Turning North

Well after a couple of days in Port Augusta where we took pics & did a bit of shopping we headed up the Stuart H’way to an overnight stop at Glendambo before heading to Coober Pedy The opal capital of the world.
Part one of the trip to Glendambo was through typically outback country of Australia, the red soil, the salt bush & clay pans. One lake had water but most had evaporated & left a skin of salt. Not as much road kill as we have seen in previous trips.
Glendambo camp was OK for an overnighter but not more, prices in the hotel were over then moon $6.50 for a schooner of beer, a chap at our table paid $10.30 for a glass of red wine. The hot water in the showers lasted about 2 minutes but required a packed lunch to get to the ablution block from the site.
Coober Pedy, we have settled in with a good site although access was tight but a fellow traveler put it on for Browny after 3 attempts, which ended with us coming in from a different direction. We went & paid for our trip up the Oodnadatta track with the mailman, a 12 hour trip delivering mail to the stations along the way (watch for next installment). We also booked a flight over the secret painted Hills Williams Creek & Lake Eyre, which has water after the monsoon rains up north. The flight was quoted originally at $600 each but as we were prepared to share with 2 others it was dropped to $400 about the same as a flight from William Creek but that would have needed a 370 Km return drive along a gravel road.

the first 5 pics are (1)Toilet Door sign At Glendambo (2)Salt Pan
(3)Love Birds (4)Road Sign (5) Dreamtime Sign @ Lake Hart
The next pictures are (1)Not Uluru (2)Lake Hart (3)outback Road (4&5) Port Augusta Landscape (6)Salt Pan Lake Hart (7) Glendambo Camp (8) Bare Lake (9) Cloud out of Pt Augusta.

Fossils Week 2

FOSSILS WEEK 2
We are now in Mildura after a rainy drive from Hay, Browny’s winge & I concur, drivers who don’t have headlights on in the rain are”IDIOTS”! Also one STUPID IDIOT who pulled out from behind a B-double as we were approaching ?????? We definitely have a “guardian angel”.
Well a day looking around Sunraysia. The Murray River is still as muddy as ever. The Paddle steamers run up & down taking the tourist for sightseeing & houseboats still abound.
Mildura is a modern thriving City that still manages to retain it’s country style & has some beautiful old buildings & churches. One thing I believe it needs is a by-pass for heavy trucks as most go through the CBD.

Wednesday, we left Mildura & headed down the Sturt H’way to Gawler. We by- passed most towns although we did have to go into Wakerie to get a tyre changed, we shredded a tyre about 30 klms from there needing the RAA to come out to change the wheel. This again proved how stable the van is. It didn’t move!!! This is the 3rd tyre in 6 years & they were shredded before we knew. Now for a winge: IN ALL THE TIME WE HAVE TRAVELLED THIS IS THE FIRST TIME NOT 1 PERSON STOPPED TO SEE IF WE WERE OK. Have vanners changed or is society changing?
The road passes through farming areas & fruit orchards of grapes & citrus but before getting into South Australia we go through fruit fly control where you are checked for fruit & vegetables , everything is confiscated so most get rid of them beforehand. We passed ours on to people in the camp who were going east.
Gawler Caravan Park was a good park to spend a couple of days & then it was on to Port Augusta. We left Gawler on Saturday & after an easy drive we settled into camp.
Browny has at last found a shower that suits her, came back to the van beaming & saying “after2 weeks I have found a great shower!!!!!! At Gawler was able to have 3 ‘dribble’ showers which you had to run around to get wet!!! Mildura 2 dribble and then found a good shower at the end of the row on the last night!!!!!!!”

!Pics above (1) Mildura Camp (2)Houseboats on The Murray (3) Paddle streamer (4) Hay Camp

On the road

009
HEY HEY HO HO THE FOSSILS ARE ON THE GO
Well on the 19th we took off & headed over the Blue Mountains through the pretty towns of Blaxland, Hazelbrook & Blackheath.We bypassed the towns of Springwood, Leura, Katoomba & Lithgow. Travelling through Bathurst we headed to our first van park at Cowra, this is a great camp, just as well, Browny strained her groin & couldn’t drive so we stayed another couple of days.

