Smith's Away

Got into Ky about 3.30 and set up waiting for Marg to get back as her car wasnt in, but she was there and her car was getting fixed. Always good to catch up wirh Marg and hard to believe we've known one another for 44 years since I boarded with her at Culgoa my first year out!! Then off to the club for dinner and a lovely steak. Deb her eldest daughter joined us and saw Michael when we got home. Freezingnight but lovely and cosy in my van. Today its sunny but cold so last leg to home now. I've been travelling for a month and done over 6000kms and had a ball. I l8ved every moment of it and am so delighted with my little van. Now for the next trip in the US with my brother Brian, stay tuned for that blog, starting August 1.

Rain continued all through the night so hard to get up again this morning. But not a super cold night so all warm and cosy in my van. So another late start but finally the clouds cleared and the sun came out. Bit wet and muddy in parts where there were road works so my little van is looking well travelled. Turned over to 6000kms today!! So through Dubbo, Parkes and yep saw the dish, then Forbes and finally here. Just rode my bike to the shops for some milk and fruit. Photos below show the caravan which is pretty full.

A late start this morning as it rained most of the night, so I lay in bed reading waiting for the sun to come out. No luck, a very wet day. So finally left about 10.30 and headed to Tamworth. Horrible driving as foggy, wet and couldnt realy see much. Stopped at Gundah for lunch and then a back road Belinda and Ross had told me about to get to here and then on tomorrow to Dubbo. Relatives are too busy for a visit so wont flog that dead horse and think Ill head over Forbes and Parkes way, then perhaps Corryong if Sue Oneill is around otherwise via Kyabrym to see Marg from Culgoa!!! Closer to home now so think Ill be back by weekend. Having a cuppa in my van and might walk around a little but still drizzling. My heater keeps the van lovely and warm. Photos are of this morning before leaving Armidale.

Yep am now in NSW and its very cold. So out with the extra doona, singlet and winter pjs!! Left Brisbane and got to the freeway without any worries. Had a nice stay with Hugh and caught up on all one anothers news. I am looking fwd to catching up everytime I head to Brisbane to see Jonathan and Ellie over the next 3 years. The New England hwy is lovely and suddenly down to 14 degrees, bare trees and autumn leaves, none of which you experience in QLD? Such a difference. Lunch at Tenterfield and now here where we have warnings for water freezing. I tried to put some more water in the tank, always a difficult job and after borrowing got a bit wet, but in my cosy van, heater on, jumper back on and in for the night.

Ok now at Mt Gravatt waiting for Hugh to get home from work. Took off this morning with a wonderful map drawn by Peter and up hill and down dale but finally on the hwy. All very good but no turn off to Mt Gravatt. Finally decided I needed to turn off so did and put GPS on and back I went. Easily found Hughs place and a flat entry, whew. So got his key and settled in. Rode my bike to local shops, l8ve having a browse around. Got sald things and have now chopped them all up.  They should get me home now. Have bought a cake to have with acuppa when Hugh gets home. Very relaxing and tomorrow off to Glen Innes and will wind my  way back home.

Here I am sitting on Lorna and Peters balcong looking over the city. See the photo. Hopefully this blog will be better as no distractions and I can remember what Im saying. Took off early from John and Jackies as they were heading off for a cruise this morning. SoI left early to get out of their way and headed to Stafford, a bit north of Brisbane. Fortunately the tom tom worked and got here very quickly. Lorna and Peter were out playing tennis so I wnt to a nearby shopping centre, got a few supplies and saw a movie, The Promise. Fascinating and moving. Lovely lay back seats. Lunch in the car park and then onto Lornas. Tricky parking as a huge angled drive way, so after spinning my wheels have to sleep indoors as too much of an angle to sleep. Went for a drive and coffee, caught up on their boys etc and now getting dark and cooler. They head to Bunderberg tomorrow to house sit so Ill head to Hughs to visit. So I worked with Lorna in Darwin at CDU, and Hugh tomorrow played recorder wit

Left Tom and Annelis after Tom cooked me bacon and eggs. My tom tom sent me on a very interesting wrong way and when I eventually got to Bribie Is my mobile lost c8verage and my tom tom seixed up. Went to the info shop and the lovely ladies showed me on a map so got there. Jackie and John took me out for lunch and a drive around, back to their new house again and chatted, rezd then their daughter Jo , husband and daughter arrived. Trent is a techo whizz, fixed my phone and hot spotted my tablet and now Im doing my blog. Better go and socialize now.

