Good morning faithful followers (I am always hopeful there is more than just one of you...)!! I am currently soaking up the early morning sunshine in the stunning wine country of the Hunter Valley, where Winston and I lay our weary head last night. More on that later but let me see if I can remember where we left off...
I woke in Sydney ready to leave the city behind for a couple of weeks and head out onto the road with my new trusty travelling companion, Winston. Now those of you that have followed me before know I have the habit of naming my camper vans (who could forget Colin and my ever dependable Trevor). So when he was delivered to me on Sunday, it was clear he was (on first appearance) rather more stoic than my previous beaus' Peter from Driveabout campers immediately suggested Winchester but this reminded me of a gun or the pub in Hot Fuzz.....so the next name to pop into my strange little brain was Winston. And Winston it was.
SO after packing him up and enjoying a rather fabulous brekkie in the coffee shop below my apartment, I gleefully plumbed my next destination into Sat Nag (who for the purpose of this trip will be known as Mavis) and off I set to tackle the early morning city streets of Sydney on my way to the first stop on my list - Cessnock in the Hunter Valley. But before this I had one goal in mind. To drive over the iconic Harbour Bridge.
Wow is all I can say. I was star struck as the structure came into view before me, 6 lanes wide, majestic and known the world over and as I sailed underneath it I actually got goosebumps. And several honks as I was apparently driving far too slowly in order to savour the atmosphere! The road then wound up and out of the city, leaving views to die for behind me (I always seem to drive amazing roads the wrong way) and finally joining the highway which was impressive in itself as it carved its way through rock faces and past lakes and rivers.
As lovely a drive as it was I was desperate to find some back roads so I abandoned Mavis and followed route 33, finding the kind of road that I live for. Corkscrew bends winding through hills and valleys, warm eucalyptus scented air filling my lungs with every breath, entering wine country as the landscape changed, randomly finding an iron rhino called Roger who could have been mine for the princely sum of $12,000 and finally stopping by some very pretty cows to write up my notes.
So I sat there, looking at the cows, the beautiful warm sun beating down on my face making me glad and very grateful to be alive. Then I heard them. Bikes. Big ones. Loving the stretch of road as much as me as I now now it is an extremely popular biker route. And I can see why. And it would explain all the signs telling bikers to beware.
Onwards and upwards, spotting my first koala sign (I never tire of seeing them) and then trying to spot one of the little critters in the flesh, but to no avail. A little pit stop in the pretty town of Wollombi and the home of Dr Jurgs Jungle juice, opting for a sprite but buying a little sample for later!
Wine country had started good and proper now and I made a rather well timed pit stop at a vineyard opposite a rather large cheesegrater.....
Stonehurt Cottages and Wine were heavenly and I sampled 3 of the most amazing reds, only to buy a bottle of their fizz!! Then before I knew it I was in the larger town of Cessnock, complete with a Coles, Big W, Wollies and all the other shops I associate with my travels and after stocking up on supplies it was a quick drive to my campsite, the BIG4 Hunter Valley which is nestled in some lovely little vines on the edge of Mount View Estate.
And wow, what a view. A little drive beckoned and I meandered once again through stunning vineyards with breathtaking views, stumbling across Ivanhoe Wines whose sign proudly proclaimed 'Big Gusty Reds'. Must have known I was coming.....
By now I was starting to feel a little weary as the jet lag was still hanging around a little, so I headed back to the campsite, hooked up to the site and lay on my bead for a little snooze. That was 4.40pm. The next thing I know I wake up with a start, its pitch black and I have no idea where I am. I start to panic then remember I am with Winston. Just turn on the light and you will be ok. There are no lights. There has to be lights. Colin and Trevor had lights. OMG.....
I obviously finally found the lights and with them on I decide that maybe now I need to go to bed. So I begin, in a rather odd fashion, to lock up the van with me in it., starting with the side door which was quite difficult as I had to squeeze my hand down between the door and the cabinet. Don't remember it being that difficult in Colin/Trevor I though to myself. Then I obviously need the loo. To my horror, although I was able to get the side door locked, opening it again was a whole different ball game. which then produced the most ridiculous display of a middle aged woman trying get out of a locked campervan. This was achieved by squeezing my fair sized arse through a rather small gap between the front seats (firstly having to remove a table that was wedged behind the driver seat) . Once through the gap I then had to turn around and get my legs off the seat, at which point my aforementioned arse sat straight on the horn, blasting it out across the tranquil site like an air raid warning. Sweet baby Jesus and the Orphans I had a sweat on but finally managed to fall out of the drivers door in order to go and unlock the side door from the outside with the keys . Which I then realised I'd left back inside the van......
Once I'd pulled myself together and done all of the above in reverse, I had my wee and went to sleep with every bloody door open and a sense of shame and vain hope that no-one would have noticed. Yeah right.
And so here I sit rested, soaking up the sun and ignoring the conversation 2 girls were having about the tit that honked their horn in the middle of the night, leaving with a whistle and a shake of my head, all ready and set for the day ahead.
Which only means one thing.....WINE!!!!
