Streaky Bay to Border Village (Day 3)

A rather over ambitious goal was set for today to reach Madura in WA, but this wasn't going to happen.   Forgetting the time changes, we kept noting that the kids would be getting quite hungry at around 7pm and that we still had a few fruit and vegies on board that I would rather eat than throw away at the quarantine station on SA/WA border.  So we decided to pull into the caravan park at Border Village to spend the night eat our food and start afresh the next day.

However, the day was a long one, broken up with a few photo opportunities along the way.  The first stop was at Penong, SA which is famous for a heap of windmills that pump out of an artisan basin.  For us though, it is famous for the poo explosion of 2013 from baby H who had not only filled his nappy, but also some of the car seat as well.  An unsuspecting mummy picked him up and wore a god bit of it too.  After a change of clothes, I packed all the pooey stuff up into bags, making special note of which ones had clothes and which one had the nappies (you can see what is going to happen here...!)

Onto the Nullarbor which really does go on for what seems forever.  I have done this trip before (twice) and it hasn' changed.

 We stopped at the Nullarbor roadhouse to feed the baby and stretch our legs.  And the continuation of the poo explosion of 2013 continued.  This time Bella.  I have NEVER see so much come out of one small child...EVER.  Of course this would happen at a place where we couldn't wash and had to keep moving.  After using nearly a whole packet of wipes, I got it under control and added to the pile of bags.

Fuel is also pretty expensive around here.  Average about 1.99/litre.

 This stretch of to Eyre Hwy also has some great photo opportunities of the Great Australian Bight.  Mark was very taken with this view and reckoned that it is more magnificent that the Great Ocean Road and the 12 Apostles.

As we were checking in at Border Village, and thinking it was quite late, I questioning the girl as to the local time - of which it was about 4pm!!  And here we were, starving and ready for bed.

At Border Village

I think this night, we were all in bed and alseep by 8.30pm local time.

Oh...and back to the poo explosion.  Well, I had to do a clothes wash when we pulled into Border Village.  I opened all the bags, only to discover that I had still in my possession a bag of soiled nappies and a missing t.shirt.  I had thrown my t.shirt in the bin at Penong.  Sigh.....

Total kms travelled today: 606
Total kms travelled so far: 1,975

Adelaide to Streaky Bay (Day 2)

We have decided to blast across the country and then take our time coming home, stopping at the various tourist places that take our fancy.  Hence, we had another big day in front of us.  Adelaide to Streaky bay is a loooooong trip.  This time round, we have to do a few more stops than when we went to Darwin, because Henry needs a boob every so often and also it is impossible to feed him whilst on the move (unlike the other kids who are happy with their little snack boxed I make up for them).

Iron Knob

In the arvo, we arrived at Kimba which was pretty much our first tourist photo opportunity.  Whilst Kimba isn't exactly halfway across Australia for us, it did already feel a loooooong way form home.  And we have so much more in front of us!

At the Big Galah in Kimba

 In the morning, we ran the caravan park at Streaky Bay and booked in.  So glad we did, because i think we might have gotten the last powered site.  The park was packed and it isn't even close to school hols over here.  Lots of grey nomads though..... This is a great van park for the warmer months because it is literally on the beach.  The front sites all open up onto sand.  Depending on timing, we may be back here on the return trip.

Total kms travelled today: 686
Total kms for trip: 1,369

We're off! Home to Adelaide (Day 1)

After many months of talking about it, the day has finally arrived when we are headed to WA in the caravan for a month.  Personally, I'd love to go for longer.  In fact, I would take the kids out of school and travel with them for an undetermined period of time if I could.  We've met a few families doing just this over the years and I think that what the kids miss out on, is picked up by the experiences that they have along the way.

However, for us, this is not an option, so I need to be content with the breaks that I can get.  And a month is nothing to be sneezed at.

Packed up and ready to go....at Camperdown for our first toilet stop.

So today, we drove out the gate about 1 hour later than expected (8.30am) and headed for Adelaide.  I don't think that we reached Pirron Yallock (about 10 minutes up the road) when Bella started!  And Biddy made Camperdown before she needed a pee.  Mark was frazzled (on the inside) and I think it took a good few hours before everyone had settled down somewhat.

We lunched in Narracoorte (will be back this way on return trip to catch up with friends) and then pushed onto to Adelaide where we stayed at the same caravan park on the north side that we did when we were going to Darwin 3 years ago.  We arrived on dinner time and fell into bed.

Quick stop at Tailem Bend to see the Murray before moving on

Total kms travelled today: 683

We've made it...final catch up

Phew.  Did you stick it out?  A few more pics to view and then we are all caught up and I can start reporting on our WA trip (of which we are in Norseman having just driven the Nullarbor today).

