Blog_7 The long long winding road!

Tuesday 24^th October, 3 years together today

Started the journey to Sydney, early start for first stop at Tin Can Bay. Arrived just after seven, a few people were already there along with a number of pelicans. Had brekkie drinks while waiting for the dolphin to show up. Mr N.D.O Pacific arrived just before 8 o’clock to the awaiting crowds (40 or so). Fairly well managed and nice to see a smile on Yvonne’s face.

Next stop was Rainbow beach for a bladder and breakfast stop. Got stuck into the journey and reached our designated first stop Ballina by about 16:00. Decided to head on while we had some daylight. Probably not the best idea since it was dark when we attempting to find somewhere to sleep. Eventually found a campsite, then headed to the nearest town for some dinner. Back to the campsite where it proved impossible to get the seats into the advertised bed position so Y slept on the second seats and T was into the passenger seat.

Wednesday 25^th October

Up early, grabbed a shower and headed off. Basically got to Sydney, the last section of roads through the hills was stunning. Arrived at the Uni around 15:30, found somewhere to park and met Emma at the Uni. Checked emails and drove to Emmas house. Got changed and headed into the city on the train. Had dinner near the Opera house, then stuffed ourselves on ice cream before getting the wrong train home! Got off the train and onto a bus which dropped us in the general vicinity of Dulwich Hill. A short walk later we had reached the train station and Emma’s abode. Slept on bed which was great after all the travelling in car. Met Irene and her cat. Stayed up chatting to Emma.

Thursday 26^th October

A day in Sydney. Woke up what seemed early but turned out to be about 9 o’clock. Got the train to Circle Quay. Eventually found somewhere to have breaklunch, popped into Dymocks and bought a bird ID guide then Y checked email in the most expensive internet café in the world - $3 for 3 minutes. If you are in Sydney, avoid it – you can find it across the road from Dymocks. Took a stroll around the Opera House and botanic gardens. Avoided most of the Japanese! Y had a meeting concerning potential marine mammal work in Oz which left T to visit the aquarium. Met up about 3 hours later to have beer and headed back to Dulwich Hill. Had dinner at a local pizza place, good pizzas, thick staff but entertaining. Back Emmas where I fell asleep on bed and Emma and Y stayed up chatting and drinking wine and hot chocolate.

Friday 27^th October

We woke at Emmas and got showered and packed ready to go pick dog up! Emma woke and she made us fabulous fruit platter for breakfast we had a good chat and then set out to pick up dog. Tim decided that we should go and see his cousin first as she was only 5mins away from Emma. So off we went and found it we did with the help of the good old sat nav! Strange for Tim as he had not seen his cousin since he was little!

Their son Daniel who was in the terrible two stage, was having a little tantrum when we arrived, he looked so grumpy, but was soon placated as Dad put on the computer which he has soon divided into 4 or 5 screens each running something different, which was all done without knowing just by clicking the mouse and swirling it around! Perhaps he could teach me a thing or two!!?

We spent time chatting and then the time had creped up on us and we had to leave to get the dog. We wanted to take them for lunch somewhere as a thank you but we were caught up in this time schedule to get the dog by 12pm as if we did not get her in time that day we would be charged more.

By this time Daniel had got used to us and then wanted to play ball which we did for a while, his aim is as good as mine! We left with Daniel in tears, not because we were leaving but because he had tripped up on the way to the road to wave goodbye! L

Everything seems so quick there is no time to think linger and take it all in, it just seems rush rush rush, I hope we get out of this, all I know is that Tim hates Sydney as it reminded him of London.

We found the quarantine station only just as it was not easy, but we had missed the 12pm deadline! L So we had to wait. After a drink and a quick sandwich from the garage we got in to collect the dog!

