Thursday, December 31, 2009

Roof over my head

I haven't written for a couple of days and I am now sitting in friend Peg's lovely cottage in Erskenville, Sydney. The skies continue to threaten and fireworks tonight might be affected, but it's the only time I am likely to be in Sydney for New Year, so I will join the crowds tonight...

When I left you last I was camped in Bathurst. The next morning I wandered around town to find the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum. It held a beautiful collection of shinny and ancient things, but not particularly interactive for kids. The building itself was impressive - a huge Victorian school building like one of the wings from Harry Potter. Aparently the high ceilings had kept the building so cold that parents started pulling their kids out of the school and it eventually had to close!

I stumbled on the best playground I have ever seen in Bathurst. Unique in every way, it boasted a flying fox, xylaphone sounding bridge, climbing wall, stockman's yard style maze and obligatory slides and swings. It was an attraction in it's own right!

I was finding myself a bit in need of a rest so I headed for the Blue Mountains to a campsite recommended by Marilyn on the phone at National Parks. Ingar is 15km from Wentworth Falls along a dirt road and no bookings were necessary or possible. Pot luck (and a few pot holes as well). When I got there, I found all sites were cabled off and suitable for tents only. One, however, had a gap in the poles just large enough to squeeze my trailer so, rather like a jigsaw puzzle, I manovered the trailer in inch by inch then set up in paradise next to a fire pit.

Hot and sweaty I went for a dip in the nearby swimming hole and then relaxed with my book. (Lorna, I finished Edgar Sawtelle!). The afternoon started in peace but before too long I was flanked by two families with numerous kids. Now, that wouldn't be a problem, except one of the mothers was a gold medal winning nagger. "Lachlan - NO", "Lachlan - what are you doing?"... you get the idea. The campfire was lovely... strumming my guitar great but the kids didn't go to bed until after 10... I beat them to it and heard nagging in my dreams.



A delemma raged in the morning. I had planned to stay another night but by 9am I had a headache from the nagging and realised there were no walking trails nearby to effect an escape so I and changed plans. I rearranged by stuff for a few days in the city and retraced my tracks along the dirt road, then set my Navman to Penrith to visit the whitewater kayak stadium (the one used in the 2000 Olympics).

Wow - this is an attraction well worth visiting. Free entry and this man made white water is the only one of its kind in the country. Kayakers weave their way through gates and rapids and a path around the entire facility keeps spectators right near the action. At the bottom of the "hill" an elevator takes the kayaks and rafts back up to the top!!

Penrith is only about 45 minutes from Sydney so it was an easy drive from there to Erskenville. I don't know what I would have done for directions without my GPS, which is a real godsend. It took me right to the door and I pulled into the church parking lot across the street where Peg had arranged I could keep my car and trailer.

A shower, cup of tea and laundry load later I turned on the TV for the first time in 10 days... and chilled for the evening...

Much rested after a good night's sleep, I am now ready to explore again. I am off on a walk to Kings Road shortly. Might see a movie at the Dendy or take myself out for lunch. I just spoke to Simone and will try to meet up with them for NY celebrations.

If I don't talk to you, have a wonderful New Year!

Monday, December 28, 2009

Looking back, and out

What a facinating day! First stop was THE DISH at Parkes which is famous for its role in relaying pictures of the moon landing. (I hope you have all seen the movie?). What I didn't know was, it is just as cutting edge NOW and astronomers from around the globe come here to study radio waves from the universe and attempt to find out how it was made. I listened to a wonderful talk by astronomer Mickela who was so enthusiastic I wanted to run away to space... then saw a 3D movie series including one about the size of space which blew me away. A must for any kid studying planets. What I didn't expect was an overwhelming patriotism about the role this huge structure in a sheep paddock played in world history.

Still on a high from that visit I drove to Cowra for a historical journey of a different kind. In WWII England asked Australia to take its share of POW's because they were running out of places to put them. Financed by the commonwealth, Australia created a camp in Cowra near a military base. Here Indonesian, Italian and Japanese POW's were housed.

