Day 184 15th August 2012

Day 184 Wednesday 15^th August 2012

Well if I thought Gulnare was cold the other morning, were we in for a surprise this morning.  Not quite sure about returning home, might try and convince Oscar to turn north.  Dragged our bones out of bed early enough but with a lot of pain.  We also had to close up the bedroom whilst it was wet which is not a good idea, but when we got home we opened her up for a few hours to dry her out. 

We drove home the last lap with ease and arrived home at 11:30.  We started sorting out a few things whilst we were waiting for Steven to return home so we could move a few vehicles in order to put the van back in the driveway temporarily whilst we get her ready for sale.  So whilst we waited for Steven we decided to go for lunch at the same place this trip for Oscar and I began.

When we got home Steven moved his bike and we parked the van.  Well we are now in the process of cleaning her.  Once done she will be relocated to a place that takes vans on consignment. 

So this is it.  The final chapter of what was a truly remarkable trip.  I was asked if I enjoyed it.  I must admit, after giving birth to my sons, this must be one of the best experiences I have had in my life.  I cannot to this day believe how safe and what awesome treasures this country has if you are only willing to get a little dirty and out of your comfort zone.  I will finish the east coast but for now, back to work and reality.

So finally I would love to thank Oscar for making this trip a reality for me.  I sincerely hope that you enjoyed it as much as I did (squabbles aside).  Thank you for always making me feel safe even though under normal circumstances I would not have done some things.

Thanks for taking the time to read the blog.  I really hope that you all enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed documenting it.

Till the next adventure

O&V

PS will post final photo's at a later date.

Day 182 - 183 13th August - 14th August 2012

Day 182 Monday 13^th August 2012

 We woke this morning in the wonderful region of Gulnare South Australia, which was lush and green, but oooh soooo coooollllldddd brrrrrrrrrrrrrr.  I think of the entire trip this has been the coldest that I have been.  Remember we are also using our own facilities at the moment so we have to shower in the evenings as it is warmer, but a shower consists of wet your body switch off the water, lather up the body and scrub well, switch on the water and rinse.  When it is warm weather not a problem but when it is icy cold it is almost unbearable.

We set off driving aiming to get as far into Victoria as we can.  I am still hoping at this stage that we will be home by tomorrow evening.  We stopped off at Renmark for lunch and a cuppa, then onward to Mildura.  Oscar wanted to look around Mildura and not just drove straight through, which we did then headed south again on the Calder Highway towards Bendigo.

 Our rest for the night was a rest area 45K’s north of Ouyen in country Victoria.  Not a bad rest area as rest areas go, however we were right alongside the railway tracks and I was worried we would be disturbed late night or early morning by a passing train. 

I made Chicken a’ la Vania (go figure) Oscar said it was delish and had a few helpings.  We tucked in fairly early after Oscar won at cards and his prise was……….

Like I said South Australia do really not like bad drivers on country roads

The customs department close to the border of South Australia and Victoria

We are Home

Black Stump in Renmark - Apparently there is an Aussie saying that goes with this???

Loved the dunny

Our second last home

The railway line in our backyard

Day 183 Tuesday 14^th August 2012

 As it was the train only came through at 8:00am this morning and we were up and preparing the van to leave.  It was a fairly warm morning considering we were in country Victoria and it was drizzling.  Oscar maintains that it is warmer when there is more cloud cover.  So far his theory has proven to be fairly accurate.

We meandered down the Calder Highway through country towns such as Ouyen, Sea Lake, Charlton, Wedderburn Inglewood and Bridgewater stopping to fill up a few times and to have lunch at Charlton.  Not much else happened along the way.  We bypassed Bendigo just after Marong and continued south to a rest area called Happy Jacks Recreation Reserve where there is an Aboriginal Red Gum tree approximately 700 years old.

We have a lovely camp next to a creek and we will have the frogs singing us to sleep tonight.

As promised earlier in the piece we are going to publish the cost of this trip so here are the stats.  Please remember that whilst this is our cost costs may differ depending on your individual requirements and such fluctuating costs such as fuel.

Till my final blog tomorrow when I expect we will be home at midday.

O&V

Hi “blog followers” this is Oscar. This is my final “post” for this amazing journey, so please stand at attention.

