Pies today

Well I didn't make the pies but my resident chef Brian did. While we were on our travels we picked up a pie maker at a garage sale for $10, so today was the day for trying it out, filling is chicken and veg, taste test at lunch gave it the thumbs up from me so now we have 8 pies in the freezer. I did step into the kitchen today and helped Thelma my Thermomix to make chicken soup, that has gone into the freezer for a colder day, which I think will be very soon.

Our car is in for repair, needs a new clutch, it has been making some really nasty noises the last couple of days, we are very thankful this happened on home ground and not while we were on the Nullabor. Our cars have been good to us, years ago we had a Holden Kingswood and we took a drive to Kataninng  and back, round trip of nearly 400k and when we drove home and  into our driveway the engine just stopped, died, we both thought at the time how good it was for it to happen at home and not on a country rd somewhere.

I have done some card making today but not finished yet so photos today are of the pies

Stampin up time

Well I didn't have time to craft while away so now home again, unpacked and sorted out I thought it time to get my Stampin up gear out.

I made this card after looking at Lisa Brown's website www.inkandinspirations.com  and used my new Hearts a Flutter stamp and die plus Stampin up designer paper, good to get back to creating and I hope to post a few more cards.

Home again

 Well here we are back in Albany, wonderful trip, best bits were Great Ocean Rd and the Murray river, loved both of those areas, we both feel we want to do more travelling and enjoyed the free or cheaper camp areas than caravan parks so we plan to update the car and van and make ourselves more self sufficient.

Today we have unpacked, washed, cleaned the van and the car is next, such a lot of dirt and sand we collect along the way.

We spent Sunday in Esperance taking it easy, took Bentley to the beach, he has missed the sand and water, after he had his run and swim he decided to climb up the groyne and that was no problem but getting down, no way was he going to jump down, so Brian had to clamber up and rescue him!!!!! 

Well this the end of the blog for now, I didn't get to craft as much as I thought but maybe next time, I have really enjoyed doing the blog and sharing with friends and family and will definitely be blogging on our next adventure, 

Help me!

Rescue on the way

Rescued xxxxxx 

More photos

Lunch spot on the Nullabor 

Getting close to Eucla and seeing the ocean

Campsite at Eucla

Sunset Eucla 

Campfire at Fraser range station

Campsite at Fraser range 

Couple of photos

Just a couple of photos taken on the Nullabor that shows how desolate it can be. First one taken at a lunch stop, second one take at Nullabor roadhouse 

Our travel time is coming to an end

Well we are coming to the end of travels, tonight we are in Esperance WA having traveled the Nullabor which is 1200k's long from Ceduna in SA to Norseman in WA with no towns in between just roadhouses for fuel and supplies. We did a shop in Ceduna and while in the supermarket I saw two aborigine girls about 5 years old pocket a packet of chewing gum each and I mean pocket they made sure it was deep in their pockets, so I said, sweetie you can't put that in your pocket before you have paid the lady, they looked shocked at this, what a funny rule, anyway they took them out of their pockets, walked away and then came back and put the chewing gum back, I think I did my bit for the shop lifting in Ceduna.  The first night we stopped in Penong about 70k out of Ceduna and caught up with Colin and Gael, we decided not to convoy together but just catch up along the Nullabor . Next day we travelled to Eucla going through the SA/WA border where we had to declare and hand over our veg and fruit also nuts in the shell and honey, the quarantine officer was very interested in our avan and asked more questions about it than the fruit and veg, so now until we reach Noresman we have no fresh fruit or veg. It was a lovely mild evening at Eucla but cold when we got up the next morning, the c/park was $20 and it cost a dollar to have a shower, you put your coin in and then the water flows and you go as quick as you can, usually plenty of time but because water is scarce here it has to be rationed.

After Eucla it was a long drive to Fraser Range Station about 600 k and we swapped drivers a few times on this stretch, we saw some great eagles really big but no photos, they were busy feeding on road kill and when travelling at 100k towing a van it's not easy to stop and they would have flew away once we stopped, we got to the station about 3.45pm caught up with Colin and Gael, had showers and then sat around the campfire, lovely spot and we much prefer these bush camps to caravan parks, here again it was $1 for showers, Gael and Colin decided to stay 2 nights and have a relaxing day but we decided to travel to Esperance, stopped at Norseman and they had a small market going so had a coffee and some hot donuts before heading to camp at Esperance where we will stay and have a relax.

