Trying to update.

Well here we are at Uluru, Ayers Rock to  me and loving it. We have had a really busy week with little to no time for the computer. Sorry about that everyone. So here goes with an up date from day one.

Day 2 we left Adelaide later than we anticipated due to the late arrival of one of the Motorhomes. We had one ready so packed that up with what we could and got that one organised, unpacked my car and than took the cars over to the Adelaide airport for long term parking. First giggle fest of the trip, signs everywhere to saying that the long term parking was full so proceed to overflow parking, well that took us around and around the round about, into the staff parking area, Nita 4wd to get out of there, I had to reverse up and then some poor guy had to back up to let me out. I then had a brain wave, ahhhh the weekend has just finished so I am sure there will parking there so in we went and found parking. We laughed to the bus back to the terminal to pick up a taxi to go back to the MH(motorhome), the line was as long as all get out but seemed to be moving quick enough, we thought about walking back, but then decided against it. So back to the MH and quickly packed stuff into the second one and off we went. Ok second giggle fest, I had no idea how to drive a semi auto car, just as well Blair was in the front seat and could instruct me on how to do it, got lost but all turned out well and off we went under Blair's expert navigation skills.
We travelled to a stop just outside of Pt Wakefield to have lunch. All good until I got locked in the toilet of the MH, Nita laughed so much she almost peed herself, finally I was released and we continued. Next disaster, there was no power in Nita's MH, rang back to Maui, and they were sending somebody out to see what it was, however we waited so long finally Nita worked out that the 12V had tripped itself and she reset it and we were off again. Umm that was until I could not get my MH to work. It would not start, great, rang Maui again and it turned out that I had turned the thing off in gear and in a VW one cannot do that. So after instructions and me getting a little up tight with it all we were away. On our way to Port Augusta.We decided to book  into a Caravan Park for the night as we had to charge up batteries and just get use to everything. Booked into the Big4, spotlessly clean, and really quiet and well set up. The two boys cooked dinner on the BBQ, we cleaned up and off to bed. Well that turned out to be a drama also, we had no idea how to make the bed from the table in Nita's MH. We scoured the CP for another one the same as hers and found a lovely gentleman who helped up with some little tips on different things and put the bed together for Geordan. At last sleep. It had certainly been an eventful day. All was good and we were looking forward to the next day. The kids were good and were tired and slept well.
I am having trouble uploading pics at present so will try again tomorrow night. Wait for more encounters with the intrepid travellers.


Eating lunch just out of Pt Wakefield

Trying to update again.

We are at Uluru at present. Well Ayers Rock to me, and it is wonderful. It is like being back home again. There is somthing  magic about this place, a calmness even amongst the chaos of a full camping ground. So maybe I will start with a backwards blog this time. I have started to update three times now and it has not worked so will try again this morning, maybe the computer will feel better after a sleep also.
We arrived yesterday around lunchtime and after deciding that all the Grandies needed was a rest we spent the afternoon sitting around talking and watching the colourful parade of fellow travellers arrive and set up camp. There are certainly many ways to travel and see this wonderful country. All very interesting and there are so many hired motorhomes on the road seems everybody has a budding grey nomad waiting inside to be released.
Yesterday we travelled from Erlunda to Uluru via the Lasseters Highway. Wonderful, we got off to an early start and watched the countryside go by, with huge eagles having breakfast on fresh prey, cattle in the distance and hawks being very busy. At around o'clock we decided that a free camp area was the place to take a break for a cuppa and let the kids set of some energy and steam with a game of footy.
It was a good break but of course we had to move on to the Rock. Driving through the country, we started to notice the landscape really change, surprising for no rain there is a lot of foliage out there, but then it changed to a blackened mess. Red sand hills, and dead black trees, there had been a large fire go through this area for miles on end. It was an eerie feeling to be driving through the country like that. Of course I was waiting for the sight of the first monlithic rock that appears on the horizion, Soraya,

Day 1, Adelaide.

Well we are finally on our way. After almost forgetting the meat this morning and having breakfast at McDonalds we left Mt Gambier. It was an uneventful trip to Keith, one that has been taken many times before, so a comfort stop at Keith, and something to eat and drink again before heading up the Dukes Highway to Adelaide.
In Nita's car I think it was fairly quiet with Luke sleeping most of the way after working late last night and Geordan is a pretty quiet girl anyways. In Sharon's car it was once again fairly quiet with Blair watching a movie and Soraya playing games on her phone. The traffic was heavy with people leaving Adelaide for the school holidays I assume and we started to see some football traffic catching up with us, from Melbourne.
Next stop Tailem Bend, this is where things started to get interesting, when I decided to get my purse and could not find it. I thought I had left it in Keith and then would have to return to hopefully retrieve it, but no, thank goodness for Soraya, she found it behind a box in the back seat. Heart settled again and after some discussion we decided to continue on into Adelaide as there really wasn't anyone that hungry.
A good run into the city and to the motel on Anzac Highway. Cars unpacked and then off to Harbour Town for some shopping and lunch. This afternoon was spent with the kids not too happy with their Grandy because she would not let them go for a swim. My thoughts it was too cold and really I did not want to have a pile of wet clothes to cart off tomorrow. So really a quiet afternoon and evening will be spent ready for the trip ahead of us.
Looking forward to hitting the road tomorrow and exploring the country between here and Pt Augusta.



 

Here are the motley crew on our first day at the motel. The first two are of Nita and then Sharon with the kids. The last picture is of the kids trying to make me feel guilty because I won't let go for a swim, so we will just sit around and look really sad, umm it did not work.

Count down really on now.

Just over a week to go before we head off. The trip is becoming real now and the excitment is building. The spare bed is beginning to look like a thrift shop with all sorts of bits and pieces on it ready to pack. The big thing is to try and think of things that we may need and then not to overdo it too much.
Nita and I have started with the shopping of non-perishables and trying to think ahead. This week is going to go in a flash with trip preperations and doing the normal things that have to tended to at home.
The weather is looking great up north and it will make a lovely change from the coldness of the South East.
The kids are excited and are talking about what they might want to do and see and because they have never been up that way before it is all going to be very new to them and I really hope interesting. I am sure it will be a trip they will not forget and neither will the Grandmothers.
Full steam ahead now.

Only 2 weeks to go.

We are on the countdown now. 15 sleeps to go before we head off on our adventure. The clothes are being sorted, the menu still to be planned completely, and the excitement is building.
Having been away last weekend on a mini touring weekend with a friend from Melbourne, I am so looking forward to hitting the road in the Motorhome. This will certainly be a test for me, as far as if I think I will be able to hack being on the road full time. I know travelling with my cousin and 4 teenagers will be different from travelling on my own, I believe it will still give me a  little insight into life in a MH and on the road.
Oh it is my dream to sell up and take on the grey nomad lifestyle full time. This has been a dream, planning, investigating and salivating at others adventures for nearly 12 months now. So hopefully it will not be too long before it all comes to fruitition.