Week 4

Adelaide, SA 23rd - 25th Jan 2013(Part 2)

We came very familiar with their roads after quite a few hours exploring the suburbs.
For our wedding Anniversary we had a lovely day out in the Adelaide Hills and the Barossa Valley. Spending time visiting different places (chocolate factory, cheese factory, toy factory with the large Rocking Horse), but my fave was the Jacob’s Creek Winery, a lovely place to have lunch and that is kid friendly.
We had a free attraction day visiting the SA Museum, The SA Art Gallery and a shop down Rundle Mall. Parking for cars higher than 2.1 metres was almost impossible and we ended up walking at least 2 k’s in 35+ heat to see the attractions.
 

Yorke Peninsula 26th - 29th Jan 2013

Well it’s very dry, and not a lot to see, just endless wheat and barley fields.

We left Adelaide late after having more repair work done to the van (under warranty) and made a bee line to St Kilda on the way to YP. Rach had heard of an Adventure Playground she was itching to take the kids to.

 

  We moved on and after a bumpy drive decided to stay at the Maitland Show grounds for the night (it was listed in the free camps book.) First time for us and felt a bit strange. We did have about 10 other campers around us so we felt safe enough. Clean toilets and hot showers were available. The next day, armed with the tourist brochure of the area, we set off to find a piece of nice beach to free camp at for a few days. (Beautiful images in the brochure!)

At Adrossan, they use a rake and bucket to find blue swimmer crabs at low tide. Zach just had to have one... (as I write this, it's now a large Souvenir.. never used...)

We stopped at Edithborough for lunch next to a sea pool..

Well, after hours of driving down the east coast, checking out each town, we made it to the bottom where a few free camp spots were. Following directions, we drove along a corrugated dirt road, into a wind turbine farm on the coastline, only to find the camp spots were too small to fit our van and too close to the turbine blades for my comfort.

 

We decided to move on following this track (TomTom didn't know where we were), drove all around the cliffs edge, only 5-10 meters away, no railing nothing, if you were in Victoria there would be railing all around and signs warning you of the cliff edges.
 

The kids were unsettled (being politically correct here.) as we moved on, it was getting late in the day. Eventually we set up camp on the southern west coast in another fee camp spot.

 

   To make the budget for the week stretch after spending so much in Adelaide, we needed to find another free camp spot. So we navigated further up the west coast, back to Maitland. Whilst the town was at their morning Sunday church service, we sneaked back into the show grounds to "use” the facilities.(rubbish, dump point...the porta potti has been well used. it's my job to empty it...I close my eyes and hold my breath. I hate when it splashes...Eww .. Not nice...Hey Rach, do you want to swap jobs? I too can cook...lol) We then headed off to "The Gap". Another 16km of corrugated gravel/dirt road after what felt like an hour at walking speed, we made it and setup for the night.

  We were not experiencing what the brochures were showing so we felt quite disappointed in our visit to Yorke Peninsula and decided to move on sooner than planned. We also decided that night, to cross off the Flinders Ranges, from our travel plans. The kids are about to start school and we feel they would not appreciate the beauty of the area.

  We have been cautioned about driving up through Port Augusta due to the behaviour of the local natives. A wonderful couple that we have now bumped into 3 times during our travels suggested we check a ferry service from Wallaroo across to Lucky Bay. After weighing up the pros an’ cons, and taking into account the savings by not doing Coober Pedy and the Flinders Ranges, we decided to take the ferry ride. This choice will now place us a few weeks ahead of schedule. It's funny, Wallaroo was actually a nice place and Zachary did catch a few crabs!

 

Eyre Peninsula

After departing the ferry, (Amity and Guy didn't feel to well from the motion of the ocean lol) We drove down the east coast and stopped at Tumby Bay for lunch, play and a spot of fishing….

 

We moved on and found a nice and quiet free camp in Louth Bay for the night. We tried again to catch some fish but it seems something has told the fish we were coming. The crabs must be deaf as Zach pulled in one after the other with his crab net…about 8 we counted. Pity they were all just under size and back they went…

Week 3

Rapid Bay, SA 16th - 20th Jan

What a great spot to relax, only $18 a night to stay, toilets and 2 cold showers only, no power (solar Panels are doing there job really well) kids have been able to watch movies and TV in the arvos. We used our shower tent for the first time, and worked extremely well.
The kids enjoy the beach (very rocky beach), Zach went snorkelling for the first time, we did some fishing, Guy and Zach explored a cave, we did some rock climbing, and rock art.

