AT LAST

Jim-Shirl · Member

AT LAST

Bridgee · Senior Member

Welcome aboard Jim (and Shirl?), when you say "December last year", do you mean December 2007 or 2008? Whatever it was I'm sure you'll find the wait was worth it.
As for the humour on here .... you don't need to have a "warped" sense of humour to enjoy the forums .... but if you have got one it will certainly help!! ha ha

Brian & Sue

Basil Faulty · Guru

Yes indeed it's nice to have you and I hope you enjoy being had by us. We don't care about ypour compuer skills it's more your spirit...

Mike47 · Senior Member

G'day Jim & Shirl - Nice to see another couple of Sandgropers join the forum - we're a bit outnumbered by these Eastern-Staters. Having said that, I'm in Victoria now (just) so hopefully I'll bring a bit of class to this rabble over here.

Now that you've managed to light the wick, turn up the flame and let us know about yourselves, your plans, your vehicle etc.

Welcome to GN's

Mike

mike and Judy · Guru

H'mmmmmmmmmm
Mike at what stage are you at in your travels mate
wonder why we classifie ourselves as VIC, or STH AUSSIE

mike and Judy · Guru

or SANDGROPERS,
Welcome to the forum Jim and Shirley, this is the place for a spirited discussion

dunno what happened when this one got cut in half

Mike47 · Senior Member

Hi Judy, Hi Mike.

I have reached Genoa, which is just over the NSW border in East Gippsland. I will have a bit of a squizz around here now that the rain has stopped, and then have a look at Mallacoota and then on to Lakes Entrance and Wilson's Prom. If you're interested, I have started a blog of my travels at http://thegreyroamer.blogspot.com/. It is still very much a work-in-progress, but I hope to fine-tune it over the next couple of weeks.

When I moved to WA for the first time in 1979, I noted that the WA people did not recognise any state boundaries such as SA, NSW etc. Anything east of Kalgoorlie was "over east" and so I got into the habit. I believe that the original name for New South Welshmen was "cornstalks", but I note that the Queenslanders calll them "Mexicans" (south of the border) or is that only in Rugby League parlance?

Regards

Mike

dave06 · Guru

well howdy jim and shirl welcome to the travellers, good to see more and more jumping on the bandwagon, as for contributing well you already have so I am sure you will be another highly regarded member

mike and Judy · Guru

who said that Dave was stuck in tassie in the devils hole
he has just popped up again

mike and Judy · Guru

Mike ,
A warning ,
If you go to the big park at Mallacoota which fronts the Tasman sea, DO NOT put your van door facing the sea,
The winds will lift your annexe and carry it home for you, have seen an annexe all properly tied down uprooted and flipped over the van flapping in the strong winds that come out of nowhere

dave06 · Guru

damn I been done sprung!!!!!!!!!!

JRH · Guru

And a big welcome from me also.

John

Jim-Shirl · Member

Thanks to all or your warm welcome to GN forum. In answer to your queery Bridgee, it was Dec 08. Shirl is an ex Melbourne girl but one trip to the sunny west convinced her that this was the place to live (plus considerable arm twisting by me) We were married in Melbourne in 1956 and have lived in Perth since 1976. Since 1999 we hook up the van and head across the Nullabor to all points east and north. We've crossed it 26 times at the last count and know most of the bush camp spots. With Shirls rellies in Melbourne we usually go over for weddings and special birthdays etc. These seem to always occur in the middle of winter. Last year Shirl spent a bit of time in hospital so our travelling is on hold for a little while. I was thinking about having a look around the high country, (Bright, Mt Beauty) in autumn this year but with the tragic fires over there we'll put it off for a year. I'm sure the locals don't want tourists getting under their feet at this time. We've been to most places in this great country where a Falcon will pull a Jayco, About 4 times around the block but apart from the snowy area hav'nt been in the high country very much. To everyone affected by the fires our heartfelt sympathy, keep your spirits up . All for now Jim

JRH · Guru

G'day Jim,

I sincerely hope Shirl's medical problems are all sorted out nicely and you will soon be trekking the highways and byways again.

I notice you have crossed the Nulabor 26 times so I must ask, "have you ever been bored during a crossing"? We met a couple in one of the caravan parks in Norseman and the lady simply had to have at least 3 days rest before continuing on their travels because they had just crossed the Nulabor for the first time and she had been so bored it had left her very stressed. Personally I have never been bored on any stretch of road in OZ as I find there is always something to see if you keep your eyes open, but maybe that is just me.

Once again it is nice to have you on the forum.

Best Regards and Safe Travelling.

