Saturday 20th May we left home for our annual trip to the Big Island, hopefully to find the warmer weather. We delayed our departure by a week as Baz was unwell, we were very lucky to be able to change our booking on the Spirit and that Baz improved enough to travel.
I spent Saturday morning at the grandsons soccer games while Baz did the final check of the van and car. It was then time to say goodbye to family and head north stopping at Longford for the night, we were able to have a leisurely morning before later heading to the boat. Could not believe our eyes seeing a crocheted wheel cover, especially when it was on an off road vehicle a Lotus Trooper, that was at the caravan park at Longford. (Had a little chuckle!)
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| QLD visitor to Tasmania |
We called over to Ulverstone see our friends Lyn & Dennis as we will not be crossing paths this year in our travels, then it was time to head to Devonport to catch the boat. Thinking we would have plently of time to pack our overnight bag while we were lined up in the cattle grid we were pleasantly surprised to check in and be directed straight onto the boat. It was then a hasty grab of our overnight gear to take on board. Leaving our bag in our cabin it was then down to the lounge to grab a wine and wait for Pauline and Les to board.
Monday we docked in Melbourne at the early hour of 6.30am after a very calm crossing of Bass Straight with only a metre swell, which was nothing just enough to rock you to sleep. We then made our way to the Citilink to head out of Melbourne to our first stop Echuca. We wanted to check that our hot water was working in the van on 240v because when we were at Longford we had a little trouble, Baz had accidentally drained the cylinder, then hooked up to the power and tripped the hot water. Thankfully all was working and we didn't need to call the mobile caravan repairer. Of course while in Echuca we had to have a Beesting at the Beechworth Bakery.
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| Baz enjoying a Beesting at Beechworth Bakery Echuca |
Our next stop was Deniliquin known locally as Deni, a delightful town situated on the Edward River north of Echuca. It is well known as the Ute Capital of the World hosting the famous Deni Ute Muster a unique Australian rural festival. A couple of attractions in Deniliquin is the Mosaic covered ute which was an arts project completed in 2008, also the Ute on a Pole a bright red WB Kingswood.
Back on the road again we travelled to Hay where we enjoyed a free camp at the Hay Services Club. I had a night off cooking as we went over to the club for a lovely Chinese meal. Later that evening we experienced a severe thunderstorm that was passing across NSW so much electrical activity!
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| Checking out the padlocks on the walkway |
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| Deniliquin |
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| Edward River Deniliquin |
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| Deniliquin Ute Capital of the World |
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| Hay Railway Station |
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