So until later my faithful friends, I have a date with a man called Tex, a minibus and several vineyards TTFN! x
Monday, 29 February 2016
Sunday, 28 February 2016
Here we go again....G'day from Down Under!
Woooooooo! We are here!!
Hello and good Leap Year Morning from me faithful followers! The next big Aussie adventure is under way and we are kicking it all of in Sydney!
The last time we spoke, I was logging on from my kitchen and this morning its the once every four years 29th February and I am logging on from the lovely little apartment I have shared for a couple of nights with my Pops. Its 4am and I am still living on jet lag time which is a cross between working nights with no sleep and constantly having the feeling of being on a boat!
I'm quite conscious that all we have really done up till now is get on a plane and travel for 24 hours, then spend 24 hours in this wonderful city, but you know me there is always a story to be told.
So I will summarise the highlights of the trip so far so that you can all back into the swing with me and any new friends reading (hello!!) can make up their mind if my inane ramblings will become a routine for the next few weeks. It'll send you off to sleep if nothing else. So here goes....
Flying Emirates and realising they really do live up to the hype.
Meeting Keith the ever helpful beep beep waggon driver and expert wheelchair pusher with a sense of humour to melt my heart.
Getting on an amazingly large plane that is even more amazingly quiet and still wondering how the bloody things fly (and pondering how ships float and electricity works as I always do).
Having lots of leg room....at least for one leg! (that's one leg of the journey not personally)
Listening to Pops signing along merrily to 60's pop classics in his headphones, oblivious to the Stars in their Eyes performance he was producing for those around him.
Meeting the lovely Bruce (for that is what he is know as because I couldnt' understand what he said when he introduced himself), finding it highly amusing when he asked for tea and ended up with gin as the stewardess clearly had the same problem with his pronunciation.
Helping Bruce fill out his landing card and hoping to God I don't see him being deported on a future episode of 'Australian Boarder Force'.
Desperately trying to find the apparently trapped rhino in the overhead locker and crush it's windpipe as it clearly had blocked sinuses causing it to make a noise enough to wake the dead.
Having a conversation that went like this... Man: 'what time do we get to sydney' Me: '1030pm' Man: 'in the day' Me: 'no the night' Man: 'so the morning' Me: 'no evening' Man: pause to consider 'so morning then' Me: 'NO night time, dark, evening, opposite to morning' Man: 'oh...I see, the morning' with a man who I was pretty sure is one of the apparent Nigerian Princes that emails you asking for money to save his family of helpless cats or all your teeth will fall out, who was coincidentally wearing the most splendidly shiny suit jacket, which I fear was an unfortunate result of too many years of ironing rather than fashion choice.
Standing near the emergency exit door with a fidgety man who looked like he wanted to pull the door leaver that said 'pull' (but was obviously not meant to be pulled whilst flying) more than I did.
Having a hai raising beep beep ride through Dubai airport, taking out several other passengers waiting for a flight to Dehli and quite possibly destroying a mans worldly goods that were at his feet in a carrier bag when the wheels ran them over....I've had safer tuk tuk rides in Bangkok.
Facebooking and whatsapping from the plane, using all my free internet to discuss the merits of stripy lampshades over metal ones with my boy.
Finally arriving at our lovely little apartment after a protracted wait for a shuttle bus and a rather tetchy altercation with the hotel receptionist, chatting with my Pops on the sofa whilst demolishing the contents of the overpriced mini bar (which was actually just some beers in the fridge rather than a very small bar).
Waking to beautiful sunshine, very strong coffee, flip flops and sunscreen.
Heading into the city and soaking up the iconic sights of this amazing harbour once again from the decks of a ferry once more.
Being introduced to Winston, my travelling companion for the next 10 days and taking him and my Pops to meet his best friend once again along with his 2 lovely daughters and nephew, eating steak, catching up, sorting out his pills, getting him settled and finally heading back to sleep.
That about sums it up! Fear not new followers, I don't usually ramble this much (ahem) and I don't always use bullet points but its 4am and needs must! Of course there will be pictures, you know I love a picture, and soon I will be heading out to start the first leg of my adventure and my Pops will be starting his. Who knows, we may even bump into each other.....
Watch out Australia, we're back!
So until later it is, as always, TTFN xx
Hello and good Leap Year Morning from me faithful followers! The next big Aussie adventure is under way and we are kicking it all of in Sydney!
The last time we spoke, I was logging on from my kitchen and this morning its the once every four years 29th February and I am logging on from the lovely little apartment I have shared for a couple of nights with my Pops. Its 4am and I am still living on jet lag time which is a cross between working nights with no sleep and constantly having the feeling of being on a boat!
I'm quite conscious that all we have really done up till now is get on a plane and travel for 24 hours, then spend 24 hours in this wonderful city, but you know me there is always a story to be told.
So I will summarise the highlights of the trip so far so that you can all back into the swing with me and any new friends reading (hello!!) can make up their mind if my inane ramblings will become a routine for the next few weeks. It'll send you off to sleep if nothing else. So here goes....
Flying Emirates and realising they really do live up to the hype.