MARCH 2013

At the start of the school year, St Mary's hold a school mass and the preps and Grade 6's play a special part in it.  Like most schools, the preps are partnered up with a Gr6 buddy...someone that will look out for them and help them find their feet.  Someone that they can go to and rely on.  The preps obviously benefit from it and the Gr6 kids blossom with the extra responsibility.  Biddy's buddy is Chloe.

 In this mass, the Gr6 kids bless their prep buddies.  This is about wishing them well on their first year of school and of real independence.  At the end of the school year when we have the final school mass, the roles are reversed and the prepies bless the grade 6 kids for their journey out of St Mary's and into secondary school.  Both masses are quite emotional for the parents and tissues are needed! (especially for the final mass!!)

 The Gr6's receive a leadership pin, and this year, the preps presented them.  This is Biddy giving Chloe hers.

Chloe and Biddy

 While running for the bus at school, Biddy tripped while tying to catch up to Tom and received some nasty injuries.  Fortunately, none were serious.  They just looked bad.  They both missed the bus.

 If you are Victorian and haven't noticed that we have lived through a mini heatwave over the past few weeks, then you must be living overseas, interstate, under a rock or in a house with working air con.  Unlike ours.  Our A/C decided to poop itself and at the same time, the pool developed a leak.  So, back to the stock trough we go in order to escape the heat.  Baby H thought it was just fabulous.

Took the kids to a dino show at Otway fly ovet the long weekend.  They thought it was unreal...until the large dino came out.  Biddy and Bella took off.  Tom, knowing it wasn't real, remained seated, but looked quite nervous the whole time that the big one was out.

Tom got called up to pat the baby meme dino

Bella amongst the throng

I spy....the BIG dino.  Getting ready to bolt!

Mark's birthday.  He turned 45 this year.

 

Some of the farm animals....

The rooster that was supposed to be a hen!  Thanks Wydinia kinder.

 Tom made his first reconciliation last week.  This is an important sacrament in the Catholic faith and there was a bit of preparation to it.  I was very proud.

L-R: Kyle Morrisy (Sacred Heart), Tom and Jonah Scott (both St Mary's)

With Fr Michael

On the home stretch

Phew...these have been rapid catch ups.  Good to have a look at the pics again though (for me that is!).

FEBRUARY 2013

My cousin Emma turned 21 at the end of January and her 21st party  - sci fi theme - was held in early Feb.  This theme was a bit of a challenge to dress for, but after some deliberation, I chose to cheat and buy most costumes online this time.  It cost me less to do this than to make everyone's costumes.  Plus, it saved me HOURS AND HOURS.

This is all of us including my mum.  The kids and I went as Star Wars characters, Mark as a Darlek and mum went as Trinty from The Matrix.

Biddy as C3PO

Henry as Darth Vader

Bella as Princess Leia

Tom as R2D2.  This was the only costume I made from scratch.  The body of the robot is a washing basket and the top is the light shade form one of our lights in the dairy.  I just drew the details.

Mark as a Darlek (from Dr Who).  He was also the barman!

Me as Princess Armadala (Darth Vaders wife before he became DV.  When he was just plain ol' Anakan Skywalker....Luke's dad)

 My uncle Bret (Emma's dad) has spent the better part of 2 years getting this pizza oven built.  In fact, it has sort of become a bit of a running joke amongst us all about him being a perfectionist.  Regardless, the pressure was on to get it finished for the party as the menu was to include homemade pizzas.  As you can see, there are pizzas in the oven and they were delicious.  The oven worked a treat.

Emma as Captain Janeaway from Start Trek 

 The day of riding the bus has finally arrived for Biddy.  This is day 3 for her and the first day back for Tom.  She was just about fit to burst about getting on the bus.

 The following week she had her first PE day (St Mary's call it Blue Earth).  This is her in sports uniform.  Again, looking very pleased.

Mark taking them over the highway to the bus stop

 

Poor Bella is missing Biddy very much.  This particular day, she asked me about 50 times when Biddy was coming home.  I ended up letting her dress up in her princess outfit that she got for Christmas off Aunty Jo & co and taking some snaps.  It diverted her attention until Biddy actually came home.

 We finally managed to catch up with good friends of ours, Nicole and Tim.  I have known both Nic and Tim for many years (in my past life in the Dept Ag), but since me leaving many years ago on long service/maternity leave and then Nic and Tim going o/s and then returning and then starting out in new jobs and both of us having kids.....well, we just don't seem to catch up.  Despite the fact that they live just out of Geelong.  Anyway, they came over to our place to introduce us to Isla who is 3yo and baby Finn who is almost 3 months.

L-R: Bella, Henry, Biddy, Tom and Isla

My birthday.  I turned.....(whisper) 43yo this year.  But look what I got!  There has to be some benefits for moving well and truelly into your 40's.  Just about rounds out my KitchenAid appliances.