Frankston - Melbourne

Thursday we had an uneventful trip down to Melbourne coming in on the Tullamarine Freeway and City Link  then heading towards the South Eastern Suburbs and Frankston. We struck a traffic hold up just before the Holte Bridge and we crawled along until after entering the tunnel when there was access to another lane which helped the backlog get away. It is not a nice feeling when you are in the middle lane and wedged between two massive B Doubles, just hope you don't get the wobbles.

We have spent the last three nights here at the Frankston Big 4 while we enjoy our last days of this trip until we catch the Spirit of Tasmania home. Our friends Pauline and Les were already here when we arrived and it has been great catching up and hearing what they have been doing over the last few months.

Thursday we took a trip back up the Freeway to Melbourne where we enjoyed a lovely lunch at the Sandbar Cafe on the foreshore along Beaconsfields Parade, and we could see the Spirit preparing for its next crossing. It was then back negotiating the City Link and Freeways and down to Sorrento where the vehicular ferry leaves to cross Port Phillip Bay to Queenscliffe.

Yesterday we left the boys in the park and Pauline took me to the Black Pepper outlet at Dandenong, they were having a sale and nothing was over $25 with most things being around the $15 mark. Again the plastic had a little work out.

We are now preparing to leave Frankston and head to Port Melbourne, so this will be my last Blog for this trip, looking forward to next years already. The weather today is very hot with 28 degrees forecast but we are having between 50 -60 knot gusts of wind, hoping it will die down sometime soon.

Until next year

Spirit of Tasmania Melbourne

Lunch Sandbar Melbourne

Sorento vehicular ferry

Sorento Beach

Cat early in the game as a Sydney supporter

Cat after she jumped ship during the game!

Ready to watch the AFL Grand Final

Frankston Foreshore

Baz checking out Port Philip Bay from
Frankston Foreshore

Frankston Foreshore on this windy day,
hoping for a calm crossing tonight!

Moama- Echuca

With only 250klms to travel from Narrandera to Moama which was our next stop for the night, we leisurely drove further south on the Newell Hwy stopping for a cuppa at Jerriderie.  We pulled in by the lake on the south side of town, after a short walk to stretch our legs we made a cuppa and sat enjoying the sun watching the ducks and Pelicans.

Back in the car again Baz my part time navigator was thrown into disarray when the Tom Tom would not turn on , he then had to revert to the old way of reading a map! Poor Baz, was all on for replacing her when we got to Echuca!  All that was needed was a good charge as that part time navigator had accidentally disconnected her, all is good now for her to navigate us through Melbourne and back to the boat.

We spent Sunday night at the Rich River Golf Club Moama, they have an allocated area for RV travellers to set up, only need to become a social member at a cost of $11 to be able to use this area. With your membership they give you discount vouchers to be used in the club, a good way to encourage you to spend more at the club. We went over for their Sunday night roast meal, it was a choice of roast Lamb or Turkey plus a dessert for $18. a very nice meal. After a little gamble on the pokies we came away fairly even, a good night not costing too much.

Monday we headed the short distance of 12klms to Echuca stopping in Moama to wash the caravan as we saw a car wash that was able to accomadate the van. It was so nice to feel clean again as we had become very dusty since leaving the Gold Coast.

Echuca is usually our first stop of our trip or otherwise the last stop before Melbourne. We always stay at the Top Tourist Park that is located within walking distance to the old port, specialty shops, cafes and of course the Beechworth Bakery (Beesting heaven)!  It is the first week of the school holidays and Echuca is a very popular destination and the caravan park and town are very busy with families here on holiday. The last couple of days the weather has been lovely and hot and with the car and caravan clean we were able to enjoy our time, we have even been to the bowls club for a couple of roll ups.  Not sure what the locals think of Baz and myself as we are very serious playing a grudge match against each other, even the tape measure came out today! The good weather broke today with the occasional shower, hopefully it rains all night and then dry for our trip down to Frankston tomorrow, it would be nice to arrive still looking clean. We have three nights in Frankston then on Sunday we are back on the boat heading back to Tassie!😢

Enjoying a cuppa at Jerriderie

Pelicans and ducks that were missing
 from previous photo

Nice clean and shiny caravan!

Steam train leaving Echuca

Emmy Lou Paddle Steamer
(Murray River is very low this year!)

Children enjoying the town beach of Moama
on the Murray River

Narrandera

It was a little brisk outside this morning we could see frost on the ground across the river, but we were nice and cosy, one of us was a little reluctant to get out of bed. After refuelling the Paj and getting the gas bottle refilled we were on the road by 9am heading to Narrandera, a relatively short trip of around 250klms. It was quiet pleasant scenery with large wheat crops and canola fields to view along the way. Must say the road conditions in NSW leave a lot to be desired with lots of lumps and bumps, but at least they are addressing some of the worst areas.

