Rob’s new hobby – a little history first

The Fuso just made it across 4,380km (2,730 miles)

Rob has bought himself a bus to convert to a motorhome. It is a 7m long Fuso. He has wanted to convert a bus into a motorhome since way before we started to build the caravan. The original idea was  for a full size bus. However, I put the brakes on that idea after many discussions, due mainly to the expense of buying a bus and let alone the cost of the subsequent conversion. Horrible person that I am. My thinking was that a person only takes a few weeks holidays in a year, so why spend so much money for something that depreciates, it would be just as cheap to drive and book motel rooms each year! Which was what we were going to do for holidays from now on. Yeah Right!

First a little bit of our history

I never envisioned spending more than a few weeks at a time in a RV. Rob had this dream of a big trip travelling around Australia. He proceeded to make our caravan which was a much cheaper option than a big bus, with my blessings. We were looking at retirement in 5 or 10 years and I really don't like holidays in a hotel even resorts. I was used to people actually talking to me and being outgoing and friendly. We weren't the pub or clubbing sort. So after a few holidays in resorts, admittedly in some marvellous locations, I knew that holidays in an RV of some sort was more suited to our personalities.

Caravaning is 'our thing'

We couldn't get a caravan made just the way we wanted, mainly to remove the boxy dinettes and replace them with recliner chairs. Even the major companies wouldn't touch it as the dinettes "are part of the structural strength of  a caravan."
So the concept of the wonderful Robbiebago was conceived. After a long 'pregnacy" of 10 months our big baby was born and we took it out for a trial run. First was a trial run on a weekend trip to a mate’s yard at the beautiful seaside town of Dalmeny on the South Coast of NSW, where I proceeded to blowup the cook top on my first meal and then 4 week trip to South Australia. You can read about our adventures and my misadventure in this early post!

I could handle 4 weeks no problem. Rob had made our caravan with 2 slide outs opposite each other in the lounge room/dinning room and there was no chance of getting cabin fever. However I wasn't so sure about 6 months in a caravan, even with the marvelous slide outs, but it is something Rob has always wanted to do and I am game to try anything at least once. As I said before I can't have it my way all the time. (Shh... don't tell him that I admitted that though!)

The Robbiebago Caravan

The trip  of a lifetime

Northern Territory

March 2010  was the start of the "big" trip. We quickly went across to Port Augusta, had a short trip down Spencer Gulf before heading up the Centre of Australia, taking in such places as Uluru, Katherine Gorge, Alice Springs, Darwin, Kakadu and our epic trip across the Aboriginal land Arnhem Land etc. We started our trip north with some volunteer work at Roxby Downs

Western Australia

Going west from NT for most of us travellers means going through Kununarra. There are just too many places to mention all of them here. However what I consider to be the highlights include the driving and walking around the Bungle Bungles, flying & jet boating over the The Horizontal Waterfalls, walking the picturesque Karajini National Park, swimming at  Ningaloo Reef, handling a sea hare at Monkey Mia, the magnificence of the famous Western Australia Wildflowers, seeing my first rodeo at Meekatharra  and the Pinnacles. We hadn't even started on Perth or south western WA let alone made our way back home and we had already been on the road for 9 months and we weren't ready to stay home just yet. We still had other places to see such as the food & wine heaven Margaret River area, Kalgoorlie and the Nullabour which were to take up another 3 months after a flight back home for Christmas and then flying back to continue our trip.

We loved being on the road

All up, it ended up being 15 months instead of the 6 month trip we had expected. We loved it all; the lifestyle, the travelling, the people we met everywhere and the volunteer work we did. Our wonderful Robbiebago caravan made it all possible. Not only did we have our our accommodation with us everywhere, but with the slide outs, it was roomy and we certainly never suffered from cabin fever even when confined indoors! With such extremely comfortable recliner lounge & chairs inside, we had to make ourselves get out to socialize with the other travellers, since this is a huge part of the attraction of caravaning for us.

Now you understand

Somewhere along the way, we became addicted to seeing our marvellous country and meeting the people along the way. We were going to keep travelling as long as our health and budget allowed us. We were no longer likely to just disappear into the blue yonder for just a couple of weeks in a year.
Hence when on our recent trip around Queensland, Rob got to talking and admiring some of the motorhomes we saw and the seed of an idea started to germinate once again. Hence we ended up buying a bus to do up. So come follow this new project as we rip the chairs out, gut it and start to convert a humble bus into a motorhome suited to our dream of travelling around Australia.

Albany

The beach at Cozy Corner

Robbiebago in the campsite at Cozy Corner. The beach is just behind that hedge you can see behind the van

The beautiful coastline of Albany and surrounds started for us with a couple of days at a wonderful beach side free camp spot called Cozy Corner just about 15 km east of Shelly Beach and 30 km west of Albany. It is a very popular place for camping and we were lucky to get such a spot.

Looking down on Shelly Beach

We enjoyed some quiet walks and time out in general and of course a swim and as mentioned in the previous blog entry it included the drive to Shelly Beach with its clear blue waters in 2 distinct colours, azure blue and turquoise. Of course the young hunks hang gliding off the top didn’t detract from the scenery at all.

