Starting up the centre

After Port Lincoln we travelled up the centre of Eyre Peninsula. Now we are really starting up the centre of Australia. First stop was Woomera. It is the largest test and evaluation range in the world. Tracking, observation, measurement and record of performance of missiles bombs etc was vitally important as well as dangerous and this combine with national security is mainly why Woomera was out of bounds for many years and a ‘mystery’. Outer atmospheric research as well as hypersonic research is vitally important today looking towards future aviation and space missions and satellites. A fascinating place but outside the museums though there is nothing to recommend the town to visitors. We couldn't wait to start our BCA work TA Roxby Downs. We had no idea of just what to expect here.

Coffin Bay Photos

Dawn at Port Gibbon

A picture paints a thousand words.

Ports, bays and beaches galore

After our lovely rest stop in Port Augusta we moseyed on down the coast road of the Spencer Gulf. First stops were Lowly Point with its lighthouse and Stinky Bay just north of Whyalla. It was low tide and the area is so flat that you can see lots of low lying flat areas in False Bay and other areas further south of Whyalla. In Whyalla, we expected to do some sightseeing but were disappointed on several levels: the proposed bike trip around the wetlands doesn’t work out as the wetlands are still being developed and are incomplete. The shipyard/museum didn’t look much so we passed on by and so forth. So we continued down to Cowell where the caravan parks were booked out . We found a site at what appears to be in a showground, but you had to be fully self sufficient which was OK except for that we still had to pay for the privilege of parking there. Blow me down, I don’t mind paying for something if I get something in return for it but there was no toilet or shower facilities. There wasn’t even any shade or grassy area to park in. So what was the charge for??? So we just kept going down the highway until we came onto the next campsite which was on the beautiful Port Gibbon. The sunrises here are spectacular, not that many people were up at 6.30am to witness them first hand.
One thing that surprised me here was the depth of the seaweed on the beach; it was up to 5 feet high in some places and for miles along in one direction. Also the march flies are bad here, though Tony M’s homemade insect repellent works wonders. There was lovely fresh water on tap. We stayed here for 2 nights and we used our solar shower water bags for the first time - not bad, it is certainly hot enough! There is a ‘beer garden’ area set up under some trees where a lot of the guests come in the afternoon to chat and mingle. Once again we made some wonderful friends esp in Bill & Dawn who we hope to meet up with again in about 4 weeks when we both realized we will be heading up the Centre at roughly the same time. We also received many suggestions in what to see and where to stay at various places along the way. I am starting to take a notebook with me everywhere as you never know when someone has a gem to pass on. Soon it was time to head further south to more bays and such, Arno Bay & Tumby Bay are 2 more worth mentioning.

Go Go Go .... at long last

The sparking waters

False Start

After a false start on Saturday 13th March 2010, we were finally off and away just after lunch on Monday 15th March. The false start was due to one of the trailer brakes locking on. Thankfully we were less than 20 km from home. So after trying to repair it on the road unsuccessfully we turned around and carefully came home to buy a new unit which Bob had to go to Sydney to pick up first thing on Monday morning. (Thanks Mark for all your help).

Junee

We spent the first 3 nights in Junee (near Wagga) with Bob's cousin, Evert and his darling wife, Willie. She introduced me to Line Dancing. What a blast!

Hay

From Junee we went west through Narranderra to Hay. We stayed at Sandy Point Reserve which is a beautiful free campsite right on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River. This is a great spot for families with BBQs, easy walking tracks, swimming and canoeing at this spot. It had rained heavily just weeks beforehand and the mosquitoes were out in force once the sun starting setting. I really didn't want to know just how many bites I had but it was well over 23 before I gave up counting. After a quick visit to the local shearing shed, we went straight onto Mildura.

Perry Sand Hills

Mildura

An early morning start the next morning saw us climbing the Perry Sand Hills just outside Wentworth and then a quick peek at the Darling River and Murray River junction, however we missed the turnoff and decided not to backtrack with the Robbiebago on the back.

Burra

Burra Copper Mine

So onwards ever westwards, this time to spend the night in Burra which is a great little town with a rich Copper mining history. We attended the local Anglican Church in Burra, which was our first experience in a high church, They sang a few familiar hymns and the sermon was great. Before moving on, we visited the old copper mine and gobbled up some history as well as the town lookout.