After completing all the paperwork and paying the bill they went to get her. She was on a lead outside and did not notice us at first. She was just excited to say high to all the attendants and be out of her kennel! Then she spotted us and she got very excited and was all over the place it was great to see her and she looked a lot healthier than when we last saw her. Her teenage spots had cleared up, her pads were spot free and she had a nice shiny coat and eyes, much like me! ;0)

We took her out to car and then realised in the excitement we had forgotten her crate, so Tim went back to organise it and Roxy went under car in shade. Strangely she new which car was ours she just went straight too it, we must smell bad!

Tim came along in a new electric cart with the crate on the back and we shoved it in the car with the dog and off we went!

It was not long before we stopped to let her have a run and a pee!

We decided that we needed to find a camp site before it got dark, so we stopped in a village to get some stuff for dinner and Tim found a tourist information place and got the name of a place that would take dogs so off we went in search of it as it was only a bit up the road.

Well we found the sign and headed down the dirt track road, on and on and on! Where was it!? Had we gone wrong? Finally found sign for it and then we saw it, the roads had been up and down hills, close to the edge of vertical drops (my side!!) and Tim wanting to do it as quickly as he could and frighten me at the same time!

Gosh we were lucky! They only had one room left and yes we could have the dog with us! We had to order dinner if we wanted it as the chef was busy preparing for a wedding the next day. Daylight was fast disappearing so we let the dog run free for the first time in Oz she went mad running in circles like she did at mum and dads round and round and round!

We went for a walk around and decided that it was time to get to dinner as we would be late. The dog was allowed to come with us and she sat by the table outside on the veranda of the restaurant. She was very well behaved and just laid down all meal. The food was fantastic !! Which was a real surprise as it was just a campers place. It was the second best meal we have had since we have been here. We even had pudding which was warm chocolate pudding with a soft melting centre served with thick cream and strawberries, and the dog chose ice-cream from the doggy menu!! Which was served with a wafer in a plastic blue bowl, which Tim had to test and he said the ice-cream was fantastic so much so he was having second thoughts of giving it to dog!

She promptly licked it all up and was chilling out J

Off to bed with a stroll by pond to watch the dog twitch and turn her head at every croak the frogs were making, she got so confused as there was so many, we had to get her to bed before he head fell off from all the jerking.

As we were trying to sleep three little boys decided they were going to try and open the bedroom door, which got the dog barking and us a bit mad! After a jump out at them when they tried it again, they were so scared even the dad jumped back and apologised J

Finally sleep in a bunk bed!

Saturday 28^th October

Woke with and early morning pee call from the dog!

Went for a nice long walk and Roxy had a run around with the campsite dog, which was surprising as he cam out of no where and just enticed her to chase him, so she did until they were so puffed they could do no more.

Back to room to make breakfast and rolls for journey.

Off we set again after a couple of purchases at the gift shop on the campsite for Tim and Roxy.

Sunday 29^th October

Left the horrid camping site with trailer trash behind as quickly as we could! When I walked Roxy one guy was eying her up and started to follow us! When I went for shower there was a young girl in there with her baby who was screaming, not many babies like having showers! But the more it screamed the louder she shouted shut up and the harder she smacked it! L It was really upsetting, so much so that it distracted me from the cockroaches and fleas that were showering with me!

Even the dog jumped into the back of the car quick!

Off we set for a long and hot journey back to hopefully hervey bay tonight! We stopped in a town to get some cold drinks and ice-cream and I nearly had a punch up at the check out!! Tim put the basket down at the end of the checkout as you do in the UK after unpacking the shopping on the belt. The woman behind just threw it across the next till which I took to be very aggressive. So I explained to the check out girl and her that we thought that was where you put them! The check out girl just smiled and shrugged at us and then the other woman started shouting at me. So I told her politely that the fact she threw the basket at the other till, I took to be a sign of aggression and did not know what was wrong. The poor check out girl had gone bright red by this time and Tim was telling me to calm down (strangely I was) but the woman went into one again spouting on about how she had 4 kids to cope with! We took our things and left quickly, it would not be a town we would visit again, it was a bit like Trickets cross (for those who know the area!)