Firstly and most importantly I would like to thank Vania publically for offering me the opportunity to see this beautiful country of ours. If it wasn’t for Vania’s “suggestions” I am sure I would not have seen the wonderful sights we did. I can assure you that if you’re considering a trip like this you will most definitely need to get of the “black top / bitumen / asphalt” and soak up those dirt corrugated roads, that is where you will see the fantastic sights.

Secondly I would sincerely like to thank the following people. I would like to thank Marrrrk and Cathy, Lester and Annie and finally Brad and Bridgette (and there 2 lovely children) for putting us up along the way. Time with these lovely people gave us an opportunity to catch our breath as well as some very important general “maintenance”. It was also great to see “brother” and “sister” rekindling their relationship again.

Finally very special thanks to Terry and Rhonda for their support and encouragement along our journey. They were fantastic “blog followers” and it was very much appreciated to get some really good feedback. Thank you.

So cheers guys. Vania has collated all the “blog” stories and photos in a word document and I will endeavour to print this off so that I will have a permanent reminder of this fantastic trip. See ya, and take care. Love Oscar.

Panoramic view of Spring

I have heard that Victoria has had bad weather I have it on authority that spring is upon us

Johnnie found you one more train

This man is lost he thinks he is in the Northern Territory

Victoria not to be outdone

The 700 year old tree

And finally our last home!!!!!

Travelling Days 183



                                                                                                      Total                per Day

Setup Costs including van                                                       $33 772.45     

Living costs (food & drink etc.)                                              $  8 918.84      $49.00            

Gas for cooking, water heating                                             $     196.45      $  1.08

Generator fuel                                                                         $     213.51      $  1.17

Accommodation                                                                      $  1 170.38      $  6.43

Travel Entertainment                                                             $  1 031.64      $  5.67

Vehicle Repairs & Maint                                                        $  3 568.70      $19.61

Communication Costs                                                            $     459.00      $  2.52

Insurance                                                                                 $     220.44      $  1.21

Fuel                                                                                           $  8 920.53      $49.01



Total K’s Travelled                                                                  35192.30         193.36

Total Ltrs Consumed                                                                5353.26           28.86

Average $ per Litre                                                                                           $1.70

Average K’s per Litre                                                                                          6.7

Average K’s per 100 Litre                                                                                 14.92

Isn’t it interesting to observe that WDU 564 Drank more than Oscar and I did together on both food and drink.

Day 178 - 181 9th August - 12th August 2012

Day 178 Thursday 9^th August 2012

 Just a quick update on the happenings of late yesterday…….  Oscar went to the doctor and he lanced Oscar’s eye.  By the time he got back to the camp he had a blue eye to go with the already swollen eye, I offered to make the other one look the same but for some reason he was not falling for that.  We had already decided that we were going out for dinner and entertainment so we both had a shower and I drove to the casino as Oscar was battling with his eye. 

Well after dinner we went off to play the roulette wheel and by 10:00pm I was tired so I said to Oscar I am just going to put all my chips out and whatever happens, happens.  Well I had a win and this streak continued for a while.  After I had made up what I lost in Darwin as well as what I had come with last night, plus a little extra for good measure, I thought it was time to quit. 

We then went over to see how Caribbean Poker worked and were sitting there enjoying ourselves when I got a tap on the shoulder and was told in no uncertain terms by the bouncer it was time to leave.  Well needless to say I was embarrassed and devastated.  So we left the Casino at 2:00am.  Apparently more than a certain number of drinks and you are out of there sober or not.

Getting on the road this morning after a big night like that was not a simple task.  Bev phoned at 8:30am and we arranged to meet at Kulgera, “the first pub into NT from SA and the Last pub out of NT into SA.”

We finally left Alice at 11:00 after we had gone to the chemist to get the script filled for Oscar’s antibiotics.  We also almost got a fine as he had parked in the bus zone out of pure desperation.  I was in the car and the Ranger (that is what they call them in NT) came over to me and asked if I have a licence to “move this thing”.  Yes I said I have a licence but I’m not really good at it.  Well he was kind enough to say that he would give me 5 minutes to get Oscar to move it. 

Finally on the road and off to Kulgera…...  We did not have as much travelling to do as Bev and Brian they had to travel 413K’s whilst we only had to do 274K’s.

We finally got into Kulgera at 4:00pm, lots of hugs later and camp set up we all ventured off to the pub for happy hour.  Well Bev and I had a skin full chatted till late into the night and had a midnight shower then to bed.  We had all decided earlier on that we would stay tomorrow and just catch up, then hit the road on Saturday in our opposite directions.

