Getting the camper ready to travel again....

In little more than a blink of an eye, school holidays are again upon us.  Whilst I cannot believe how quickly three terms have gone by since we returned home after 12 months on the road, these holidays see us hit the road again with our faithful travelling companions, Rocky and Matilda.   With a couple of weeks to go until we get back on the road, it was a good idea to pull everything out and check it thoroughly.

We have only camped once since we have been back.  We have largely neglected the camping gear for the past nine months.  For the most part it was pushed to the back of the shed and 'stored'.  Unfortunately other items have been dispersed or requisitioned for other projects.  Reassembling all the various bits and pieces has taken me longer than I thought.

It is a funny feeling pulling out the goods and chattels that we dragged around the country last year. Each item invokes a particular memory, such as the BBQ that made not only delicious roasts, but also baked scones with a roast meat flavour! Or finding the plastic drink cup that was used as an emergency dust cover on Matilda after the wheel bearings failed on the Tanami.

The ferocious dog watches on as I start reassembling the camping gear

Mainly it is amazing how a fresh pair of eyes makes everything look tired.  Our camp chairs, held together with bits of wire and fabricated bolts and which we promised to replace once we got home, still faithfully answer the call.  Likewise our bench seats with stylish gaffa tape highlights over bottom pinching splits, should have been put out with the rubbish.  But due to a shift in priorities, we haven't got around to replacing them.  

North to ancient lands and where it all changed..

With Rocky still laid up at the dealership waiting for a new cylinder head, Volkswagen had agreed to upgrade our rental car to one with a tow bar.  We swapped the Kluger for a Pajero, and started getting ready to hit the road again.  The only problem was that the new car didn't have electric trailer brakes fitted, so the solution was to fit a brake controller to the trailer.  It took a couple of hours to fit, the extra time being due to the fact I wanted to make sure we could unplug it quickly when we get Rocky back.

Installing brake controller

The following morning, we hitched up the Pajero and started making tracks north.  It was a great feeling to be on our way again, but we missed the comfort of Rocky, and our extra creature comforts that having a massive storage area also brings.  The Pajero towed Matilda easily - but the rear door was difficult to open with the trailer hitched on - and despite our best efforts, the rear of the car soon became a jumble of camping gear and food.

Woo Hoo - outta here 

Strahan, Queenstown and the best 4wd experiences ever

With weather threatening and the 4wd track south from Arthur River to Corinna closed due to a rockfall, we decided to take the Murcheson Highway to Strahan.  We had been looking forward to exploring the 4WD track south - but were told by the Ranger that any foray south would necessitate a great deal of back tracking.  Thus it was the black top for the loop around to Strahan.

We paused for a leg stretch at the picturesque Hellyer Gorge and wished we had more time to wet a line.

Hellyer Gorge

We made our way slowly to Strahan and set up in one of the caravan parks in town where we set about punishing one of the washing machines with a huge pile of laundry.  The weather sort of holding off, we walked down to the waterfront and treated ourselves to dinner before starting a game of soccer in the camping area.

Life was good, but about to get a whole lot better.

Tassie West Coast - Stony Cape to Arthur River

We left the beautiful Tamar Valley and headed west.  With no schedule to keep, and no real agenda, we enjoyed a leisurely drive generally in the direction of Stony Cape, west of Smithton.

The weather was threatening, but we enjoyed a pile of hot chips in Sheffield, famous for its mural lined main street.  I had to get a snap of the boys in front of a Mountain Rescue themed mural!

11 Days Out From A Year On The Road...

We are officially 11 days out from our year on the road... and the nerves are starting to show as we try to get everything ready to go.  In fact it was as good as called off this morning!

For the past few weeks our focus has not been on the trip at all.  Rather we have been busy trying to get our house ready for tenants to move in, ensuring schooling is in hand and all our furniture is packed away. Whilst the trip has been foremost in our minds in one way - it has been the furthest from our minds in terms of what we will actually do on our adventure.

