Narrabri 20/3/12 to 23/3/12

We're on the road again. On our way to Coonabarrabran leaving Narrabri where we were for 3 nights. One of the main attractions that we wanted to see was Sawn rock which was closed for works. We visited  CSIO Australian Telescope Science centre which has 6 big dishes each 22mtr across.  Could have been a lot better if there was somebody giving a guided tour. It was a self serve tourist attraction. With outdated videos.  We did get to see one of the dishes being re-positioned which was pretty cool.

We went to the local cattle sales. To show the boys. We learnt how the whole process works and that a decent size bull will cost you over $1000, we decided not to bid as we are already carrying a lot of weight. Also visited the local gaol museum.

We stayed at the local show grounds with the horses. Cost $14p/n as opposed to $60p/n in caravan park.  The showers weren't of the highest standard no lights or shower curtains and you had to make sure you left your thongs on. I think they also washed out the horses in there. Just kidding.

We saw the most amazing sunsets and sunrises as heaps of cloud around. Lots of bird life and horses and we even saw a hare. We would wake up in the morning to the horses training around the track. Wide open spaces it was like we were camping in the bush.

We met our first family on the road. Mike and Judy with Bryce 10yr and Tom 8yr they are from Adelaide and have been on the road since May 2011, we sat around watching the sunset last night talking about their travels so far and getting great ideas for our trip. The boys mucking around with the foot ball and watching a video together when it got dark.  A late one for all of us.

Dinner last night was take away Thai (pay day) cooked by the Poms at the local pub.  That was an experience in it's self. Especially talking to the locals while I waited until it was ready.

The boys filled the day in yesterday with playing cricket at the local cricket nets and time at the skate park.

I just remembered, on our way to Narrabri we came across some sheep being herded along the road. We had to slowly make our way through. Very funny watching them zig zag backwards and forwards across in front of us. We would have got through a lot quicker if they didn't keep following each other like sheep.

Showground entertainment

Cattle sales Narrabri

Cricket

Enjoying a red whilst watching the beautiful sunset

Tenterfield 17/3/12 to 20/3/12

We are just leaving Tenterfield where we have spent the last 3 nights. Lots happened. We climbed Bald Rock which is the largest granite formation in the Southern Hemisphere. Very steep. Hard work for the grown ups, kids practically ran up. Very impressive rock face and formations.

We checked out Captain Thunderbolts (bushranger) hideout. Which the boys got a real kick out of and they also experienced their first attack of leeches which they weren't so impressed with. There's also a famous Cork tree which was bought over here in a tin can by and English man in the 1800's. Absolutely huge now.  The bark is made of cork.

Tenterfield Saddlery which brought me to tears lots of history and a very old building 1870. Tenterfield favorite son, and one of Doug's favourite performer's Peter Allen gets a mention or too.

On our last day we visited one of Doug's friends who own a 248 acre farm 25 ks out of town. Lovely country hospitality. We spent about 31/2 hours there. Feeding their horses and eating wild blackberries. They took us for a drive around their property which borders a creek. The boys in the back of the Toyota which they thought was pretty cool. In the January 2011 floods, the creek that is 6ft deep normally was around 6mtrs deep. You can still see the  remnants of the destruction that a mass of water can cause.  Big trees uprooted and thrown about the creek bed. Their house used to be a bank and a phone exchange and their property has been a sheep farm and a tobacco farm. So lots of history. You can still see the tobacco barn and the shearing shed. Now it is a hobby farm with about 25 head of cattle and Boris the bull. The farm was the highlight of the day.

We visited the Railway Museum but the boys weren't that interested as it was well past lunch time.

The Famous cork tree

At the start of the climb up Bald rock

Jacob and Doug halfway up

We made it !

Thunderbolt's hideout

 Bruce and Anne's Farm in Tenterfield

The farm creek

We are loving our caravan, it is just perfect for us and in no time at all we have fully set up.

We are currently on our way to Narrabri.

Toowoomba 15/3/12 to 17/3/12

We have just spent 2 nights in Toowoomba making sure the van was all in order, stocking up on food and saying goodbye to Doug's folks. I didn't think all of the food would fit in the van. It did, but I must be careful when I open the cupboards and the fridge.

Kids have been great wanting to do their school work, don't know how long that will last though. They are also keen to write in their diaries of a night. Doug's folk's gave them an early birthday present of a camera each and lets just say the kids were more than excited about that and have been taking copious amounts of photos. 

We packed up in the fog and mist (typical Toowoomba weather) this morning and on the road by 8.30am heading for Tenterfield.. 

We have just been over taken by a semi trailer, while going up a hill. "Bloody caravaners"

The new camera's

Nate hard at school work

Doug's folks 

Toowoomba fog and mist

Kilcoy for lunch 14/03/12

We have just had our 1st stop, Kilcoy for lunch. But where do you eat when it is pouring rain? Why in the van of course! How cool is that. This is so good.

 Looks like I'm enjoying this blogging so it may be here to stay.

Jacob and Nathan say hi to all their friends who they are missing already.

We're on the road

Finally at 10.45am on 15th march 2012 we are on the road.   We have been up since 5am and started by taking out some stuff from the van.  Worried that it might be a little over loaded, but then proceeded to put more stuff that weighed twice as much in.  . There's just so much room in the cupboards, we have to fill them right?

The house has never looked so clean.
Currently driving into heavy rain I hope this isn't a sign of days to come.  

The family

The Brennan family. Kaitlin is going to be joining us at Ayers rock in June on her break from Uni.

One more day of work for Doug and Vicki. Yee har!! Then we have the weekend and Monday thru to Wednesday, while the boys are at school, to pack the van and try not to forget anything. Finally hitting the road on the 15th March for the trip of our life time.