An Eagle on the side of the road

Eagle in flight

Day 179 Friday 10^th August 2012



Did not rise too early this morning damn it was cold.  Not sure I am too happy about going back south.  I have been thoroughly enjoying the weather up north and didn’t realise the consequences of my decision to return home.  None the less we just spent the day chatting.  Honestly you must understand Kulgera has a roadhouse and that is about it.  So it wasn’t as if we could even take a walk somewhere interesting.  Late in the afternoon we had a bit of excitement as we were preparing the roast a whirl wind blew up and came right between our two vans.  It blew the chairs over and took off with Brian’s hat.  We cooked a roast for dinner and the boys went to the pub for happy hour.  Bev and I sat and chatted at the Bonfire we had going.  The boys returned later and Mick the bloke that works at Kulgera came and joined us later after delivering us a stack of wood earlier in the afternoon.  I must be totally honest this has been the best evening I have had in any of the camp sites that we have been in, over the last 6 months.  Mick is a good story teller and the fire and company of friends really did it for me.  We all finally crawled into bed at 10:30pm.

My Friend Bev

Bev's Hubby Brian and oscar catching up over a beer

Day 180 Saturday 11^th August 2012



Ok so today we had to get as early a start as possible.   We were a day later with our travels than earlier anticipated.  We finally got out at 9:00am and have spent the day just driving.  Stopped for fuel and refreshments a couple of times, did a small shop in Coober Pedy and are now settled in after a dinner of cold meats and salads about 128K’s south of Coober Pedy.  Tomorrow hopefully we will get as close to Renmark as possible and then Victoria here we come.  Home at last.

Houdini Still seeing the sights

Day 181 Sunday 12^th August 2012

Today has been very much the same as yesterday although, and I’m sure it is not my imagination the start was colder than yesterday.  My fingers felt like icicles when we were shutting up the little snail.

We did a lot of K’s today and are now settled in, in a roadside rest area just 2k”s out of Gulnare in South Australia.  We will definitely cross the border tomorrow and hopefully be home on Tuesday.  Like I said earlier there are not too many stops, let alone any photo’s, but every now and then we stop if we find something interesting or funny.

The funny thing is if we do manage to get home on Tuesday the 14^th we will have been away for exactly 6 months to the day.  What a hoot.

Apparently they don't like bad drivers in country South Australia

Gulnare Pub

Our Home for tonight

The local flora as captured by our maestro photographer Oscar.

The final letter to Houdini’s family is as follows:

66 ??????? Drive
Frankston
Vic
3199

 Hi Family,

 Well I have good news and I have bad news.  Firstly the bad news is that the journey has finally come to an end for both my mates O&V, but the good news is I will be home soon.  Wow I am dying to see you all again and I hope that my punishment will not be too harsh.

 I have had the best time ever and I will tell you all about it when I get back, and after you have had your chance to have a very long (no doubt) talk with me about taking off and leaving home like this.  Look out for me any day now.

Lots of Love

Houdini

Till later



O&V

Day 177 8th August 2012

Day 177 Wednesday 8th August 2012


Well as stated before we slept in a rest area in transit last night and as rest areas go that one was not too bad however no toilets, given some of the rest area toilets we have encountered on the way it is probably a blessing.  I have not been sleeping well lately and true to form 2:30am and I was wide awake.  My phone battery was flat so could not play Sudoku and had to lie there and try and convince myself it was a good idea to sleep.  There was a bloke in the rest area doing bloody car maintenance at that hour.  Open front door of car slam it shut, go over to the other side of the car open the front door, and slam it shut.  Go to the other side open back door, slam it shut, back to the other side, then the boot.  Well by this time I am ready to get out of bed go over to his car rip all his doors off and shove them where the sun never shines. Fortunately at about 4:00am he pulled out of the rest area.


We left the rest area at 8:30 heading towards Alice Springs.  On the way we saw the Devil’s Marbles and stopped for a look and a photo shoot.  Onwards and a lot further down the road we came across Aileron which had some fantastic statues which you can see from the Stuart Highway.  So we stopped off again to get some photos of these.  Then it was onward to Alice.  Arrived at about 2:00pm and setup camp.  Oscar went off to the doctors to see about his eye.  I did the laundry. 


