HOME WED 27TH JUNE 12

This is what has happened over our last week. SUNDAY 24 JUNE......Head off after a disturbed sleep. The road now with the Ballina Bypass is great with them doing more works at Sapphire (no not the one in Qld). We arrive at Nambuuca Heads and set up. Rans's TV aerial not working again very lucky it wasn't thrown into the Nambucca River... which only 30ft away!!!  as Manly was playing this arvo. So we go to the Bewells for one last game watch. The Urquhart's come over & have a drink with us. Its good to catch up with them. Tony works at the park we are in. The weather turns cold so we didn't need ice for our drinks! MON 25 JUNE......This morning we have our last big breakie which was nice.There will a lot of "last of things" over the next few days.

We then went for a drive down to Scotts Head which brings back memories from when our boys were growing up with such great times going through Rans & Carols minds. The main beach has changed so much, but the day was perfect with clear skies and beautiful blue water.

We then made our way back & checked out a free camp at Macksville (Gumma Reserve). We then returned back to fill up & get some last minute groceries. Later in the arvo Rans & John & Urkie went down to the Tavern for a bet & drink. Carol & Rans then went to the Urkies for tea which was a nice nite., except the Tigers were beaten....Tony not happy. TUESDAY 26 JUNE......We head off this morning with an overcast day which turns to rain by the time we get around Port Macquarie. We have continual rain into Taree Old Bar where we set up. They have had a fair bit of rain by the looks of the ground. The rain continues all arvo & its bloody cold, Rans goes for a walk down to the beach were there was a huge swell and most of the beach has been washed away whilst Caz has a sleep before we head over to the Bewells for one last meal & drink. We also give our opinions on our best places/times, worse ones & the funniest ones. We all seemed to agree on most things. Dinner & drinks were good and we will miss our times with the Bewells. The rain continues throughout the night which probably was our coldest wet night for 12mths. WEDNESDAY 27 JUNE........We pack up for the last time in drizzling rain its 13mths & 1weeks since we left home.

Our trip South is slow due to the rain which continues to Bulahdelah. We say our goodbyes to John & Sandra who turn off at Raymond Terrace. Thanks John & Sandra for everything, our times together has been AMAZING..ENJOYABLE & GIVEN US LOTS OF LAUGHS & MEMORIES. We continue Sth & arrive at our home at 12noon with Brett & Jacque waiting for us. It does feel a bit weird but also glad to be home & see our boys,friends & relatives.

To all that have followed us on our blog many many thanks. To all the friends & relatives we have seen whilst travelling it was great to see and spend time with you's. So its bye for now until our next adventure which hopefully won't be too far off...........

BRISBANE 24TH JUNE 12

Hi to everyone out there in blog land who is still reading about our adventures? This is possibly our 2nd last blog on our trip around Australia as we head back into NSW & home. But all is not lost as we are preparing our next adventure. So hope all is well with you and this is what has happened since our last blog. SUNDAY 10 JUNE....This morning we walk across the road to the local markets, well I spoke to Mano for most of the time whilst the other 3 walked around, all I can say great timing Mano!!

The rest of the day was taken up working out where & when we are going to for the next couple of weeks. We then had our arvo drinks watching the footy. KNIGHTS.....Gone!!!! MONDAY 11 JUNE........We headed off from Sapphire eastward to Rocky with the roads (development roads) the worse ones we have been on. Being a public holiday makes driving much easier, with no where the amount of road trains on the road and no road works. We arrive at the c/park that we had booked into and set up. After lunch we do our shopping etc so we are out for a while & then return for dinner before Rans heads down to the pub to watch the Warriors win. Meanwhile Caz & the Bewells watch the Voice. Well we knew the train line was close by....but boy the trains continued throughout the night along with the road trains along the Bruce Hwy so its a disturbed nite..Won’t stay here next time. TUESDAY 12 JUNE.....HAPPY B'DAY THOMSIE Have a great day over there in Perth...Watch out for the wind & rain. Also hope you both had a great time in Singapore & the cruise. Today after a bad nite’s sleep we all go for a drive out to Yeppoon & a drive along the Scenic Loop. Yeppoon is just a seaside town which looks out to Great Keppel Is. We drove along the coast and came to Emu Park which is a nice little town & this would be the place to stay if ever coming this way.

 We then made our way back to the vans for lunch. After lunch us 2 & Sandra go to the Botanical Gardens & Zoo whilst John rests with a sore arm/shoulder. The zoo is free, we had a great time here with the feeding of the Cassowary’s, then the chimps who ate their yoghurt out of a bowl with a small plastic spoon !! & then a popper juice where the chimp pulled the plastic straw off with his mouth, then removed the plastic, placed the straw in the popper & drank from the straw, not spilling a drop!...it was AMAZING....The gardens with the War Memorial inside are also good & this is the must do in Rockhampton.

WED 13 JUNE.... This morning we head off towards 1770 ( the name of a town) with the Bruce Hwy getting major road repairs so there a lot of  stops & go. The place we are staying at is a campground right on the water, its just beautiful. The only problem is there is no TV reception & with the State of Origin !1Oh Boy...After setting up we go for a drive around the coastline with a number of things here relating to Captain Cook & Matthew Flinders.

We then head into Agnus Waters & to the local Tavern where we can watch the footy & check on GF Food which is OK so we head back & there is a bush fire up on the hill behind us with lots & smoke & ash coming down to our vans, so we close everything up & get ready. We then get picked up in the Courtesy Bus and went to the Tavern for dinner which was very nice & sat & watched the footy on the Big Screen, it was a great night with a good hard game of footy & especially with the blues winning in front of a Qld crowd. THURS 14 JUNE.....Today is an easy day just hanging around the van, getting haircuts, go for a walk along the beach & boardwalk which is very nice and well prepared. A nice day here wearing singlets & shorts, just awesome.

