Flower power ball

I will try one more time

Love

Marg

Fw: Flower power Ball

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Mike & Marg Malaxos

To: Blog MM

Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 4:50 PM

Subject: Flower power Ball

Flower power Ball

Wandering M & M

Hi again,

It has been two weeks since I have last updated our whereabouts, and what 2 weeks it has been.

After leaving Lake Monduran we slowly made our way up the east coast towards Rockhampton and then we turned west along the Capricorn Highway and arrived in a little town called Emerald.  We stayed in a free camp area outside the Botanical Gardens,  they were so beautiful.  Next morning we got talking to people who told us of a Gold Fest in Clermont (about 100 kms north) which was festival weekend, where we could also learn to use our gold detector, we have not had it out of the van yet.  So we decided to go.  Could not get a camp area in town but we were directed to a very nice spot 22 kms away called Lake Therese Dam.  There we paid for 3 nights (had to put that in as you will see in a minute).  We set up camp and while I was making a cuppa Mike volunteered to get me a bucket of water from the Dam,after about 15 mins he has not returned (coffee's ready) I went looking for him, he usually goes off talking and forgets the time.  But this time I found him kneeling in the dam looking for his glasses.  He had slipped into the water while filling the bucket.  I asked if he was cold and he said no, after about another 10 mins I suggested (rather forcefully) that maybe he should forget the glasses until the next day when the sun would be in a better position to see.  He got out and mentioned that there was a bus like ours, when I told him it was our bus he could not remember getting there and parking it also he did not know where he was.  I got him back to the bus and gave him a hot shower and  drink put him in warm clothes, by this time I was getting really worried as he kept asking the same questions over and over.  Anyway to cut a long story short I decided to go back into the town and get help.  All the people around us helped me pack up.  I got him to the hospital where he was admitted overnight thinking he may have had a mini stroke.  However all his neurological signs were good and it was decided he was suffering from hypothermia.  The hospital were marvellous and allowed me to bring the bus right outside his room window (as we had the dogs, otherwise they offered me a bed)

Well we did not go back to Clermont so we did not learn about our detector and we lost our three nights camping fees.  Oh well I was happier knowing everything was ok.

In Emerald we had to get Mike another pair of glasses, once again the people there were marvellous, they rang Perth and got Mike Prescription and had a pair of glasses ready for him next day

We headed west again and came to the first caravan park where I was going to do some washing and move on next day,  but the people there were so friendly and we ended staying 4 nights.  What a great time we had.  On the Sunday night they had what they called a "ball" (only for the park residents) every one had to dress in "flower power" dress.  Well the only thing I had was my doona cover,  which I undid and used as a sarong with my pyjama top. Following is a photo of us on the night.  They had a pig on the spit and all the ladies bought a salad or vegs,  what a great night we all had.

We left the Anakie Caravan Park on Tuesday Morning reluctantly.

We are now in Longreach, (Wednesday 27th August) arrived this afternoon camping by the river.  We had a look at the Stockman's Hall of Fame Museum and decided to go back again to morrow, and also we want to see the Qantas Museum evidently this is where Qantas started from.  Tell you more about it next time.

today has been our first hot day it was 30 dec I believe and tomorrow is going to be 31

Well that is all for now

God Bless

Love

Marg & Mike

 

Our Trip

Thursday 14 August 2008

 

Hi again from the Happy Wanderers,

Not a lot to report this time, we left Toowoomba on Wed 6th and headed North West towards Caloundra staying overnight at several free camp spots as per our camping bible (Camp Australia Wide 4)  A day or so after leaving Toowoomba we started getting trouble with one of our batteries and every time we got it checked out we were told there was nothing wrong with it,  but it would not last the night out.  Finally in Bundaberg we found someone that agreed that there was something wrong and the sent us to Battery World, they had come across the problem before and their tests were conclusive, so RAC had no option but to honour their 2 year warrantee.  ( Our battery was only 1 y/o.   We stayed 2 nights in a caravan part in a small community called Moore Park 18 kms from Bundaberg, we had a lovely spot over looking the ocean. 

the weather this past week has been lovely and sunny but there has been a very cold wind ok out of the wind.

Today we have booked into a very nice caravan park at Lake Monduran about 50 kms from Bundaberg going north along the Bruce Highway.  We have booked in for 2 nights but maybe we will stay longer.

One of the main things I have found lovely is the amount of wattle trees in flower all along the east coast.  Especially northern NSW, not quite so many here. 

That's about all the news for now.

God Bless

Love

Marg & Mike

Our Trip

Hi all,

Here I am again.  We have now been in Toowoomba since last Thursday 31 st July with our friends Janice and Bruce.