Indeed we have often joked that we will start the
planning for our year on the road, once we finally get on the road!

That said, in addition to all the household jobs we are trying to get on top of, there have been a few last minute jobs to do on the camper and the Amarok too.  Nothing like leaving things to the last minute.

One job on my list for months was fitting a pair of helper springs to the Amarok.  A simple job - but I finally admitted I didn't have time to fit them, and organised my lovely wife to have them fitted at the local mechanic's.  Unfortunately the young fella who put them on didn't appreciate the dynamics of the suspension and the U bolts were striking the chassis.  

Argh.  Wasn't particularly happy about spending that evening pulling the U bolts off and turning them over - but it had to be done.  I guess the reverse of Parkinson's law is also true... (Parkinson's law states that work expands to fill the resources available to do it.  I have discovered that if your resources shrink (in this case time), the somehow you manage to fit it all in regardless!).

Upside down Miss Jane

Much better

Some good came of it - the road test!

But wait, there's more.  We decided we really should fit some bike racks for the kids bikes on the front of Matilda.  The most cost effective method was to buy a fork mount and bolt it to the top of the pantry box...  Not a big job, but placement was important to ensure that we can still use the hot water system on extended camps!  I ordered the parts on eBay - only to be told after four days that they weren't in stock, and I could upgrade my order or cancel it.  It was Friday afternoon - they were supposed to be delivered that afternoon.  Not happy Jan - I cancelled the order and picked up the parts from the local Roof Rack City - for $0.02 more than Mr eBay!

Making sure it all fits.

Got to get it just right!

And then we decided to take it up a notch.  In order to give the food a bit of protection from temperature extremes, we had been meaning to line the top of the pantry with carpet.  Having experienced the pleasure of trying to line the Amarok's canopy with carpet previously, I encouraged Jo to give it a go.  After a few false starts, she got fair cracking and to be honest did a great job.  We had more timber holding it in place whilst the glue set than is holding our house up...  The only casualty was a bit of hair that came in contact with the adhesive...  but as we tell the kids: "It will grow back!".

And finally this morning we hit crunch time.  For the past few weeks our study has had all the furniture removed, and replaced by all the stuff we might want to take with us next year.  Some of it is not negotiable, like the medical supplies, however some of it is best described as discretionary.

We took the point of view that if we might want it - then we should put it in the study so we could at least consider whether we want to take it or not.  Well this morning we pulled out all the camping chairs, BBQ, water jerry and so on and started our game of Tetris.

Hmmmm...  One thing is certain, the box isn't getting any bigger!

We both had a few different ideas - tried to work out what we would use every night and what we would perhaps use less frequently.  Mulled over where the emergency water should be - had a somewhat heated discussion over the size of the laundry bucket and damn near divorced over the where the awnings should live... 

We must be getting stressed...  But friends had warned us that just before you head off, the task will seem impossible and you will find yourselves asking if it is worth it.  Thankfully we both calmed down and the adventure is still on!  

I must be a lucky bloke!

50 days to go!!!

We sat down yesterday, and for the first time counted the days to our departure... Today we are 50 days out from what we hope will be a great adventure, our 12 month journey around Australia!

Friends have been asking me how the planning is going?  And yes - whilst the concept has been on the table for many years now, we are not much closer to having our trip planned out.  There is so many little jobs to do in order to get us prepared to go, that we have hardly had a chance to think about what we will finally do, when we haul down our driveway, get to the end of our road and flip a coin.  Heads = turn right, Tails = turn left.

The journey to this point begins back in 2009, when our eldest son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.  We made a decision then that we would make a concious effort to live life to the full.  We had just started camping as a family, and a few months later we bought a four wheel drive - our faithful Terracan. In April 2012 we bought our camper trailer, Matilda.

Our first journey with our camper attached.

Our first camping weekend with the camper ended in failure (http://project2014australia.blogspot.com.au/2010/04/our-weekend-in-pictures.html), but we were hooked, and our dream grew and grew.

