Day 3 - Berwick and the Dandenongs
Spending time around here, I sometimes feel like I have landed in an alien world. The Berwick of my high school years (1985-1990) is almost unrecognisable. The main street is pretty much the same (although shock, horror - the charcoal chicken shop (where us "country train" kids used to go for a delicious snack between school finishing and our train arriving) has closed - just recently though. Today I went south, along roads that used to be country lanes and are now four lane major roads, struggling to see any familiar landmarks, and instead seeing concrete jungles of takeaway food places and big box shops. It is really strange.
In the middle of the day, Lisa and I went for a drive up into the Dandenongs for lunch. Thankfully, the Dandenongs have not changed much. The roads, the buildings, the houses all look much the same. Still beautiful, olde world and with towering gum trees. We had lunch at Miss Marple's tea rooms, which are a bit of an institution in the area. I was hungry so had a "proper" lunch while Lisa had the scones which were as huge and fresh and delicious looking as always.
We drove home a different way and some roads or buildings would trigger a childhood memory, while others make the place alien like. It is really a clash of old meets new - in my head anyway.
Lisa did some more work this afternoon so I went and picked up Kobi from school, and then did a grocery shop, a Bunnings shop and got fuel - slightly cheaper here than home. Lisa was out tonight so the rest of the family and I sat down to a delicious dinner. Tomorrow, I move on up to the Victorian high country and the Sunland caravan gathering.
Day 2 - Berwick
A trip down memory lane today - back to what was when we were children, the best restaurant in Berwick. Our parents went there for fancy dinners, as we got older we helped Marg (Lisa's mum) with fundraising events there, Lisa had her wedding there and we were there for the literal last supper wehn Marg held an International Women's Day event there 10 years ago, right before the old owners closed it up. Fast forward ten years, and it re-opened a couple of months ago. The new people might not have got everything right in the beginning but Lisa, Marg and I went there for my birthday lunch today (yes, the festival of Tracey continues, and it's still 5 days until my actual birthday!) and Lisa said it has improved a lot! Most importantly, the building is still the same, down to the same crockery.
After lunch, the trip down memory lane continued, back to many old haunts, including (not very excitingly) a stop at the servo in Beaconsfield where Lisa filled up but I remembered my mother putting $2 worth of petrol in the car to get us home the 30km to Nar Nar Goon North 40-odd years ago!
A quiet afternoon and then a delicious meal at home with this birthday cake to add to the birthday festival.
Day 0 - Bangor to Devonport and Day 1 - Geelong to Berwick
It was a very emotional departure from Bangor on Sunday afternoon. No Greg, and a real fear that Slick the wonder dog may not be there when I return - and that he will fear I have left him like his Daddy did. Anna and Alex the housesitters are great and will ply him with love and attention, and I'll ring him (obviously via Anna!) every few days so he can hear my voice.
Only a few kilometres up the road, with tears still obscuring my drive, I ran into this Bangor style traffic jam.
A good distraction and I was soon on my way with clearer eyes. I arrived in Devonport an hour and a half later and was met by Fiona who used to work for me, and we had coffee in Cafe Phoenix (yes, that's the caravan). Only too quickly, I had to pack up the coffee machine and drive around the corner to board and was on board by 4:30pm. Thanks to a very considerate friend who happens to run the Spirits, I found myself with an upgrade to a deluxe cabin but still put on my big girl pants and headed out to the bar for a drink with other people around me, and then dinner.
A bit of rocking kept me awake for a good part of the night until the wake up call came at 6:15am (even though I'd been awake for ages). A shower and then the call for my vehicle deck and I was driving off at about 7:15am. Neill and Jude came to pick me up and we headed out for breakfast, leaving the van securely parked up. Good on them for getting up early so I had some friendly faces at the end of my somewhat lonely crossing.
After breakfast, with my big girl pants on again, I headed up the highway. It was sunny in Geelong and I needed sunglasses but as soon I came out the other side of the Burnley tunnel, it was raining, and continued through to Berwick. I arrived at this lovely campsite which wouldn't usually rate on our campsite rating scale, but the company is exceptional and the services very impressive.
An afternoon of catching up and a little bit of retail therapy in all these big shops that we don't have in Tassie before dinner with Lisa's extended family, who have been my second family for 42 years. They all wanted to celebrate my birthday early with me and even the restaurant kitchen came to the party despite us saying we were so full we couldn't eat dessert.
A wonderful start to the birthday I have been dreading as my first without Greg by my side in 24 years. But beautiful friends and family made it fun.
This little ducky is a bit tired after the big day's travels and rough sleep on the ship so it's off to sleep in a much more stable caravan.
The Gismo Queen has lost her King
As all followers of this blog know, we sadly farewelled Greg in July 2026 after his sudden passing on the 14th July. Greg loved nothing more than sitting around a campfire somewhere in regional or remote Australia, chatting with friends and sharing laughs. It was so important to both of us that we were able to keep doing this after Greg lost his eyesight. I know how proud he was of me for learning to tow the caravan, and how proudly he described me as an "expert" after more than 100,000km of doing it!
So, of course we will keep doing it. This upcoming trip was planned for many months and to honour him, Neill, Jude and I are going to go to the music festival he had chosen and will continue talking to him around the campfire. There will be sad times but also opportunities to revisit happy memories. And I know Greg will want me to make new memories too.
I don't want to re-name the blog because this blog has more than 20 years of Greg's and my travel memories. But as of this Sunday when I board the Spirit of Tasmania on my own for the first time in 24 years, the Gismo Queen will travel on - never alone - and with love and gratitude for her King always front of mind.
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.
