The Two Rivers meet

We arrived at Wentworth around 4.00pm and our first job was to pick up our fishing license, I hope they will come in handy. The camping spot marked on the map was not very nice and the toilets were broken so we decided that we would be soft and take refuge at the Willow Bend caravan Park. A nice place on the Murray, Darling junction, which although is just a joining of two rivers is quite spectacular. We thought we better celebrate our first day so we headed off to the pub for a couple of beers. Back off to the camps site where thankfully the wind had died off slightly. Kransky dogs for tea and a bit of reflection of our first day.

It will take quite a bit of getting used to not having any deadlines and just being able to stay where you like for as long as we like. We are off this morning in search of a good camping spot on the Darling.

Day 1 We are off to Wentworth

There was many times when we did not think that today would come. A mad rush on Sunday to pack everything up for our departure on Monday morning. It is all in there well except for the dish washing liquid that’s the only thing we have found missing so far. A stormy morning greeted us and that made packing up the van before we left a bit of fun. Not to mention that the caravan would not move. That is of courser because Andy towed it around Michael’s yard with the breaks on.
Anyway all packed up ready to go at 8.20am we went through the Willunga, Meadows to the freeway and then followed the Murray. Most of the crops looked good and it rained all the way to Renmark then it stopped and it was just a huge dust storm. We battled the fierce winds and luckily they were not a head wind. We took the old road to Wentworth which was dirt and this provided some good driving training for Tina. We stopped at Lake Victoria which certainly is not different to the lower lakes, with very little water in it. There were plenty of remains of car tyres on this road so I was a little worried but didn’t want to bring up the subject.

Two Week Countdown

The last week has been a tough one, we got a new alternator, Windows tinted, made and fitted a rear door drop down table for $10. Fitted the fridge draws for $100 and completed the Canoe Roof racks. The cost of these was around $ 200 most of which was for some really expensive hose that the guy cut 20mm to short. The Aluminum was only $ 37 thanks to the really helpful guys at Smarts Aluminum who deserve a special mention. Snowy did a great job with the welding and so I have decided to make a list of all the suppliers who have helped us to customize the “Tojo”.

It is still great when you rock up at a store tell them your idea and they actually try to help. The support and service we have been given by nearly everyone has been fantastic regardless of the size of the sale. The Tojo is now nearly fully customised even down to the no name brand Tupperware Drink holders.

We had our one and only practice of putting up the Tojo annex which looks great. We will certainly find out just how good any of this stuff works next week.

Tina’s off and Flying

An overcast Saturday morning greeted us when we awoke in the Barossa. Jason was not well so off Kirsten and I went to town to get some supplies. Well the shops don’t always open that early so we decided to look for some country to explore. The overnight rain had made this much more appealing.
So we went for a drive and it didn’t take long to find some nice slippery tracks. Some mud driving practice is really what I have been looking for and we had found it. Slipping and sliding with mud flying everywhere it was great. Anyway thought we better heads back.
We all got organized and drove to the Airfield to meet Glen under gloomy skies. So we weren’t sure if flying was going to be a good idea today. These are not exactly big planes. But the weather was good and off she went into the Sky. The kids were most impressed by it all. A quick flight was all that was possible with rain setting in but none the same I’m sure it was a great experience.
Didn’t get that much work done but we did get some little jobs completed. We did have time for the odd nap and beer drinking. Hopefully next time the weather will be kinder.
Another early start to get the Kids to School on time. All packed up nice and early and ready to leave for 7.00am. But then our first breakdown. Well not really the car started fine just the alternator doesn’t work anymore. Not good news but at least it didn’t happen half way to QLD where I’m sure the replacement cost would be much higher.
Back home and nothing much has changed still raining but it is spring.

Spring has nearly Sprung

After our fruitless effort fishing on Monday we have been concentrating back onto getting ready for QLD. The Canoe rack is at Snowy’s. I would say getting welded up but for those of us who know Snowy it always going to be ready soon, but he did share some great canoeing stories with us. We are going to pick up the awning for the Tojo next week and the Solar shower is now completely designed and will also be our big project over the next few days. The wiring is now completed so that was a crucial item to be completed.

We are in the Barossa this weekend hopefully painting the picket fence. Wow that nearly sounds like I’m looking forward to it, but I think some good late August rains might solve that problem for us. It has been really nice and sunny the last few days only 15-16 degrees but it is getting closer to spring so the nicer days will come. September is always my favourite month in Adelaide.

We have made a draft of our route to Bris Vegas just so we had some idea. I was more in favour of just driving in the right direction. It is now less than three weeks till we take off so the pressure is on.

We have been practicing our bush cooking and knocked up a great Chicken & BBQ rice the other night for our first use of the new plates.

I know we keep saying it but we will have some cool photos soon I promise.

Pt Willunga

We went fishing today, because we could! at Port Willunga, it is so beautiful down there, no fish!! but the view was worth it. The water is so clear and inviting, a little too cold still for my likings, and to top it all off we had a nice sunny warm morning. It also happened to be a doge tide and from what I’m told by the experts…….”when there’s a doge tide don’t bother putting in a line!” Oh well at least we gave it a go. This gave me a chance to start on a project Andy and I are keen to do all the way around the country, I took a plastic bag walked up the beach and picked up all the rubbish I could see. We will write more about this in our section called “Environment” we hope to get this up and running soon. More details to come…..

I have got the damper in the Cobb down pat now deliciously light and fluffy. I love the oven, we have baked cakes & cookies and all have turned out fantastic. Just ask Michael, Jason & Kirsten made him a cake for his birthday early on in August.
Andy finished work last Wednesday and we have been taking it pretty easy for last few days, but today we got back into working mode, Andy has finished the mammoth task of tidying up the wring behind the dash etc. Good on you Andy! Mum and I have been working on new curtains for the van too, although they are not needed for the trip to QLD, I wanted to get that job started.

Counting Down the Rainy days

Hi All,

Not much to report over the last two weeks other than rain, hail, wind storms and frozen mornings. I hope the farmers don’t complain about the rain this year because I can tell you there has been plenty.

We haven’t really done much work getting ready for the trip other than continuing the difficult task of preparing finance and logistics. Modern society really has us locked up. It is no wonder we all have to work.

We’ll on a brighter note Tina has now finished work and has become a “Self Funded Retiree” That just leaves me with two weeks to go and then we will have no excuse in finishing off the 56 jobs we have on our list.

We discovered a couple of water leaks in the Caravan over the weekend but I’m not surprised if it rains hard enough and long enough I suppose we would leak too!

So next week it will be full steam ahead, well at least after a couple of days sitting around drinking home brew to excess. We must do this because we need to do some planning and all good planning is done when to much beer has been drunk.

As soon as it stops raining I will take some pictures and add them to the Blog. Expect some real exciting updates over the next few weeks prior to our trip.

We will try to catch up with as many of you as we can prior to us going on our first adventure if not we will back in SA in November.