In 1944, conditions became overcrowded and they planned to move low ranking Japanese soldiers to another facility. The prisoners took a vote secretly and decided to escape instead. At about 2am they made a dash and two soldiers in their pjamas held them back with a machine gun. Two thousand POWs died and three Australian soldiers. About 300 escaped. The government had egg on its face and covered up the incident until much later.

Rather than glorify this event, the citizens of Cowra have reconsiled with their past. The town now has a sister city in Japan, a Japanese garden, cherry blossom event and a self drive tour of the historical aspects. Most impressive, I found, is the World Peace Bell quietly errected by library. Awarded by a world organisation and made from melted down coins and weapons, the bell is usually given to national capitals. After a recorded introduction to the process, visitors are invited to pull back the huge Japanese like battering ram to ring the bell in the name of peace. I can't describe how moving this is, and the sound reverberates through the whole town.

I am now esconsed in my camper trailer in Bathurst. I think I might avoid the national motor racing museum tomorrow, but might take a look at the Australian Fossil Museum before driving to the Blue Mountains.

With any luck I will find a National Park site and hole up for a couple of nights with a campfire and my guitar. If this plan works, I won't write anthing tomorrow because I won't have power! I know you will miss me, but I am sure you can handle it!!

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Go to gaol... do not pass go!

Although the rain depression was supposed to have cleared by today, it didn't, and I found myself packing a wet tent in the pouring rain. By the time it was down, I was soaked, most of my clothes were packed away inside it, and I was left scrambling for cover inside the car. Not a fantastic start, but first stop was Old Dubbo Gaol and it certainly didn't disapoint. Manager Steven and cohort Ben laid on an enactment of life in the prison. This was backed up by a wonderful hologram life story of the resident hangman and his 'clients'. Even the cells themselves came to life with recorded chatter on inmates as you passed through, making it a really good way to bring history to life. Much impressed.

On the road I drove to Wellington to the Caves and Phosphate mine. I toured the mine which promised a good insight and didnt really deliver... I think it had more to do with the tour guide than the subject, however.

Then late afternoon it was on to Parkes through a torrential downpour and country lanes. Luckily it petered out before I arrived and I luxuriously pitched the trailer without getting wet and chatting to my neighbours who had journeyed from Melbourne.

One of the delights of travelling alone is the people you meet who seem more willing to talk! I LOVE it!! Equally as excited about visiting the DISH tomorrow morning, and on to Cowra POW camp... talk soon!

Saturday, December 26, 2009

A day with the animals



I was amazed at 8.30am to find I had slept in. It was still pelting down outside and pretty dark, but it wasn't going to disuade me from the Western Plains Zoo. By 10am I was there collecting my pushbike inside the entrance. Unlike most zoos, this one is very spread out and a road runs between enclosures, with plenty of little pathways as short cuts. The choice is either drive or cycle and I had opted for the latter.

On such a dull day, most visitors had stayed away leaving me blissfully alone at many of the enclosures or siting on a lake bank watching primates play, surrounded by bush and no evidence of humankind. Heaven. Apart from the ocassional car and crowd at animal feedings, this is the way it was all day and I revelled in the solitude.

Enclosures have been cleverly designed as moats, or sunken fences so at times I was possible to round a corner and feel you were riding into a herd of Zebra or wildebeast! I watched African dog feeding, hippo feeding and heard a talk about Siamangs (lanky primates with a booming voice!) who put on a ten minute show to ward us off.

The day flew by and I would recommend this attraction with kids of ALL ages, and strongly suggest a bike. I saw visitors jumping in and out of their cars and felt they missed some of the experience...

Back at camp I was welcomed by my Noumean friends and a bottle of wine and pack of cards... now time to catch up and hit the sack!