Wednesday 22nd we left & headed to Hay where we were booked into Hay Plains Caravan Park, another good park. One complaint, no TV just meant we had to talk??????????? & play cards. The road was very bumpy & because someone who packed forgot to tie down the TV, OOPS on the floor.No names but it was the taller one. Also, even with Flo (the GPS) we took a wrong turn but fortunately no hassle & we were soon back on the right track thanks to a trucky who wanted to buy The Rig.
The area is very dry & with the harvest over & plowing underway it makes it look worse. We have been here a few days & yesterday wasn’t Shortys day, he went to download a pic & discovered he had put the leads away “carefully” NO LEAD!!!!!!!!!!, went to buy one HA-HA,none , so recommended we buy a card reader, back to camp but didn’t want to work. Back into town where the young lad installed it. Next problem phone wouldn’t work into Telstra where technician was at lunch , he came back took battery out & in & great we had phone again. Seems this phone can get a spike after charging (you live & learn).
RAIN, RAIN, GLORIOUS RAIN the fossils have done it again.

Trip Itnnary

PROPOSED ITENNARARY
Leave
Travel over the Blue Mountains to Cowra for O/Night Stop. Next day on to Hay for another O/Night, then across the Hay Plains to Wentworth again O/night From here on to Gawler S.A. Next day up to Port Augusta This would be 2 nights to prepare for trip through centre( do laundry & shop for supplies) Now up the Stuart H’way to Glendambo, then Coober Pedy ( Options {1} Leave Van At Coober Pedy & take Sami to Williams creek to fly over Paimted Hills or{2}Fly direct to William creek and Painted Hills. Finance & availability will decide.{3}Cadney Homestead & tour from there.) Also Trip down Oodnadatta Track ??????
Now back up the Stuart H’way to Alice Springs with stops at Marla & Erldundra.
Hopefully a train ride while in Alice Springs then north to Tennant Creek to spend 3 days. We will stop & have a night at Wycliffe Wells To meet “aliens” from a UFO !!!!! ??? They must be due to land ???
No we get to 3 ways before turning east on the Barkley H’way To Mt Isa again with an Overnight stop at Barkley Homestead which is usually a good night.
After restocking at Mt. Isa it is north to Gregory Downs To catch up with Sue’s family History. ( her Great Uncles Started the Gregory Downs Station & Pub)
This may be a base to explore Lawn Hill & Adels Grove otherwise we will camp in the National park at Lawn Hill.
Then back on the Matilda H’way to Normanton to spend a week or 2 in the warmth of the Van Park Pool (one of the best).
From here it is across the top to Mt Surprise & Innot Hot Springs for more relaxation in the hot springs
Now down to Cairns for a couple of weeks. Then to Townsville for a few days before heading inland to Hughendon to visit Porcupine Gorge Then Down Kennedy Development road to Winton before tuning east to Cania Gorge. Via Longreach Barcaldine O/n Stop Alpha Then Sprigsure, Rollingstone &Bileola After a few days it is down the road to Toowoomba 80 kms or 50 miles from Brisbane
Now west again to Lightning Ridge Via Dalby Moonie & St George. Now it is time to head home through Moree.
Anyone who would like to join us for all or part of this trip is welcome. Anyone without a van but has tent & sleeping Bag we could arrange Sami Sahara so the back seats are clear.
LET US KNOW
Stop (1) Cowra
(2) Hay
(3) Wentworth
(4) Gawler
(5) Port Augusta
(6) Glendamba
From here on it will be as things happen.

Weather & birds

Well the weather cooled down & the birds returned, We had a raven, 2 rainbow lorrikeets, a cockatoo & 2 mynah birds all queuing up to get to the bird bath. Our kookaburras haven't returned yet, although 0ne did come to the front to check the van before flying off, must have been too busy out the back.

RAIN, R AIN GLORIOUS RAIN,Browny is happy both tanks full & won't have to use town water on ration days.

The old fossil got ambitious in the kitchen, tried to cook an apple Pie.

The Zoo

School Holidays a nice day so a trip to the Zoo with my youngest Grandson, OH TO HAVE THE ENERGY OF A CHILD. We had a leisurely trip down the Parramatta River on the River Cat(a sleek catermaran ferry) & then a ferry ride across the harbour to the zoo. The changes that have occured at the zoo since my last visit years ago. For a zoo this close to the cty it hasd not only remained green but I think the vegitation has increased. We only managed to see about half of the exhibits but that was enough to show that they are committed to conservation. There was also a big cruise ship in port that dwalfed everything else.

Christmas Day

Well Christmas Day has passed & we hope Santa was good to all, The fossils went to Shorty's brother's home for the day & as usual Lyn & Karen turned on a great meal The kids all had a great day & there were no complaints about Santa. The Pictures From Top after the presents.
Some of the Food, The table where we tucked in & the Brothers Lunt