Tea tonight is fish/steak, coleslaw and potatoes

I will post some photos tmw 

Moving on to Kimba and towards the Nullabor

We stayed an extra day at Spear Creek as it was so relaxing, went a walk with Gael and Colin who had recommended this place and then just a laze about afternoon, Brian and Colin talked cameras and got a few tips from each other. We had a campfire later and we had our favourite bacon and egg sandwich sat by the fire.

Today we travelled to Kimba which is the halfway point across Australia, not a very interesting drive, we are in a free camp spot in town at the Apex park, when we arrived it poured down, Gael and Colin were here so we had a cuppa in their van while the rain stopped, lovely van about 26ft, ensuite, comfy dinette, very nice and they are nice people too.

Tea tonight is going to be a cooked chicken that we are picking up from town later and vegies

Photos from our walk yesterday

Old mine shaft maybe

Moving on to Spear Creek

We had rain in the night but not a lot, slowly packed up today, not sure where we were heading but after speaking to fellow campers who recommended Spear Creek which is on the way to Port Augusta and is c/park at a sheep station we decided that was a good plan. Bentley decided to get himself dirty in the damp red soil that is around so he got told off and we had to wash his paws and made him sit in the van and stay!  We stopped in Burra for a coffee at a lovely bric brac shop before heading on our way, weather a bit wet and overcast but cleared as we travelled. Stopped at Orroroo and found a lovely picnic spot by a creek/pool and we had our lunch there, then Bentley decided he would go for swim!!!! He is a naughty mood today.

We arrived at Spear Creek about 3pm, a bit of a bumpy road in but great place, $23 a night for us seniors.

Had a cuppa with our neighbours and now my resident chef is in the camp kitchen cooking a roast chicken dinner for Mothers Day, I'm a lucky girl 😄😄😄

Bentley in trouble for getting dirty, would like to be out there getting in a mess 

Lunch spot where Bentley had a swim

Road into Spear creek and campsite 

Moving around

Our plan today was to camp at Clare, do some shopping at Woolies and then have a pub meal. When we got to Clare the caravan park was full! So, change of plans, as there were markets on in Clare we called there and bought the yummiest piece of Lumberjack cake  and we ate that with our cup of tea, then we headed to the shops, Cheap as Chips of course, this is the best Cheap as shop I know and then Woolies for supplies , took Bentley a quick walk and went to the middle pub for a $9.90  lunch, chicken tenderloins, chips and gravy for Brian and fish and chips for me, lovely salad bar too.

We then headed out and up to Burra to camp at the show grounds, $15@ night, one shower but enough toilets, so busy day, there is a campfire on the go so we will join for a while.

Well had a nice chat around the campfire, now time for easy tea, we bought some ciabatta bread and having that with bits and pieces 

Camp site at Burra show grounds

And another  lunch special 

Drive around and $9.90 lunch

Well Barry the caretaker came and sorted the washing machine last night and today we got the washing on the line, it looks like rain but its warm and sultry, I am sure SA would love some rain as its very dry.

We drove into the Barossa Valley and re visited a few towns we went through last year,  stopped for coffee in Nuriootpa, which is where Callum from Masterchef lives or did live, drove on to Anguston and then to Tanunda where we found a lovely hotel with $9.90 lunches and a very cheerful friendly waitress, sometimes people like that really make your day, she certainly made mine.

Back at camp the washing was dry and then time for showers, as I'm not very hungry tonight tea is scrambled eggs on toast with bacon.

Photos

Lovely church in Anguston which is an antique type place, visited here last year and enjoyed.

Our lunch special, barramundi and chips, salad 

Was really nice 

Leaving the Murray again

Definitely leaving the Murray river today, lots of discussion between the caretaker and fellow campers about the name of the fish we wre catching, caretaker says never heard of a Grunter, it must have been a silver perch and campers say no it was a Grunter or a Bream, we left them deciding who was right, all good fun.
Travelled to Waikerie where we had our morning tea by the river, Bentley must have sensed this was that last of the river stops and he went in for a swim!! He has never bothered about going in the river all the time we have camped along it, he was very pleased with himself, thought it was great fun and had a good run around before we could catch him.
We crossed the Murray by ferry and headed to Eudunda and had a bakery lunch before settling in Saddleworth which is around the Barossa Valley, we have camped at the show grounds with showers and toilets $20 a night, also a laundry and we are in dire need of a laundry, so I piled the washing in, put in my $3 but nothing happened, I rang the caretaker and I have to wait for him to arrive to get the machine going.
Tea tonight is Thelma's easy carbonara.
Photos
Morning tea stop where Bentley had a swim
Ferry across the Murray at Waikerie
Statue of Colin Thiele, author at Eurunda where we had lunch
Our camp at Saddleworth and the car having its first wash in two months