Here I am with Tom and Anneli at their home in Weyba Downs. Just had a lovely meal and my camper is set up for tonight. A good drive from Gin Gin. Did go a bit round about but lovely drive, tho at one point I was on averyn narrow road but all good. Not a long drive today so arrived in good time. Tomorrow I head to Brisbane to visit some more friends. Photos are of Lake Mundoran where I wzs last night. Sorry about errors,cant see what Im writing and editing is impossible. Have to work with Rutts t.fine tunebefore US!!

Was a bit sad leaving Jonathan and Ellie but I get to see Jonathan in Nov when he comes down for a course and next year they will be in Brisbane, so closer. Good drive to Sarina, but no wifi. Lovely site but huge ceramic eanimals everywhere, very odd. And nearby campers had their dog in a babys cot!! Rode around the town and back as the night got cold. Very early start this morning, woke up eatly so on the road by 8am!! Morning tea at a road side stop, lunch at Rockhampton then onto here. Long drive today so lots of singing to my cds, and a few stops for roadworks but good trip. This camp spot is a little out of Gin Gin but sooo quiet and will go for a walk and check out the Lake Monduran. Tomorrow Ill head to Wyba Downs to visit friends then Brisbane for the weekend.

Highlight today was seeing Jonathan perform with the 1RAR band for Morning Melodies. Great performance and Jonathan was right out front. Boy hes got so good now, was very impressed and very proud. Great show. Yesterday I rode to Willows shopping centre again and bought some new earings at the little store Ellie works at, then roamed and bought some tops too. I'm all packed and reafy to go. Washed and ironed, refilled the fridge and head to Mackay tomorrow. Its been a lovely visit and tonight we went to a restaurant on the strand. Lovely.

Ahh the weather is lovely hete . Cool nights and warm days. Rode my bike to the shopping centre today to meet Kim, my niece for a hot chocolate. Ellie was working at a little jewellery stire so saw her too. Was lovely catching up with Kim, shes a secondary teacher in Townsville so we chatted lots about teaching etc. Ride back to home, a good half hour ride again, then we drove into the Strabd. The old barracks have been converted into walk ways etc. Really lovely and interesting, I had no idea Townsville was bombed 3 times in the war. Walked along the Strand and now home fir dinner.

Lovely dinner out last night at the Pier and then home and slept inside!!! Bit of a sleep in and played some more Rummikub with Ellie, yep bought them a set too. Then off to the local shops to buy veges and I have cut and diced to roast then I put somem in a container to take with me. Family shots today.

Yes finally here. Lovely dinner last night with Lorraine at the Ayr RSL, then up this morning and off to Townsville. A lovely drive and after a guided tour of Kirwin finally arrived at Jonathan'house. He was waiting for me and sat and chatted over a cuppa. Lovely to be here. He has insisted I sleep inside. Will miss my little camper!! Ellie is out doing a final exam and we are out tonight for tea. Now hopefully I can upload some photos.

Beautiful morning this morning. Woken by the waves, breeze and sun. Leisurely breakfast then pack up and on the way to Home Hill where Trevor's sister and partner Anton have the PO. Chat and then drove to her place. Set up, lunch then off on the bike to visit Dot, Trevos step mother. Her daughter Glad was there so cuppa and onto Maccas to do blog. Bloody tablet couldnt connect. All the young ones couldnt help so now at library but have forgotten cord to download photos and last night internet connection was too weak to download pictures. Sorry so no pics yet. Might have to wait till I get to Jonathans tomorrow. Love riding around and is very flat so easy riding. So next stop Townsville, and Ill download lots of photos there.

Up very early this morning at the Cape to see the sun rise and all the kangarois come out tofeed on what the tide leaves behind. Yep me up at sunrise!!! Lots of people and kangas. Alison and I went down with our cuppas. Back for a leisurely breaky and then Alison packed up to head to work again. She flies out to Melb tomorrow. I was great fun camping with her and comparing vans. Drove onto Airely Beach, very nice, a little damaged from the cyclone but very built up. Had lunch and rode my bike around. Then onto Bowen. Lots of memories as we would often drive there to see Trevors father. Found his house and have even camped where we did 25 years ago. Again Bowen is much bigger too. On tomorrow to Ayr to visit rellies.

