Day 29 - East Devonport to Bangor
Pulling into our driveway at lunchtime today rounded out the 3,981 kilometres of this trip. All good things must come to an end....
A delightful quiet, warm sleep (with the gas heater on) in East Devonport restored us both as we slowly enjoyed our last cuppa in bed, our last breakfast in the van, and our last pack up.
Two hours later, we pulled up to the shed to find housesitter Alex waiting there with Slick, who was super excited to see us! These housesitters have been amazing and Slick and Tabitha (yes, even Tabitha!) seem to have been very happy with them. They left shortly after so we had lunch and began the unpack. Cleaning will have to wait until next weekend.
Back to the real world tomorrow, but it was a lovely relaxing trip. The Eyre Peninsula was stunning with it's beaches, cliffs, wildlife, cropping, small towns, friendly people and more. Must just remember to not go in spring next time if there is any chance of avoiding the wind. Thanks so much to our travelling companions for all the laughs, good food and great company. Better start planning the next trip.....
Day 28 - Little River to East Devonport
We travelled 479km today - although I only had to drive for not even 30 of that! And how good was it to have the upgraded deluxe cabin today - because day sailings are boring.
Up super early (after not sleeping well becuse of a) trains and b) knowing we had to get up early) and on the road before 6am for the huge 25km drive into the Spirit terminal in Geelong. A nice, easy drive in the rain so we were checked in, inspected and in line by 6:30am. I went to buy coffees while the night sailing passengers disembarked. We were on board by about 7:30am and very grateful for our deluxe cabin so headed straight there before I went to get some breakfast, which we enjoyed in our room. There was a delay in our departure as an ambulance had to come on board to collect a sick passenger so Greg and I were already back in bed to catch up on sleep by then! Although I did get up to look out the front (the deluxe cabins being under the bridge) to see the new Spirit of Tasmania IV (which I had been on board down in Hobart a few months ago) almost in front of us!
We had a nap, had elevenses (and contemplated how nice room service would have been so I didn't have to get out of bed to go and get the coffees), went down for lunch, spent the afternoon reading/watching TV/planning where to camp tonight, drank more coffee until we came back into range close to Devonport. However, because of our delayed departure, we missed our slot into Devonport and so had to do circles out in the ocean until we could get in.
We disembarked after 8pm and headed straight for this recreation reserve in East Devonport along with many other caravan passengers! We had always planned to stay in Devonport tonight as it would have been too late and too dark to drive home. And we're tired. It's cold, the gas heater is on, dinner was in the air fryer and washed down with wine and we're looking forward to a good sleep before heading home in the morning to see our fur kids.
Day 27 - Macedon to Little River via Melton
We love to support places like this - the local pub doing their bit for the caravanning community and in turn, earning new customers. So here we are, at the Little River Hotel!
The quietest morning of the week at Chez Mallett and we couldn't even sleep in too long! Today is pack up day! We still enjoyed our cuppa in bed (with the heater on, because it was 6C outside and only 11C in the van!), breakfast, long showers etc before hitching and analysing the best way out. In the end, we drove around the house, past the new lawn etc because the recent sun had dried out the ground sufficiently and parked ready for an easy departure, but then went back inside to enjoy a final coffee with the family.
Down the road to Melton, where we had arranged to meet up with Peter and Sandra at aplace we have been to before with them and where I knew there was plenty of parking for the van. We enjoyed a really good lunch and plenty of laughs before we were back on the road, for another short drive to Little River.
A few weeks ago, I had been researching where to stay the night before our sailing (as we are on a day sailing tomorrow, so check in starts at 6am!). Most people choose the Showgrounds even though it's the wrong side of Geelong. But not for us - the Geelong Caravan and Camping Show is on there this weekend! I found a HipCamp on the right side of town wherebthe landowner had clearly decided to capitalise on the Spirit passengers and was renting out sites for $45, only 10 minutes from the terminal! However, for some reason he hasn't been doing that for the past year so that was no go. And nor were any of the caravan parks, as they were clearly booked out for the Camping Show. Looking further afield, I found this place. Only 25km from the terminal, $10 per night and there is no obligation to eat or drink at the pub - and we dont have to unhitch. As we were planning to catch up with friends who live south of Geelong, it did mean a bigger drive for them but they were keen anyway as the meals were reportedly very good.