We stopped for an early lunch at West Wyalong, Baz was a little upset when I walked past the Bakery, but I had seen  a French Bakery as we drove through the Main Street neglecting  to mention the fact, thought I would surprise him.

Once again we have pulled into a free camping spot this time on the outskirts of Narrandera, beside the  Murrumbidgee River where there is a boat ramp and the remains of an old brewery. It was a pleasant ride on our bikes into town this afternoon to pick up some milk and a chicken from Coles, an easy meal for tonight! On Saturday afternoons in these small towns you could shoot a gun up Main Street and not hit anyone.

Crowded Main St Narrandera

A sleepy little town on a Saturday afternoon
Lucky Coles was open!

Old Brewery Narrandera

Forbes

Today we travelled from Gunnedah to Forbes around 417klms and the weather was certainly cooler, we are trying to brave it out and are still wearing our shorts. The days are quiet nice but the night are getting quiet cold.  

We have set up for the night along the river bank at the free camp in Forbes, we think the gas heater will be appreciated tonight as the forecast is for 1 overnight!!! There is a good walking track along either side of the river and we were able to stretch our legs after spending five hours travelling.

Gunnedah

It was only a relative short trip yesterday from Moree to Gunnedah about 250klms, there was also plenty of roadworks and B Doubles along the way.

Our friends Alison and David are returning to QLD after experiencing a southern winter and were going to be at Gunnedah, so it was a easy diversion off the Newell Hwy and into Gunnedah to free camp with them near the township. David had cut a good supply of wood for the fire as Alison was cooking us a lovely roast meal in the camp oven.

The weather this morning is noticeably cooler, I suppose that's something we have to expect as we travel further south.

Passing scenery travelling the Newell Hwy

Gunnedah free camp with Alison and David

Town Hall Gunnedah

Yummy roast tonight, thanks Al & Dave

Texas - Moree

As we were enjoying our time at Bonshaw Weir we decided to spend another night there and enjoy another of  Ken's campfires. As the fire was still smoldering from the previous night I thought it was a good opportunity to cook a roast in our camp oven, which Baz and I enjoyed that evening. Earlier in the day Baz and I were returning to the camp when Baz found a shedded snake skin, it was a good 1.5 metres! He had already seen a large black snack slithering across the road down near the bridge when he was trying his hand at a little fishing. The fish were too smart for him, or maybe they didn't like the Wattle Grub he had on his line. I made sure that we kept the caravan door closed incase we had an unwelcome visitor, as another camper had also seen a couple of snakes down over the bank towards the weir.

Sunday we decided that we would move onto the free camp at Texas but were reluctant to leave our new friends, so after exchanging our contact details we drove the big distance of 20klms to Texas. The camp area that is provided for RV travellers is a couple of klms from the town along the river bank. We found a nice clean grassy spot to stop for the night. There were about 30 other vans, motorhomes & camper trailers that were spread out along the river, even with this many it did not feel crowded, there was plenty of space.

We arrived here at Moree on Monday and booked in for three nights, it didn't take us long before we were once again soaking our bodies in the lovely artesian pools and enjoying the 27 degree day. I had made an appointment to have my hair cut on Tuesday, as when we were here on our way up I had visited the hairdresser and really liked how she cut my hair. I don't think she cut it this short last time, but it does feel and look so much better. With the washing done this morning all that was left to do was laze in the pools and sit in the sun enjoying the warmth trying not to think about the colder days ahead as we get closer to home.

Baz with the snake skin

Enjoying the artesian pool

Bonshaw Weir

Today we left Evans Head and travelled the Bruxner Hwy passing through Casino and Tenterfield with our destination Texas. This meant that we had to transverse some windy and hilly roads with one windy stretch being 35 klms before plateauing out, our speed was greatly reduced until we had crossed the ranges. With only 20klms to go until Texas we came across a free camp at the Bonshaw Weir which looked rather inviting, so after being on the road for 5hrs and over 300 klms travelled we decided to pull in for the night.

When we left at 9am it was already 20 degrees with 80% humidity a lovely day on the coast.When we arrived at Bonshaw Weir it was 26 degrees and 24% humidity at 3pm, a very dry heat to what we had been having.

As we pulled into the camp area we were welcomed by a fellow grey nomad who was already set up and relaxing by the weir with an invitation to join his camp fire at Happy Hour. Tonight there are about five other vans, a very large motor home and a couple of smaller camper vans. The couple from the two smaller vans are members of the Solo Travellers Club and are enjoying each others company with the benefit of having their own space.

Tomorrow we hope to make Texas!

Happy Hour Bonshaw Weir

Bonshaw Weir

100% attendance!