Tonight we are off to dinner and some entertainment in Alice.  Have made contact with Bev and will meet up with her and Brian on the road tomorrow.  I am looking forward to seeing you guys.


Thanks Terry for all your comments and for being probably one of the more avid blog followers.  We do really appreciate your comments.  There are a lot of people to thank and I know that you know who you are and I do thank you all so much for the enthusiasm and the interest.  I will be doing the East Coast at a later date, but for now it is time to rest.


Till later

A Panoramic of the Devils Marbles

Some of his marbles.

Upon the hill at Aileron stands the statue proudly of a male Aboriginal.

The statue of the mother and child with a lizard

The face of the child

The mothers face

 

Crossing the Tropic of Capricorn

O&V

Day 175 - 176 6th August - 7th August 2012

Day 175 Monday 6th August 2012

Did not get an exceptionally early start as Daly (pronounced Daily) Waters is not too many K’s from Mataranka.  As we drove out of Mataranka Oscar suggested that maybe we just pop into Daly Waters and get a few photos and continue the journey home.  I was not opposed to this at all.  However when we finally arrived at Daly Waters Oscar changed his mind and we stayed for the night.  We had heard that the entertainment by one “Chilli” was good, sounded hot to me.

Well we booked in and setup home, after which we went to the pub for some lunch and refreshments.  For somebody that never drank beer I now love XXXX Gold, oh and I don’t have shandies anymore either just straight.

After lunch I went back to the van to try and catch-up on some sleep but I cannot sleep during the day so got back up and played more Sudoku.  Oscar finished his book then came inside and we played cards until it was time to go over to the pub for dinner and entertainment.  Dinner was Barra and Beef on the BBQ and was delicious.  Chilli came on stage at 7:30 and I must admit I was a little apprehensive at first as I didn’t know whether I would quite get all the Aussie humour but let me tell you, thanks to the folks at work Marl, Bec and company I found I was more than adequately equipped to enjoy it as much if not more than the Ocker Aussie.  In fact I was laughing so hard I was crying and Chilli had to stop to ask me if I was ok.  I videoed the show but probably lost the last half hour as I ran out of memory on my camera. 

After the show with aching sides we ventured off to bed.  Tomorrow and everyday thereafter is going to be hard driving.

Well till tomorrow.

O&V

Came across these little wild pigs shortly after setting off this morning.  They were tucking into the roadkill like there was no tomorrow.

This is the stage that Chilli performs from.

Love the signs all over the place, sometimes the spelling.......

The donkey again...

You can have your photo taken here for a gold coin.

Any takers....Great realestate.

Can't turn my back and Houdini is at the pub again.  Will be taken him back a drunk.

Day 176 Tuesday 7th August 2012

As I said hard driving…….  We were up and out by 8:30 heading towards Tennant Creek and beyond as far as we could go in one day.  I think we must have covered in excess of 600K’s today and if we keep this up we will be home early next week.

We stopped twice to refill and once for lunch in Tennant Creek. I have observed during our sojourn in the top end that Australia had a significant WWII involvement.  There are many WWII airstrips, hospitals and memorials dotted all over the place at the top end.  I knew that Darwin had been bombed but didn’t realise how involved Australia was in WWII.  Just goes to show I need to polish up on more of my Australian history.

Also noticed that a lot of cattle are lying dead alongside the road close to dried out creek beds.  What a shame!

Also driving through Tennant Creek I observed that there was only one other town that we had been through in Australia during our adventure and that was Coober Pedy, which had grills on the windows and doors.  A very disappointing sight never thought I would see this in Australia.  I was very accustomed to seeing this in Africa but not here.  Just goes to show.

Anyway I must say I feel for Oscar as he is the one putting in the hard yards at the moment doing all the driving.  I was tempted to ask for a turn as I was soooo booooorrrrrreeeeeeddddd, however after rear ending his vehicle in Cape Leveque, I didn’t dare ask.  So here we are, in transit, 87km south of Tennant Creek. 

Till tomorrow.

The monument to Flynn the Flying Doctor.

The Grills on the windows at Tennant Creek. I must say one thing though these would be a bloody joke in Africa.

The paddocks at our rest area.

The Ghan and a train came roaring through here at about 3:30am.

Bec this is the Gennie.  You can always take it iff our hands if you want.

O&V