Big Red Run - Day 10 and 11 - Eulo to Trangie and then home via TheDish at Parkes

After being delayed and back tracking to Eulo, we pulled out the map again and decided the easiest and simplest way home was on the blacktop, east to Cunamulla and then south to Bourke, before pushing on to a free camp at Warren.

Being a long day of  just over 600 kilometres, we hit the road early and found it an easy days run on wide straight highways.

We tried a self portrait...  whilst the boys made cubby houses in the back!

We stopped for lunch at a great future camp north of Bourke at Mays Bend.  This former caravan park on a bend in the Darling River was a beautiful spot for a rest and a leg stretch. We marked it as a great spot to consider coming back to.  The access track could be a little difficult after some rain, but we found the camping area wide and grassy with plenty of shady camp sites.

Mays Bend - Bourke

And so we continued south, through Narromine and on the Warren Weir, where we were confronted with a locked gate, barring our acesss to a promising camp.  Despite our wearieness we returned to the main highway and pulled into Trangie Caravan Park a short time later.

Big Red Run - Day 8 - Birdsville to Maree...er no make that Quilpie

We rose early to capture the sunrise on Big Red to overcast and foreboding skies.  And after a leisurely pack up, we headed back into Birdsville to fuel up and make tracks south to Maree.

The sun starts to make its appearance felt through an overcast sky.

Sunrise lights up our camp - at Big Red

We headed out of town on the Birdsville Track - and almost immediately got stuck in clouds of dust, behind a convoy of caravans doing about 50 kilometres an hour.  It became apparent in the next minute or two that the caravans weren't likely to pull over and let the trail of 4WDs behind them past in a hurry, so we pulled over to the side of the road to re-think our options.

Shake down trip... Destination Birdsville

Whilst we were at camping at Boorowa a few weeks ago, campfire conversation turned to a forthcoming concert to be held at Birdsville in July.  It would appear that one of Australia's most popular and engaging entertainers was going to be hosting a sunset concert on the top of Big Red, the famous sand dune on the eastern end of the Simpson Desert.

John Williamson was going to be performing songs from his latest album - The Big Red, at Big Red... Something stirred inside me and said we had to make it happen.

We returned to civilisation, calendars and the cloud.  A quick check revealed the concert was going to be the middle weekend of the NSW school holidays.... and I had already planned to take leave! 

The clincher though was when I found out the concert was part of a bigger series of events, The Big Red Run raising money for Type 1 Diabetes.  As the Little Fisherman is a Type 1 diabetic, it was all the motivation I needed, so in a moment of madness I bought tickets to the Big Red Sunset Concert.

It was only once the tickets were booked that I realized that it is over 2000 km to Birdsville from home, and with the whole family coming along for the ride, a bit of planning would be necessary. In short a swag and an esky won't cut it.



Of course planning can be fun... particularly when you spread your trip over three maps!

 

I think I can, I think I can

With the new set of wheels not arriving until the 11th hour, and a camping trip on the agenda not more than five minutes after it arrives, I was really looking forward to hooking up the camper and getting the new car nice and dusty on its first trip.  You know - Lee Kernaghan - "Baptise The Ute" style.

But then again - such a new toy needs the engine to be run in properly, so perhaps hooking up a camper that weighs the best part of a tonne or more probably wasn't the best idea. Well not on the first day at any rate.

We contemplated returning to our original camping set up.  The mighty Subaru Outback packed to the hilt, with the Oztent RV5 on the roof.  We enjoyed our first camping trip as a family with this set up, however I distinctly remembered everything becoming one big mess - and that wasn't just in the esky either.

About four nanoseconds later we realised the folly of that idea, and started thinking of alternatives.

I had a perfectly operational electric brake controller that I had removed from Terry in preparation of the trade...  hmmm, and the camper was looking particularly lonely in the shed.