Friday, December 25, 2009

Christmas adventures

On Christmas Eve a flood warning was issued for this inland region as fall out from the cyclone which recently hit the top end... I sat with my new found friends in Lightning Ridge Hotel bar and the locals fell into two camps: those who thought the floods would be worse than any previously imagined, and those that thought it would blow over without incident.

So, you can imagine, at 4.30am, when it started tickling on my canvas roof, I was a little worried. The rain got steadily stronger but then mysteriously quit half an hour later. I decided it was a window worth taking advantage of. So, around 5.30am I started packing up my gear with memories of a similar event in the British Virgin Islands on Christmas morning when my brother Chris and I were blown off the beach in his bright orange two-man tent and rowed home in the dark (but that's another story!).

By 6am I had the tent folded away and trailer hitched. I took myself off for a shower while I waited for my neighbours to show their faces so I could say goodbye and Rick the miner was lovely and gave me a necklace for Christmas!

I was reluctant to leave "the Ridge" so I wandered over the fossicking heap one last time (you are supposed to see opals better after rain, but no luck), and stopped at the artesian hot spring for a dip on Christmas morning. The sky was darkening and it was time to try and outrun the weather so I headed south towards Dubbo with the music blaring and a smile on my face.

The contrast between yellow hay fields, solitary trees and a deep black sky was stunning, and ocassionally I could see emus grazing in the fields. The rain set in, and the four hour drive slowed near the end. A dilemma ensued... to whip out and get a motel room? Or stick it out under canvas? I osolated between the two options and by default ended up at the Big 4 in Dubbo where I had a reservation for a powered site.

As I took the cover off the trailer a lovely French man from Noumea asked if I had any panadol for his girlfriend, then proceeded to help me errect my awning. Rain sides up, and shade cloth down on soggy ground, I tucked in and caught up on last night's sleep. How lovely to spend Christmas doing what I want to do without any obligations! I had wondered if I would feel lonely today, but I don't in the least. I managed to talk to Amber briefly, my parents and brothers, so life is good...

This evening I spend sharing a bottle of wine with my Noumean friends and I am just about to curl up in bed with a book... Ahhh... heaven!

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Lightning Ridge

One of my big goals on this trip was to get to Lightning Ridge and yesterday I made it! The road in is long and flat and it felt much like setting a course at sea and watching the horizon for hours on end. Ocassionally something would pop up along the way to jolt my brain back in to gear... like this mail box ready for Christmas, or a painting on the side of the CWA building...


Lightning Ridge is much like other mining towns. It hides it secrets well beneath the ground. The people too are gems in the rough and I find them facinating. Today I went on a tour of the area with a bearded driver called Peter who, in addition to driving tourists round the bend, is a saddler, songwriter and sometimes a movie extra.

He told tall tales about the town as we past each corner - about wealth and hitting it rich. About characters and murders, multiculturalism and non-political correctness. We stopped at an open cut mine and met the miner, Brian, who was himself a bit player in several movies. Then we explored a mine and toured a castle folly. There are so many stories to retell!

I tried my hand at fossicking today with extreme limited luck, but yesterday met my neighbour at the caravan park who is a miner and showed me some of his stones... he even gave me a few trinkets so I guess I could pretend they were mine! :)

There is SO much to do in LR with kids, I can't begin to sing it's merits. This afternoon I toured an underground mine where the owner has carved the limestone caves for the past ten years... take a look at this one, for starters!


After a drink at the pub with my other neighbours (a couple of nomads from Brissy) I fried up dinner and settled into the evening. It hasn't been as hot as I had imagined... only high 30s, but they are forcasting heavy rain and possible floods tomorrow. I will hit the road to Dubbo early to try and avoid the onslaught.

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Tenterfield to Moree


Today I learnt to harness the information centres. First at Tenterfield I talked the wonderful manager who pointed me in the direction of the town's top attractions. These included the Railway museum where I met a delightful German born volunteer who showed me around and told me how she sometimes gives kids a whistle to blow to orchestrate the model railway inside the station... I also visited a maze and cafe in Tenterfield and was heartily welcomed.

