Melbourne - Echuca

Friday morning we left Rutherglen travelling down the Hume Hwy to Melbourne, a very good dual lane hwy but other wise a very boring journey. Along the way we saw a large B Double Truck that had taken a slight detour off the hwy and down through the grass verge, luckily only cleaning up some small gum trees before coming to a stop. The front of the truck had considerable damage and a broken windscreen, not sure how the driver came off after what looks like a quick nap at the wheel.

We hit the Melbourne City Link around 3pm, just as the Friday afternoon traffic was building up, over the Holt Bridge then it was into the tunnel everyone going flat chat, swapping lanes getting no where fast. We did have to break suddenly once when some ethnic person decided they would come to a stop in our lane. He had missed the exit road before the toll way started, did think the van may have fish tailed as there was a screech of breaks before we pulled up as this person shot off at a right angle across to the exit.

Arrived at the Jurgens factory at Tooradin just in time to leave the van locked up in their yard for the night. The van was booked in at 8am Saturday for some warranty issues and to have an additional window installed in the ensuite. As it was going to be such an early start thought it was easier to drop it off Friday and treat ourselves to a night in a Hotel in Dandenong. It was nice to have some space to spread out in ! Bazza and I were feeling considerably short this morning when we had to share the lift and the dining room at breakfast with very young tall basketball players that were also staying at the hotel, there was a pre season tournament in town, one of the teams was even from China. We had just finished breakfast when we had a call to say the van would be finished by 10am, so it was back down to Tooradin then back on the road again heading for Echuca.

OMG school holidays have just started in Victoria, the caravan park is over run with camper trailers, tents and kids. Just hoping we haven't got the family from hell beside us, they seemed quiet nice and had their kids in bed nice and early. Hoping they sleep in until at least 7am !

Murray River Echuca

Moree-Forbes-Rutherglen

We left a lovely hot sunny Gold Coast early Monday morning to start our journey south, we headed West travelling through the Cunningham Gap to Warwick then onto Goondiwindi. Just before Goondiwindi we could see the weather changing and it wasn't long before we were travelling in the rain and the temperature was dropping. We were heading to Moree a 500klm day to stay the night to catch up with Carlene and Rex who had left the G C the day before. On the way we received a call from Faye and Alan whom we had stayed with in Queanbeyan that they were heading north and would be in Moree Tuesday night, so we did a few quick calculations and decided we could stay two nights in Moree. Once again we were able to enjoy the artesian hot spa's as the caravan park has five pools, all kept at different temperatures, the coldest being 25 degrees and the hottest 39 degrees. We had a thunderstorm Tuesday night with lightening and heavy rain, we had walked to the nearest Tavern for a meal $7 for a 250gm steak with salad & chips if you bought a drink. Lucky for us the storm had passed over by the time we needed to walk back to park.

Wednesday we left Moree around 8am for another big day of klms around 580, had to make up time for the extra night spent in Moree. We arrived at Forbes just before 4pm and set up camp beside the river.

This morning we left Forbes around 8.45am for the next leg to Rutherglen, only 435klms today. We detoured into Junee to visit the Chocolate & Licorice Factory and to buy a supply of goodies. As it was nearly lunchtime we decided to have an early lunch at the Factory then it was back on the road arriving at Rutherglen by 3pm. We have a lovely spot opposite Lake King, it was very pleasant sitting in the late afternoon sun watching the bird life on the lake and the sun setting.

Climbing Cunnigham Gap & roadworks

Hanging out with the Big Boy's

Enjoying the cheap $7 steak at Moree

Chocolate & Licorice Factory Junee

Lake King Rutherglen Caravan Park

Gold Coast

We arrived at the Broadwater Tourist Park at Southport early Monday morning after a very enjoyable weekend in Brisbane. Not long after arriving we caught up with Maree and Brian who have been here for some weeks, after their move from Tassie to Newcastle, so there was a lot to catch up on over a coffee or cup of tea for me.They had just left when our friends who live here on the Gold Coast, Alison and David came over for a visit, as usual it is like we have never been apart all trying to talk at once.

The weather has been lovely around the 24degrees, had planned only to stay for a few days and have a leisurely drive down to Melbourne but once again have changed our plans. Will not leave here until Monday, then will make a four day dash as we need to be in Melbourne by the weekend, as the caravan is booked into the factory to have a couple of things done.

Visa card has been hit very hard with the retail therapy since being here, especially when you receive a list of requirements from our daughter. We were going well for space in the van, have now had to juggle some things around under the bed to fit in the extra purchases. Bazza was also like a kid in a candy shop when he visited RV Coastline, went in to enquire about a gas heater for the van and the next thing I know arrangements were being made for the heater, reversing camera and other wiring to be done on site on Saturday. Looks like I wont see another Big 4 again, as will not have an excuse that it is too cold to free camp.

Wednesday night we went out with Alison and David to Crown Towers where we enjoyed a seafood platter for 4, then it was a phone call to their daughter-in-law to pick her brain as to the best coffee and desert location. We ended up going to the Marina Mirage to enjoy an unique chocolate experience at a Max Brenner Chocolate Shop, Bazza enjoyed a Giant Bald Headed Chocolate Truffle and I had a Banana Crepe drizzled with melted chocolate yum yum.

Today is our last day here at Southport, I had my last swim this morning while Bazza was packing up, he was also ready to put up the jacks until I went off my tree and told him to leave them until tomorrow. Then it was off to have lunch with Alison and David at their unit needing to be back at the park by 5.45pm as a courtesy bus was picking us up along with Maree and Brian to take us to the Shark's Club for a meal.

Will miss the fresh prawns that we have been getting direct off the prawn trawlers, will send Bazza around in the morning before we hook up to get some to take with us. Two weeks today until we are home, hoping the weather is improving !

View of Gold Coast from the caravan park at Southport

Broadwater Caravan Park Southport

 

Emerald Lakes where Alison & David live in the French Quater