Sothis place is only 30kms from Mackay so a very easy day. Alison is working at the Cqu un8 campus so after a 3alk/ bike ride to the harbour, she head3d into work and I drove out here. Weather is just beautiful and the beaches.... I even went in for a swim and a long walk by the sea. This really is the life. Alison has just joined me again after work and when she heads off tomorrow I will head to Airlie beach then onto Ayr fir tomorrow night, then only anhour to Townsville.All going very well and loving it.

Sorry no wifi at Yeppoon, in fact caravan park nothing flash but I was able to ride my bike into town and see my old boss Graham from CDU for a hot choco. Great catching up... Good drive from Bundaberg, through Gladstone, very industrial and whizzed through Rocky to Yeppoon. By passed Rocky again today as asked the petrol man for a different route and had a great drive on Artillery Rd. Lots of flood areas which I was concerned about as it rained a lot ladt night. Onto Mackay, good roads and nice little stops for morning fruit, getting warmer and even puy aircon on for a little while. Stopped at Sarina, memories of years ago, flooded in with the boys . Lunch, shopping at woollies and onto Mackay. Alison suggested a Big 4 so booked in and Alison arrived a little while later. Just had a cuppa, chatted to neighbours and all good. Photos  below of scenery on the way and the 2 campers.

Had a great stay with Judy in Tewantin and went for fish and chips where we went with Heather M when we went to Noosa. Jude knows just about everyone and so met lots of people. And now the weather is soo warm. I have had to take the 2 blankets off. Jude is a very early riser so met her at a coffee shop at 8am. Then back packed up and off to Maryborough where I popped in to see Col Connell who I had met years ago at our second wedding reception in Ayr. Then onto Bundaberg. Was hard pressed to find a caravan park and had to resort to google. Found one and now with everyone else at reception to get reception!!! Nearly had a major problem when the screw fell out of my glasses but found it and after many tries got it back in and asked a caravan man if he had a very little screwdriver and of course he did!!! Off tomorrow to Rockhampton, going slower now as I am enjoying the warmer weather, cane fields, and reasonably d3cent roads. All very good. Photos of Jude and I , then on the road in m

ok have to combine days as no WiFi at Esk. Left Moree in lovely sunshine and chatty neighbours who wanted to check out my van. Into Qld  and knew I was as the roads became very rough. Had to slow downto ensure I didn' it my head on the roof. Dry and dusty and flat with cottonleft over on the road side. Into Toowoomba and lots of hills and windy roads. Finally arrived in Esk and decided time for a break. Glad I did as this morning it was sooo windy to Kilcoy. Esk was lovely and rode my bike around the town and down my them creek, even a rail trail. Up early this morning and off to Judes at Tewantin. I taught with Jude in Darwin. So very windy but beautiful vuews of Somerset lake and just great scenery. Nearer to coast and grey nomads started but good freeway to here. Jude has a lovely home so very settled.Out at a coffee shop with Jude and dinner out tonight. Great company and facilities!!! All very good.

Here I am in downtown Moree. Ive just done my laps in the thermal pool. Bit dizzy from going around and around as only 25mts.It was heated but cold when I got out. Am showered in my pjs and warm in my camper. So left Belindas early after a lovely warm sleep. Ross and Belinda have a delightful family and it was lovely to share it all with them.The children are real sweaties and Belinda kills me with her comments on each one. I decided to head to Conabarabran as I think I'll pass Brisbane and visit on the way back. So stopped at Dubbo for a thermos for my soup, then Coonabarabran, Narabri and little places in between where the views were great. Love the silos and the land around Dubbo is beautiful rolling hills. Warrumbungles just b4 Coonab... Into Qld tomorrow. And Jonathan rang me to check my arrival so have plenty of time to get there for next weekend. Thanks to those leaving comments love it.xx

Hi all here I am in luxury in a a house and its lovely and warm in Ross and Belindas house in downtown Orange. The new baby Greta is crying in the background and Roake, Knox and Joselyn are eating dinner quietly. I bought toys in Narrandera for the children. A lovely little toy shop. Drive was good lots of changes in scenery from flat fields to vines and fruit trees. Still very cold but all ok in my camper.

Ok this is my second try. Bloody thing froze with photos in and all. Mind you not much else to do in the caravan park. Been for a bike ride round but getting dark. Arrived about 5 after a very good drive. Cold going through Yea and Seymour, down to 6 degrees. Once to Sheparton it warmed up to 14 and clear skies and the sun. Stopped at Yea and then lunch out of Shep. Exciting stuff eh. Amazingly there are lots of travellers in this caravan park. Time for dinner and then cold walk to showers!!! Hopefully photos will be of lunch stop and here at caravan park.