The Robbibago surrounded by roos at Kalgan River, Albany

Bob petting the 2 White faced Kangaroos

After a few days in a semi paradise we moved onto Albany to the Kalgan River Campsite which boasts a 9 hole golf course, direct river access for boats and dozens of kangaroos including some unusual white faced kangaroos. We came here to meet up with friends, Helen & Tony whom we had met back in Bunbury. Lo and behold their next door neighbour at the park are Sandra and Laurie whom we had met back at the Big Brook Arboretum near Pemberton. Tony offered to teach Bob how to fish. So when the guys went off for a day of fishing in Tony’s boat, us girls went shopping as most of us needing warmer clothes for the approaching winter. Well Bob caught the first fish and then the last one , which was a poisonous blow fish, and nothing in between. He is very good at feeding the bait to the fish rather than hooking them. Still Tony & Laurie shared their spoils with us at dinner at night that Helen and Sandra cooked up for us all.

We attended the Church of Living Water in nearby Oyster Bay with another couple from the caravan park whom we had befriended. It was a very friendly contemporary Anglican Church though they still follow a modern Prayer Book service and the minister dressed up in the robes. We were made to feel very welcome there and were invited to stay for coffee afterwards. They have a very healthy attendance though there is still a bit of a gap of youth age kids but not completely absent. They have a very talented worship leader who led on acoustic guitar and a keyboard and a bass player too! (There is a drum kit in the background but no player this morning!)

The waves pounding at The Gap

Almost next door to The Gap is the Natural Bridge

We also did some sightseeing trips around Albany including the Gap and the Natural Bridge and some beaches in the vicinity. The blowhole was a disappointment; it was a lot of noise but no spray. Tthe rocks surrounding it were not even damp. I kindly called it Puff, however Bob had a more impolite name for it that I can’t mention here. The Dog Rock is visible anytime you go into town. We finished with a visit to the War Memorial on top of a hill which is also a great place as a lookout over the town.

One of the many beaches around Albany

Another one of the many beaches around Albany

Sandra taught me how to crochet. I am starting a lap rug for my first project. I can’t make any more explosion boxes as I have no more room to store them in the Robbiebago. So this is what I will be doing whilst Bob does the driving from now on.

View from the Albany War Memorial over Albany's Port

View from the Albany War Memorial over Albany's beach

The Valley of the Giants

This place is so wonderful that it deserves a blog entry all of its own. It is certainly the biggest highlight of our time here. It is the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk. It would rate in my top 10 places of interest on this trip so far! The walk is not for those scared of heights, but it is oh so exciting and it is absolutely fantastic to be up at tree top height. Don't be alarmed as the whole bridge sways as you walk, it is meant to help you be aware that you are at tree top height!

 If you or your partner want to take the walk but the other can’t handle it, then go for a lovely stroll through the Tingle Forest walk at the same place. It is great too! The Tingle Trees are a type of Eucalypt that are indigenous to this very small area where they are susceptible to having a hollow interior mainly through bush fires but still growing healthily to extreme heights.

 Go there. I promise it is well worth the visit.

Big Brook Arboretum, Pemberton & the tall Karri & Tingle trees

The view from the front of the car as we drive through the forest trails - just gorgeous

The Gloucester Tree

We stayed at the camp grounds at Big Brook Arboretum just outside Pemberton in amongst many trees. From here we were able to visit the tall Karri trees. A drive through the forest trails is a beaut way to see the beauty of the area. We also visited the Gloucester Tree and the Bicentennial Tree, both of which one can climb. I did climb a bit of the Gloucester Tree just enough to get a photo. At least with the Gloucester Tree you climb almost upright. I didn't get far with the Bicentennial Tree – the gaps between the rungs are too wide and forward so you have to climb leaning forward and using your hands. It leaves you in a position where you are looking down constantly and it feels like you are going to fall through the rungs, and I don't generally get too scared of heights, so imagine how it would be for some people who do!

the lovely gentle Cascades

The mouth of a sucking lamprey fish - the middle is like a borer - urgh!

We also visited the Circular Pools, the Warren River and the Cascades which were still running even though it is quite low at present. This is one of the breeding places for the lamprey fish which is a sucking fish that bores and devours the flesh of other bigger fish... is this Australia’s answer to the piranhas??? We could see the baby lamprey fish but no way am I going in these waters....Scary!

The quiet reflections in the Warren River - can you see the dinosaur head?

The Western Rosella

Busselton

We stayed at Amblin Caravan Park, which is right on the beach. It is a small park, about 8km from town. We went into town for groceries and some sightseeing. The weather is hot here too and far too hot to walk the famous 1.8 long jetty at this time. We came back another day.