On the way to the car we laughed about it and made some rude comments between ourselves about learning to say the word NO J

Tim then decided later into our journey to stop at a winery to taste and buy some wine, it was again in the middle of no where but the road was very twisty turny and Tim enjoyed the difference from the long straight highway.

We found the winery and went for a short tasting session and purchased a couple of bottles of red one that Tim liked and one I liked, the dog had a pee stop at the winery (not on the vines!) and off we went again, down the twisty turny road until we got on the highway again.

We stopped for cheese rolls I had made and then onward!

Finally stopping at Hervey Bay in time to unpack, walk dog and fall asleep watching motor GP and getting upset that Rossi fell off his bike and lost the whole final L

Monday 30^th October

Bad start to day! Roxy woke early and was pinning for the out doors, we thought for wee, which she did then it was to be sick, so Tim took her out for walk while I tried to get back to sleep as it was only 5am!

The day did not improve we were asked to move cabins, for what reason I do not know but 4 of us had to move, it was like musical cabins, but not very practical or fun! As we have started to buy bits and pieces for the house. So everything that we had sorted out and knew where it was had to be moved again!

But first we had to go and register the dog and licence her! Well that was expensive as she has all her bits! If she was de-sexed it would be less than half the price! We had not managed to grab breakfast as we were so late up so Tim whimpered on about the Bayorama café for a thick milk shake and something to eat. We managed to join the Bayorama club which lets you have a free coffee every time you visit; knowing that the other person will buy something else is quite a good idea! One to remember!!??

We then headed back to cabin as we were asked to move as soon as we could!

I was a little upset as she said the cabin was bigger, well it would have been apart from the bunk beds! It had a separate shower and toilet which meant I would have to get dressed in the middle of the night if I needed a wee! And the added thought of those yukky cockroaches roaming around free!

The kitchen equipment in this cabin was one sauce pan, one electric fryer, one microwave and 2 spoons! Needless to say the thought of living on crap food for another two weeks was not very inspiring or pleasing!

There were no drawers for clothes or places to put my books there was less of everything even though the room was bigger, I was not a happy bunny L

Everything was a mess again and we had to lift Tims BBQ which weighs 48k across, needles to say I have put my back out as it is so weak!

After we had tidied up and sorted things out as best we could, even the fridge and freezer was smaller so that there was not much room to get our stuff in! Tim even had to sacrifice not having any beers in fridge!!

We then went to try the library as it had been a while since we had looked at emails and sorted out all matter of stuff! Internet was booked solid! So booked for tomorrow morning and Tim got a book on how to fix bicycles as he needs to straighten the spokes on the spare bike we have.

Then we had to go get some food shoping! Our hate, but before that we went looking for pans and cooking equipment as Tim too said that he did not want to live off nuked food for the next 2 weeks! Shopping in the heat is not much fun! Even less when you have no idea where the cooking equipment shops are! So both ratty and fed up we went on the hunt for cooing pots, found some that were price like gold or should I say le cruset (think that’s how you spell it or should it be crusty? J ) Finally we found a shop and got the stuff, Tim went back to the car with the Dog and I went to find some cushions for the garden seats so we could sit on the veranda and eat and drink beer (and wine!) J

While getting the cushions some blind bat of a woman tried to reverse park into a car space next to use and smashed into the back of the car! Now to tell you there was around 50-100 free spaces would be no word of a lie, but she chose to park right next to us and could not manage to do it! Grrr! What a day! Mind you Tim said the poor woman was close to tears, so it was not a good day for her too!

Tim thought she had just scrapped the moulded bumper and side bar but on closer inspection she had also done the whole back of the car bumper which has buckled, she must have been reversing back at a fare pace as the pajero is a meaty vehicle!