John

Pam · Guru

Mike47 wrote:

Hi Judy, Hi Mike.

I have reached Genoa, which is just over the NSW border in East Gippsland. I will have a bit of a squizz around here now that the rain has stopped, and then have a look at Mallacoota and then on to Lakes Entrance and Wilson's Prom. If you're interested, I have started a blog of my travels at http://thegreyroamer.blogspot.com/. It is still very much a work-in-progress, but I hope to fine-tune it over the next couple of weeks.

When I moved to WA for the first time in 1979, I noted that the WA people did not recognise any state boundaries such as SA, NSW etc. Anything east of Kalgoorlie was "over east" and so I got into the habit. I believe that the original name for New South Welshmen was "cornstalks", but I note that the Queenslanders calll them "Mexicans" (south of the border) or is that only in Rugby League parlance?

Regards

Mike

Being a New South Welshman or should I say lady, I thought Mexicans were Victorians.

Jim-Shirl · Member

G'day John, thanks for your concern for Shirl. She is starting to grizzle at me again so I reckon she's on the mend. As far as getting bored on the Nullabor - No. There's always plenty to see. If your heading that way, there is now a road between Hyden and Norseman which cuts off about 200kms.It's a gravel road 301kms long with quite a number of bush camp sites along the way most with drop toilets tables and barbeques. We've been over it four times now and it has been in very good condition every time.There is no fuel or water (apart from salt) and it's not a difficult drive. There are two places we usually overnight at, The Breakaways and Lake Johnson. The Norseman Tourist Information Centre has a pamphlet "A Guide To The Granite And Woodlands Discovery Trail" which is very informative. After Norseman we usually do the trip in two to three hundred kilometer hops which makes it a comfortable trip. These stretches are governed by wind strength and direction. On one trip I filled up at Border Village with a howling easterly blowing. Eighty kms later and down to a half a tank we stopped for morning tea and stayed until the next morning. We discovered in amongst the scrub, a half a dozen others had done the same thing. Once I start I don't know when to stop so I'd better quit now. Bye all, Jim

Bridgee · Senior Member

Well John and Jim we've done 4 Nullabor crossings by car and found this part of Australia to be beautiful and interesting in it's own unique way, so are looking forward to taking our time when we cross it again in April with a caravan in tow.

People who say any particular part of the Aussie countryside is boring, probably don't appreciate the natural beauty of this country. Their idea of an entertaining, interesting journey is probably driving in peak hour traffic on the a freeway in their 4WD that never ventures out of the city.

dave06 · Guru

whenever I feel boredom approaching I just say something like "gee dear you are putting on a wee bit of weight of late" now that very quickly takes a boring drive to an extremely volatile and action packed one within seconds and is guaranteed to put the excitement back in to the drive, ducking and diving can reinvigorate a long drive!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ah!!! then the glorious silence afterwards.

simplest pleasures are always the best.

Bridgee · Senior Member

dave06 wrote:

whenever I feel boredom approaching I just say something like "gee dear you are putting on a wee bit of weight of late" now that very quickly takes a boring drive to an extremely volatile and action packed one within seconds and is guaranteed to put the excitement back in to the drive, ducking and diving can reinvigorate a long drive!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ah!!! then the glorious silence afterwards.

simplest pleasures are always the best.

Yep Dave you are right but I'd probably avoid using those exact words to Mrs Bridgee ....... I'd probably be more tactful if I thought she'd put on a few extra kilos and say "darling, is it me, or are you looking a little "anorexicly impaired??!!."

As for the "glorious silence", there's 2 kinds of silent treatment, the one that comes after you know what you've done to upset her.
Then there's the other silence where you have to guess what you've done wrong!!

JRH · Guru

Bridgee wrote:

Well John and Jim we've done 4 Nullabor crossings by car and found this part of Australia to be beautiful and interesting in it's own unique way, so are looking forward to taking our time when we cross it again in April with a caravan in tow.

People who say any particular part of the Aussie countryside is boring, probably don't appreciate the natural beauty of this country. Their idea of an entertaining, interesting journey is probably driving in peak hour traffic on the a freeway in their 4WD that never ventures out of the city.

G'day,

We have crossed the Nullabor a few times now and still find new and interesting things to see, we, that is Irona and me, never get bored on a trip, Australia has such a diversity of scenery we don't have time to get bored or even close to it. It would seem there are a lot of people out there who suffer from white line fever, that is all they stare at. Enjoying the views and scenery is for us the most important part of a trip, after all to my mind that is what caravanning is all about, meandering along the highways and byways taking in the scenery.

Best Regards and Safe Travelling.

John & Irona.