The trip north March 2012

The time had finally came, and we were on our way back to Brisbane to collect our van and to restart our trip.  Adults and kids both sad and excited.  Very much looking forward to going on the Spirit to Melbourne.  Charlotte spent the hour lined up for the ferry, hanging out her window waving her stuffed Animal (from the Muppets) to everyone.  When we were walking around on the ferry, people kept saying hello and that they saw her earlier, she decided she was famous now!!  Had a lovely crossing, and a very early morning the next day!!

Goodbye Devonport

 We were up bright and early and saw the sun rise over Melbourne.  Saw a beautiful sight as we drove through the city.  These five big hot air balloons floated over, looked spectacular.  We headed to the nearest McDonalds for breakfast and to do our online lesson with the kids teacher in Tassie.  Not so easy as the kids were pretty tired after the excitement of  leaving and the early start.

We went to visit our friend Megan and her two children for lunch in Doncaster, Melbourne.  It was so nice to catch up again, we last saw each other almost a year ago on our way up north on our original trip.  Her son Thomas was at school, so the kids played with Hannah.  Girls had a bit of fun dancing etc.  I went with Meg and picked Thomas up from school, then they all had a great play together.  Was amusing listening to the boys discuss the merits of Lego!!

We stayed the night in Melbourne at my Auntie and Uncles house in Brighton.  Auntie Jill cooked a lovely dinner and the kids had a great time playing with the dog and annoying their second cousins!!

From Melbourne we headed North.  First stop was the Dog on The Tucker Box, an iconic monument that we missed on the way up, that Mark has been on about since!!  The monument was inspired by a bullock drivers poem 'Bulluck Billy', about a dog that guarded its owners tucker box.

Last year we spent a lot of time travelling with the Ellis family from Victoria, Dan, Kaz, Sam, Will and Zaccy.  We last saw them 6 months ago in Calliope QLD.  It just worked out that they are heading north as well and we were able to meet up with them.  Seeing we didn't have the van, and we were too tight to pay for motels we bought a tent to sleep in instead.  You can imagine my delight when I realised the Ellis's had set up camp in Jugiong.  We were there almost a year early on mothers day and it was the coldest foggiest place ever!!  Luckily this time it wasn't cold but it did rain of course!! 

We arrived at the showgrounds and could see the Ellis van in the distance.  They must have spotted us too as the kids started running towards us.  Was fabulous to see them all again, the look on the kids faces was priceless.  We spent a great couple of nights camping with these guys.  Us in our little tent and them in their van.  Kaz and Dan even cooked all the meals, we were definitely well looked after!! 

We headed out one day to Gundagi to check out the sights.  First stop the visitors info centre of course.  We then checked out a look out or two.  Looked at the old bridges and went to the park.  Gundagi was only recently flooded.  As we were standing watching the kids on the play ground Kaz and I were debating how high the river rose.  When we noticed weeds from the river stuck in the top chains of the swing.  So in other words, it got pretty high!!!

We sad a sad good bye, well not really that sad.  We are seeing them again when they stop off at the Gold Coast on the way through, then we are going to check out FNQ together!!!!  

Next stop was Wollongong to see my big brother Ben.  We decided to stay in a cabin that night, we got in lateish and it was wet!  Then we met Ben and went out for dinner.  We went to this beautiful Thai restaurant, Thai is my absolute favourite food, was a gorgeous meal.  Was so nice to see Ben again, if for just a short visit.  Only a few more days until Mark has to start work, so couldn't stop longer.

Then we headed north but inland a bit to Singleton.  Back to see our mates the Betts family, Simone, Rohan, Luke and Piper.  Once again another great catch up, good friends, great conversation and wonderful food.  Makes me sad that so many of our friends are spread out now, makes it great to visit but hard to say goodbye.  Kids got on like a house on fire, as you can see by the photos!!

It was too far to drive all the way to Brisbane on the next leg, so we headed to Tenterfield.  With a stop off at Tamworth on the way for lunch and the obligatory photo with the Big Gold Guitar.  We camped  the night at the showgrounds, nice spot by the river.  We had just set up when this old bloke came over and started chatting to me about Tassie.  Next thing Mark walked out of the tent and said hello Rob, turned out to be his second cousin from Tasmania, small world heh! 

We made good time and reached Redland Bay before lunch.  We were so excited to see our mates, Lee, Meegan, Carly and Sophi, and of course our van.  We had only meant to leave our van for a few weeks, ended up being far far longer.  So many thanks to our wonderful friends for babysitting it for us.  We had a lovely day swimming in the pool and a BBQ lunch.  Then hooked up and headed to Palm Beach, as Mark starts work in the morning.

So we have arrived on our next leg of our journey.  We plan to stay 3 or so months in Palm Beach QLD while Mark and I work to recoup some money we have spent on the way.  My sis Megan lives here, so am looking forward to lots of sister time.  Will try to do a blog entry while we are at Palm Beach so I stop doing such long ones!