Red Elephants are Home

We left Port Stephens in 2 minds, Grace and James wanted to go home, we thought it would be nice to have one last overnight together and go out for a last night celebratory dinner.  We had planned to stop at Mittagong for the night and that would give us a 2 and half hour drive home the next day.  It would also put our travels into 89 days we would have liked to make it a nice round 90 days.  Fate stepped in and the park at Mittagong was booked out so homewards bound we went.    The kids were happy and excited, you should have heard the shreaks of excitement when they spotted Telstra Tower.  Pete was telling us the whole way that it wasn't over and he was going to keep driving.  I was all emotional and still are.  I don't know why?

Mum and Dad ( Nanny and Poppy) were waiting for us at home and I think were as excited to see us as  we were.  After tooting of the car horn we all hopped out and lots of hugs and kisses.  James ran straight inside and hopped in his bed.  Grace checked out all her bears.  Nanny cooked us a lovely meal of some of our favourites , Potato Bake (Grace),  Sticky Chicken Drumsticks ( James),  Cherry Trifle ( all of us ,but James.)  Big thanks to Nanny for our homecoming meal and for baby sitting Cheeky Boy the Budgie.

Good Bye from The Red Elephants

So in answer to questions you might ask.

Yes, I am happy to be home.
Do I wish I was still on the road? Yes.
Would we do it again?  In a heartbeat.
Would we take the same tow vehicle and van?  Yes we would!
Would we change anything?  Try to get to the outback earlier before the big heat hits.
What was our favourite destination?  Pete - The Reef,  Grace  Australia Zoo and Underwater World, James - Big Barry at the Reef, Me - maybe Carnarvon Gorge but in second place not a destination but all the wonderful people we have meet.
How many wet days? 4
Kilometres Travelled? 12 500 km
What about school?The kids did an hour of school work each day except for weekends.  But by reading this blog you will have read that they have experienced so much more.

How will I adjust back into normal everyday life?  With difficulty, I think the hardest will be keeping to time and the time constraints that are put on us.

Were will we go next?  That is a hard one there are some many great things to see and discover in this great land we call Australia.  The Kids have requested Uluru, Pete likes the sound of Tassie and me well I would like to see all the West has to offer.

I would like to thank you my readers who have shared this Journey with us through this blog I hope you have enjoyed yourselves.  I would like to encourage anyone who has ever dreamt to do a trip like this don't make barriers, work hard ,make plans and make your dream a reality you will not regret it.

Port Stephens

We decided to head back to the beach and finish our trip with  a bit of sun and sea.  As a bonus this includes our very good friends the same friends that  launched  our trip so we feel we have come full circle.  We are very lucky to have such good friends we have spent some lovely family time together and they have patiently sat and listened while we have raved on about our trip and all we have seen and experienced.   We have drunk endless cups of tea together been to the beach twice and had a all in family game of cricket.  They have girls the same age as Grace and they have all hidden in their room doing secret girl stuff while the boys have kicked the soccer ball, played lego and given the Wii a good work out.  They have fed us all and tonight we got really spoilt with a roast lamb with all the trimmings including pumpkin, gravy AND mint sauce.  Pete and I have returned to the van tonight having left the kids for a sleepover, I must say after 3 months together it does feel rather strange to just be the 2 of us.

We are trying not to look at each and think about the fact that this fantastic tour of ours will be over in just a couple of short days.  Pete is in denial , I am feeling happy to be going home but sad at the same time that it is all over.

So lets change the subject.  We have had night time visitors!  How nice!  Yes we have had Mummy and baby possum visit and their neighbour.  They have been tip toeing across willows roof and sliding down our awning.  They have been keeping me very busy shooing them away with my broom.  One even peered in the window.   I supposed they where excited to have the famous Red Elephants parked under their tree.

