In Kununurra - Sorry for the Delay

Hi again,

Sorry for the long delay.

Can't believe how time flies.

I'm probably not gonna load photos right now 'cause were off again in morning.

We are currently in Kununurra - Just inside West Australia - and South West of Darwin.

The exciting news for us is that when we got to Darwin a few weeks ago, we found out about a witnessing trip that will be in 'The Kimberley' - specifically the Gibb River Road and up to Mitchell Plateau and associated areas -Indigenous etc.

SO.. after several calls and other 'paperwork', we are gonna join the Darwin and Kununurra Bro's and Sis's on the trip. We are very excited and can't wait for the experience.

For those that don't know, this area of the 'Kimberley' has some awesome stuff (Waterfalls, gorges, swimming holes, snakes, crocks... YEAH!!)

- and we were planning on covering all that area anyway.

AND..... It's all dirt !!!.

So - by the time we get to Derby after this little trip - we will have covered about 1100-1200kms of BONE SHATTERING roads.

These roads are notorious- although they have been recently maintained - so here's hopin they're not too bad.

I've been wanting to do this area for the last 12-15years - can't believe we're finally gonna do it.

The official trip starts on Tues 8/07/08 till the following Monday. We'll head West from Kununurra for about 300kms to the Kalumburu turn-off and then head North for the 600-700 kms round trip up there.

As a family, we were probably going to be in the area a little later than that - but have brought forward our plans - so we can be a part of it.

This is a totally new thing for us - so didn't wanna miss out.

We has always planned to take our caravan along this road - this road can rip a caravan apart apparently and so we'll be taking it very easy! ! !

There's several river crossings involved - not to mention a dozen or so corrugations !!.. Dozen or so????? more like a MILLION or so ! ! !

So.. not wanting to hold our Bro's up too much - we are heading off early (Tomorrow morning {Friday} in fact).

That way, we can enjoy some of the East end of the road (El Questro for instance) and be at 'Drysdale Station' for the Tuesday night with the others.

The road North from there gets VERY BAD and some of it very,very slow - so we'll leave our van for 5 days-ish and 'Tent-It' with the rest of 'em.
We'll be camping on the beach for 3 nights up the 'top' as well as camping at Mitchell Falls.

As we (as in just our family) are going to do the WHOLE Gibb River Road, we will leave our Bro's & Sis' on the Monday, I suppose, and then we will head West - whilst they head East to home.

Hopefully when we get to Derby - I'll finally put some more photos on.

To be honest - we'd probably stay here and get the whole Blog up to date - but the trip with the others has given us less time here. BUT.. small price to pay I think for what should be a great experience.

And - I'll be 42 by then.....

HEY CARL ! ! ! ! ! A rather significant year don't you think... you know ...Douglas Adams.. and the "answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe and everything" ????

By the way - I think I've now opened up the 'comments' thingo so you don't HAVE to sign up to be able to leave a comment.

SO.... Comments please ! !

Not too sure when we'll be in range again - it could be a month or so before we get to Derby and are next in "Next-G' range.

I SOOOO don't wanna rush this bit.

See ya later

Thanks for your' interest (and telling me off for not keeping up to date)

Rob & Co.

SOUTH AUST 2 - 22-28/04/08 - Barossa

WHISPERING WALL !

This thing is WILD ! ! ! ! ! !

This dam is in the lower Barossa.

The acoustics from the curve are such that, with a person at EACH END (yep - one on the far right and one on the near left) you can talk at normal (even low volume) voice and be heard clear as a bell. It's much like being on a speaker phone.

Hard to believe unless you experience it. It sounds like the voice is coming from the wall. Incredible.

The Barossa is very dry this time of year - but still great to visit.

Good 'ole' Jacob's Creek.

As a 'break' from the van - we had organised 6 nights in a cottage adjacent to a vineyard. It was awesome having to extra space for while.

This was part of our outlook.

James checking the harvesting machinery out (we were being given a tour)

Aust Map jigsaw. James did heaps of it !

James also wanted to cook Lunch and Dinner for the family - this is what he came up with for dinner. Not too bad ! ! !

Field Service in the rain - IT WAS FREEZING ! ! ! !

Bye Bye Cottage.