After we left Wollongong we travelled along the Pacific Highway North.  The next 2 days rained and rained and so we stayed 2 nights at a little place called Karah alongside a river, it was a very nice little place on the old Pacific Highway.  Talking about the Pacific Highway they are upgrading it along the east coast and there were delays everywhere.  After leaving there we continued along looking at our Camp 4 book and stopped in at a lovely caravan park called Stoney Park at a place called Telegraph Point.  We stayed there 2 nights and from there we went into Port Macquarie which was only 18 kms away. 

After leaving telegraph we wound our way up towards Grafton, in Grafton we stayed in the worst caravan park we have encountered so far.  It should have been nice but it has been left to just disintegrate, with disused caravans falling to bits every where.  From Grafton upto Lismore where we took the Bruxner Highway.  In Casino we spent 2 nights at the CMCA Motorhome Village where it was like being at a big rally, we met lots of Motorhomers.  From Casino we went to Tenterfield and then onto the New England Highway arriving in Toowoomba on Thursday 31st July. 

July 31 was Stephen's birthday and we rang him, only to find that Bev had been taken to Goulburn hospital the Tuesday before.  When we spoke to them they (the Drs) were not sure what had happened whether it was a malfunctioning pace maker or what.  We spoke to them again Friday but still no news but Bev had been discharged from hospital.  She has to go back to the Drs Monday (today) and I will ring her this evening.

Mike and Bruce have been having great fun in Bruce's shed.  Yesterday we went to a caravan & camping show at the Toowoomba show grounds.  Didnot see anything we would like to have bought.

We intend leaving here Wednesday 6th

Oh nearly forgot to tell you it is Harry's birthday tomorrow.  Last Friday we got Harry shorn, he does look funny and on Friday night it got down to 1 dec so I had to wrap him up for the night.  Lucky we were here as we were able to keep the air con on.

Don't really know where we will go from here, not sure if we will go up to Rockhampton and then go across to Mt Isa or go upto Townsville and go across.  Anyway I will tell you all next time.

Till then God Bless

Lots of love

Marg & Mike

 

Our Trip

Saturday 19th July (Kevin's birthday - Happy Birthday Kev)                                     (first draft)

Hi again everyone,

Life on the Farm at down town Marulan is pretty low key they have 14 sheep,1 old horse, 2 Shetland ponies, 4 cows, 1 calf and 4 very old hens, all how are being hand feed each day, together with 2 dogs (of the owners) 1 dog (Bev & Steve's) and of course our two.  Harry is still not liked very much by other dogs.  Also I have never seen so many kangaroos, there was literally 100's  The farm house was something to be seen, it was a large shed divided into a main room, a bedroom and bathroom, a lean-to on the back was another sleepout, a saddle room and what pasted as a kitchen.  In the main room was very old comfortable furniture, a pot belly stove and the biggest 4 poster bed we have ever seen made with 4 big tree posts.

We stayed with Bev & Steve for 10 days.  For the first 2-3 days Marg had a touch of gastro so did not venture too far from the "homestead".

Marg & Bev decided to have a day out without the boys and went to Berrima.  Berrima is a little village  lovely which reminded me of Margaret River 30 years ago and very much into tourism.  WE did not buy very much but had a lovely lunch and wandered around.  While we were there we went into Goulbourn ( where we saw the Archibald exhibition - We did not agree with the judges winner, neither did Steve but Bev did.  Steve took us for a look around the district and then loaned us his car to go out in.  Bev was not too well and so did not venture out too much.

We left Bev & Steve on Tuesday 16 July and went to Mittagong where Mike had all the tyres checked on the bus . (We got another puncture when we were  in Gundagai, just as well we did as the wheel linings were "had it" and were rubbing on the tubes so we would have had more trouble)

after leaving Mittagong we headed towards Moss Vale and then onto Wollongong, stopping overnight in a caravan park in Kangaroo Valley, the trip there was spectacular and Kangaroo Valley was gorgeous, so much so we decided to spend another night.  The little village was delightful, with lovely little cafes, galleries and specialty shops.  In one of the galleries we bought Chris birthday present - a bike chain worm.  After leaving Kangaroo Valley we headed towards Berrie and we have never been on such a steep road in all our life, it was a bit scary - it made Greenmount look like a dead flat road,  but the views and scenery were out of this world.

We arrived in Wollongong on Friday 18th July and stayed with our friend Wendy for 5 nights. Wendy is looking very well and everything has now been settled with Joe's estate.

We said goodbye to Wendy and Jessica and Chris (Wendy's son) on Tuesday 22nd, we delayed our departure a day as there was mass exodus from Sydney due to the Pope's visit.  However we skirted around Sydney (heading north) via Singleton where we spent the night.

We are now on our way towards Toowoomba to see our friends Bruce and Janice who have just come back from a trip to Canada and we have been told they have 4000 photos to show us.

I wont have that many photos as I keep forgetting to take some or either leave the camera behind in the bus.

Anyway till next time

Lots of love

God bless

Marg & Mike