Well actually been over a month at least, snuck in the back door, no not by boat.
Had 2 weeks in Gold Coast 15th April, then on down to Melb. van out of storage and few repairs, 3 weeks on Mornington Peninsula catching up with Nomad Friends. There I also had the suspension overhauled, new bushes, springs and shockies. It now rides and handles the van much better. Oh and the engine mounts needed replacing. Like I said some time ago Joe Hockey gave me a call to come back over and keep the Aus economy going.
Just had a few days in Ballarat at a friends, ended up getting my trusty chainsaw out and giving an overgrown hedge a trim, well was actually a bit more just a trim, A Lot More.
Now at Brim, to see the painted wheat silos, they really are something to make a trip for.
Next week on to Broken Hill, for some more chainsawing that I did not get finished last yr. Actually our van was parked under the last tree to need trimming.
Lorraine's niece from NZ is flying in to BH on the 19th June to hop on board and do the Flinders Ranges, Oodnadatta Track, Painted Desert, Coober Pedy, Alice Springs, including the Camel Cup, Kings Canyon and McDonald Ranges. She flies out back home from Uluru. We then exit via The Great Central Road down to Kalgoorlie and plan to fly back home on 15th Oct and spend Christmas with family and grandies.
If any Nomads want to tag along with us for any of the trip, just ask. I did plan to include Birdsville, but would not of had time, and anyway there is a big outback bash on up there at that time at Big Red, and all the roads would be pretty cut up. Good reason to do that loop some other time.
It's great to see you both out in the playground again MrK. Also good of you to add to our economy with all that money spent on your tug. I'm sure all the work done on the tug will be well worth it though and already seems that way. Well done.
It was also great to spend a day with you, MrsK and Jim and Leonie while you were on the Gold Coast. Hope we can all be in the same place again at some stage. I ended up seeing my mate and his wife after 16 years 2 days later just up the road from you. It was great seeing them again too.
Slightly off topic,
I must say though I got a shock when I saw them cos they looked much older than 16 years ago BUT when I got back to my van at Byron Bay I looked at my self in the mirror.....BUGGA.
Back on topic,
Please travel and keep safe Brandt and Lorraine and enjoy this great country. OH! You are going to have to cut out, mmmm, stop , is a better word, all that work MrK, you will give GN's a bad name.
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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 on you . Joe should have picked you up at the airport . But was bussy selling property to his Chinese friends . I have run into many Kiwi's going up the WA west coast . Some have family in Perth and come over every winter .. I am so surprised there's is so many nomads on the highways over here . If you havn't been up here . Imo over 60% of road users are Nomads or people traveling .. Small towns on the way should set up better to accomodate so we stop and spend in there towns .. Creating a whole economy .. Sorry a little off topic . But there's a hell lot of NZers and Europeans traveling also ..
