DAY ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN: Lucky dog

DAY ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN: Lucky dog

I woke up at 5.20 in the morning due to a bad dream and I hurt my neck somehow, I couldn’t get comfy again so I just lay there until Vicki woke up. At quarter past six I could hear people packing up and leaving. Bit eager.

            We didn’t do much all day, we had a pancake breakfast with our picked lemons from Ellenbrough and went for a short walk. During the walk we saw a dog tie next to one of the campers, from a distance it looked like a beige husky. We were pretty sure it wasn’t though when we got closer it was in fact a dingo. They look like something between a fox and a huskey and they have very dense fur. I was surprised you can actually buy them as pets. This one didn’t seem to just be a pet, it was their baby. The dog had three course meals none of which were actual dog food. Needless to say the dog ate better than we did.

DAY ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTEEN: Hungry

DAY ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTEEN: Hungry

The day wasn’t interesting we just spent the day complaining about being hungry, we had only eaten wheet-bix all day. We have been eating at sunset to avoid the bugs and cold. We couldn’t wait and had dinner of homemade egg fried rice at three O’clock and we were hungry most of the night.

DAY ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTEEN: On the road again

DAY ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTEEN: On the road again

Today was like the others, got up when we pleased had tea and coffee and packed to go to Coopernook. Coopernook was the first place we visited after leaving Wollongong so we thought it would be nice to end where we began. Before we left I had my last wash in the river.

            We left Ellenbrough and the flies behind, topped up on water and drove to Coopernook. When we arrived it was a lot quieter than our first visit, we both noticed there isn’t much sunshine because of the tall trees blocking it out. I was relieved there aren’t any big flies, Vicki on the other hand was horrified by the mosquitos. They tend to bite her and leave me alone.

DAY ONE HUNDRED AND TWELVE: Wild thing

DAY ONE HUNDRED AND TWELVE: Wild thing

This is our last day in Ellenbrough. Tomorrow we move onto Coopernook. The day is dull and overcast with spots of rain, every now and again it clears in patches then closes in with clouds of rain. We both skipped the wash in the river saying we will do it tomorrow. We like it here but there has been a big issue has been flies. Not mosquito or midge but big blue bottle like flies, it’s disgusting. At any time there can be up to thirty in the van which isn’t pleasant for sleeping. It has concreted the fact I will not be going to anywhere tropical unless it’s in a five star hotel.

            There is a lemon tree near our van and I proved why we shouldn’t be fruit pickers. I grabbed the closest branch bent it as far as it would go without breaking and picking four yellow green lumpy things that could only be identified as a lemon by its smell. Their for my pancake breakfast in Coopernook.

            Between pottering around from inside to the outside of the van I caught my reflection in the tinted windows of the van. Since leaving civilisation of Wollongong I’ve not really taken notice of my reflection but today, my hair, so bushy and curly. If I back combed it, it would almost look like an afro. It looked wild like Jack Nicolson off The Shining when he went mad. According to Vicki I looked like him to when I was swatting flies.

DAY ONE HUNDRED AND ELEVEN: Water

DAY ONE HUNDRED AND ELEVEN: Water

For the past week in Ellenbrough we have managed to survive on our own supply of water but finally we’ve run out. We have been told there is a water tap at the local play area. People gave us half cooked directions which didn’t involve using the words left and right, they used ‘this way’ and ‘that way’ eventually after a while we somehow managed to find it. We filled up and returned.

            The ‘politicians’ had left today too which was a relief to us. They are an elderly couple who had an opinion on absolutely everything and only their opinion was the correct one. No matter what happens in the world, according to them Australia suffered in worse ways. It amused us for a while but it did begin to get annoying when it was the same two topics over and over again. 

DAY ONE HUNDRED AND TEN: Cold as ice, hot as fire

DAY ONE HUNDRED AND TEN: Cold as ice, hot as fire

If the skies are clear it gets cold at night but as soon as the sun emerges from the hills around us the van almost immediately gets hot. The day was a lot like the others, pottering around, washing in the river. Vicki decided she would prefer a solar shower. It was marginally warmer than the river but I’m sure I had the better rinse.