Then we went on to get food shopping which was limited due to size of fridge and freezer, the thought of having to shop every couple of days was not inspiring of nice thoughts and fighting to get through a till! They are not like the UK at all they only have one maybe two tills open and the quick checkout will allow you to take 15 items through!? (not such a short que!) Then they also never check the date codes on the food and some is out of date before you have even bought it! Other food items will be mouldy and they will still be selling it !! So shopping becomes a lengthy process as you have to check everything!

Through the checkout and we hear from Dom and Sam they want to know if we want to join them for new years eve in Sydney, which is what we wanted to do! See our first new year in, in style and watch the fireworks on Sydney H Bridge. Our only problem now is the Dog! We now have to find someone to look after her and try and then get some flights to Sydney as we do not want to drive that far so quick again!

Back to cabin to unpack food and sort out dog with walk food etc, but first a beer, nice and ice cold from the drive through bottle shop!! Yes! Mad is it not!? You drive through order what you want the guy carries it to the car loads it in and takes your money! How lazy is that!!

So beer, walk dog at the end of the road (the beachJ ) back to cabin, cook dinner eat in new dishes, more beer (bundy rum and coke for me!) relax, read driving theory test book for me, and sleep……………………..

Well so we thought! My mobile rings at midnight or something close, Tim leaps out of bed to answer it and misses the call, a message is left and it was Luke to say he had got the CDs I had sent him of all the pics we have taken so far and he wanted to speak and say he missed us…………. Bless J

Tuesday 31^st October

The dog woke us again at 5am wanting a wee then a puke! She is coming into season which we were hoping she would have at the kennels, which always makes her puke for a little first thing in the morning!

Then went back to bed to wake at 8.45 !! and we were booked into the library internet at 9am! Rush rush rush and we got there by 9.15 which was not bad going! I rushed onto internet and started sorting out emails only to be questioned at 9.30 and asked to get off, I explained I had booked and paid for it the day before and so the hassle went on eventually after a telling off by the librarian for going on the wrong PC I was left in peace to finish emails. But ran out of time as woman behind me was hovering!

So out of library and in search of dog food that the kennels were feeding Roxy as she looks so well on it! Found it and then headed back to cabin, as we both needed water and some breakfast, will today be as bad as yesterday!!??

Tim is booked in for 2pm at library on internet as we have to finalise the winning of our free flight! Think it is to Sydney or somewhere close!?

Back at cabin and Tim is fixing bike by tuning in the spokes sounds like weird musical which has sent the dog to sleep and out for the count buy the looks of it! I am writing the blog and then will read emails I managed to save and will then take dog down road to each for swim J

Dog had quick walk and we shot off to library Tim went in for internet and I went to take my drivers theory test……….gulp! I managed to pass finally! And Tim met me outside with dog. We then went to sally Ann to get blanket for Roxy in her crate and a towel to dry her after the beach and shower!

Went to look in cook shop and found some where that sells all cake making stuff so will be ok once we get a cooker, to make some cakes!

Went for celebratory milk shake! Went to cake shop to have a look.

Came back and took dog for walk on beach, she found a crab and was very excited and was jumping all about the place but never touched she was so gentle, and did not even bark at it ……………bless !! Her first live crab, as in Poole they are always dead.

Wednesday 1^st November

Dog woke early again! We are going to have to keep her awake until we sleep, worse than a child! Tim got up and sorted out an application for a job.

Took dog for walk and saw a family of 5 Roo’s in the bush near us, Tim took pics and we then went to phone his mum to sort out some insurance stuff.

We then headed off to solicitor about house bits, bank, post office and then the library.

Headed back to cabin after to chillout and do some reading!

Then went to house to see if post had arrived for us, got all what we needed and the guy showed us how to keep pool clean! Not sure that either of us will remember!

Got estimate on car and looked into motor bike shop, then went and had a look at a kayak and made appointment for Tim to have his feet fixed.

Back to cabin chat to neighbours as they lost cat and are now moving into new home. Took dog for swim, and she decided to go in deep as the water was all warm! I went in but it was too cold for Tim!

Dinner took forever to cook on electric ring!