Evans Head

After a couple of days at Yamba with periodical rain and a drop in the temperature we were keeping a close eye on the weather forecast for further down the coast. Things were not looking crash hot so we back peddled 65klms to Evans Head. This is a lovely little coastal town with a beautiful beach that has two breakwater walls protruding from the river out into the sea, allowing the commercial boats access to a safe port. It is quiet difficult to navigate in rough weather with the waves breaking at the entrance also if the tide is low the boats will sometimes bottom out. There is a Fish Co-op at the wharf area where we managed to buy our last feed of fresh caught prawns for this trip.

We stayed three nights at the Silver Sands Holiday Park, which is the largest holiday park in NSW, it is in a great location positioned just a 100mtrs from main beach. No need to use the car as it is walking distance to the boutique shops, cafe's and of course the Bakery! We enjoyed some of the best weather since we have been away while we were there, we also managed to walk the beach each day, not forgetting the couple of meals that we indulged in at the local bowls club that was just through the back fence. If we ever come back to this park we would ask to be allocated a site in the overflow area, which is on the reserve alongside the river and a more informal environment than in the main park.

Unfortunately our time away is drawing to an end so we have to keep in mind that we need to move on as we still have some days travelling before we hit Melbourne. So this morning we said farewell to Carlene and Rex who are on their way north to Burleigh Heads and we took the Bruxner Hwy inland towards Goondiwindi.

Appreciating the coastal view Evans Head

Evans River

A well camouflaged lizard 

Side view of that same rock

Monument to wooden boats and iron men

Feeding the Loreekets beside the caravan

Baz critiquing another bakery

Yamba

Sunday we left Southport travelling down the Gold Coast Hwy towards Ballina, as it was a lovely day as well as Fathers Day every man and his dog was on the road it was like peak hour in Hobart. We didn't have any plans for our next stop, just thought we would call into some coastal towns along the way and choose a nice location. Our friends Carlene and Rex were leaving Port Macquarie that morning and hoped to meet up with us that night so we finally decided that we would travel as far as Yamba and meet them at the Big 4 caravan park. It was a lovely park for families with a jumping pillow, play ground, pool and a great water park, also a large number of  kangaroos and heaps of bird life, just glad we will not be there in the school holidays!  The only down fall is that the park is about 10 klms from Yamba, if we come this way again would probably try to stop at the Calypso Caravan Park which has a great location with an easy walk to the river, beaches and the town.

The weather had deteriorated after leaving QLD with occasional showers that passed over quiet quickly unfortunately is also made the temperature drop so it was on with the jeans and vest when we went out that night to the Yamba Bowlo for a meal, not looking forward to the cooler days as we head south.

Yamba Coastline

Lighthouse Yamba with another shower brewing

Grandad at the skate park Yamba

Local kangaroos in the caravan park

Creek that runs through the caravan park

Water park at the Big 4 Yamba

Water park at the Big 4
I could have used this for the
Ice Bucket Challenge

Southport - Gold Coast

Nearly two weeks since we pulled into the Broadwater Caravan Park at Southport, how time has flown. The weather here has been a nice low to mid 20's the only thing that has made it unpleasant some days has been the wind. Lucky for us we have a sheltered spot so the 50 klm gusts have not caused us too much bother. We have still been able to walk, ride our bikes and I have been swimming every morning in the heated pool, we are trying to counteract the occasional trip to Goldsteins Bakery with some excerise! Since we were at this park a couple of years ago the new managers have introduced sausage sizzles, pancake breakfast's, happy hours and picture nights on the foreshore. Wednesday night's is Pizza night with a mobile wood fired pizza guy coming to the park selling pizza's.

The southern end of the Gold Coast experienced some very rough weather about 10 days ago resulting in the closing of some of the beachs, the weather also causied some sand erosion along the coast. There was plenty of swell about for the many surfers to enjoy and plenty of spectators.

I think I am shopped out after being to Harbour Town a couple of times, also Trade Secrets and numerous trips to the Billabong, Quicksilver outlets out towards Nerang. Now need to find a spot in the van to store all the goodies that I just had to buy for the grand kids. 

We were only intending to stay here for a week, but have now extended our stay a couple of times  as we are enjoying the time here, also the weather further south has not been looking so good so thought if we hang around for awhile things may have settled by the time we move on. Maree and Brian are also here as were Judy and Merv their friends who left on Monday, they are on the boat a week before us so have started making the journey south, Maree and Brian leave Sunday to return home to Newcastle. We have noticed that the park has a few more vacant spots than when we first arrived as all the Southerners are now moving south or within the next two to three weeks there will be a mass exit of Grey Nomads.

We must go back around to the prawn trawlers and get another feed of fresh King Prawns before we go, nothing beats fresh prawns that were caught that night.

Gold Coast high rises

Line up for the sausage sizzle

Burleigh Heads beach closed due to rough weather

Burleigh Heads Beach

Burleigh Heads Bluff, great spot for watching the surfers

Pizza night in the park

Movie night on the foreshore