Meeting Keith the ever helpful beep beep waggon driver and expert wheelchair pusher with a sense of humour to melt my heart.
Getting on an amazingly large plane that is even more amazingly quiet and still wondering how the bloody things fly (and pondering how ships float and electricity works as I always do).
Having lots of leg room....at least for one leg! (that's one leg of the journey not personally)
Listening to Pops signing along merrily to 60's pop classics in his headphones, oblivious to the Stars in their Eyes performance he was producing for those around him.
Meeting the lovely Bruce (for that is what he is know as because I couldnt' understand what he said when he introduced himself), finding it highly amusing when he asked for tea and ended up with gin as the stewardess clearly had the same problem with his pronunciation.
Helping Bruce fill out his landing card and hoping to God I don't see him being deported on a future episode of 'Australian Boarder Force'.
Desperately trying to find the apparently trapped rhino in the overhead locker and crush it's windpipe as it clearly had blocked sinuses causing it to make a noise enough to wake the dead.
Having a conversation that went like this... Man: 'what time do we get to sydney' Me: '1030pm' Man: 'in the day' Me: 'no the night' Man: 'so the morning' Me: 'no evening' Man: pause to consider 'so morning then' Me: 'NO night time, dark, evening, opposite to morning' Man: 'oh...I see, the morning' with a man who I was pretty sure is one of the apparent Nigerian Princes that emails you asking for money to save his family of helpless cats or all your teeth will fall out, who was coincidentally wearing the most splendidly shiny suit jacket, which I fear was an unfortunate result of too many years of ironing rather than fashion choice.
Standing near the emergency exit door with a fidgety man who looked like he wanted to pull the door leaver that said 'pull' (but was obviously not meant to be pulled whilst flying) more than I did.
Having a hai raising beep beep ride through Dubai airport, taking out several other passengers waiting for a flight to Dehli and quite possibly destroying a mans worldly goods that were at his feet in a carrier bag when the wheels ran them over....I've had safer tuk tuk rides in Bangkok.
Facebooking and whatsapping from the plane, using all my free internet to discuss the merits of stripy lampshades over metal ones with my boy.
Finally arriving at our lovely little apartment after a protracted wait for a shuttle bus and a rather tetchy altercation with the hotel receptionist, chatting with my Pops on the sofa whilst demolishing the contents of the overpriced mini bar (which was actually just some beers in the fridge rather than a very small bar).
Waking to beautiful sunshine, very strong coffee, flip flops and sunscreen.
Heading into the city and soaking up the iconic sights of this amazing harbour once again from the decks of a ferry once more.
Being introduced to Winston, my travelling companion for the next 10 days and taking him and my Pops to meet his best friend once again along with his 2 lovely daughters and nephew, eating steak, catching up, sorting out his pills, getting him settled and finally heading back to sleep.
That about sums it up! Fear not new followers, I don't usually ramble this much (ahem) and I don't always use bullet points but its 4am and needs must! Of course there will be pictures, you know I love a picture, and soon I will be heading out to start the first leg of my adventure and my Pops will be starting his. Who knows, we may even bump into each other.....
Watch out Australia, we're back!
So until later it is, as always, TTFN xx
Thursday, 25 February 2016
It's back!!!!!
Well good morning faithful followers, its been a while but the time has come for another big fat adventure back to the land I love!
And Pops is coming too!
So as I sit in my kitchen listening to the birds sing as the morning begins and wonder if I have packed too much (which I have as always) I have that same old feeling of excitement about what the next 3 weeks will bring. I know one thing, there will be tears, tantrums, wine, laughter, beer, more wine, more laughter with a little bit of pant peeing thrown in, good friends, good company, good food, sun, sea, surf, sand (I'm still not too keen on sand), old memories revisited, new ones made and hopefully a lot more people reading my ramblings with a smile on their face! Remember to share, I'm still waiting to be discovered and get offered a job travelling the world and getting paid for it.....and I'm also waiting for Brad Pitt to come and clean my fridge naked. There's probably more chance of that happening but a girls gotta dream......
Right time to unpack and pack again as I'm pretty sure I don't need quite so many pairs of knickers but you never know when a woolly poncho may come in handy......
Until later.
TTFN x
And Pops is coming too!
So as I sit in my kitchen listening to the birds sing as the morning begins and wonder if I have packed too much (which I have as always) I have that same old feeling of excitement about what the next 3 weeks will bring. I know one thing, there will be tears, tantrums, wine, laughter, beer, more wine, more laughter with a little bit of pant peeing thrown in, good friends, good company, good food, sun, sea, surf, sand (I'm still not too keen on sand), old memories revisited, new ones made and hopefully a lot more people reading my ramblings with a smile on their face! Remember to share, I'm still waiting to be discovered and get offered a job travelling the world and getting paid for it.....and I'm also waiting for Brad Pitt to come and clean my fridge naked. There's probably more chance of that happening but a girls gotta dream......
Right time to unpack and pack again as I'm pretty sure I don't need quite so many pairs of knickers but you never know when a woolly poncho may come in handy......
Until later.
TTFN x
Wednesday, 24 February 2016
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