Monday 6 October 2014
Friday 12 September 2014
On the road again! 8th September 2014
The house-sit we have just completed at Minbrie (near Cowell), SA has been an extremely enjoyable three months. It's the longest we have stayed in one place since we hit the road 7 years ago, but the time passed incredibly quickly. Kerry and Bill have a lovely property - typical of the area with lots of limestone rocks and local grasses, interspersed with little patches of wild wheat. Bill normally uses a ride-on mower to keep it under control, but he killed it just before they left. Rick decided not to let it grow wild, so he took the old hand mower and mowed and mowed and mowed. By the time Bill and Kerry got back, it was in the same beautiful condition as when they left.
In between mowing, he worked on the van. He managed to fix all the problems we had on the corner country trip as well as replace all the existing white cotton flyscreens (Kedron owners will know what I mean) with black fibreglass micro-mesh, designed to keep out all the little bugs. That was a big job and the van windows now look great, and, even better, do the job of keeping out the bugs properly! Yay!!
We left Minbrie on Monday 8 September after enjoying a couple of lovely meals with Bill and Kerry. After a stop at Whyalla to stock up the fridge and pantry, we spent the night at Port Augusta. The Shoreline Caravan Park is a Top Tourist park and is quite a reasonable spot. At the time we arrived in Port Augusta, there was a crazy wind storm blowing, initially out of the north. Dust, dust and more dust. So we plugged into power, put a bucket under the sink outlet, turned on the A/C and retired into the van. Got a reasonable nights sleep despite the rocking and rolling of the van (caused by the wind I might add!!).
After a leisurely breakfast on Tuesday, we left Port Augusta intending to stay at Melrose. This is a lovely area, situated at the foot of Mount Remarkable and surrounded by wheat and canola paddocks. We have stayed here many times since the late '70's camping in everything from a tent to a caravan and have some wonderful memories attached to the area.
This time we are staying in the Melrose Showgrounds, but there is also a caravan park which offers good powered camping as well as a great unpowered area on the other side of the creek.
Wouldn't you know it though, after we got ourselves nicely set up here for a few days, a cold front came through the area and nearly blew us off the mountain. We ended up having to pack up the awning to prevent damage. Blasted weather. However, as of today, we have blue skies, green grass, yellow flowers, lots of birds and quiet surroundings. What more could a person ask for?
Melrose is now part of a thriving network of walking and biking tracks which traverse from the tip of the Fleurieu Peninsula right up to the Flinders Ranges. These tracks comprise the Heysen Trail and the Mawson Track.
The following photos of Melrose were taken from Joe's Monument, which is one of the local memorials, situated behind, and up the hill from the Melrose Caravan Park.
In between mowing, he worked on the van. He managed to fix all the problems we had on the corner country trip as well as replace all the existing white cotton flyscreens (Kedron owners will know what I mean) with black fibreglass micro-mesh, designed to keep out all the little bugs. That was a big job and the van windows now look great, and, even better, do the job of keeping out the bugs properly! Yay!!
We left Minbrie on Monday 8 September after enjoying a couple of lovely meals with Bill and Kerry. After a stop at Whyalla to stock up the fridge and pantry, we spent the night at Port Augusta. The Shoreline Caravan Park is a Top Tourist park and is quite a reasonable spot. At the time we arrived in Port Augusta, there was a crazy wind storm blowing, initially out of the north. Dust, dust and more dust. So we plugged into power, put a bucket under the sink outlet, turned on the A/C and retired into the van. Got a reasonable nights sleep despite the rocking and rolling of the van (caused by the wind I might add!!).
After a leisurely breakfast on Tuesday, we left Port Augusta intending to stay at Melrose. This is a lovely area, situated at the foot of Mount Remarkable and surrounded by wheat and canola paddocks. We have stayed here many times since the late '70's camping in everything from a tent to a caravan and have some wonderful memories attached to the area.
This time we are staying in the Melrose Showgrounds, but there is also a caravan park which offers good powered camping as well as a great unpowered area on the other side of the creek.
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Mount Remarkable viewed from Melrose Showgrounds |
Wouldn't you know it though, after we got ourselves nicely set up here for a few days, a cold front came through the area and nearly blew us off the mountain. We ended up having to pack up the awning to prevent damage. Blasted weather. However, as of today, we have blue skies, green grass, yellow flowers, lots of birds and quiet surroundings. What more could a person ask for?
