A Day with the Dolphins

We had a wonderful day with the dolphins today and their many friends, at Dolphin Marine Magic in sunny Coffs Harbour.  Grace turned 10 this year, the big double digits is pretty special, so she was given a Dolphin experience to be taken on this holiday.   She started out by being fitted for a wetsuit, that was an experience in itself.  We had to wiggle and jiggle to get her into it with many giggles.  As we walked in the door of Dolphine Marine Magic it was a KISSARAMA.  We all lined up to be first kissed by a Rocky the Seal and then be kissed by Bucky the dolphin.  The sun was shining a first for us Canberrans since lets say May.  What a way to start the day.  Kisses and sunshine!!

 We then settled into to watch the Dolphin show.  Pete made a special guest appearance when he was chosen to feed the  dolphins.   They are such clever creatures,you,can not help love them.  The seal was pretty loveable too.  Grace and the rest of the Red Elephants then went into a special area and what  luck there was only Grace and the work experience and the Trainer in the pool with the Calamity the Dolphin.  Grace was in with Calamity for a full 20 minutes and had a happy glow about her.  She got to pat and cuddle Calamity and feed her.  They played ball and hoopla.  Best part was we all got to stand by the pool and watch.  Afterwards Grace warmed up again by having a hot shower and a hot Chocolate.  We then checked out all the Dolphin friends this included 3 peacocks, Grace was very impressed by their tail feathers.    The ever so cute Little Blue Penguins, formerly known as Little Penguins, formerly known as Fairy Penguins  ( i think they might be suffering from some sort of identity crisis.)  We all got to feed the penguins.  We visited the Seals that numbered 5.  There where cheeky stripy fish in the Reef Pool that kept playing peek a boo at our window.  We also got to feed the fish in this pool, I must say I was not impressed with their manners!  I think the junior Red Elephants might be slightly in front of these fish in the manners department.  We enjoyed the kisses so much and the show that we stayed for a second lot of kisses and the show.  Where we got talking to fellow travellers who recommended we go to Underwater World!!

The day was ended with a walk out along the Coffs Jetty.  This was probably the longest Jetty we have ever walked on.

Must report there where no sightings of Russel Crowe.

This is the view from Willow  the beautiful Bellingen River  notice the full moon on the rise

Day Four on Tour

Day four on tour seemed to be spent mostly in the car although we did not travel too far.  Since I last wrote we had a wonderful 24 hours with our good friends at Port Stephens.  Together we watched a whale at play off Boat Harbour, lunch and long chats, dreamt about a future new home for them.  James even got to do soccer training with their son and play a game, that would be his highlight so far.  We had a scrummy dinner together then the kids scammed a sleepover, they where then delivered back to us at the caravan park the next day ready for departure.  Thank you, our friends, we love you and miss you already.

So.. we departed Port Stephens and had a pit stop at Williamstown airbase to watch the F18's in training.  Boy, what a feeling listening to the roar of these jets and see them fly over.  Something deep inside  your body stirs and reverberates with their awesome power.  Enjoy the movie we took and hopefully you can hear the sound and pretend you where there with us.

Bonny Hills was our next overnight stop just on the southern side of Port Macquarie.  We had a walk along the beach and that evening the boys watched State of Oranges ( James speak) in the games room and Grace and I watched Frozen in Willow.

Today we set of from Bonny Hills and headed to Wauchoppe to look up an old school friend of mine.  Unfortunately I could not find her phone number to warn her we where coming and she happened to have gone out shopping when we where there.  So that was disappointing.  I said to Pete I was like a homing a pigeon,  i have not been to her house for over 10 years, yet I went straight to it with out any address to refer to.

We then headed to Bellingen for our Caravan Park, this proved to be a bit of a wild goose chase as our park turned out to not be at Bellingen but on the Bellinger River a further 15 minutes, sort of, back the way we came.  It is a nice wide river and we have been told by a park resident that there are Bull Nose Sharks in the river.  So even if it was warm no swimming for us.

First Day On the Road

Well we have made it and finally are under way.  Yesterday we where so busy just doing the final pack of Willow and packing the back of Brindi.  The house also had a final clean for our house sitters.  We went to bed feeling tied and excited for the day to come.

We left our home this morning at 8.39am and reached our destination Anna Bay, Port Stephens at 3pm.  WE had a good drive through and Pete was very happy with the way Brindi travelled and pulled her friend Willow along behind her.  It is so nice to look in the review mirror and see Willow chortling along behind us.  You would not believe it but the first fellow carvanner who passed us was also  a Windsor Rapid same markings as our Willow and a family of four.  And yes certain friends back home will laugh that we where overtaken by another Windsor Rapid or Windsor Slow as they call us.  You know who are!!lol

We have just spent a lovely evening with our very friends from Canberra who moved here to Port Stephens exactly 2 years ago to the very date.  We where there on the first day of their adventure to wave them of and shed a few tears and here we are sharing our first day of adventure with them.  What fate!  As my friend said you know you are with a good friends when you have not seen them for a long time but when you are finally together it feels just like yesterday.

Saying Farewell to Friends ,Workmates and Family

Last weekend we fare welled some of our good Canberra friends.  We all meet through school and our children, who even though some of them don't really play together at school they always have a lovely time playing together out of school.  Quiet often all the families will go camping and we enjoy each others company, yummy food ,cheese o'clock and a few beverages.  After we left our friends last week end Pete and I reflected on how lucky we are to have such good friends, all who would do anything for you.

