Its All Clear Now

Hi Everyone,
Sorry if I am not getting a blog done each week, we have been busy with family weddings and trying to organise camping trips and a holiday to Tasmania.
On our way down to Victoria, just outside of Narrabri is a place called ' Sawn Rock'. Now this is worth seeing.
About 3 klms outside of Narrabri heading north towards Moree you will turn onto Bingara Road.
There is some dirt road, but all good. There is ample parking for caravans but you cannot camp there, only day visits. After lunch we did a short walk to the 'Sawn Rock'.

Tip of the Week:
Now when you get your car insurance you no longer get covered for windscreens unless you add it when you take out a new insurance or renewing your policy. When is it classed as a replacement? We get a few stone chips in our travels and you can go to a windscreen repairer and they fix it for around $60 and some insurance companies class that as a replacement. What we have found that works for us.. you can buy your own repair kit for around $40 and do it yourself. It's not hard, just follow the instructions.

If you have any comments on how to improve this blog, please click on the comments button, we would love to hear from you

Cheers and enjoy life wherever it may take you

Local Knowledge

A friend of mine just bought an older style motor bike. Which got me thinking, on out travels we went to a place called Nabiac, just below Taree in NSW. Not a very big town, but it does have a very BIG collection of motor bikes in a museum in which I spent alot of hours, enjoying the hugh range of motor cycles, only to be dragged out by my wife who had seen enough by then.
Here are a few photos of the hundreds if not thousands of bikes stored in these sheds. it is worth a look.










TIP OF THE WEEK: Local knowledge is really priceless, it is how you find all the good places the tourists don't go. What we have found is the information centers have always been helpful, but just remember we are all different and what they may find interesting may not float your boat. So find out all you can then sort though it and visit what you like.

Happy Traveling and keep safe.
Cheers
Bazz

We are back online

Hi Everyone, WE ARE BACK

Well we apologise for not doing a blog for some months, we had a computer stuff up with the blog program and then we both came down with a dose of the flu. On top of that I have been working, studying and sitting exams plus fixing my Mum's bathroom. We are all go now, the computer is fixed and we are all in good health and the bathroom is finished.

One of the places we have visited is Warwick in SouthWest Queensland, there we found beautiful buildings, a very pretty town. We camped there and used that as our base to discover the surrounding area. Here are some pictures of the sites around Warwick, Stanthorpe, and Killarney.
Queen Mary Falls, Bold Rock, now that is a VERY steep climb, and some beautiful building in Warwick.

TIP OF THE WEEK:

Street Signs.
When driving into a new town and your try to find an address, it becomes very frustrating when they are covered by a tree or bush or even worse vandalised by some idots.
This is where your navigator comes in handy. Remember you are towing a caravan behind you and avoid any sudden braking or turns.
Happy and safe travels
cheers till the next post

Its a Dog's Life

Hi Everyone,
While we were visiting Melbourne at Easter, we did a trip on the Ferry from Williamstown , up the Yarra River right into the heart of the city. We had our daughter and two Granddaughters with us, this was the first time for the girls on a boat. Beautiful weather on the day. When we returned to Williamstown, I went on the navy ship that is permanently docked there. It is now a museum with a great collection.

This is one way to see the sites of Melbourne

Or try the trams

Flinders Street Station

A big day, little legs get tired

Just one of the many bridges we passed under on the Yarra

Melbourne City here we come

Navy ship at Williamstown

 The art work on the bridges

a view from one of the many ferries that travel up and back on the Yarra River

 The Navy Ship is now a great museum

 Deep Sea diving gear










TIP OF THE WEEK:
Most of us have owned or do own a dog, which we love to take with us as a traveling companion. We owned a dog and she came with us on many trips in the caravan. If we went into a shop, she would sit outside and wait for us without a leash. If we went to the showers she would sit and wait outside, she has been known to try and get inside with us. Unfortunately it is getting harder to find places that will except pets while traveling. Some caravan parks now days want to see the pets vaccination papers, other parks won't let you leave your dog unattended at the caravan and more and more caravan parks just won't allow pets period!!!
A week ago I read a story where a truck driver was sacked because he had a dog in his truck with him. Company policy being that NO DOGS ON SITE. This poor driver had nowhere else to keep the dog and it was his traveling companion.
Have a safe and happy travels, cheers

The High's and Lows of Caravaning'

Hi Everyone,
We have been traveling so much lately that we have decided to stay put for awhile and REST.
Our trip to Melbourne was great and the weather was surprisingly pleasant. One of the places we visited was an 'open garden', this is a private residence who has opened their garden up for the public to come and see.
At this time of the year the autumn colours are truely beautiful.The property is called"Tieve Tara' In the Mount Macedon Ranges in Victoria.