Emma had a Heart Review on Tues 29th April at the Adelaide Hospital. This is James just foolin' around. All went well by the way.

SOUTH AUST 1 - 18-22/04/08 - Mt Gambier to Adelaide

Camp Area at Dartmoor (East of Mt Gambier)

Another fire.

Sure you can work this out.

Overlooking Blue Lake at Mt Gambier- got to be seen to be believed as far as the colour of this thing goes.

This is the 'Umpherston Sinkhole' - Still in Mt Gambier. It's an old cave that collaped and some old dude planted a heap of stuff in it to make it what it is today, Quite incredible.

On the way to Adelaide -(via the Coorong) this is Heidi preparing lunch whilst we are on the move. Ummm.. yep... THAT'S a SALAD she is preparing !! She's keen ay???

Camping on the Coorong. 'Dry as a Wooden God' here.

Hahndorf - beautiful Autumn colours.

VICTORIA 5 - 16-18/04/08 Grampians - Great Stuff

At short notice we decided to head North from Warrnambool to the Grampians.

So GLAD we did !!!

With no plans for where to stay, we just pulled up in the middle of some farming area near Penshurst, Love it!

Our 1st (of many) look-outs.

This is Heidi and Emma at the 'Balconies'.

HEY ! ! - Guess what ? Heidi (YES ..Heidi !) jumped a "track closed" sign to get to this spot.

YAY ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Another lookout - this one overlooking Halls Gap.

Our camp -during the 2 days we had at The Grampians.

Next Day - off to "The Pinnacle".

This is part of gorge we went to on the way up.

The View from 'The Pinnacle".

Overlooking Lake Bellfield.

The Lookout -Great Spot ay?

James and I relaxing nearby.

Still relaxing.....

On the way back down.

VICTORIA 4 - 14-16/04/08 Great Ocean Road

This is a great road !!

After leaving Melton (Melbourne) Assembly Hall, we headed South through Geelong to the Great Ocean Road.

This is our camp-spot at Cape Otway Nat Park. We were here for 2 nights. (to do some schooling and all..)

The first thing we noticed was .....

The wild (?-does that apply?) Koalas.

Directly above our van !!!

There were about 4 or 5 in the area - and we regularly saw them walking (? does THAT apply?) from tree to tree.

Great Stuff!!!

On to the Great Ocean Road...

OUR GREATEST DISAPPOINTMENT ! !

The Gibson Steps was closed !

Some Bureaucratic heap of "%$@#&^@>*" about a 'Risk Analysis'.

bla, bla, bla, 'this world sux', bla ,bla,bla.

This place has fond memories for Heidi & I from a trip with Chris & Louise in Jan 1994 (? I think).

Still got to see most of them though.

So much variety here...

see?.......

see ???

VICTORIA 3 - 07-11/04/08 Melbourne and Ballarat (Between Week-ends at the Assembly Hall)

Catching our first Tram in Melbourne

Victoria Markets

Camping in Bush 30km North of Ballarat.

We love this ! ! !

At Ballarat - we basically did the 'Sovereign Hill' thing. A mock-up village set in the gold-rush era. Truly a great-day out.

As with lots of things - better than a day in school.

Old bowling alley - classic

James up on stage in some show.

Our camp after Ballarat - again in the bush - very different to night before - but on the way back to Assembly Hall for Working Bee (refer previous Blog Item)

VICTORIA 2 - 03/04 - 14/04/08 Melbourne Assembly Hall and Ballarat

WHAT A SURPRISE:
The Melton Assembly hall was having the same assembly we had just missed at home - so the caretaker on the phone invited us to stay at the Hall ! ! .
Imagine our surprise when we enter and find a.........
......
.....

CAMPING GROUND! ! !

Quite a few other Bro's ans Sis's here also - coming from Bendigo.

Great facility !

Great program too - all fresh speakers for us - which is a change.

Certainly makes lunch-time easier

And going to the loo - very fast

During the week that followed we visit Melbourne City and Ballarat - But on the following week-end, we returned to the Assembly Hall to help in some Painting Working Bee on Saturday.

Great experience.

Some fantastic Bro's & Sis's here.

'Bout time the 'Tools' got a work-out.

Plus Meeting and FS on Sunday.

Caretaker and his wife. Made us feel very welcome.