            Because we didn’t bother with the fire tonight because of the smell we had to be in the van for sunset, which is about five in the evening. The evening was spent listening to an audiobook.

DAY ONE HUNDRED AND NINE: Let it shine!

DAY ONE HUNDRED AND NINE: Let it shine!

At last, SUN! The last two days contained in that pokey van was driving us mad. We thought if it continued we would simply go back to Wollongong and go on day trips instead of stopping over. The weather here is so strange, heavy rain one day, glorious the next. At least at home it’s consistently bad weather.

            Although we left the van we never ventured far from it except to wash in the river. The evening went cold because of the clear skies.

DAY ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHT: Wet Wet Wet

DAY ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHT: Wet Wet Wet

Rain all day. Rain in Australia, no wonder it’s so green here. It rained all day long so we didn’t leave the van except to go the loo. It was boring but we found entertainment in playing noughts and crosses on the steamed up windows, cards and listening to audiobooks.

DAY ONE HUNDRED AND SEVEN: Washing is a bad idea

DAY ONE HUNDRED AND SEVEN: Washing is a bad idea

It’s raining and miserable so since we would be getting wet anyway we went for a wash, it was cold like last time but because it was overcast we couldn’t warm up. We were sat in the van with the engine running, heating blasting and blankets wrapped around us, pretty terrible day.

DAY ONE HUNDRED AND SIX: The mission

DAY ONE HUNDRED AND SIX: The mission

It has been overcast and looks as though it’s going to rain. After yesterday’s fire we decided to make another one. We went in search of logs and came across two huge ones. Vicki wanted to set fire to them at eleven in the morning and her mission was to burn absolutely everything, which she managed by seven in the evening.

DAY ONE HUNDRED AND FIVE: Cold plunge

DAY ONE HUNDRED AND FIVE: Cold plunge

It was another cold night but the day was hot again. It’s a strange feeling being so cold then almost immediately hot as the sun burns through the cloud.

            We collected some fire wood for tonight and stacked it up around last nights semi chared log. Vicki wanted a solar shower but I thought the river would have offered a better wash and we save a bit of water. The water was incredibly cold, I jumped into waste depth, Vicki ankle deep. As cold as it was it was a bath with the best view ever, we quickly washed down with my travel soap and got out. Once we got out the sun dried us off and warmed us up.

DAY ONE HUNDRED AND FOUR: Cold night, hot day

DAY ONE HUNDRED AND FOUR: Cold night, hot day

At about seven O’clock this morning it was five degrees by noon it is twenty three degrees. The cold nights are difficult so we went off and collected some wood to build a fire. The plan is to build the fire near the van and hopefully it’ll give us a few degrees of heat.

            It didn’t work. We had a fire but the dry sticks burned up so quickly they didn’t last long. We threw a big long onto it, it caught fire but only a few hours later when we were in the van.

DAY ONE HUNDRED AND THREE: Ellenbrough

DAY ONE HUNDRED AND THREE: Ellenbrough

The drive today is a long one, it takes us from Byron Bay to Ellenbrough near port Macquarie. It was a long drive and by time we arrived it was getting dark, we made dinner and settled into another cold night.

DAY ONE HUNDRED AND TWO: Stock up

DAY ONE HUNDRED AND TWO: Stock up

Today was equally uninteresting; we stocked up on food and did our washing. During the shop we came across fleece blankets, I couldn’t believe it but we bought a couple, hoping it would help during the nights.

DAY ONE HUNDRED AND ONE: Retreat to the coast

DAY ONE HUNDRED AND ONE: Retreat to the coast

The night was the same as last nights, cold. As nice as the area was we would have been ill if we stayed, so we headed to the coast. Byron bay is the closest so we headed there, we wanted to go there anyway just in a few weeks. As we drove there we could feel the temperature change. When we arrived we looked silly in our jeans and jackets while everyone had shorts and t-shirts. We didn’t intend on doing anything except internet all day so that’s exactly what we did.

DAY ONE HUNDRED: 100!!!!

