so where have I been....well busy , retirement is such a busy time I really don't know how we fitted in work!!!

any way we have been in Gosford visiting family. We thought it would be nice to give the mothers a visit this year as its years since I have seen then for Mothers Day. We spent the day at the beach, yes the beach, with my brother and sil and My Mum. Just a simple sausage sizzle but really very nice.
We spent 10 days catching up with family and doing some chores on the NIT. It now has carpet and so I just had to have a new dooner cover to match. We had a very interesting visit with a lovely gentleman who's grandfather had been in the Boer war with my grandfather. Lots of stories and info to read up on now. Amazing to think what our grandfathers and fathers had to go through in the war days. I found out that my grandfather actually bought land in South Africa after the war. Farmed for a while then the trail goes cold. More research to do on that.

My Grandfather Stuart Leopold Mackenzie.

Thursday saw us heading down the highway towards Sydney to visit a few friends and a drop off of books at Circular Quay in the city. Interesting trip in a motorhome but got through without a scratch. Headed down to Cronulla to see another friend. A beautiful beach area and seeing Botany Bay. After leaving we took a back road that took us through The Royal National Park. A truly beautiful place.

Our beautiful Opera House

The Royal National Park

 

Now after a beautiful drive through the national park we  hit the coast again on the way to Woolongong. Adrian visited the Motorlife Motor Museum so I had a lovely sleep and read in the NIT . So warm with the sun shining in.
That night we drove out of town a little way to a small village to sleep and in the morning came on a gorgeous park at Koonawarra Bay. Porridge for breaky then a walk around the lake and a go on the exercise machine. A bit of a laugh at ourselves being so out of shape.

 

I have realised now that we live in the most beautiful country. I love living on the road in our little home on wheels and finding a place to camp every night. Not everyone's cup of tea but seriously if you can in any way get out and see the country. Roads that I have travelled on for years and years look totally different and take on a whole new meaning. The bush is greener and the sky bluer. Maybe I am just chillin' and taking in the sights through new (old) eyes......

 

We have been away from home for 5 weeks now and surprisingly I am not home sick. I miss my kiddies and friends and talk to them on the phone and skype but don't miss my home or garden, strange ,,,,but ,yes.

 

I so love taking pics of the flora and fauna, so sorry if I have so many but I try to capture the beauty surrounding us, everyday everywhere and appreciate want a wonderful world we do live in.

 

our morning coffee break view, overlooking Gerringong.

tough I know.

beautiful banksia flowers.

 

Another lovely surprise was the blow hole at Kiama. Huge rocky crevice that allows water to rush in and when the air and water clash it causes the water to explode up through an opening in the rocks. A huge bang and the water comes out about 30metres. Much oowwwing aawwwing from the onlookers. Just another free show from mother nature.

 

We drove from the coast and headed west into a very different country side. Green hills and blue water turned into brown grass and autumn leaves falling onto the ground. Very chilly now , last night got down to -3 degrees. We will spend a few days with the sil and bil head off to an even colder Victoria.

 

What a difference a day makes. from blue to brown

 

till next time, open your eyes and look around at the beautiful world we live in....xx







After all the Beaches......

and we still found more to lay on and fish at. The beach weather has been just perfect.
We drove out to Seal Rocks and visited the Trial Bay Jail. Very interesting place and the most gorgeous beach area.

 

Further down the track and into Port Macquarie and visit Rex & Helen. Great night with BBQ and drinks and off the next morning inland to Gloucester and The Barrington Tops national Park.

 Decided to take a walking trek to an abandoned gold mine at Copeland. Packed our lunch and drinks and set off into a wonderful park filled with giant trees and old gold mining shafts. Only about 4kms but up and down so was a good work out for me.

A great bush camp at the little town of Stafford and headed east once more to the call of the coast.
Drove through the beautiful historic town of Stroud and then hit the highway at Bulahdelah for lunch stop on the river edge where some friendly ducks joined us.

 About 100m north and we were off the beaten track again along the Mungo Brush Road that follows the Myall Lake down to Tea gardens and Hawks Nest

A short but enjoyable ferry crossing over the Myall Lake inlet and down the road we headed'

.A fishing stop along the way gathered no fish but a wonderful photo opportunity for me. The ocean was wild and unpredictable catching us out a few times.

Beautiful part of the East coast of Australia. I know there will be more fantastic places to see and photograph. Camped at The Rock Roadhouse on the Pacific Highway and with dinner cooking away in my dreampot, life is pretty darn good.

Nearly Time

well time is nearly here to head off on our first BIG trip.
First time away from the kids for such a long period of time.
Will I cope.....Ab says I won't....time will tell ( and there is virgin airlines)
I know they will miss me ,a little bit, but I will miss them all so so much. 
They are grown up now with their own families to care for and careers to follow so I guess they don't need to rely on me as much, but once a Mum, always a Mum hey.
Well there is Skype and mobile phones...isn't there.

Now that's a story in its self, changing phone company's is NOT easy. We were always with Telstra for the business phones and now don't need them, so we as retired folk, decided to down grade to mobiles and mobile broadband. After 3 frustrating weeks, 3 phone company's and lots of Indians to talk to, most of who were quite nice, Except the lady!!! who hung up on me, we are sorted...I think

So back to the trip. I have packed the motorhome, NITs, (affectionately named by the Green Bear, Nomads In Training), with everything, including the kitchen sink. It now weighs a lot but there are things we need and want to take with us. I need some crafty bits, yes I do, and well Ab really does need all those badges , tables, books, etc to feel comfortable away from his precious collection of badges.

Our home on wheels for the next months

I have winter, Summer, Autumn and Spring clothing, just in case. Rain jackets, snow jackets to beach towels and sun hats, you just never know where we might end up.
We have almost a computer on wheels with all the gear installed and now featuring a new inverter so we can enjoy coffee freshly brewed....Yes I know sad, but true, and it will be a great addition for other appliances.

  Back to coping without my kids,... I don't think I have been much longer than 4 weeks without seeing a least 1 of them so it will be very strange not to see their gorgeous faces and get some hugs from them for a few months , and that's not even thinking about the missed hugs and kisses from the little grandkids.......:(  feeling a bit blue now.

 

just a few of the gang

some cheeky faces Ill miss

 



I will also have to do with out seeing my beautiful friends, who make my life so very special. They all, in their own way, make me a better person and I will miss our get togethers so much , but think of the wonderful catch ups we can have when I come home for a while. I love them all and appreciate  their strengths and friendship and support given freely.

 

I am really new at this blogging thing so I don't even know if it will get up and running, but I thought it might be a way of letting you all keep a track of us and for me to stay close as possible to everyone.

 

I am really looking forward to hitting the road, seeing new places and meeting new people.

It's been a dream for such a long time and now its here..........yah.

Just a few short days we we head south and onwards and hopefully I can take you all on the journey with me. Stay tuned and the next edition should not be too far away.

TP