Decision made:  We would take the mighty Subaru Outback AND Matilda!  

Lake Macquarie and Beyond

Last weekend we had the pleasure of attending a family Christening in Newcastle.  Newcastle is a good five hour drive north from home, and we had a choice to make.  Would we drive up in our Subaru, staying in a motel, or would we take the camper and stay in a caravan park.

We elected to take the camper.  We headed north on the freeway, making the most of the M7 motorway.  Pennant Hills Road is never much fun at the best of times, but we were through soon enough and heading up the F3.

We arrived at the caravan park I had booked, and my heart sank.  The park's name held the promise of enjoying a holiday - walking to the water to wet a line... Well if you took a cut lunch that is.  It became very apparent to me that my choice in park was not popular in the left front seat.

Now if we had both had few good night's sleep under our belts, the conversation in the front seats might have been a little more diplomatic... but we were both a little grumpy.  A few terse words were exchanged.  Thankfully Jo was a little quicker than me to work on a solution to our problem and my salvation came in the form of an iPhone and Google.

Between the iPhone and Google, Jo was able to find and book an unpowered site at  Belmont Pines Lakeside Holiday Park.

The park was well maintained, with a new kids playground and a pool to keep the tykes amused.  It also had a magnificent view overlooking Lake Macquarie.  It was perfect.... and I was saved.

The unpowerd sites had a great view

Sometimes it doesn't all go to plan

Like all good things, when you do too much of a good thing, something is bound to go wrong.  Or, if you do enough travelling on rough roads, something is bound to break eventually.

We certainly had a great time on our last camping adventure.  Bendethera Valley is about as good as it gets, with perfect weather and the valley almost to ourselves.  The aim of our week down there was to relax away from society for a while to recharge our batteries, and get a bit of focus on the more important things in life for a while.

It was also a chance to try out a few ideas that had been in my head for a while.  My set up with the Coleman Hot Water on Demand was a great success...  but not everything else went to plan.

Many of you would realise by now that when I get a new toy - I like to try it out to make sure I can use it before having to use it in anger.  It happened to me when I bought a 'free hand winch'.  Our next camping adventure found us stuck on a remote trail with rain coming in.  Out came the winch to haul us out, and I found myself wondering if I had jinxed myself entirely.

So one sunny afternoon I decided that I wanted to see if the Camper's wheels would fit on the Terracan, and vice versa.  I thought it would be a good opportunity to see if the stud pattern was the same, allowing me to consider purchasing Terracan rims for the camper.  The little helpers were most interested in the evolution, and eagerly undid the wheel nuts (after they were loosened of course).

33 inch tyres fill up the Terracan's arches... I am not game to lower the jack!

Bendethera Cave - With Kids

On Wednesday we decided to make the trek into Bendethera Cave.  The limestone hills in Deua National Park have many caves, however Bendethera Cave is the largest, and access is unrestricted. 

The walk from the carpark is about 4 kilometres, along Con Creek.  For the first couple of kilometres, we crossed the creek about half a dozen times – at delightful little crossings.  The little people were in their element, happily chattering away as we walked along the old firetrail.

Don't fall in brother!

The boys were kitted out with their little bum bags, containing water bottle, space blanket, whistle, compression bandage, camera and a zip lock back containing almonds, macadamia nuts and some dates.  They love their little packs, that give them a feeling of security on their walk, although the youngest has no hips and therefore has to readjust his bag constantly.  

It might be overkill, but we also carried additional water and our PLB in our backpack, just in case.  The last thing you would want to happen is for a snake bite at the end of the walk, with no prospect of a quick rescue.  And the snakes were about!

Sunning on a rock - we waited until Mrs Black moved on.

Bendethera Valley - With a Camper Trailer

After surviving our first night at Yadboro Flat, we enjoyed a leisurely day around the camp.  Being a long weekend, the campsite soon filled up with families all keen to enjoy the great outdoors.  The wind thankfully dropped off, and we were left with glorious weather, which was to stay with us for the rest of the week.

