Well its just over two months now since I started this journey of mine and its been one of the best things I have done in my life and there will be plenty more travel to come.
Guess what? Yep, I have finally left Greens Lake but as I mentioned last update it was with mixed feelings. I am now in Portarlington on the Bellarine Peninsula so getting closer to my return home and today is actually my last day here then head off for home tomorrow for medical appointments and Xmas and do that work I mentioned way back on my Avan Camper but before all that a catch up from the last week.
Tuesday arrived and the weather started to decline a little and by Wednesday morning it was quite chilly with drizzle on and off so I decided to go into Shepparton and get my gas bottle filled, a hair cut and fill the car up with gas.
Thursday arrived and spent the morning doing the usual things that get done here at the lake, not much at all then spent the afternoon slowly packing up camp in readiness for an early morning departure Friday. I have been here at Greens Lake now for just over 3 weeks so its time to move on for the next leg of my journey.
Kiwi-as and kiwi rainbow finally got their car back so they have started the next leg of their journey and it looks like we will be having a reunion when I visit Brian and Cheryl (Briche) while they are staying on the Mornington Peninsula on the 27/12 all going well of course.
I met up with Daryl (Dazren) and his lovely wife Renata on Saturday. They played tour guide and showed me around the Bellarine Peninsula and we had a lovely lunch at Queenscliff, thankyou both for a great day.
After years of being the driver it sure is nice to sit back and take in the scenery and leave the driving to someone else.
The weather started out hot but due to being surrounded by water it didnt get too bad at all but around 4.00 pm a change hit with strong winds and it tried very hard to rain a few times but the rain gods decided to give it to someone else.
Sunday arrived with much nicer weather and a fresh breeze but not enough to be a problem all day. I had to go back to where we had lunch yesterday as I left my reading glasses there so checked out the marina a bit more and then discovered that there was a Harley toy run arriving in Queenscliff in about 15 mins so decided to prop and do like everyone else around the place and watch as 100s of Harleys arrived with all sorts of kids toys attached to their bikes in all sorts of different ways and a lot of riders were dressed up as well.
This is the second time I have come across Harley Riders in a large group, the first was in Canberra. I have been very impressed with how nearly all of them acknowledge kids of all ages and take them for rides. Even the local constabulary joined in the occasion and as long as kids had a helmet on they appeared to not worry too much about anything else. Safety seemed a main priority with the riders and kids, good on ya guys and gals of the Harley Clubs involved, they probably wont read this but you just never know a lot were of the right age group to be GNs.
Well thats it for the updates but I have enjoyed keeping you up to date with my travels but all good things come to an end and this is it, some might say good but I know there were quite a few out there in Grey Nomad Cyber Space that enjoyed my updates. This is only a short return home as I will head back out into the playground very soon and do it all again only different places.
I would like to give a very BIG THANKYOU to all the people from this forum that I have met over the last 2 months and the hospitality given freely, you all contributed to my travel experience, what else can I say but again, THANKYOU.
Given the time of year now I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all the very best for the upcoming festive seasons and please,
A pleasure meeting you Doug, and thank you for your photography advise. I sat and read more instructions yesterday - it is starting to make more sense. Even had a look at RAW but dont think I have a use for that yet. Look forward to seeing you somewhere out there again. At Mt Cotterrill for a little while - great company again and spoilt last night with a real roast dinner and sticky date pudding with cramel sauce and icecream last night! (nu one's grandson & wife were the cooks)
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'Once you are infected with the travel bug you have it for the rest of your life - there is NO cure'
Thanks for the update Doug, It was a pleasure to meet you as well mate, we WILL cross paths again, Until then Travel far and wide and Safe and Happy And ** MERRY XMAS *** To You from Daryl and Renata.
Goodonya Doug, we enjoyed meeting you too, and very glad you have had such an excellent trip with optimistic plans for future trips now. Have a very Merry Christmas!!
A pleasure meeting you Doug, and thank you for your photography advise. I sat and read more instructions yesterday - it is starting to make more sense. Even had a look at RAW but dont think I have a use for that yet. Look forward to seeing you somewhere out there again. At Mt Cotterrill for a little while - great company again and spoilt last night with a real roast dinner and sticky date pudding with cramel sauce and icecream last night! (nu one's grandson & wife were the cooks)
Hi Vida, be carefull if in the raw, ooops, sorry, if using raw. I don't go in the raw, ooops again, use raw as I would frighten toooo many people.
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Live Life On Your Terms
DOUGChief One Feather (Losing feathers with age)
TUG.......2014 Holden LT Colorado Twin Cab Ute with Canopy
DEN....... 2014 "Chief" Arrow CV (with some changes)
Good that you can go home and do those jobs Doug. Have a shower or two and you'll soon be ready to hit that GN trail again. It was good meeting you on this first foray into Grey Nomadding.