Great trip with only a couple of hiccups.Left Canberra 12th Aug. heading north with no plan.First overnight at Wellington,first hiccup,had to get supplies as we had no matches to light the bbq.Left the credit card on the counter at coles,discovered this when we pulled in for diesel 200 kms up the road.Thank god for wireless broadband & mobile phones.Managed for rest of 6 weeks with  SWMBO card.She stopped picking on me after 2 weeks.Narrabri for 2 days,Goondiwindi o'nite,Toowoomba 2 days all staying in van parks.5 days 'free' camping in b.i.l. yard in Brisbane.Took the opportunity to catch up with kenmarg for afternoon tea. Loverly couple,could have stayed longer but had other commitments.Further north on the 22nd to Mudjimba on the sunshine coast 2 wonderful weeks at this quiet sleepy hollow where we spotted our first grey nomad sticker quite exciting really,meeting Rob & Colleen had a good chin wag.Weather was great until the day we were leaving,had to pack up in the rain(2nd  hiccup).Brisbane for 3 days with cousins great to catch up with them after too many years.On to Glen Innes for 3 days, coldest place I have been on the mainland.Only colder place I've been 400kms south of Tassie in '69 when I was in the Navy.On to Bonney Hills (near Port Macquarie) down the mountain from Uralla to Wauchope on the Oxley hwy.Quite a hairy trip  65 kms in about an hour & a half.5 nights catching up with friends.2 nights at Stockton Beach,Newcastle where I thought someone had painted a target on the ranger three close calls with drivers running red lights.Down to Campbelltown (old home town)Catch up with b.i.l. where we decide to return to A.C.T. via Wagga Wagga (her in doors home town)Arrived home 21st Sept. TO SHORT TO SHORT.Next will be coastal trip from Shellharbour to Adelaide then home  over about 4 mths.Bugga seems to have taken as long to write this as it did for the trip.

Sounds like a great trip Gnome. Fully conversant with leaving things behind. Why is it always us fella's that have to do it. Never the other way round. If it was we wouldn't go on about now would we!!!!! The fun starts now in planning the next excursion. Good luck. Terry.

What a lovely trip and I do sympathise with the credit card, its so easily done mate.

Those photos are brilliant as well, thanks for sharing.

great trip. great report. great photo's. great idea to pretend to lose your credit card....... suppose you will pay her back one day? Johnw

very green here - envy ya know.   Can't wait for the 18th Oct. WE ARE ON OUR WAY THEN.

Great to read of your adventures Gnome.  Glad the Ranger didn't let you down, ours is behaving admirably too.

Could you let us know what and where the piccys are please.

Ma

Glad you enjoyed your trip; was nice to meet you!!
Cheers

What ship were you on in '69 to be that far south Gnome??

would have been a goodun, whens the next, love the piccys by the way

Sorry Ma should have tagged 'em in the text.
1. Japanese gardens in Toowoomba.
2.Red Rattler tourist run, out of Gympie.
3.Lookout over Laurieton.
4.Balancing rock 14 kms. south of Glen Innes.

Dave next trip be after xmas school hols.

How you like new avatar?Makes me look like a real gnome (TAKEN AT BROKEN HILL)

-- Edited by The Gnome on Wednesday 7th of October 2009 03:52:43 PM

yep recognised the big seat, got a few piccys myself of it here somewhere first glance I thought hell theres an ugly kid sitting there!!!!!!!!

The Gnome wrote:

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Sorry Ma should have tagged 'em in the text.

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Thanks Gnome, will have to have a look at the gardens when we are up that way in November.   Loved the ones at Cowra recently and they say it is even better in autumn with all the colour of the foliage.

Ma

 

Disco Duck wrote:

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What ship were you on in '69 to be that far south Gnome??

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Probably the Barragoola!!!

 

Thats what I like Gnome, brief and to the point.....
So it appears you crossed tracks with the Mary Vally Rattler at some stage, hmmmmm.
I learnt to leave my card at home, I find too many things to buy if I have it....

Dead right there Basil. Red Rattler trip was very entertaining. Met people from the Gympie muster who were having a bit of a respite from the music.Nice folk  will have to go to the muster in 2011. Going on a cruise in August next year. Family get together. 8 days  South Sea Islands. Be 1st sea trip since Tassie in '98 (25th wedding anniversary)

-- Edited by The Gnome on Wednesday 7th of October 2009 07:33:22 PM

Thanks for the pikkies Gnome.Sounds like a great trip. Was only talking to my sister today......she is organising a sibling get together in November and it just so happens to be in Gympie. Included in the reunion is a day out on the Red Rattler. I told her I would look it up on the internet tonight, but you have saved me the trouble.There will be appro 25 to 30 of us on the train. How do you think we will go. Cheers Dellie