It was very busy at the pub tonight so we coudn't get a table until 7:30pm but Garry and Leslie came up early, had a tour of the van and we were able to get early drinks at our table so we had a really good night catching up and the meals were indeed pretty good. Thankfully, the commute home for us was only 30 metres as we need to get to bed early ready for a super early departure!
Day 26 - Macedon to Coburg
Close friendships that last over time are important - we mightn't seen each other as often as we would like but when we get together, it's as if we have never been apart! Tonight was a classic example of that.
We had a quiet day in Macedon, caught up on a few jobs, even did a bit of work seeing as that reality is approaching very fast. Had a quick trip into Gisborne for a couple of things and enjoyed coffee with Eleanor before we headed into Coburg to catch up with Scott and Julie and the kids.
We ate ourseves silly, drank lots of bubbles, ordered in Turkish food (probably the one cuisine we miss the most in Launnie) and caught up on everything. Such a great night - making memories.
Day 25 - Macedon to Langwarrin and Narre Warren North
Now, I'm a Melbourne girl and love this city and it's extended towns, including the many I have lived in. But today, two things reminded me of why I don't live here anymore.
We had a nice, slow morning in the van, as it rained quite heavily outside. When it eased, we dashed for the house to have morning coffee with Eleanor. Pip flew out to India early this morning, Emily was sitting an exam (on her birthday! Poor girl) and Stu had just left for Adelaide for work.
A bit after 11am, we headed off for the south eastern suburbs. First planned stop was Langwarrin, to catch up with Brendan who Greg used to work with, and then to Berwick for catch up dinner with Lisa and family. However, two of the Thomas' were sick with a virus so we weren't keen on risking illness so changed our plans to meet with Lisa at her mum's place.
Our first "uh oh" moment was when the e-Tag didn't beep on the Tullamarine Freeway. Turns out they have batteries in them and after all these years (including many of little use!), it had gone flat. Then we ground to a halt on the Monash Freeway.
Traffic. This was one of the reasons we left Melbourne. When I started work at City of Whittlesea in 1999, my commute took me 37 minutes. By the time I left in 2017, the same commute was taking me 1.5 hours. All because of traffic. Caused by my second gripe of the day - urban sprawl.
We sat and crawled on the Monash for an hour. All to go a couple of kilometres to get past an accident. We didn't get to Langwarrin until 2pm! A quick stop at a bakery for a snack in lieu of lunch and then a lovely catch up with Brendan and Brenda, who were supposed to have been in Tassie a couple of months ago with their caravan, but Brenda was unwell and unable to travel. She is looking much better today.
Then it was a trip down memory lane travelling on Dandenong Hastings Road to head to Narre Warren North. A trip I did countless times in my childhood, but that is unrecognisable to me these days, with the urban sprawl of factories right to the road edge. There were a few still undeveloped properties that had the glimpse of past horse properties which almost triggered memories but then the urban sprawl took over at the next property and my memories were lost. However, pulling into Marg's driveway in Narree Warren North grounded me again - a driveway I have pulling into for 40 years!
It was lovely to catch up with Marg, then Lisa arrived with coffees and afternoon tea, and then Karen and her daughter Sienna arrived and it was great to see them. Marg really is my second mother, as I am her third daughter. So we spent many happy hours of the afternoon just chatting - and eating!
By the time we left, the traffic had eased and it was actually an easy drive back to Macedon. Not enough to suppress the pain of traffic anf urban sprawl that makes me glad we don't live here anymore.
Day 24 - Macedon to Broadford
A hot night, which is actually to be celebrated! Especially as with all our windows open, and the fabulous new fans we have, it cools down really well. However, I didn't sleep that well because of it. We also had a bit of a storm in the middle of the night, with thunder and lightning and rain, which woke me up. As did the trains - we're not used to them since our move from Broadford nearly 9 years ago where we had them 3 houses over. And then, the tradies arrived at 7am for the laying of the new turf in a new section of Stu and Eleanor's lawn. The truck that brought the turf and the forklift was huge so he wasn't fitting in but unloaded quite quickly on the road. By the time Greg and I went into the house at 10am to have a coffee with Pip and Stu, they had laid half of it! Getting home tonight was more exciting, to see the final reveal. So satisfying, and I know how much Stu is going to love it!!