DAY ONE HUNDRED: 100!!!!

One hundred days, well we’ve lasted longer than some people thought. Today is cold we knew it was winter but we weren’t expecting this. I had a solar shower and regretted it. Today was the first time on our trip where I’ve had to wear long pants, socks and a jacket. But we are both relieved it is dry.

            Tooloom falls is the first new spot we’ve been to on our drive south and our first stop back in New South Wales. We crossed the border last night, there was no sign welcoming us but we knew because there was a speed camera greeting us.

            It’s a nice spot, a lot like Coopernook but colder. We went for a walk and looked for echidna but had no luck.

DAY NINETY-NINE: Eight hours later

DAY NINETY-NINE: Eight hours later

Last night was bitterly cold, so cold we could see our breath. The morning was the same until about nine when the sun burned away the clouds. We left Gympie and headed inland to Obi Obi creek, when we arrived there was a toilet block that had blown over and nothing much else. We left. We’ve not had much luck with the new camp spots we must have struck gold along our way north. We programmed the satnav to the next one. We followed it to a road with a sign ‘Unsuitable for caravans’ “well this isn’t a caravan it’s a campervan” I assured Vicki who was unsure about continuing along this road. I wish I had listened, the road at Maleny national park, Kidman creek is a full blown off road track only really suitable for large 4x4’s. The road was too narrow to turn around so we had no choice, we bounced and rattle from rock to rock never leaving L gear through lack of power. Eventually we made it back onto tarmac and continued to Laidley showground.

            Upon arrival the sign said no trespassing so we had to move on. I had been driving for five hours so Vicki took over for the remaining three. The sat nav took her off road too but not as severe. Along her drive the sun was beginning to set which meant creatures like Kangaroo will be active. We actually saw kangaroo by the roadside grazing. Looking at the map Mt Lindsey highway shouldn’t have taken long to drive but it took ages the road was steeper than llamberis pass and had more twists and turns than snake pass, there was no wonder there were cars littering the steep drops into the valley.

            By time we arrived at Tooloom falls it was cold and dark so cold we hardly slept through shivering.

DAY NINETY-EIGHT: Nice to be Chauffeured

DAY NINETY-EIGHT: Nice to be Chauffeured

Since St Lawrence Vicki has driven which has been good since I get to fidget about in the car and daydream out of the windows.

            It rained last night none stop which could be a sign of things to come. It rained on our way north to Apple tree creek and now it’s raining along our way back. Our drive has taken us back to Gympie like our way north. We discussed going to rainbow beach and Frasier island but we worked out it would cost over $400 for two days which is too much so we’re unfortunately skipping it with the intention of new Zealand and some trips there.

            Last time we were here it rained, this time we were treated in exactly the same way, the clouds came over and Vicki retreated back to the van with everything smug she had beaten the rain, except she forgot one vital thing, the sunroof was open. The rain poured in and soaked the bedding except for a small rectangle where my laptop was sitting. It’s had a bath before now and I’m sure this isn’t its last.

DAY NINETY-SEVEN: Boynadale, Gin Gin?

DAY NINETY-SEVEN: Boynadale, Gin Gin?

Today is one of those days where nothing went to plan. We packed up all our stuff and headed off. Our plan was to go to Boynadale bush camp but it is only 40KM away which is too close, so we moved onto our following days stop Gin Gin nature reserve. Every time we mention Gin Gin to other travellers they always speak highly of it. It must have been a different stop, the one we arrived at was scruffy with overflowing bins. We made lunch and left to Apple tree creek. We are about five days ahead of what we had planned and we haven’t stayed anywhere new.

            The Clint Eastwood marathon continued with The good The bad and The ugly. I was happily watching it until about an hour and a half into it, it cut off. There must have been a problem when I ripped it to the computer.

DAY NINETY-SIX: Back at Callopie

DAY NINETY-SIX: Back at Callopie

Each night we watch a movie on the laptop, for a while it has been a Harry Potter marathon which felt like slow torture for myself but Vicki loves it. Fortunately last night was the last one so tonight I’m starting my marathon of Clint Eastwood spaghetti westerns, hopefully she will experience the same boredom as I have for the past eight nights.

