Fred and Candys Diary. Townsville to Perth 14th Nats 2012

[freddyc]

Wow. Home time is getting to close. We will up date on the trip home. We all need something to do and read every night. Will be following everyone's safe trip home too. We have had the most amazing time here with everyone. Lovely to meet such wonderful people and put faces to all of your names. Also all the sight seeing, Perth is a beautiful city. We still have 2 days to sight see before heading home. So another jam packed day starting wih the cruise. Hope to see some of you there. To all you who have left. Safe trip. And see you in Tassie.

[freddyc]

Day 19 Tuesday.
I will endeavour to update the missing days so we complete our diary later.  But for now Day 19.
Got up and went to get coffee for the family so they would be able to pack up our mess for the trip home.  Took 2 hours repacking the camper and car for our next trip,  Traveled 3kms down the road to the Central Caravan park.  No car problems.  Met up with fellow FC travelers on there way home.  Trevor and Chris also the couple in the cement van.  Sorry hopeless with names.  Kathy can vouch for this. (Chris)  Steph our ring in and I (Candy) went back to Hillary's, didn't get enough of it the other day.  Fred and Danika (Marshmellow) went to Scarbrough Beach for a swim, had and to Jimmy Deans for lunch.  Awesome place.  Made major detours to get back to the park, due to Great Easton Highway closure from the accident.  Had drinks with our fellow FCers then off to Family for dinner.  Put Danika on the plane at 11pm, then back to the park for our last nights sleep in Perth.

Day 20 Wednesday.
Left park at 8.30am.  Decided to go to Wave Rock for a look.  Wonderful drive there, through the orchards.  We seem to have got into the habit of looking into everyones back yards and properties for any old cars and vans.  Wave Rock was fantastic and worth a look.  Glad we went in, spent a few hours walking around there.  Traveling across to Kalgoolie found another car grave yard on someones property.  No one home so bush bashed through their property and walked 10 mins to get to the spot for photo's.  In the middle of know where for the night free camping.  Off to Kall tomorrow.  Another early night.

[freddyc]

Day 21.
Got up early off to Kalgoorlie. Followed the water pipe all the way. This is the first time we have seen rubbish on the side of the road. Wow what a mess. All the way to Kal. Had lattes at Coolgardie. Thanks Trevor and Chris they were the best. Did some sight seeing around Kal. Wow what a big hole in the ground. Had a beer in one of the lovely old pubs. Seen the local skimpys. Now I know why the pub doors were all closed. Was still a good beer. Dragged Fred out after one. Stayed the night with family. Got to see some of the local cars. Rick has a xb Fairmont hard top. Very nice. Had curried prawns for tea. Early to bed. Big days traveling tomorrow.

[freddyc]

Day 22
Friday the 13th, candy woke early as usually, I followed 15 mins latter. We left kal at 6.30 for our drive to Madurah for some more free camping. Candy got her 20 likes on facebook so she drove the 90 mile straight. Very boring day, lots of coffee stops as we are out of plunger coffee. Seen all this before. heard from Zulu he had already left so no free loading hitchhiker to pick up. That's all sorry.

 

[freddyc]

Day 23
Left our luxurious free camp site early again. Another big drive ahead trying to get to Ceduna. Did some site seeing along the way.  Spent another day looking in everyones farm yard for wrecks.  Amazing what is in everyones back yard.  Found another FC wreck outside of Ceduna as well as a lot of others. Got to Ceduna and stayed at Shelly Bay Caravan park again.  Was great on the way over.  Grabbed a beer, Deer Salami (From Margaret River) crackers and went sat on the beach to see the sunset.  Wonderful as usual.  Then off to the local pub for dinner.  Was going to have seafood but it was to expensive. So will go get fresh oysters tomorrow.  Watched real footy for the first time in 3 weeks.  Cowboys were playing.  We left at half time they were winning so will have to look up the outcome.  Hopefully it was still good.  Back to camp to bed. 

[freddyc]

Oold FC in someones yard outside of Ceduna.

[freddyc]

Oysters at Ceduna.  Doing it tough

[Old_Mt_Isa_Boy]

Someone's got to do it. Keep having fun.

Rgds

Wayne b

[FC_Driver]

Strangly enough I miss being out there........

[freddyc]

DAY 24 Sunday for some
This was a rest day for us. Candy did the washing while I  had a sleep in. Then it was off to smokey bay for a spot of sight seeing and oyster scoring. Headed back to Ceduna via some beautiful little bays and headlands, down to the waterfront for lunch. Over to the pub to see my EELS lose another game. Home for a Nana nap before oyster and beer down the beach (see yesterdays photo). Back to camp for socialising and dinner. Sundried tomato and chilli pesto (from Margaret River) infused chicken breast and pasta. Packed up camp ready for early departure.

Day 25 back to work for some.
7am start, via the bakery for breakfast. Did shit all today but drive. Had pies at Kimba for lunch upon recommendation of Trevor and Chris (thank you again). Found another car graveyard outside Peterborough, couldn't gain access though.. Arrived at another free camp outside of Cockburn. Dinner adult time and bed. Goodnight all.

[FC0058]

Fred
Please explain "Adult Time" for me it means Sonja wants me to be serious, stop thinking about cars & football (NRL) and make some sort of decision. I would have though that you and Candy would have had heaps of adult time on your epic adventure.