On the road to Glen Innes where I met a wonderful aboriginal man called Fred at the information centre. His knowledge of the area was second to none and we chatted for ages!

next stop Inverell where Sandy plied me with brochures and promised to send information on all the town's events.

I arrived at Moree around 6.30pm NSW time and set up my tent. It didnt go a smoothly as yesterday and I was a little tired, but after frying up some sausages and relaxing with a glass of wine, things turned rosy. The caravan park has it's own mineral spring and five pools of different temperatures. I just got back from soaking my bones in each one... and chatting to fellow travellers...

Tomorrow off to Lightning Ridge with a hope to strike it rich in opals!

Monday, December 21, 2009

Into NSW



It was exciting to cross the border to day at 9am and set my clock forward. I crossed the Tweed then first stop was Tropical Fruit World. Much like the Big Pineapple, it's a working fruit farm, but the range of options leaves the former for dead. A tractor ride takes you on a tour of the fields and a petting zoo, small train rides and ends with a fruit tasting demo. Lovely location, wonderfully friendly staff...

I drove up the Tweed Valley through lush fields and mountains, diverting to a few good looking picnic grounds. Lunch at Meltdown - a lovely trendy cafe in Casino where they make delicious home made pies... then on towards Tenterfield. I was hoping to make it to Texas today, but ran out of steam and I am now set up in an ordinary campsite not far from town. The saving grace is the 100 year old reception building and stable, but I am sitting along a fence line and pimped up cars are driving in and out regularly... tomorrow I will check out thee rail museum and a few other goodies before driving on. Maybe I'll stop in Texas... maybe I'll just continue to Moree...

Having a ball, and finding all kind of interesting things for kids! Now I'm going to fry up some veggies for dinner! Good night!!

Sunday, December 20, 2009

On my way!

(To the tune of Leaving on a Jet Plane:)

"The trailer's hitched, and ready to tow
I'm standing here besides about to go
I thought I'd write a note to say goodbye
Now the road is calling, its getting late
I've cleaned the house and I closed the gate
If I was more excited... I would die....

So wave goodbye and honk for me
Tell me that you'll follow me
Post me comments and always check my blog...

I'm leaving on a long drive
Gotta say it great to be alive
oh yeah, I just can't wait to go..."


Wish me luck on this adventure! First stop the Gold Coast to pick up my kayak, then on to Texas (no, not in the US!). My co-pilot, Navman will keep me on the straight and narrow and tunes from Missy, Credence, Yusaf and others are likely to send me into singing marathons.

Monday, December 14, 2009

Last week of jobs

How is it, when I was younger, travel seemed as easy as crossing the street. I used to work for six months to get enough money to travel, then travel. Then work to get enough money to travel... you get the idea.

As I prepare for life on the road as a travel writer, I am SOOO excited. This is a dream come true. This week I will be fixing gas bottles on my camper trailer, getting a lead so I can charge the camp fridge while driving, learn how to use my remote internet connection (just purchased) and working out who does what around the house while I am gone!

One week to go and I am off!! The loose plan is to head to Byron Bay for a few days, break my journey back in Queensland on the Gold Coast for Christmas then head inland to Lightening Ridge to see if I can find any opals! Down the inland route and back out at the Coast at Sydney...where I pick up Amber off a plane.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Getting the car ready...


I'm not travelling incognito this time round! Take a look at my new, flash signage!
No more speeding or one-finger salutes for me... make sure you honk if you see me passing! Expected date of departure for the next travel trip is Dec 20... route to follow shortly!

Monday, November 30, 2009

Welcome to my blog!

As I prepare to pack up the camper trailer and head south for the holidays, it's time to start share the experience, hints for travel with kids and hidden treasures I find on the way. Welcome onboard for the ride!