Melrose is now part of a thriving network of walking and biking tracks which traverse from the tip of the Fleurieu Peninsula right up to the Flinders Ranges. These tracks comprise the Heysen Trail and the Mawson Track.
The following photos of Melrose were taken from Joe's Monument, which is one of the local memorials, situated behind, and up the hill from the Melrose Caravan Park.
Friday 18 July 2014
June - July 2014 House-sitting at Minbrie, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia
Minbrie is a quiet farming locality about 20kms north-west of Cowell on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula. Cowell is well known for the quality of its fresh oysters as well as a number of producing jade outcrops in the area. More information at District Council of Franklin Harbour - Cowell.
The property we are looking after is owned by Bill and Kerry and we are living in their home, which is a renovated old farm-house made of the local stone. They've done a lovely job with the reno, and the house is comfortable and snug.
The Eyre Peninsula is nice and green through the winter, but come summer it can be a dry and dusty spot. Bill and Kerry's property is nestled in the Minbrie Range in a small valley and is sheltered from the worst of the winds - and boy, does it blow! We've had several low pressure areas pass by, and sometimes feel like all the roofs are about to blow off. But we've had no problems at all, Bill has obviously made sure that everything is secure, and even the chooks are safe and secure. We have plenty of rain-water, as well as bore-water for the veggie garden. Wht more can a person want?
We will be here until about 6 September before we head off for parts unknown. Still in SA, but as yet have made no serious decisions as to where. After the trials and tribulations of getting the van fixed (and cost!) we are in head down and saving mode, but it's all going well.
The property we are looking after is owned by Bill and Kerry and we are living in their home, which is a renovated old farm-house made of the local stone. They've done a lovely job with the reno, and the house is comfortable and snug.
The Eyre Peninsula is nice and green through the winter, but come summer it can be a dry and dusty spot. Bill and Kerry's property is nestled in the Minbrie Range in a small valley and is sheltered from the worst of the winds - and boy, does it blow! We've had several low pressure areas pass by, and sometimes feel like all the roofs are about to blow off. But we've had no problems at all, Bill has obviously made sure that everything is secure, and even the chooks are safe and secure. We have plenty of rain-water, as well as bore-water for the veggie garden. Wht more can a person want?
We will be here until about 6 September before we head off for parts unknown. Still in SA, but as yet have made no serious decisions as to where. After the trials and tribulations of getting the van fixed (and cost!) we are in head down and saving mode, but it's all going well.
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| HMAS Whyalla - built in Whyalla and named after Whyalla |
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| Bill and Kerry's rig - ready to hit the road |
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| Front view of the renovated farm-house |
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| The property and house from up the hill |
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| The property and house from up the hill |
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| Our across the road neighbours |
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| Red - posing like a movie star |
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| Our lovely little egg-layers |
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| Outside entertainment area - with camp fire, combustion stove, BBQ - everything one needs for a civilised camp |
Sunday 15 June 2014
Back in Port Augusta, SA
And now we are back! We've had a week house-sitting in Cowell while waiting for our new fridge (yes NEW!) to arrive.
The news was not good after installation of the new "black box". Fridge still would not work. After more phone calls, investigations and swearing (at himself for making the black box assumption), the tech told us that we were up for a new compressor - about $1200 plus labour, gas and all the little bits!
Whilst the tech had been investigating, so had we. We found a good price on a new Vitrifrigo, same size but updated model and the delivery price wasn't too horrendous. All up, about $2300 for a new fridge. So, quick decision - new fridge ordered. Hence, the trip to Cowell and back.
Tomorrow is installation day and we are both praying that 1) it goes in easily - apparently the door will need removing and 2) that it works.
As far as the house-sit is concerned, it's all good. More about that later on.
The news was not good after installation of the new "black box". Fridge still would not work. After more phone calls, investigations and swearing (at himself for making the black box assumption), the tech told us that we were up for a new compressor - about $1200 plus labour, gas and all the little bits!
Whilst the tech had been investigating, so had we. We found a good price on a new Vitrifrigo, same size but updated model and the delivery price wasn't too horrendous. All up, about $2300 for a new fridge. So, quick decision - new fridge ordered. Hence, the trip to Cowell and back.
Tomorrow is installation day and we are both praying that 1) it goes in easily - apparently the door will need removing and 2) that it works.
