Getting to Know our New HOME!
1st of May we were off solo thru Sydney, well around Sydney, we already had the drama's of getting around Sydney when we changed out and redelivered the other vehicle back to the hire company, since gone into liquidation. Our first destination, Briadwood near Canberra for some four wheel drive and towing training.
The onboard computer / GPS was programmed and got us out of Sydney with no drama. Our travel motto - "SLOW & STEADY, GET'S US THERE" Yep, we are one of those you love to hate on the highways, cruising at 80k's in the 110k zone.
Our first rest stop on the Hume Hwy, wow what a rest stop. Coffee & Tim Tam's on the road, well after all it's 5 star camping!
Fantastic course, up hill down dale, thru bogs, across log bridges, sand driving, vehicle recovery gear and how to use.
As we were so close to one of our cousins Dorothy & husband Stuart and Auntie Blanche who had just recently moved to Yass we dropped in for a surprise visit (Auntie Blanche’s 80th ). Later to have another party with her twin sister, Margaret, in Mount Gambier.
We headed off to Melbourne to visit Sue’s brother George, again an unannounced visit, boy did they get a shock.
Parked on their street curb for the night.
Off again down the Great Ocean Road to Mt Gambier for the Twin Auntie’s 80th. The scenery along the way is fantastic and photo’s do not do it justice. One of the Twelve Apostles, (actually there’s only eight), anyway, another one has fallen into the ocean since the photo was taken.
We stayed a night on Terry’s Lookout – & discovered a Mount Cowley on the lookout dial.
Next camp we parked up in the hills – Mariner’s Falls – almost froze the next morning. The heater diesel was frozen that it couldn’t start up – we even have frost on the car. We made record time getting out of there!! The vehicle heater was working overtime!!
birthday party at Mt Gambier was a great surprise and catching up on so many relatives, many I never knew we had. So we figured as we were still frozen, had the time, and only 1,200k’s to Port Lincoln why not drop in to surprise the guy’s in Lincoln.
Ended up staying 10 days in Port Lincoln, we had some work done on the vehicle and upgraded the brakes (new rotors and pads). It’s 3-1/2 ton of Caravan fully loaded we are towing, so need great brakes not just good one's. The electronic brakes on the van are fantastic, and saved us coming down Mt Loffty in the Adelaide Hills when a truck pulled out into our lane.
Camped at Port Augusta, then onto visit grandparents’ farm near Verran, now owned by Linden Masters – a direct decendant.
Ashley cranked up Dad's / now David's truck, still goes like the clappers in 4th gear all of 50k's an hour. The truck has been repainted in the orginal colours - looks great.
So we will leave you here, to join us on the next leg, Port Lincoln to Brisbane - Sky Parking.
Till the next BLOG.
Cheers