 The very next day we travelled from Canberra to Nelligen on the NSW south Coast to have a last get together with Pete's family who come from Narooma.  We had a lovely picnic lunch via the Clyde River talked about our trip.  Uncle Mick my favourite brother in law in the whole world also provided some scary snake and crocodile stories.  He even tried to scare me with tales of frogs and cane toads.  When we are together you will always hear the boys calling out Uncle Pete, Uncle Pete come and play soccer with us.  Uncle Pete does play and always seems to out last the boys.

 Today was my families turn.  My family live here in Canberra and consists of my brother and his family and my Mother and Father. The kids had a sleepover with their cousin last night, they had a great time and all get on so well.  Even though it was sooo cold and almost snowing we still heard "Uncle Pete/Dad will you come play soccer with us".  I see my Mum and Dad at least once a week and my brother and his family every other week.  I know I will miss them dearly while on the road.

The one thing we will look forward to while travelling is coming home to so many wonderful friends and each of our families.

One more day and we are  away.  Tomorrow will be spent packing the car and the caravan.

The Final Countdown

Well we are down to 5 days before we leave and it has been a busy couple of days.  Library books have been found and returned except for 2 that seemed to be lost until I found out they where DVD's then knew exactly where to find them.  Showers have been scrubbed and the oven cleaned out.  The kids rooms have been cleaned and the wardrobes emptied.  Spare keys have been cut.We have also written up some "instructions" for our sitters about the little quirks of our house.  We are eating our way through all sorts of mystery items from the freezer.  Today's  job was to visit the banks and stop our mortgage for 3 months and re arrange our funds.  Of course nothing is ever easy I visited the first bank nice and early at 9.30 only to find out it doesn't open until 1pm.  The other bank could not stop the mortgage today as it happens today is the day  our mortgage comes out and they can not do it today.  I will try again on Friday my next free day.  This week we have also had our 3 way Parent /Teacher/Student interviews.  The Junior Red Elephants have progressed quiet well at school this year.  Thank you to their  teachers and class assistants and volunteer readers.  And also due to an "excellent effort" by our junior red elephants.

   Pete has booked our sites for our first week and a half away.  We will be stopping at Nelsons Bay, Bonny Hills followed by Bellingen.

Temperatures have plummeted in the past week here in Canberra, we have not had one day over 10 degrees.  Its been to cold to go out and pack the caravan, but I have a basket for every red elephant lined up in our spare room filled with both summer and winter clothes to be packed into the caravan.

What is left to do.. top of the list  is have my Haircut.  Spend some time with my mum and of course the biggie is pack the caravan and the car.

Junior Glamping - The Important Question

With just over a week to go we come to the all important question and it is my sincere hope that you my reader will be able to help me out on this one. The big important question the junior Red Elephants are asking is................. " HOW MANY BEARS ARE WE ALLOWED TO TAKE?" So dear reader I am asking you "what do you think is the legal quota of teddy bears allowed in a caravan?" This is very important and open to all sorts of loopholes. Like does a pillow pet count as a bear? What if one Red Elephant picked a big bear does that mean the other gets an extra bear to make up for size? If the bears travel in the caravan does that mean you can have extra in the car?What if a bear has a bear are they counted as one or two? In the past the limit has been 3 each,but somehow just like Paddington Bear we always seem to have an extra 2 stow aways. Further more dear readers has it ever crossed your mind that at the age of 7 & 10 what a huge responsibility it is to be the one to choose the bears to go on such a fantastical holiday. Because Bears are loyal and fun loving and when you sit down with your bears and ask them who wants to go on holidays they all put up their furry little paws and say "me, me, pick me." As a bear there is nothing better to be the chosen one to be snuggled up and in the arms of the one you love every night and day.

How do you choose? I am Bear Boozled are you?

Staying Safe on Road Trips

Needless to say it is important to stay safe while on the road. Before every road trip I have nightmares about us being in accidents, it is always terrifying and always involves one of us, or, all of us not making it. I talk to who ever it is that watches over me to keep us on this earth a bit longer and promise to do good things . Sometimes I feel like saying to Pete "thats it where not going we are staying home where it is much safer. But of course you can not live your life in fear, I do however stay awake the whole trip and keep my eyes open,alert to any danger. So.... With us travelling vast distances on some busy highways and some quiet country roads, towing a caravan and our 2 precious cargos sitting in the back seat we have taken some pre cautions. The following have been installed and updated, Electric Brake controller, Sway bars, Cargo Barrier, UHF Radio, NRMA Roadside Assist, Anti Theft Caravan Lock, Before we depart on any trip with the caravan we go through the following checks Brake Controller correctly plugged in, Two ball Hitch, Sway bars locked in , Tyre pressure correct, Check all locks on caravan including doors, windows, bed ends, Awning is latched and locked in, Ensure caravan roof is locked down, Check everything inside caravan is stowed away and all doors including fridge is securely locked, Gas is off and bottles are secure, Brake lights and indicators are working, Every one has their seat belt on and has their snacks**, All body parts are within the cockpit of Brindi**, Mr Red Elephant has his Coffee**, phew we are go, This may seem like a long list and a lot of bother but we do it as a family and really it is done in no time. ** not really a safety check put important none the less