Keep on enjoying your cross country adventure. If you had Oysters in Ceduna whats on the local menu tonight. Would have been road kill stew coming from Norseman to Nullabor.

Cheers Jim, Sonja & William

PS I know how your feel WTF is with Manly, how am I meant to win the tipping comp if my own team can not find consistency.

[freddyc]

Day 26 Tuesday,
Sorry Zulu I must curse those damn truckies, that think starting a truck at 4am is a normal hour tssst. So it was another early start not 4 am though, went back to sleep till 6:30. A quick bite to eat then off on the highway again. For those that didn't notice the mint condition HR a broken hill, in the Holden dealship. (too bad). was very nice indeed. Nothing to report just drove. (this blog is getting very boring and monotonous) drove all the way to Warren, free camped on the river bank. Candy heard all sorts of weird noises, thought we were being stalked by a tiger at one stage. Me I slept though it all.

Day 27 Wednesday
Slept in 7am neighbour checking his yabbie trap woke us. Candy cooked us french toast for brekky and plunger coffee again YAY. Even upgraded to glass travel mugs. Left at 8 quick fuel up then off to Gilgandra, spotted some secondhand/opp shops on main street 4 in total. Spend hours looking through them and wainting for one to open. First shop has lots of old wares and specialises in ?? glasswear, but well Worth a look. Second shop we visited ( not sure how to put this. mmmm he was smoking the peice pipe with another local) when we went in. We found 2 first aid kits, one from early 60's with contents intact another was a ford edition (motocraft) guessing mid 70's also with contents. Also some woolen mits and infant booties. Mits will polish cars well I think. Drugoes do the best deals $30 the lot. Then crossed the road and found a 50's valve radio $40. All and all a good outing.  This inspired us to look at more shops in towns, found shit all. Continued onto Lightning Ridge, learned about opals, found a FJ converted opal washing contraption. photo to follow. Finnally back in our home state QLD. A short drive the road to what was to be our accommodation for the night. Hebel what a wonderful 2 horse town. A pub and a cornerstore/caravan park. We were the only ones booked in. $10 a night including free use of washing machines. Met another forum member there "Shayne" hi Shayne when you see this. Thank you for joining us for dinner and a chat. Best food there $25 steak and was it a huge. Barbara and Ralph are very lovely hosts, Ralph is a Holden man but currently only is allowed his Toyota forklift.

Day 28 Thursday,
 Couldn't leave town without a coffee with Ralph and Barb. Waved our goodbyes and on the road again. Shayne told us about the FJ at the Holden dealership in St George, (not the NRL team) very nice dust covered unmolested car. Who put us onto the  HG Monaro, who put us onto Tony. This guy was amazing he nearly has one of every Holden model made. No Fc's though. Left town eventually, drove to Roma so candy could get even more port, from the winery there. $2:2 million would buy you this, probably be cheaper than buying bottles of port. Onto our resting place for the night a tiny town called Rolleston, south of our Nemesis town of Emerald. I am going to cross that "F"ing river tomorrow.   
Goodnight, next blog from home hopefully.

[zulu]

Go Fred n Candy, you can't lay around in bed all day, get up and smell the diesel

We missed the HR at Broken Hill, but the bloke with the Holden collection at the Garage and Car Yard at um er Kellerbren? in WA made up for it

Before you know it you 2 will be home like me......so cop that

Cheers, Gary

[freddyc]

We are home safe and sound. Car started to play up, needed to be jumped started. Will do all the updates tomorrow.

[weddo]

Well done Fred and Candy, that is an epic journey, we are still on the road but down one car.

regards

The Weddo's

Bill & Judi

[FE_UTE]

G'day Fred & Candy

Glad you got home safe and sound...what an epic journey and

what a great diary you have shared with us

I voted you as the happiest couple at the Nats...every time I saw you or a pic of you ...always smiling and having a ball...always up for a chat

Your the sort of people that helps make the FE FC community such a great mob to be associated with

Hope to see you in Tassie or wherever we meet again


Cheers
Gary & Lorene

[RET]

That is an outstanding effort. Well done Fred & Candy, I second Gary's remarks.

Enjoy your own bed, your own shower, and some of that port

See you in Tassie.

RET

[customFC]

WoooHoo!!
Thanks for sharing Fred and Candy's excellent adventure.
Regards
Alex

[Trevor_B]

Good on you Fred & Candy, good to hear you got home OK. Thanks for the updates alomng the way.

We arrived in Esperance late today, a bit wet after 3 days of rain in Denmark & Albany. Still have 2 weeks to get back home to Melbourne so still enjoying the trip.

Lily had a small hick-up near Walpole, the starter motor jammed in when leaving Dinosaur World..... resulting in total melt down of the starter. Smoke then power loss as it shorted out identified the problem  Fitted spare and now all good, got a back up spare off Lester ("Glenview" FE Panel Van).

Looking forward to catching up when we visit Townsville nexct or at worst, in 2 years time in Hobart.

Regards,
Trevor & Chris (AKA Kathy)

[RET]

Glad to hear you got sorted out. We loved Dinosaur World - a little gem hidden away there!