. It is also in a very good position, close to lots of different shops and also the bus stop.
HARBOUR LIGHTS CARAVAN PARK, Bowen
This park is right across the road from the harbour so I think I was conned as it was an easy walk to have a look at all the boats. It was quite a nice park though and in a good position also close to the town. They have unisex ensuites which I am not keen on as I don't like going in to the bathroom after men I don't know! Fussy I know.
HORSESHOE BAY RESORT, Bowen
Not sure how it got it's resort status....must have been back in the 70's. This park is near the beach so I guess that is why they can charge $32 a night. It is a very old park and the amenities blocks are in urgent need of an overhaul. I hate amenities blocks that are left wide open and subject to toads entering...which is exactlywhat happened here. Keith has to frequent ladies toilets searching for any hopping critters before I enter....not his favourtie thing to do but he just has to. There is not a lot around here either.

Sorry if I have bored you. I just realised I should have put the photos on before so they are now altogether. Actually when you look at them they all look the same so I think I will stop there!! I don't have photos of them all anyway, aren't you lucky. Keith has survived his snorkelling expedition and is back already not very impressed with what he saw and also the water was cold!! Poor baby.

Herbie returns to Townsville

Harley with his new mate Herbie

We have been in Townsville for three days now and Keith or Herbie as he was affectionately known back in the day has had a trip down memory lane catching up with some friends he hasn't seen for many years.
We are staying with Jean and George who we haven't seen for quite a long time and it has been great catching up with them.
Leaving here today and heading south......getting closer to home but looking forward to seeing everyone on the rest of the journey.
The weather here is fantastic....wouldn't know it is winter.....27 degrees. Jean and George have a great spot close to the Ross River so river walks with their dog, Harley, have been the order of the day.

For those of you who haven't been to Cairns...a couple of photos

How do you like this one Tania?

Gone Bananas!

We have driven through many banana plantations and not seen one for sale! They are still $13 a kilo up here although I did buy some in Coles in Cairns for $9 a kilo. What a bargain!

Paronella Park

This is a must do if you are in the Cairns area. We had never been before even though we have been to Cairns a number of times.....we had actually never heard about it until last year. It is a fascinating park that was built by a man who had a dream....and no it is not Kamhal .....and is now really only ruins on 13 acres of forest. It was built back in the 1930's and parts of it have withstood a few cyclones and floods and fire. He was an innovative man way before his time and had the first hydro electricity which he installed himself. The story is probably best read on http://www.paronellapark.com.au/ I will put up a couple of photos eventually but the photos really don't do it justice.

Sunny Cairns

We thoroughly enjoyed our few days in Cairns and did a trip over to Green Island. Keith did some snorkelling in might I say not so warm water and we both went on the glass bottom boat and did some fish viewing.....very adventurous.

We thought of you Tania watching this ocean race on Green Island.

Surprise, Surprise......

I am fortunate that we are staying with friends in Townsville and able to use their computer but maybe no photos for a while. I am distraught over losing my computer again and will be into Harvey Norman tomorrow to see if they can fix it....again.
Thanks again Tania for helping me out.

We interupt this blog......

Gail is up the creek with out a computer. It seem her laptop has died another death. She asked me to let all of her many followers know you will have to get by without your daily dose of 'life on the road' till further notice. I know I'll miss keeping up with their nomadic fun and games. At least it's only a few short weeks and they'll be home, momentarily!

Skip Bo

We have found a new game to play. We were told about it by some people along the way who recommended Skip Bo as a good game to play with two people. You can also play with more so hope you are up for the challenge, Craig and Sandy.
We had our first game last night and took a while to master it but with a little practice....... Keith of course beat me but we are about even with our games of Scrabble. We have no TV with us this trip so need something to fill in the nights until bedtime at 8pm!!

First Day of Winter....

.......although you would never know it here in Cairns. It has been a beautiful sunny day here today but I spent most of the day in the Myer centre so anything could have been happening outside.
I did get to catch with my friend Jan who I used to flat with in Brisbane many moons ago ( when flats were flats not units)! Always good to catch up with friends.
We think we might just take a boat ride to Green Island. It is probably about 40 years since I have been and Keith has never been. He really wants to do some snorkelling so hopefully he will get to do some tomorrow.
He tried to go to WAGS....Wednesday Afternoon Gentlemans Sailing...for you non boaties....unlike me who knows all the yachting talk. Unfortunately there weren't enough boats for him to go and the young, female backpackers were chosen first. I wonder why!!