back on the road again in 2014

We left Nowra after spending Christmas with our family and catching up with friends. We did manage a quick trip to Mullumbimby to see Steve.

Beemer lazing about at Steves

There were lots of mangos on the trees

Some staghorns on Steve's trees

We had to wait for Mark to see the Doctor to get a cancer taken off his chest. We left the next day for Tocumwal via Gundagai where we caught up with Lauren and Todd and the kids.

Marks scar with stitches

It's all good now

We had a great break at Toc until we heard from the Doctor that they had missed a bit so we did a quick trip to Nowra where at last it's all gone. Mark had the all clear a week later. By then we had moved on to Shepparton where we had a bit of work done on the van.

On the road to Western Aus

Are we there yet?

We called in to Perlubie to catch up with Rod and Simone, Mya and Indi. One of the trips we did with Rod was to swim with the sealions and dolphins at Bairds Bay with Trish and Alan again. We had a perfect day.

 It was lovely to catch up with them and meet their new arrival, Indi.

At Ceduna we made sure we had everything ready for the crossing of the Nullabor Plains. Our first stop for petrol was to Nundroo. As it turned out there was no diesel there so we didn't stop again, except for Beemer, until Nullabor.

The Penong windmills

Our next stop was the quarantine station on the border. We eventually made it to Western Australia where we have the next couple months to enjoy and have a good look around. Our first stop was at Eucla, then on to Fraser Range station. It was a nice quiet spot, with emus and kangaroos wandering around the paddocks.



The road just went on and on 

The magnificent cliffs of the Great Australian Bite

Some wild life we found on the way

Sunset at Flinders Ranges Station

Then on to Esperance where we have a week to have to have a good look around.

Whales and things in Fowlers

After leaving Noni and Fox at Winchelsea we headed for Adelaide where we spent a couple of weeks for Mark to do a"decky's course" so he is able to work on the Whale Watching Cruises with Rod. We have now been back at Fowlers Bay since the end of June. Mark had been busy on the whale watching boat as Rod's decky and video camera operater. I have been kept occupied looking after Beemer and helping with mooring the boat on and off the jetty. I have also learnt to help make hot dog rolls and toasted sandwiches in the kiosk so I can help out when it's busy. I haven't even had time to go fishing. There have been some great trips where the calves and mothers have been very close to the boat and the juveniles have been very active. There was even been a mating.

Mark at work

Rod, Allan and Mark hard at it!!!

Hay then back to the farm at Winch.

We enjoyed our time in Hay. There are nice walks along the river and the weather was good to us.

Mark and Beemer by the Murrumbidgee



The old river gums at Bushy Bend

Wild asparagus

We moved on to Tocumwal again for a couple of weeks and were able to meet up again with Bisho and Catherine. We had a lovely lunch at the old pub which was very relaxing. On to Shepparton then to get a bit of work done on the van. We stayed at Maldon on the way to Winchelsea. It is a beautiful mining town with the lovely old buildings untouched. we loved walking around the streets looking at the interesting buildings and mine remains.

Maldon School

The pathway to the main street from the old school

Arnold's Cottage

An old chimney from one of the many mines

Then back to the farm. We had a week with Noni and Fox before they left for their holiday in Europe.

Ducks on the dam

Mark's work vehicle

A very young calf

Cows and calves. 13 were born while we were here

Autumn leaves under the apple tree

The wood shed

Beemer chilling out in front of the fire

Gum flower

We have had a bit of fun with the cows calving, the bull arriving and the cooks and ducks.

Back to the Murray

After spending Christmas in Nowra with our family we left at the end of January and headed south towards the Murray River.  Our first stop was at Gundagai where we met up with Lauren, Todd and the kids.  

A Christmas Picnic with the kids and grandkids

A Christmas Picnic with the kids and grandkids

Pebbles making herself at home on Beemers bed

Beemer's new play mate, Pebbles

Then we spent three weeks at Tocumwal, where we met up with Bruce and Sue on their way home from Tassie and the big bike ride.  It was lovely to see them.  As the caravan park was booked out until after Easter, we then moved on to Deniliquin, where we found a great caravan park just on the edge of town with a pool and lots of kangaroos.  It has a huge shed with all sorts of old machinery and a blacksmiths forge among other bits and pieces.  We managed to find Dryshoes and Catherine eventually and had tea with them at a pub. 

Some of the old machinery at the Pioneer Caravan Park

Beemer enjoying a break at the swimming pool.

As it was school holidays in Victoria and Easter long weekend we then moved on to Hay, were we intend to stay until after Easter.  Hay is a nice old town with a museum and old goal to check out.  There is also "The Bishop's Lodge" which you can go through for a look.