Sometime in the afternoon Nic and Dave arrived with their hired Kimberley Kamper.  We enjoyed the evening catching up and comparing camper trailers.  I was surprised at how similar the campers were overall, with their strong chassis and suspension providing the backbone for an excellent camper.

The Kimberley has a great awning.

The Kimberley, like our Aussie Swag has a pantry and fridge in the front of the trailer, and it really is a matter of horses for courses as to your preference.  The advances of time meant that their camper had hot and cold running water powered by a neat diesel heater - which is available on new Aussie Swags too, but sadly in 2005 when ours was built, was not an option... but I had a cunning plan to fix that.

I firmly think that if you’re interested in buying a camper the best thing you can do is try before you buy…  Hiring a camper will give you an insight into how you use your camper and what features you will deem necessary.  Once you buy one, you can then work around everything else and adapt to what you have.

We thoroughly enjoyed catching up at Yadboro Flat, however it was quite busy – being a long weekend, and between early morning standoffs between resident cattle and fellow camper’s dogs, chainsaws and kids on motor bikes, we decided to up camp and head further south – to Bendethera Valley.

Camper Trailer Maintenance - Pre-Season

With spring returning to the southern highlands, and school holidays fast approaching, the camping season is upon us.  With that means we will soon be hauling the camper trailer down the coast for a long overdue break.  I thought before we leap into the camper, it would be prudent to do a couple of simple checks before we head off... and I'm glad I did.

Time to haul the camper out of the shed...

The camper has been sitting for a few months now, and one of my jobs this week is to drag it out and get it ready for our next adventure.  After telling the family that this was one of the jobs for the day, The Little Fisherman was quick to inform me that he had seen a black snake sitting just next to the camper this very morning before breakfast when he was emptying the scrap bucket.  Righto - must be a another job for Daddy then hey!

A service for our Subaru turned into a much longer evolution than desired (why they changed their fuel filter location to inside the fuel tank is beyond me... and then there was the split front drive shaft boot that has spread grease everywhere... argh!).  Needless to say it was well into the afternoon that I finally got around to pulling the camper out, and Mrs Black was nowhere to be seen.  Hopefully she hasn't moved in to the camper!

But today was a day of maintenance on the vehicles various, and I thought I would share the few simple things that we will be checking on the camper prior to heading off on our next camping trip.

The occasional disadvantage of the road less travelled

We managed a good week at home getting everything in order before heading off again for the last week of the school holidays.  This time I couldn’t get the grin off my face as I pointed Terry, this time with Matilda the camper in tow, on a southerly heading.  Our destination was near Cann River, Victoria, at the end of the Monaro Highway. By the end of the trip the grin was gone and a very very dark cloud was hanging over the passenger seat.

We enjoyed a leg stretch at Nimmitabel , a good half way point.  The bakery was popular with the kids – who enjoyed the outdoor playground and the Elephant.

We were staying with friends on their 40 hectare (100 acre) slice of paradise.  Their property backs onto the state forest down that way – so it felt a lot bigger.  We took the kids for a bush walk around the block – a good slog indeed rewarded with some great views.

The boys enjoy the walk

A shiny Terry returns - but it isn't long before I break something!

It seems that everything happens in the lead up to Christmas, and of course we don't seem to do things by halves in our family.

With a busy schedule of school concerts, assemblies, swimming lessons, BBQ's, community breakfasts and the rest in the last few weeks of school, Jo and I have been having nightly planning meetings to make sure we get everything both of the little helpers to their assigned activities.  How families with more than two kids do this is completely beyond my comprehension and my sincere admiration goes out to you.

Somewhere in the middle of this, Terry was booked in for repairs, following our little mishap a few weeks ago.  With careful examination of the calender, we chose a week and a half block where living with one car would have the least impact on our family.  So on Monday 5th of December we dropped Terry off to get a new bumper, to be picked up on the 14th.