Doing not much on the Murray

Lovely day today, weather got warm midday but when your doing nothing it's good, went a walk, did some crocheting, talked to the neighbours, Bentley keeping well away from the chihuahua's, he is enjoying himself having a wander around and we have to find him, just nosing around someone's van, especially if they are cooking. We had the fish at lunch time and its name is Grunter, very tasty.
Will move on tomorrow but this has been a lovely spot.
Photos
Houseboat for sale, notice the garage type door, that's where you drive your car on !!
White cockatoos, they make a lot of noise
White cockies
I think more talking and drinking than fishing happening tonight

Still on the Murray

Well we are camped on the Murray still, bit further down stream, Brian had the wheel thingy done which took an hour so he went into MacDonalds and had burger, coffee and Internet hit while it was been done then we headed of on the road, stopped at Loxton for lunch and then came to Moorook, a little place by the river that lets you camp for $8 a night, I wasn't sure, bit early to stop and I wanted to see what Kingston on Murray was like about 15ks down the road, I'm not sure what I expected but it wasn't as nice as Moorook so we headed back and camped again facing the river, there about 5 or 6 other vans here. About 5pm as we were having drinks the fishermen came out and flurry of excitement as a reasonable size fish was caught, it was a Gunter, so Brian joined in but the size of the fish kept getting smaller, anyway a good time and we scored two fish when they divvied them out, so tea tomorrow. The campers around seemed to have small dogs, little chihuahua and they chased Bentley, he didnt like them but wouldnt stand up for himself and he ran to Brian and in the end he went back to the van. Normally he will stand up for himself but I think he was intimidated by them all, about 6 altogether
Photos
Another nice camp on the river
Canoes passing by
Fishermen

Our last day on the Murray

Heard some rain in the night and Brian got up at 2am to make sure we hadn't left to much out in the rain, it didn't rain much and the day has been cloudy but no rain. It was cold first thing and no power meant no heater, glad I had my winter PJ's on. We took a drive into Renmark, organised a wheel alignment for the car for tomorrow and had coffee and scones at the Riverside Cafe, then a drive to Berri and a look around and back to camp for lunch and a lazy afternoon. We feel ready to move on from the Murray tomorrow and after the wheel thingy we will pack up and move further into SA, again not sure where we will stop, but Burra is a town we have visited before and enjoyed.
Photos
Morning tea at Riverside Cafe
Can you see the waterline on the trees, this where the flood waters would have been, last major flood was 1993
A bit blurry this photo but its a water bird, see the spoonbill, it was walking along feeding on the edge of the river
One of the hen type birds we see often
Our campfire with a pelican sailing by

Moving on to Renmark

We packed up today for our move to Renmark , have really enjoyed our stay here in Mildura, we slept well last night even with the concert across the river.
It was a boring drive to Renmark along the Sturt Hwy though we did find a nice stop at a lake for our cuppa and a run around for Bentley, we decided on a free campsite tonight and we have a spot by the river again, about 5ks outside of Renmark which is in SA and we gained half hour so only 1 1/2 hours ahead of WA, after setting up camp and having lunch we drove into town for a look see, visited the tourist centre for a town map, very handy as we get lost easily, I think we will enjoy a walk around town tomorrow. We stopped for some supplies as coming into SA we had to hand in all our fruit and veg at the quarantine station, so tea tonight is Chicken sausage, coleslaw and a bun
Photos
Our campsite by the river
Looking down the river at other campers
An odd boat or house boat berthed at Renmark
Lovely fountain in Renmark

Farmers market and bits

We started today by going to the Farmers Market, just over the river, great market, lot bigger than Albany, they have breakfast there and very well organised by the lions club, we had egg and bacon roll $7 each, the big breakfast was $12 and looked great, we bought bread, grapes, and lots of other stuff, really good and dog friendly. We then went to Dockside Cafe which is on the marina in Mildura and had coffee and scone, real cream. Very new development and the only marina on the Murray River. Took a drive to Wentworth where the Murray and Darling Rivers meet, not as interesting as we thought but you can see the colour difference, the Darling being the more muddy looking, I had a quiet afternoon while Brian went in to town for a kMart hit.
Tonight we can hear music from across the river and it seems Guy Sebastian is in Mildura and performing live so we could be in for a noisy but nice evening, also had a bridal party over the river arrive by stretch limo and had photo taken, such a busy life but we are enjoying. We will move on tomorrow probably towards Renmark but we have enjoyed our stay here in Mildura and would love to do a houseboat holiday sometime
Photos
Breakfast at Farmers Market
Dockside Cafe
Murray and Darling meeting
Cormorant drying its wings
Night shot on the river