            We went for a short walk and watched people fishing by the river. It probably isn’t the safest place considering there is a sign warning people of crocodiles inhabiting the area.

             I think Vicki and myself are becoming Koala’s, we spend a lot of the time dosing and when we’re not doing that we’re eating.

DAY NINETY-FIVE: Goodbye St Lawrence

DAY NINETY-FIVE: Goodbye St Lawrence

I had a nice easy day today, Vicki took the wheel and drove us to our next stop, Callopie. We stayed there on our way north. There isn’t much just some land next to the river. Our days would probably be more entertaining if either of us knew how to fish since every camp site we’ve come across has been near a river.

            Along the way we stopped at Stockland shopping centre in Rockhampton for food. In there, in one corner there was WIFI, we must have spent an hour there catching up on e-mails, messages and other things. Mostly Vicki as no one messaged me except my dad with a photo of him eating steak, I can’t wait for my pasta tonight.

DAY NINETY-FOUR: Day 6

DAY NINETY-FOUR: Day 6

Our last day of water and showers so Vicki made the most of it and hand washed the bed sheets. We met another couple who were very nice and they told us about other free camp sites along our route, eventually we got onto the topic of electricity, I showed them my mini solar panel, they didn’t want the big ones you usually see they only need it for their iPad. They have been going into town and asking if they could plug things in.

DAY NINETY-THREE: Day 5

DAY NINETY-THREE: Day 5

Another unproductive day, we did bugger all. All we did was graze on our food and chat to others in caravans and campers. In the evening we got chatting to a man called Wally, he has lived in his camper for four years, we had a few beers as he told us he is a part of the Illawarra solo’s. A club of travellers who are on their own.

DAY NINETY-TWO: Heat wave in the UK!

DAY NINETY-TWO: Heat wave in the UK!

We thought it would be nice to drive to St Lawrence today. We weren’t sure how far it was or what it would look like. I imagined a small village that reflected the rest area, nice and tidy.

            The drive was latterly around the corner and the village itself looked like a set of a Clint Eastwood western, we left almost immediately. We returned to our spot and decided to go for a walk.

            There is a short walk across the wetlands, so off we went with the camera. We didn't see much but during the time I found settings on my camera I didn't know I had. The afternoon was spent playing with the new found functions.

            Back at the van I made a new friend out of one of the men on the campsite. We chatted for a while and he told us that on the Australian news there was a report that the UK was having a heat wave, the last we knew there were blizzards, now a heat wave, he told us it was 21 degrees C, I laughed at this knowing it was 26 degrees C in our van and that was in the shade. The 'freezing' water in Babinda was 22 degrees C. I've no idea how we're going to cope when we go home.

DAY NINETY-ONE: Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore

DAY NINETY-ONE: Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore

It is another boring day today, but today unlike any other day it is windy. We've hardly experienced wind since starting the trip so we stayed in the van and played cards while the wind outside whipped up the dust into mini tornado's and coated everything in a fine dusting.

            The evening was more eventful the wind had died off and I went out to stretch my legs, the field next to us had a large group of Kangaroo grazing. Once it went dark er retired to the van to watch a film only tonight we couldn't. As we have been driving I've had my laptop plugged into an inverter which has charged the batteries. If I needed to top them up when we arrived I also have a solar panel and battery pack, between the two we have full power so watching films is easy. But because we aren't driving we are relying on the solar panel and battery alone, this isn't a problem if it's sunny but over the past few days we have been in the shade so we don’t have enough power for our films.

            Vicki lifted out the cards, after a game I was already bored. I noticed the tiny TV that was in our van had a USB port, could this stop Vicki from making me play cards? I had a pen drive in my bag and I copied a movie across onto it, plugged it in and, nothing. Nothing happened, all it did was slideshow a few scanned in documents I had before we came to Australia.  Looks like a night of playing cards.

DAY NINETY: Day 2

DAY NINETY: Day 2

There isn’t much to write about today. We've done nothing just sit by the van and enjoy the day.