Grassed tennis court

The property has a man made lake with ducks and geese. Along the walk way we came across a childrens play area complete with cubbie house and dress up clothes, great for the girls.

Here I am feeding the geese with the granddaughter.

 some of the trees were of the very unusual shape.

 TIP OF THE WEEK:
What I didn't know and I am sure most of you don't know either, is the Tow ball Height(not weight). As my good friend Greg pointed out there is a recommended/legal height.
It is 350mm - 460mm from the ground when the van is connected and loaded on level ground.
It is just a guide as there maybe some issues if you need to claim insurance. We hope you never need to.
So cheers for now and stay safe, happy traveling.

Easter In Melbourne

Hi Everyone,
Well we had a horrific start to our trip to Melbourne. After driving 1 hour to the airport and having to be there 2 hours before departure, we then found out that the plane was delayed. Instead of leaving at 11am we left at 2.20pm. Not happy Jan. oh well better late than never they say.
 Surprisingly the weather in Melbourne was ok. On Good Friday we did the tour of Williamstown, starting with a visit to the play area with the grandkids. We had just as much fun as the girls. After that we then went to our daughter and son-in-laws restaurant called 'Amorosa' in Williamstown just look for a very GREEN door. Great food and wine. We then went for a drive around the area. Came across a ' Ball Tower.

Ball Tower in Williamstown. Victoria

'Amorosa' Restaurant

TIP OF THE WEEK:
Two weeks ago we had an mishap with the glass top over our stove in the caravan. There are three gas hot plates and one electric hot plate. There is a built-in safety switch for the gas hot plates, (the glass must be up for the gas to turn on) but no safety for the electric hot plate.  The knob was accidentally turned on, and the glass broke. After many phone calls later, one being to the insurance company, I found that I may not be covered. This was not the news I wanted to hear. After many more questions, they said to put in a claim and they would asses it.!!!!!! But couldn't tell me if I was covered. I then rang Camperland in Brisbane and found that they could order a new glass top and it would cost me less than the excess on my insurance policy.
Within a week I had my new glass top on. Great service from Camperland. It pays to read your policy to see just what you are covered for.
Happy and safe travels, till next time.
Cheers from Bazz

Kings of the Road

Hi Everyone,
Well it's nearly Easter again and that means a lot of people will be on the roads to take advantage of the 5 day long weekend. There are some beautiful places in this great country of ours. One of those places is Rainbow Beach and not far away from there is Tin Can Bay. The colours of the sand at Rainbow Beach has to be seen to be believed. Great beach for swimming or 4WD. Some great camping in this area, including Inskip Point and Carlo Point. We have camped many times at all of these places, so relaxing, peaceful, and great for families as well.

Rainbow Beach Queensland Australia

4WD on Rainbow all the way around to the point

 

Sandblow at Rainbow beach

Jetty off Carlo Point, Dolphin Ferry takes you to Tin Can Bay from here to see the dolphins

Restaurant at Tin Can Bay Marina

Exercise for free at Tin Can Bay

TIP OF THE WEEK:
We share the road with a lot of other vehicles, namely big rigs. I have a Multi Combination license and have driven B doubles and Road Trains and generally truck drivers don't like Caravan drivers.
Some simple rules to follow if you are towing a caravan:
Don't talk to them on your CB radio
Do have it on though and listen to what they say to each other, most times its about the road conditions ahead
Don't hold them up by going to slow
Do let them go around you as quick as possible
Don't travel in a convoy of two or more caravans
Do leave a far distance between vehicles so people can overtake safely
These are just guides, most truck drivers are very good drivers, some are what we call cowboys and should be given a wide berth.
We have a lot of traveling ahead of us over Easter, so we won't have a blog for next week. Do take care on the roads over Easter, drive safely.
We wish you all a Happy Easter. Cheers from Bazz