I had a bit of an unexpected dip today.  The girls and I where having a photo shot at the end of the jetty when woopsie gurgle gurgle I was in the water.  I managed to cut my knee and some toes on the oysters.  I couldn't get myself out so the girls went running for help and some very nice people came to my rescue.  They hoiked me out and help wash and bandage up my injuries.  A big thank you to this lovely couple.  I did feel a bit silly.  At the moment my knee is resting and my phone that was taking the photo's is also resting in a bag of rice.  I will let you know if this trick works.

Gilgandra Way

From Lightning Ridge we passed through towns such as Walgett, Coonamble and Galargumbone.   All great names especially the last.  I am still on watch for a Westfields or at least an Aldi.  But sadly no such luck in north west NSW.  It was one of those days that felt good to be alive, looking out the car window the sun was shining there was little white fluffy marshmallowy clouds and yellow sunflowers growing by the side of the road.  All was quiet in the back seat as Grace an James have discovered finger knitting and are busy decorating the back of the car in they handy work.  The back seat resembles a spider web at the moment.

We found a nice little park in Gilgandra with green grass and shady trees, got set up then headed up town to restock the fridge and food cupboards.  It was cool overnight , we needed to put the heater on and I took my bed socks and hot water bottle to bed.

As I mentioned above no Aldi or Westfields but maybe thats just as well.  We had a lovely chat to the lady in the local Craft shop today and ended up swapping phone numbers.  In Galargumbone  we had a chinwag with some locals at the shops.  I'v had my haircut here in Gilgandra and got talking to a lovely local.  I don't remember the last time I had a conversation with a stranger at a westfields.

As we are heading south Petes family is heading north and Gilgandra was our meeting point.  We spent the afternoon watching the road outside the park and excitedly waiting for their arrival.  We  had a great afternoon and evening catching up.  The kids had a fab time and the noise volume in the caravan park went up a few decibels.  We even went for a walk to the local oval and Pete and the kids all practiced throwing a boomerang.  This morning we farewelled and each headed in our own directions.

Lessons learnt from our stop in Gilgandra, it is just as rewarding to talk to strangers as it is to spend time with family.

Red Elephants Noodling in Lightning Ridge

I know you are thinking that with that title that we got down and dirty in Lightning Ridge.  Well you are absolutely right.  The four Red Elephants  sat in a big pile of dusty clay rocks with spray bottles in hand looking for the elusive opal amongst the rocks.  The technical term for this is Noodling.  You are thinking of Can-noodling a whole different ball game, so to speak.

Welcome to Lightning Ridge

Stanley his body is made from cars

We spent our first afternoon at the Chamber of the Black Hand.  This is an underground mine that has been turned into a work of art.  We where there to see the sculptures I did not realise there was a mine tour included.  Well Pete who is claustrophobic freak out.  But he manned up and came down down down into the depths of the mine.  Sixty five feet deep underground  through tunnels that where only as wide as one body.  It was all very interesting to hear how they mine the opal and what they look for.  The opal is found mostly along the "roof line"  of the mine.  I did not realise but not all opal has the vibrant colours that we know.  But the best part was this labyrinth of underground tunnels where the walls had been dug out and sculptured into all sorts of things like Buddha, Superman, the cast of Nemo, elephants, various famous Australians and politicians.  It was amazing to see and seemed to go on and on we thought we would never see daylight again.  If you are ever in Lightning Ridge I would highly recommend a visit to the Chamber of the Black Opal.

We returned to the park just in time for the afternoons entertainment.  Willy (not Nelson)  and Jo a pair of locals singing their country best.  We all had one eye on the entertainment and one eye the dark Storm clouds brewing.  We made a run for it back to Willow stowed our camp chairs, zippered up our windows  so  I thought .  Pete raced across to help save a tent that was blowing around int he strong wind and  help pack up some their stuff that had been left outside.  It was a doozey of a storm and hung around half the night.  We had lightning, thunder, huge rain and the wind.  I soon discovered I had missed a window and our pillows where wet.    I found another lady later on the ladies toilets trying to dry her bedding under the hand dryer.