Adelaide, SA 20th - 25th Jan (Part 1)

We stayed at Belair Caravan Park, 30 Min drive out of the city. Adelaide is so small in the eyes of the kids, they wanted to know where the BIG buildings were. Glenelg is a lovely spot to visit, and alot of people with there flash cars it kind of reminded me of Chapel street.
Adelaide Zoo is a little like the old Melbourne zoo, the Panda's were a lovely experience. Curtis learned to say "bear" that day. The Panda came right up to the window where he was standing, and there bird enclosure was amazing, up close and them flying over our head.

Left to Right; Rachel feeding the ducks at the site, Curtis enjoying Cold Rock at Glenelg, Sunset over Glenelg, View from foot bridge at Glenelg, Adelaide Zoo.

Week 2

42 Mile Crossing camp grounds, SA 9th - 12th Jan

What a great spot, this was the first place that we went 4WDing. It was the only way to access the beach. The first time we went up I (Rach) screamed and Curtis poor little head was like one of those dash board wobble heads, but he loved it asking for more.
We did some fishing and expert Zach caught nothing, but Mummy did even if it was only 10cm big!!!
We can't forget the DROP toilet, Amity's first encounter was interesting, I thought I was a princess "OH NO I'm not!!!" Amity screamed and cried the whole time and argued, I had to stand at the door so i could hear her go (lol), otherwise she was holding on.

Murry Bridge, SA 12th - 14th Jan

Hmmm!!!! not much to do at all, and I'm guessing low employment too..... thats all.

Left to Right; Murray river, Bridge, Camp Site, The Bunyip, Family at the Playground, Train.

Victor Harbor, SA 14th - 16th Jan

Absolutely a stunning place, very picturess. We enjoyed our stay here. We went for a walk on Granti island taking the Horse-Drawn Tram ride over the pier to Granti Island then walked back. The kids enjoyed a ride at the carnival and hot jam donuts.

 

My baby boy experienced his first hair cut (crying) but I had to do it I didn't want him to have dredies. He's growing up, all he wants to do, is what Jake is doing.

 

 

Week 1

LAKE BOLAC, Victoria - 2nd Jan 2013

We made it to our first free night of camping the trip really begins now. We are at Lake Bolac forshore camp area it was $15 a night or $75 for a week, not a bad spot alot of bugs and well the toilets, I’m glad we have our own. The kids got to have a fish and yet again they caught nothing.

The heat wave of early Jan begins.... as we crossed the VIC / SA border, the car outside temp hits 43'C.

Mount Gambier, SA 3rd - 7th Jan 2013

45 deg temp OMG to hot to do anything, went to shops to keep cool for a few hours, kids went to the pools a few times, Curtis loves the pool. Cool change has come and what a relief.

Left to Right; Sink Hole, Blue Lake, Lady Nelson, Piccainnie Ponds, Blue Lake, Jumping Pillow, Amity, Jake at Sink hole

Beachport, SA 7th - 9th Jan 2013

What a beautiful place so tranquil, we must visit again.
We did a day trip to Robe had a look around the area then went for ice cream.

Left to right; Guy & Zach going fishing, Pier, Amity swimming in Lake Siloam, Our Site, Veiw from the Caravan Park, Zach & Curtis relaxing, Playground, Boys Playing Cricket.

A New Chapter to our lives.

We did it!
We survived the end of the world.
Now to survive travelling around Australia for 12 months in our Expanda with four lovely children. Our eldest son, Zachary, who thinks he is always right. Next, our daughter Amity(princess) who has emotional out burst, then our pedantic 4 year old son Jake, and not last but least out 1 year old son Curtis who is our 2 o'clock morning alarm.

Our adventures started in Ocean Grove.

Spending time with loving family, most of the time was spent at the beach and making sure that we are set up for our travels ahead, after re organising the Expanda, and making shelves for one of the cupboards for kids clothes, I think we are set. But as always, there will be something. Zach learnt how to body surf properly, Amity learnt how to do 2 magic tricks with a deck of cards thanks to her Uncle teaching her, Jake found a new love for lollies ( thanks to Christmas) and a few sayings, like "its hot like a sunrise mummy" "boom chicka wah-wah" and "bo-yah" and Curtis, well Santa brought him a plastic golf club set, he finds that they are great to hit things with, he also learnt "wiggle wiggle wiggle yeah"!!!

One thing we have found is that we need a roster, the kids seem to be lost with out the structure.
The Kids have started a journal book recording the adventures and memories, I will be encouraging them to use our blogger so at times I'm sure things will be interesting.
I have found that when trying to plan where our next stay is, it needs to be done at night or when kids aren't around!!!!