            The highlight was to feed the ants. We are parked near an ants nest and they were swarming around our feet so I thought I'd put a few blobs of honey near the nest. That kept them busy all day and they left us alone.

DAY EIGHTY-NINE: Day 1

DAY EIGHTY-NINE: Day 1

The first day was an easy day. The furthest I moved was to walk around the site looking for a drinking water tap which lasted less than a minute.

            The morning was hot we had no shade so we sat in the sun only retreating to the van for shade, at about noon it became too much so I sat in the van and typed this log up. At about 13:45 we finally had shade from the trees and the side of the van.

            We pretty much spent the day being lizards, sitting in the sun until we overheated, eat, and continue to sit in the sun. I imagine this is how we will be spending the week.

DAY EIGHTY-EIGHT: Where to stay?

DAY EIGHTY-EIGHT: Where to stay?

We had a choice of four stops today. First was Airlie beach, we both liked it there but we had to pay to stay with poor facilities and it was about 100km detour for a pool, so we skipped it.

            The second we had been told sand-flies infested the area so that was a quick decision. We drove to the third one. It had a nice view of the sea but it was full of caravans so we had nowhere to park.

            We had been on the road nearly five hours so Vicki took the wheel and drove us to the last stop. St Lawrence, we have been here before, although there isn't much to do there are showers and clean facilities so we are here for a week.

            Although we don't appear to be doing much it's tiring doing nothing. Especially since I've hardly had a reasonable night’s sleep in forty four days.

DAY EIGHTY-SEVEN: Stardust

DAY EIGHTY-SEVEN: Stardust

Last night while looking for something to do we came across a poster 'Stardust' drive in cinema. Vicki was excited about the thought of a drive in cinema and wanted to go.

            Before we went in the evening we did all the washing we could, pretty boring but it will be the last washing machine we know of for three weeks, which isn't great when I barely have two weeks’ worth of clothes. We will blend in when we get to Byron Bay at least.

            Eventually 7pm came along and we drove to Stardust to watch the movies. Fir $9 each they played two movies, 'Wreck it Ralph' and 'Oz great and powerful'. The whole experience of a drive in cinema was great, you have your space your feet don't stick to the floor and you can bring as much food and drink as you like and the sound is controlled through the car radio so you have control of the volume. It's a shame they don't exist in the UK. The movies were ok but every now and then I'd zone out and watch the bats flying past the screen or I'd look out of the sunroof and stare at the stars.

DAY EIGHTY-SIX: Home Hill

DAY EIGHTY-SIX: Home Hill

Before we arrived at our night’s stop we went to Townsville, we both liked it there by the pool so we went to repeat what we did on the way north and relax by the pool. While doing this a large Monitor lizard, a Goanna walked past, so naturally I gave chase with my camera.

            We stopped at Home hill on the way north but because I wasn't feeling very well and a major lack of shade drove us to our next stop. This time however we stayed the night. The rest area is just a road that runs parallel to the M1 with toilets and various other amenities. It must be a great way to make money from passing travellers.

DAY EIGHTY-FIVE: Return to Bluewater

DAY EIGHTY-FIVE: Return to Bluewater

The drive wasn't meant to be long but when we arrived at the night’s camp spot it didn't exist. There was nothing there. We had no option than to go to the next stop, Bluewater. It took about 3 hours to get there but we knew there would be space.

            When we arrived I had something on my big toe, I had a blister from the Great Barrier Reef from the fins. It had been healing but today there were white spots on it, "Could it be eggs?" I asked Vicki, we had been in water and because of the rain over the past few days the grass was wet making the healing skin soft. After a simple surgery of amputating the eggs or more likely seeds, eggs sounds more dramatic. Whatever they were we cleaned it up hoping I had removed all of whatever it was.

            We met an elderly couple who had driven the circuit 8 times, this was their last time. They were very nice and asked us dozens of questions about where we were from. The guy thought I was Andy Murry because I apparently look like him, tall, dark hair and thin, I'm not convinced but it isn't the first time it has been said.