On day 2 we went for a drive via Donnybrook, which has this amazing public playground for kids. It is the biggest and best one I have seen full stop. We stop here for lunch under a lovely shady tree, sitting on the grass as it was much cooler there. We had planned to stop at a waterfall (which was dry) but there was no shade and the heat reflected back off the exposed rocks so we moved on. We had a marvellous couple of hours catching up with fellow caravaners, Kathy & John at a delightful cafe/quilting shop that was thankfully fully air conditioned, where surpruse, surprise I didn't buy anything, though I was sorely tempted!. On the Sunday I tried my luck at the local markets, but unfortunately did not sell much stuff this time. I think it was too ot for casual strolling and being tempted by all the marvellous crafts and items available for sale. Other regular market stall holders report it being a very slow day.

We had a lazy afternoon finishing off with a sunset walk along the wharf/jetty where we took some marvellous photos.

Bunbury

We spent 4 days at Bunbury in a caravan park just across the road from a beautiful sandy Koombana Beach. We took a day trip around the place, but other than beaches there is not a lot around here. We had a BBQ by the beach one evening and invited the caravan neighbours to join us and then went swimming in the bay.

I was hoping to see and swim with the dolphins we saw in the same bay the evening before whilst walking but it was not to be. Still it was lovely to cap the day with a night swim and with new friends.

By the way the camp ground is just behind the big tall building in this photo, right between the 2 bodies of water. You can just see the beach on the left. The next photo below shows it more close up with the water channel in the foreground. In the background you can see the mounds of sand that has been mined ready for shipping out. The  beach photo above is the Koombana Beach at sunset where we swam

The Pinnacles

What a wonderful place! The Pinnacles truly is wonderfully different. There are acres upon acres of sandy desert dunes interspersed with hundreds of pillars of limestone.

You can walk it or drive through it with lots of places to pull over for hopping out to take a closer look or to take photographs.

 

 Though it was very interesting, we were in and out of there within 2 hours. So we took a few detours on the way home, stopping past coast vistas, a lake with stromatolites. (We saw different types near Shark Bay) and then a drive around the small town of Cervantes.

Wild flowers and some drama

After leaving Geraldton, we free camped right alongside a seaweed covered beach at Cliff Head North where there were a million flies per person. It was so bad that no one wanted to sit outside until Happy Hour and even then it was a battle with the flies though thankfully with the cooling temperatures they mostly disappeared.

The next stop was the Western Flora Park near Eneabba which is owned by an amateur botanist and his guided wildflower walk came highly recommended. However we were unlucky in our timing as there was a bushfire burning nearby to which our guide was fire fighting and thus unavailable for the guided walk. So instead I went off and walked myself. At first, I thought there wasn’t much there but when I really looked there were heaps and I took 2 hours walking and taking photos. So if you aren’t interested in flowers, then you had better skip to the end to find out about our mini drama. The wildflower photos are mostly from the Western Flora Campsite. I tried not to give you too many wildflower photos but it is so hard to leave some out...yet I did leave out many!

The wild man amongst the wildflowers

Bushfire!

And our little drama???

Packing up to leave we noticed we had a bad burning smell. As there was a bush fire burning nearby and roads were closed off around us, it took a while to find the source which was inside the Robbiebago. A light wire near the fans cooling the fridge was burning almost to the point of catching alight. Thankfully it happened whilst we were still stationary and inside the van so that we were able to notice the burning smell – it could have just as easily happened whilst we were driving and thus gone un-noticed until there were flames. Bob isolated the current and removed the wire to be replaced at the next place with a larger wire and a smaller fuse put in place to prevent it happening again.

Geraldton, Western Australia

We arrive at Marjorie & Barton’s place which is a small sheep property just 20km out of town and they also run a Pet Cemetery there as a service for the community. We did some sightseeing and saw the HMS Sydney Memorial which is beautiful. It has a huge metallic dome made of some 642 seagulls, one for each sailor who lost his life on the Sydney which was damaged & was lost at sea during the war. (Actually the resting place was only just recently discovered in the last year or two.)

On Sunday we went to the 10am service at the Cathedral and then after the coffee after church we went onto a Quilt & Craft Show which is where I found a lovely necklace for Bob's Mum’s birthday. They have a good selection of quality crafts at the show - not just quilts. We were staying in Gero to help at the Seafarer’s Mission but as they don’t open until noon, we had lazy mornings.  We were working alongside the Chaplain Bill & his wife Jocelyn who runs the shop there. For once I worked more than Bob. We were to do some gardening tidying up but someone surprised Bill by doing it for him over the weekend, hence Bob did a few odd jobs whilst I worked with Jocelyn doing the stock take and recording it on the computer. We were surprised at one tiny shopping centre to run into Kathy and John, the couple we did a few camps sites together some time ago most notably the Cape Range National Park and Ningaloo. We all had so much to catch up on that we invited them to dinner where we had a grand time together.

A leaning tree right in town - that is how windy it can get here!

On our last night in Geraldton, we invited bart & Marjorie for a thank you dinner, and were given the opportunity to meet Richard, the minister from Wickham whom we had missed when we were passing through. It was great to meet him and hear about his work there and his life in and amongst aborigines there. Then on the morning we were to leave we had a quick reunion with the Kununarra ministry team, Garry, Glendon and Andrew. (There was a Synod being held in Geraldton over the next few days and many ministers and others were in town for the series of meetings.)