Amigo's Castle

The next day we visited the Bottle house.  Fifty years ago this chap and a few mates decided to build a house out of bottles.  It even had a loft to sleep in and a fire place to do their cooking.  Fair enough I guess, there was probably no wood to build house, to expensive to transport bricks and there was all these empty bottles at the Pub 70 km away.  So why not build a house out of Bottles.  Actually truth be told it was more of a shack.

Amigo who we did not get to meet but must be quite a character has built his own personal Castle in Lightning Ridge.  It's impressive and full of cats.

We ended our stay with a soak in the Artesen Bathes.  It was lovely and warm at a reportedly 40'.  Another visitor said she would like to cook her chicken soup in there.

I ask myself what would possess people to do sculpts in mining shafts and tunnels 60 foot underground, build houses out of bottles and build castles in what is really the middle of no-where bu is actually Lightning Ridge.

Roaming around Roma

The last couple of days we have stayed in small towns with not a lot to offer.  We have also broken the draught in  South Western Queensland and Northern NSW.

I can report we did stay in Roma for 2 nights.  Brindi the car went in for a service as she has been making a noise in the front drivers wheel that has been worrying Pete.  The one attraction for Roma is the Big Rig it is an out side attraction and due to the wet weather we did not visit.  Roma is known for its oil and gas drilling and has the biggest cattle sale yard in the southern hemisphere.

We didn't buy a cow but did watch the cattle sales.  It did seem like organised chaos with gates banging close here and there, cows going this way and that.  A chap calling out numbers and cattlemen decked out in their akubra's clutching little notebooks and putting up the occasional finger.  We got talking to some retired cattle people there property was over 700 km away.  This is what we learned and keep it in mind next time you are buying your meat.  Their cows sold for $50 per head it cost them $30 to transport them to the cattle sales at Roma.  They would have experience other costs, like selling fee's, accommodation and I guess the feed and other miscellaneous cost I have no idea about.  It doesn't leave much $$ for our poor old Cattlemen does it?

It's not on the any of the tourist brochures but I am about to tell you Roma's best kept secret.  HABERDASHERY!!  The ACE DRAPERS #2  the biggest haberdashery shop I have ever entered.   Imagine floor to ceilings rolls of fabric either side of a 20 metre long aisle.  Turn the corner and down the next aisle just the same  with patterns poked in where they fit.  The next aisle buttons with cowboy hats sitting on the top shelf.  Zippers,  Ribbons, Braid, Knitting Needles and what this Pudding Bowls.  Wool and school uniforms mixed in together.  This may be your own private heaven or hell but you must experience it.


We then overnighted in the most cute little park in St George.  It was lovely and clean and there was green grass and shady trees.  There was even a pizza oven in the camp kitchen so we had Pizza for tea.   The only downfall was the killer Magpie that swooped us as soon as we got out of the car.  His nest was right above our site.  I had to run back to the check in desk with arms waving above my head, ducking from the magpie to ask for  a magpie safe site.  I must say that the human occupants of the caravan park where all very friendly and nice.  St George was our 69th and last night in Queensland.  St George is a lovely village wide streets big houses on big blocks that are well kept.  St George sits on the Ballone River and this is a wide river that apparently has some of the best inland fishing.

We have  covered some very dry country up here and seen suffering and bony livestock, it makes me very sad.  As you go about your lives back in the cities and on road trips like us, please keep in mind how hard people are doing it  out west and in the outback.

Carnarvon Gorge - Its Gorgeous

Carnarvon Gorge – Its Gorgeous

Carnarvon Gorge it would seem is in the middle of no –where.  In fact it is 40km of the highway halfway between Emerald and Roma.  We stayed at the Takaraka campsite.  What a great name that is Takaraka rhymes with maraca.

Once you leave the highway you are driving through unfenced cattle farms and have the pleasure of sharing the road with moo cows of various colours.