Port Augusta

Finally we reached Port Augusta via Jamestown and Port Pirie late on Sunday afternoon. We'll stay here and rest for a few days before moving on south towards Port Lincoln.

Crossing the Darling River by ferry

Ready Set....Set....Set...

The reclining lounge in the slideout is opposite the dining area

I got the idea of the title of this post from a sermon our senior minister did at the end of January. He was talking about "what you do next is important." He was leading us to think of making the most of our time, each and every one of the 365 days in the year.
To think about where are we going now, this year and even 10 years from now. He pointed out that churches in the western world are in the ready, set...set...set mode, where we train and train and plan but not actually get going. He wants to challenge us to change that trend and get going.

Well that sort of made me think of our life and especially our big trip. We hoped and then planned to travel in the future. We made inquiries of what and how. We decided to make the Robbiebago for the trip. We had to wait for the right time as far as family and the business is concerned, So we made do with smaller excursions and make minor adjustments while we waited for other things to fall into place. We looked up magazines and viewed some travel DVDs. We talked to other travellers.

We made sure the Robbiebago was set up right and the LandCrusier readied. (I don't know much about vehicles but this one has been tuned, tweaked, new tyres added etc, etc in preparation for the big trip). We have bought some extra goodies that will make life easier on the road or just plain fun like some folding bikes, night vision binoculars, an awning etc.

Looking at the Dining area with the slideout open

Now we are just about ready to pack the clothes and the perishables and hit the road. The pantry items, linen, games, the few winter clothes we just might need, and of course my craft stuff is in the Robbiebago already. It is amazing how much we need to take (or rather we think we need to take. LOL) and how much of all this we can actually fit in and still have some room left over.

So now it is not long before we actually can add that last word to the title. Here are a couple more photos of the interior. It will most likely never look this clean again! Our comfy lounge and dining chairs are opposite each other with the kitchen you can see in the background that goes right across the van with the entry behind the little wall you can see behind the dining chair.

Preparation for the big trip

Wow, Just 4 weeks to go and now I am starting to get excited. We have joined both BCA and MMM which are both ministries that allow nomads to give various assistance to bush churches and ministries across the country. As Rob's skills are broad especially in the building trades  and practical hands on stuff etc, I am sure that we will find areas that could use his help. My skills are more general, I can teach crafts and and I like hospitality. I am not so sure that I will be particularly useful but I can be an assistant for Rob if he needs me if there is not much call for my limited services, though I gather that some women are just happy to have female company and talking is something I can do. :)

I've swept & cleaned out the Robbiebago. Now to work out the food, clothing, miscellaneous bits & pieces and most important (to me) is my crafts. I want to be sensible and take all that I need but at the same time, I don't want to take too much nor do we want to take on too much weight. I work best to a list - actually lots of lists! I have a list for the pantry, another for my crafts and then there's still more for clothing and equipment needed. I even a checklist for securing the Robbiebago ready for take off. Rob will  have his own list at least in his head of the tools and stuff he wants. Again it is a matter of practicality especially as we intend to help out at churches along the way.

With my papercrafts, I am trying to limit it to making explosion boxes (my latest passion) and just the cards that use the cards left over from the boxes. I am astounded still how much craft stuff I want to take. Somehow I will have to cull this down significantly. I also will be hand quilting a cot quilt for my sister's first baby. And I am toying with the idea of a hand smocked dress for my grand daughter. I have thought that if I get bored or really get stuck later in the trip, I can ask one of my daughters to post me additional supplies to the next major town.

One of my friends once said to me that her husband wont let her take her crafts with her. My immediate response was 'if i can't take my crafts, then I am not going!' Thankfully that has never been an issue, Rob is a great encourager of my crafts. He knows how much pleasure I get from it. He is even encouraging me to sell my crafts at markets along the way. I haven't done that before. he even bought a marque gazebo for me to take, isn't he sweet? However that comment did make me think of how exclusive of Rob my craft creating time can be and I endeavour to be a lot more aware of his needs, whether it be talking, a walk, a game or whatever. Mostly though I create early in the mornings whilst he is sleeping and again later at night if Rob is watching TV and I am not interested in the same show or in the car whilst he is driving. (I am one of those lucky ones that can read, sew, cut out pictures, even casual water colour my stamped images whilst being driven). Rob does occasionally have to draw my attention to the scenery or I would miss out on stuff around me, when I am getting wrapped in what I am doing.

Seeing this great country that God has created & meeting people is what this trip is all about! Bring it on!