Truancy and Bad Luck go Hand in Hand.

Over the past few weeks, Mr Four and a Half has been enjoying Kindergarten Orientation at our local school.  Over three Thursday mornings, he has gamely set forth into the Kinder classroom and emerged a couple of hours later with exciting stories to tell and new friends made.  Mr Six has been far too important to even be seen with his little brother as he has been spending the same mornings doing Year One Orientation.

Whilst the kids have been off learning about what the next year has install for them, the parents have enjoyed education seminars on Literacy and Numeracy, before enjoying a delicious morning tea with other parents.  Happy days indeed. But it is funny how things happen in our family.

Week three and final, and we had decided that on completion of Orientation, we would pull both the kids out of school and race away for a longer than normal weekend down at the coast.  We had a meeting on Friday afternoon, but decided we would make an extra night of it and give ourselves the opportunity to relax as well.  So it was fitting that on the morning of our planned escape, the school had invited someone from the Department who chose to give a talk on truancy.

The Department spokesperson proceeded to lecture all the Mums and Dads on truancy and how missing a few days of school would result in your child protegee failing to reach their full potential, indeed any potential and how they would be doomed for life.  She did proceed to explain what did constitute a valid reason for removing your child from school for a day.  Apparently fishing or camping is not a valid excuse, but attending a family event does pass the grade.

So it was with a wee tinge of guilt that Jo signed the vacancy log for Mr Six as attending a “Family Event”, and we loaded the kids into Terry, with fishing rods on the roof and the camper in tow.  We took off, first stop Oallen Ford for a fish.  After all, what could possibly go wrong!

Mr Four and a Half tries to fill the river up with rocks whilst Mum wets a line.



Caves to Caves - Part II - Yerranderie

Yerranderie

We followed Langs Road and then Range Fire Trail from Wombeyan Caves north before joining the Oberon – Colong Stock route near Mount Werong Camping Area.  The tracks were in reasonably good condition, and we stayed in 2wd for the majority of the run north.  As we proceeded east on the stock route, the road slowly deteriorated for the final run down into Yerranderie.

The old gardens

Yerranderie is a ghost town, testament to the fickle nature of silver prices and the requirement to secure long lasting water for Sydney.  All but abandoned it is a time capsule of historic buildings, slowly being invaded by termites.

Caves to Caves - Part I - Wombeyan Caves

With foreboding skies, and a forecast for showers and rain, we thought we would make the most of a rare opportunity for leave and school holidays and make tracks north. Over the next week or so our plan was to head to Dubbo and the Taronga Western Plains Zoo, via the Wombeyan Caves, Yerranderie and Kanangra Walls.

The plan was to live in the camper for the best part of two weeks – the best we had managed thus far was a three day run. We relocated the awnings and spare canvas to the roof of the car, and put six wardrobe draws into the under-bed storage of the camper. This way we all had one draw each for clothes, one was for spare medical supplies and the other was extra food. The fridge and freezer were stocked, bikes loaded and car checked. It seemed we were ready.

We managed to get away in good time on Saturday and arrived in Goulburn for lunch. Belmore Park is a favourite haunt of our kids with its fantastic kids playground, however on this occasion we were surprised by a collection of fire trucks and ambulances of all shapes and sizes. It wasn't an incident at the Francis Greenway designed courthouse, but rather an Emergency Services Open Day. Joy of joys, the Little Helpers nearly wet themselves with excitement at being invited into the back of an ambulance. The Little Fisherman was able to correctly identify the breathing apparatus in the back of a pumper - but the RFS trucks were his favourite as they could go off-road! Ah, he must be my son.

The Taralga Fire Truck - Dennis

Finally we dragged the tykes away, only to be hauled off the road again at Taralga. The Taralga fire shed was also hosting an open day, however the star attraction was an ancient Dennis Fire Truck. The boys were excited, but were muscled out of the driver's seat by their mother! An unusual turn of events for sure.