Art Gallery

Wards Gorge

Ampitheatre

Moss Garden

View from the Bluff

On arrival we attended a information session on the park and its various walks.  We were advised to walk to the almost furtherest point up the gorge and work our way back, a total of 14 km.  I thought there is no way we could walk that far.  But, you know we did  and every km was worth it.   The path was wide and crissed crossed over the creek and was mostly flat ,running up the middle of the gorge.  First we visited the Art Gallery, that had aboriginal rock art running up the length of the wall.  Amazing to see the colours and I wonder how they have lasted the test of time.  We walked down a bit further and called into what is called Wards Gorge a small gorge but very impressive with King Ferns growing inside and a small creek running through it.  This where we stopped for lunch as it was lovely and cool and we also filled up our drink bottles from the creek.  Next up we climbed into the Ampitheatre.  WOW  imagine a big cave with sides reaching to 700 metres up to the sky and with a open roof.  WOW!  Back onto the main track and we walk a bit further down and pop into the Moss Garden.  Cave like but again with a small creek and waterfall with moss covered walls.   Then a  45 minute walk back to the carpark.  Pete and I conked out in our campchairs with a cuppa, the kids ran around chasing a ball!!  James fell asleep within seconds last night and Grace couldn’t get to sleep due to sore legs.

So obviously after a big  14  km walk you get up early at 6am for a spot of Platypus watching.  Luckily the platypus did not let us down.  He was having a jolly old time popping up and then diving back down again.

Now let me tell you the way to recover from such a big walk is to follow it up the next day with a climb of over 937 steps to the top of the Gorge for the most spectacular views up and down the length of the Carnarvon Gorge.  The recipe for jelly legs is to go back down those 937 steps in a hurry as there is no toilet at the top.

Emerald - A Foka licking Good Time

Emerald makes me think of the Wizard of Oz, I'm not sure why, but I'm sure one of my friends or you good readers will enlighten me.  Was it the home of the Good Witch or Bad Witch?  Anyhow's  we are staying out of Emerald at lake Maraboon, its very pleasant.  There is a little bit of green grass and shady trees so I am a happy camper once again.  The first night we went to sleep to the sound of rain on the roof,  I don't need to tell you we all slept well.  Yesterday was a very comfortable 20' and today was a bit warmer 26'.  You will all think I am obsessed by the temperature so I will try not to mention it again.

 This area is known for it's gem fields.  Grace has been hanging out for this part of our trip.  She is our little gem loving, gem.  So yesterday saw us going for a drive to Sapphire and Rubyvale about 40 km away.  We think we sighted a Bustard Bird on our way but not sure.   So we went to Pats Gem bought a bucket of wash for $10 and we where then instructed by the lovely Denise on how to sift, wash and fossick for the gems, mostly sapphires.  I can report that we did have luck and walked away very pleased with our little bag of precious gems.  Grace was in her element and had a great time.  We then had a tour of a local mine and to be honest we bummed out on this one as it was not very good at all.

At the wash

Looking for gems

Heres a fun game you can play.  How many variations on the word Fossick can you come up with?  Here are some of our unintentional examples ; fossilicking, fossilising, fok-a-sing!  Now try to match the right Red Elephant with their version of Fossicking.

We had such a great time foset ding  that we went back today.  Grace and James shovelled the lucky bucket of wash as we had luck again.  But the best part of our day was being shown a mine by a local man by the name of Tim who happens to be Denise's hubby.  He took us down his mine in his lift and showed us around underground explaining how everything worked and how safe we where.  I did feel very safe, it was like being down in a bigger version of a mousey hole.  We then all went up where Tim showed us how all the above ground "stuff" worked and showed us his very flash room that he polish's and facet's the gems he finds.  What a lovely man, and Tim if you are reading this, we will have fond memories of the afternoon we spent with you and your mine.  We hope that one day you find that special Gem.

James Excavating

Going down

On our way back to the park we spotted wild Goats and wild Camels and a long train full of cattle (choo choo train not road train).