As far as the house-sit is concerned, it's all good. More about that later on.
Tuesday 3 June 2014
Waiting in Port Augusta
So, now we wait. We arrived in Port Augusta on Thursday 29 May in time to visit the fridge mechanic who had been recommended by Kedron. After doing his own checking and prodding of the fridge, his diagnosis was that he was almost certain the problem was the control box. He would need to order one in, so we arranged for two (just in case!). Since then we've been involved in cleaning, mending and washing. Thank the lord I have my own machine, else I would have spent a fortune on the washing machines.
If all goes well, we are hoping to hear from Glen, the fridge mech. today. Keeping fingers crossed.
Thursday 29 May 2014
2014 KOG Corner Country Trip
Day 0 - 11 Kedrons @ Tibooburra, NSW
All ready to hit the road
Day 1 - Tibooburra to Cameron Corner
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| Stopped for equipment check and coffee |
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| Not to mention the obligatory fire-wood gathering |
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| Impressive sight on the road |
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| Settled in @ Cameron Corner |
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| The importance of Cameron Corner |
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| The importance of Cameron Corner |
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| The importance of Cameron Corner |
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| Desert Country |
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| And here we had the Cane-toads versus the Cockroaches (State of Origin Rugby League for the un-initiated) |
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| Sun setting on a Koggle of Kedrons |
Day 2 - 3 Innamincka, SA
on the banks of the Cooper Creek for 2 nights - good chance to try to clean up some of the dust
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| Cooper Creek - a reasonable amount of water |
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| Cooper Creek |
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| Cooper Creek |
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| Kedrons camped on the Innamincka Town Common |
Day 4 Innamincka to Haddon Corner
The original plan was to drive to Birdsville via the Cordillo Downs Road, but due to some overnight rain north of Innamincka, the decision was made to take the slightly longer road through Haddon Corner.
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| Coffee stop |
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| Nobody mentioned the sandhill!! |
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| No problems - easy peasy |
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| Woops - 2 sand-hills |
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| Made it! |
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| Sunset over the desert |
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| Rainbow Serpent east of Birdsville |
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| Very handy wee stop! |
In Birdsville we discovered that not only did we have some internal cupboard damage from previous days, we also had a dead fridge. Rick, Gordon and Nev spent some time testing and prodding the fridge to no avail. Gordon has had experience of this kind of stoppage with the Vitrifrigo compressor fridge and suggested that the electronic control box was the culprit. Possibly it was, but no-one in Birdsville was going to be able to install a new box.
By this stage, our fridge and frozen goods had been distributed between our own Engel, and a number of other van owners. The fridge itself was sealed to the gunnels with gaffer tape (oh! and we discovered at the same time that the hinge holding the top and bottom doors to the fridge had also come adrift). To say that the levels of stress in our little home were reaching critical mark was putting it mildly.
Long story short - despite the fact that we were enjoying the company of the other Kedron owners, we weren't really enjoying the travel all that much - too far and too fast for the conditions in our humble opinion. Hence our decision to remove ourselves from the convoy at Mungerannie and head directly for Port Augusta to get the fridge fixed and the van cleaned. Definitely made the right decision and we felt better just for making it.
Friends Gordon and Chris decided they would not let us travel alone on such remote roads and kept us company until we reached Lyndhurst. Their company and friendship was a god-send and gave us a huge boost emotionally. At that point, they returned to catch the convoy at Coward Springs. At the time of writing we have not heard how that went.
Lake Harry on the Birdsville Track
These are the remnants of a failed date-farming venture
Maree, SA
Flinder Ranges, SA
So green, this is an amazing sight
Monday 19 May 2014
Head WEST young man! May 2014
Pelican’s Rest Caravan Park, St George, QLD
Allan Tannock Weir, Cunnamulla, QLD
Lake Bindegolly, near Thargomindah
Lovely spot, the lake is dry in this portion, but on the other side of the park there is apparently plenty of water. It was a good overnight spot in the company of lots of very friendly bush flies.
Wilson River Campground, Noccundra Hotal, QLD
Here we caught up with a couple of Kedron owners who were also participating in the Corner Country trip. The next leg is to Tibooburra to meet up with the other 8 vans.
Plenty of water in the river and lots of birdlife. And lots more very friendly flies!! This is where the anti-fly head coverings come into play.
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