Chugging Along

The past week has taken us to some of the most beautiful places we have ever seen.

Al and I have always wanted to visit the North Coast and never really made it. Many people seem to say that you should save these things for smaller holidays and try to visit the far away places like WA and "The Territory". While we plan to make it there if time permits, we at least wanted to see what the North Coast was all about. We're glad we did because we have enjoyed some great beach times and seen some lovely scenery. We have even showered every day (albeit regularly with cold water) ,  and have had flushing toilets . The weather has been superb and nothing serious has broken down. The main down side is living in close quarters with people who like to share their music with you late into the evening. At Point Plomer, people were even kind enough to take turns each night. The lack of sleep does not work well for some of our travelling party.

Point Plomer Sunrise from the Paddle Board.

Looking towards Port Macquarie from Queen's Head.

Our first Campfire. ( sorry about photo quality)

South West Rocks has been a highlight where we have enjoyed some of our favourite things. 

Trial Bay / South West Rocks

The Big Girls enjoying one of their regular beach walks .

Leaving their poor brother behind.

The girls' favourite pastime.



So we keep chugging along and will spend Easter in Bellingen.

Heading North

Enjoying our time at Point Plomer. Day trip to Port Macquarie via the beach . Al handled her first beach driving experience very well despite getting stuck a few times.

Fiscal Phil vs Glamping Expectations

It's all about expectation management. My expectations relate mainly to perceived budgetary constraints. How can we afford , as a family of 6, to pay for food, camp fees, fuel and fun for up to 12 months.  In the red corner is the rest of the family, ( well, mainly the females of the family). Their expectations include hot showers, power for the various technological enhancements, gourmet cooking and a roof over their heads that does not shake in the wind.  There exists a gap between these two worlds which creates some interesting discussions. Some of these discussions become a little fresher when the drop toilets really smell like a toilet, the wind is blowing incessantly and the monitor in the Jayco suggests the water and power levels are dangerously low with no solution in sight.

Just kidding. We are all getting along famously.

Seal Rocks

Submarine Beach near Seal Rocks

My attempt to spin my fiscally responsible choice of campground is to suggest that moments like those above on our own secluded beach would not be possible if we piled in with the masses with their hot showers and other signs of civilisation. I will say that I did question the logic of saving 40 dollars a night when I was standing in a cold outdoor shower at 8pm in the teeth of  a solid North Easter across the road from the Seal Rocks Campground as I looked on longingly at the same masses enjoying their creature comforts. Harden Up I say.

We have travelled from Nelson Bay area to Seal Rocks for three nights and are now down the road from Crescent Head in the Point Plomer Campground in the Limeburners Creek Nature Reserve. Very nice although we feel like we are back in Gerringong with the wind blowing a gale which seems to have been a fairly persistent theme on this trip. We are starting to think that heading inland might be necessary to regain our sanity. Maybe some other solutions will also need to be employed.

Plans are to explore this beautiful area for a few days then work out something for Easter. Hopefully involving water and power. 

Stinky Cam, the wait goes on.

Sorry to disappoint those of you that have been eagerly awaiting Stinky Cam but we have had a few technical glitches. Stinky was very gracious in agreeing to be strapped to the bullbar for filming. However, the production and editing staff have not been able to complete the ambitious project. Yet. Will do our best to bring it to life.

Stinky in- situ.

Didn't get bogged on this pass.

We had a great day on Stockton Beach with Alex from Great Divide Tours. I had never driven on the beach before so it was with trepidation that I headed onto the beach with my tyre pressures adjusted as suggested. To my surprise we slid our way around the beach for most of the day, up and down sand dunes without too much drama. The kids and I had great fun whizzing around while Alison chose to spend the day without us, having a rest day back at the van. I can't imagine why she would want to spend the day without us.

We have now spent a few days in the Nelson Bay area and can see why many of our friends and family have holidayed here over the years. Beautiful beaches and waterways. Tomorrow we will head off to set up camp near Seal Rocks.

What were we thinking?

Roaming around Victoria for a month knowing we were heading back to Gerringong for a few days felt like a pleasant holiday. Driving North yesterday, leaving for the rest of 2013, was a different experience altogether. What were we thinking? 9 - 11 months on the road with four kids and a caravan. We have already decided that we live in one of the best places on earth and now we're chugging along the freeway being passed by old kombi vans as we head into the unknown .

Before we headed off again we laid our beautiful butterfly Anna to rest which was a very challenging and emotional time. However, it was an important step in our healing journey. 

We are now in Point Wolstencroft Sport and Recreation Centre spending some quality time with our good friends and generous hosts Richard and Anne- Marie Withycombe and there lovely girls Samantha and Lucy. It has allowed us to get back into travel mode and feel comfortable again with our adventure.

Point Wolstencroft Wharf

The Giant Swing

Kayak Challenge

Look out for "Stinky Cam" at Stockton beach in a few days.

Home Sweet Home

After completing the Kosciuszko walk, we returned to our Khancoban base before heading back to the Gong. It was our longest drive to date , but you can hardly camp at Goulburn when the lure of a visit home beckons.
We are sorting a few things out with our setup before heading north. We have realised we have taken too much unnecessary stuff so have done some culling. Already feeling more streamlined.
Looking forward to a few days of work

before hitting the road

It would not take too much to convince Alison and the kids to stay put. However, while we have already learnt what Dorothy did, that there's no place like home,

we are committed to continuing our exciting adventure.

On Top

We made it. Kosciuszko.

Great day in Bright

Best day yet.

Riding the Bright Rail Trails.

Swimming in a Mt Buffalo waterhole.

Finished in the Bright Brewery.

Great stuff!

A day in Melbourne, not a walk in the park.

Okay, so we started the day in Melbourne in the Park. The Royal Botanic Gardens in fact.
However, we had some hurdles to overcome before we made it.











We had made our base on the Mornington Peninsula at the Rosebud Foreshore Campground. Very pleasant.

Big cities are often a challenge, especially those you are not overly familiar with. As we started our journey into Melbourne from the Peninsula, I was very proud of myself for bringing my eTag and discovering that it was in fact transferrable to the interstate roads. The first beep was very exciting. The second beep soon after was a slight shock then the third, fourth and so on started me recalculating the budget for our trip. I should have known. I should have also been prepared for the navigational hurdles that can arise in unfamiliar surroundings and I proceeded to have disagreements with my lovely wife along with that thing on the dashboard which seemed to be set on pointing me anywhere but where I wanted to go.

We managed to jag a park in a pretty handy spot and headed into the action. 

Next problem. Six people with six different ideas about what they wanted to see.

Department Stores

Alleyways

Catching a tram

Seeing a Tall Ship

Well I was stupid enough to think it could work.

Alas , we headed back to the Peninsula and found ourselves justifying our first restaurant meal for the trip. Our usual fall back, the local Chinese Restaurant. Very welcome.

We spent the next couple of days taking in the sights of the Mornington Peninsula .

Our favourites were Portsea and Sorrento. They are probably glad to see the back of us. In my rabid pursuit of some decent surf one morning I nearly took out a nice looking Beamer with the Troopy. We looked out of place in a very upmarket looking area. Apparently a popular playground for Melbourne's wealthy for many years and I can see why. Very nice.

Now we are camped near Bright in the heart of Victoria's Alps. A beautiful change of scenery.

Off to the NSW Alps next, then home for a few days before heading north.