After our morning coffee, we left Macedon, heading for our old home town. With all the roadworks and growth of some of the towns en route, it took us an hour! And then there were the bridge works in Broadford, which we have been following. It's part of the Inland Rail project and they have lifted the two bridges over the railway line and lowered the railway line to allow for double decker freight trains into the future.
We caught up with our old friend Luke at the new fire station to have a tour. 24 years ago when I was a new Secretary for the Brigade the Captain of the day and I would write letters every six months to CFA HQ requesting a new Station. Five years ago, they got it, so I like to think my efforts contributed! It is very flash, about 5 times the size of the old one, with all the mod cons and very well laid out. Luke spent an hour with us and it was just amazing. So pleased to see he is now the Captain.
We then headed to a cafe in town (they have all changed too) for some lunch and were joined by our former Captain, who I called "Boss" when I was Secretary. We always got along so well and it was lovely to see him and spend time together. Reminiscing, catching up on mutual acquaintances, hearing about his family and his own travels - they had to kick us out of the cafe at closing time!
Our driving tour of town took us past all our old houses, our current house, Mum and Dad's old house and even Stu and Eleanor's old house. Some things have changed and some haven't.
Back home in time for drinks with the family, a spot of washing, admiration of the new lawn, and shared dinner before family members go to different places tomorrow. A really good day with a trip down memory lane.
Day 23 - Wooroonook Lake to Macedon
This morning brought the end of our joint travels with Neill and Jude. Such a beautiful morning lakeside - warm, no wind and the birds were all happy. We got up (after our cuppa) to say goodbye but then took our time over breakfast, showers and even elevenses outside before we headed off.
Into Charlton for fuel and then it was the Calder Highway for a good couple of hours driving. We did stop at Bridgewater on Loddon (a previous favourtie campsite!) to buy lunch from the bakery and for old time's sake, we drove to the recreation reserve where we have camped in the past to eat our lunch. It was pretty hot by this stage so nice to be in the shade with the windows open.
Some more easy driving down the Calder until Macedon and we pulled into Stu and Eleanor's house at 3pm - to be greeted by the dog! And no-one else! Eleanor and Pip came home shortly after and we arranged where to park, had afternoon tea but it was pretty warm in the caravan so I went for a swim (this is a pretty good campsite with lovely gardens and a beautiful swimming pool!). The others came home and because we had all agreed that tonight was birthday celebrations for Em as she has exams on Wednesday and Thursday, so we had cheese and nibbles, drinks etc on the deck, and then a lovely family dinner.
Day 22 - Wentworth to Wooroonook Lake
For our last night together, we had to find a campsite that had all of our attributes. After a big day's driving we arrived here at a lake with plenty of wildlife, we were able to tuck ourselves away from everyone, we had a fire and it was quiet. Tick, tick, tick!
It was a big day's driving to get here though. And a hot day dawned in Wentworth so we got most of our pack up done before 9am. We actually had thunderstorms and a bit of rain overnight in Wentworth so some things were a bit wet but we figured with this hot weather, things would dry out quickly. We were on the road by 10am on the dot, but the first hour was pretty slow going, having to navigate small towns and skirt the big city of Mildura. So it was only in Red Cliffs that we stopped at Big Lizzie for elevenses - an enormous tractor built as a bit of a folly - capable of a fast 3.2km/hr!
On the road again, although at least the driving got easier. We did stop at a very unaassuming road side rest area for no other reason than it had plenty of wood we could chainsaw for firewood. It was hot, there were flies so it wasn't the best but we did load up the Phoenix firewood carrier for tonight.
A big couple of hours driving and we arrived here. Initially, we started heading around the lake but found the overhanging branches too low for our caravan and had to reverse out. Eventually, we found a great little spot away from everyone, right on the banks of the water, with plenty of birdlife.
We have done many trips together with Neill and Jude now, and plan to do many more. But it is still a little sad to get to the end of our travels together. We got set up, and thankfully it was just a little bit cooler on the water's edge. A bottle of special bubbles came out to commemmorate our trip, the big birthdays that have happened this year, and just to celebrate being together.
Drinks, nibbles and then dinner cooked on my best outdoor kitchen with a view! We even had dessert tonight! And a great fire with that lunchtime firewood!
We still have most of the week ahead to catch up with friends and family, with Phoenix "camping" in family backyard but tonight is the end of the true camping. We are so grateful to Neill and Jude for travelling with us, and for the times we had together. Another great exploration of a part of Australia that is unique and beautiful!
