Fred and Candys Diary - Townsville to Tasmania 2014

[freddyc]

Day 25.
Can tell we are back in Victoria. Bucketed down all night. Still going. Finally on the road. Cold and wet.
Hey Graeme will give you a call when we get closer.

[freddyc]

Decided to keep driving until this rain stops. Think it nearly has us beat. But the good news is we are nearly in NSW. It might stop then. We hope.
We have had a pretty easy day. Stopping at all the antique shops. Chris we found lots of green glass. Also lots of petrol bowsers. Fred wanted to stuff a couple in the little van. All he got out with was a shell crate. It's now 5.30pm freezing and poring.

[JOX515]

Was great to catch with you and fred, candy.  Would you believe the rain has stopped and the sky is clear here in Ballarat now!!!!!  No brass monkeys in site tho..... it is bloody cold.


Cheers, Graeme

[DJ]

I was at the same antique place in Castlemaine a couple of weeks ago.
Lots of bowsers is right! I had never seen so many in one place - until we went inside the car memorabilia rooms.
Behold, the huge range of refurbished bowsers in all shapes & sizes. Not cheap, but all for sale and with transport offered to anywhere.

Sorry to hear the heavy rain hit when you went through but they certainly needed it there.

[Trevor_B]

Hi Candy,
Chris said thanks  yep, that's a great place in Castlemaine although very pricy as you would have seen.

We are hoping you travel into NSW as soon as you can so the rain will stop  only started when you guys (and me) arrived back on the boat..... hang on, maybe I'm the one who's bringing the rain 

Have a safe trip home, only got 4-5 days to get there so you will need to keep moving.

Cheers,
Trevor_B

[freddyc]

Found a great little pub with $10 roasts at Strathmerton. Also had free camping over the road. Had dinner and straight into the little van. Bloody rain.
Early to bed.

Day 26.
The sun is out. Running around doing our little sunshine dance. Oh yar oh yar
Will put some miles behind us today.
Our camp
Few things drying out.


Thanks Graeme for coffee yesterday. It was great to meet you and see you car.
And yes it must be you Trevor with the rain. It's gone.

[freddyc]

Ok Australia must be the land of the BIG found a Murray cod that Fred didn't want to leave behind. Also tried to carry the tennis racket home for Surfer boy and Cathy for there collection.

[freddyc]

Back at Parkes

[surferboy]

Love your diary Candy and chief driver, cook, bottle washer

We are safely home
Cathy already has the washing machine on and is washing the dishes after cooking our dinner.
and lighting my pipe and fetching my slippers
and throwing another log on the fire

It's good you didn't corrupt her over the weekend 

Hope to catch up with you in Alice Springs in 2016 on the way to Toowwoommbbaa


  & his chief navigator, cook & bottle washer

[freddyc]

Harhar glad you made it home safely and the car still going. That's what happens when you get married. It's to late for Cathy to change. Mind you as soon as I get home I will be starting the washing machine. Not going to do the rest but. Maybe the log on the fire "NOT" we are going back to our lovely sunny and hot Townsville. I am excited about that. "No rain" I hope. Make sure you do call in and see us on your way past. Alway have room if you need a bed.

Day 27
Stayed in Peak Hill last night. Great little caravan park. Went to the local butcher and got some steak. Really nice. Found a shop full of EHs turns out it's the same guy that owns all the cars in the paddock we seen on the way through the first time. Stopped and had another look this morning. He also has the old Holden shop becide it. Locals say he won't part with anything.
Will try to make St George tonight. Depending on how many antique shops Fred sees. And we are now collecting photos on BIG things that all these towns seem to have. For Surferboy and Cathy so they know where they all are for one of there trips. The Murray Cod is a must.

[freddyc]

Ok screaming down the highway, I'm working on the computer so not taking in the surroundings. Fred starts laughing, like really belly laughing. Hits the skids and turns around. Apparently me without coffee. This is why he makes the coffee before I get out of bed Surferboy.

[freddyc]

The old Holden shop Peak Hills

Out the back

[freddyc]

They said wide load.



Not "get off the bloody road, I'm taking up the whole thing"

[freddyc]

Finally the Queensland border.
No money but we have made it.



Free camp. Tick



Free food. Tick



I tried to get my own. I wanted lamb



Lucky Fred had tomato sauce. Roo will do



Ok now how do we get fuel?
Let's catch an EMU they bred them big here.



Ok didn't go as planned.
Ended our day at St George. Will work on that free ride home tomorrow
Night all.

[freddyc]

Day 28.
Holidays are coming to an end. Home tomorrow.
Going through Roma at the moment.
Bit spoilt today. Breakfast in bed and roses.

[gp]

You should have stopped in at the Nindigully Pub for a "Roadtrain Burger"

[freddyc]

Bugger forgot that one.
Not much happening. Nice mountains



Had to laugh at our steep hills in qld



Now getting a bit bored




Only 800kms or so to go.

[freddyc]

Stopped in Clermont for out last night of our holidays. 500 kms to go tomorrow and then it's over. Fred's putting the car and trailer in our car show in Townsville. Trying for the longest travelled. Will be about 8500kms by time we get home. We did over 2500kms around Tassie. Didn't know there was that much road. Will update true figures when we finally get home tomorrow.
So not much happened today. Found a really nice caravan park for our last night. They had happy hour. So had to go to that. Then come to the pub for dinner. I got BBQ pork ribs. Think I got the whole pig. OMG
Now to watch real footy finally.


Last camp spot for this holidays. Very sad

Our beautiful sunset

Fred having a quick nap before happy hour

Birthday dinner

He organised cake and a candle

My whole pig

Finished it

Now watching real footy. I love Queensland.

What a perfect birthday

[freddyc]

Day 29
Done both markets at Clermont in half an hour. Made it out with one bag of caramel fudge. Fred was dragging me past all the cake and jam tables. 501 kms to Townsville
Home here we come.
We do still have to make it past the antique shop in Charters Towers.

[DJ]

What a great read & the photos are terrific. Thanks.