 FRI 15 JUNE..........We headed Sth this morning following the back road to Bundaberg due to road works on the Bruce Hwy...but we got caught again, so another slow trip. We continued through Bundaberg and then stopped at Childers for a cuppa. Then continued on to Hervey Bay. The town is much bigger than we thought it would be, but looks OK. Rans not happy as he can't get his footy channel!!! but all was not lost after 2hrs & a lot of swearing he gets the footy.... We head over to the Bewells & watch the 1st half before retiring to our van to watch the rest. Rans watches the 2nd game as well whilst Carol goes off to sleep but wakes 45min later to what she thought was a huge spider on the curtain/blind......so I had to wake her from the dream! SAT 16 JUNE..... HAPPY BIRTHDAY RANS !Up early after Rans received a midnight call from his close mates, Brad, Brownie & Snap wishing him Happy B'Day.... Thanks boys. We go for a 90min walk along the Bay & onto Urangan Pier where there were 40-50 people fishing at the end of the pier...at 7.30am??? We returned and then the 2 of us went for a breakie down at the Mariner. Nice food. We then returned and went for a drive with the Bewells along the Esplanade before going for a nice lunch, then the boys went down to the local for a beer & bet.( Unbeknown to us Carol got lost after she dropped us off & it took her over 15min to go 2min....that's why she has the nick name of Compass !!!). We then went to the Bewells for a nice Baked Dinner. Thanks Darl, John & Sandy for a great day. SUND 17 JUNE.....Washing this morning as the sun is out for a nice day.

 The 4 of us go for a drive out to do some shopping before going for a walk along the Urangan Pier with it low tide but still heaps of people fishing. Late arvo the Bewells come to the Ransleys for drinks & watch the footy before the 3 of them headed back to the Bewells to watch the Voice. MON 18 JUNE......Rans woke up with what he thought was gout with his right foot in pain.Today we get picked early in a Humma as we head to Fraser Island, getting the Barge across. This turned out to be a great day passing all our expectations. The Island is all sand, so headed into the Rainforest and go for a walk to some huge trees (Satinays) which almost reach to the sky.

 We returned to the car & our driver Rosco had morning tea ready, which had Choc Cake, Biscuits, GF rum balls & biscuits. We then made our way over to the beach & travelled along the beach for some 20-40k's stopping at ship wrecks, Pinnacles sands, where there are different coloured sands in the hill, then onto a fresh water creek (Eli Creek).

We then made our way up to some sand hills, where we had lunch which was so nice with a great Gluten Free lunch for the girls along with wine & Crownies for the boys. Whilst here we see a dingo which had been tagged. After a great lunch we then made our way to Lake McKenzie, a huge fresh water lake which has the clearest water and some of the whitest sand we have seen.

After a walk around we then headed back to Central Stn where the early lumbers lived back in the late 1800's early 1900's. Here is a beautiful picnic area with some huge Pine Trees (Hoop Pines) with some magnificent stag horns. We then went on a boardwalk through the rainforest & Wanggoolba Creek which was a highlight. The water is so clear & runs so fast but no sound, so when you close your eyes it is so peaceful. We then returned to the picnic area where Rosco had arvo tea with Champagne, Fruit, Chocolates & Crownies. What a way to finish the day, we then drove back to the barge with perfect timing driving almost straight on & heading back to the mainland then dropped back at our vans. Rans then went & watched Manly at the pub whilst the others watched the Final of the Voice..which means they can come to the pub with me next week!!!!  Rans hobbled around all day and was in some pain when he went to bed. TUES 19 JUNE..Rans wakes up early with his foot swollen and he is almost unable to walk on it, so its Carol who has pack up, but Rans drives. We get to Noosa & Carol sets up & we then go to the Dr's who send Rans for an Ultrasound as it may have been DVT but no blood clots thankfully. The Dr doesn't think its Gout but an infection so he's on antibiotics. The rest of the arvo is taken up resting. Weather is almost perfect. WED 20 JUNE.....Rans's foot is a little better & he can at least hobble to the shower. We then head out with the Bewells for a drive up to the Scenic Lookout which has great views over Noosa. Rans can only walk along for a short way whilst the others go to the summit.

We then go down to the The Esplanade along the canal and have morning tea, a nice area looking out onto the water. We then drive down to the Main Beach & River mouth which is also nice but even in Winter is crowded & the shops look up market. We then went for a walk into the Nat Park following the Coastline passing a couple of lookouts turning around at Dolphin Pt. Rans only does a short part but he sees  Koala in a tree. The weather is just  fantastic. We then head back for a late lunch and Rans has a rest before Di & Terry come over. It was good to see them as it has been nearly 3mths since we have seen them. Had a good laugh and talk before they headed off. Another nice day, Rans is feeling slightly better. THURS 21 JUNE.......This morning we head Sth to Brisbane, John has to stop & get Fuel at a BP just out of town and guess who is there waiting with her camera to see us off.....Di of course, so good to see her......well done Di :)We head sth into Brisbane but just as we get near the airport, John has to stop so they go into a Service Stn Centre whilst we continue onto the park. We arrive and then we get a call from Sandra about going though a tunnel !!! ( they took a wrong turn somewhere)  cause we didn't... but they eventually find the place and Sandra is so calm......NOT!!! Anyway it didn't get much better as ths sites are small,.....small you say !! put it this way we could open our van door and with a small jump we could touch their van!!

This is not a park to come back too.....Its called  SHELDON at Eight Mile Plains, anyway we set up and late arvo the 4 of us head around to Cheryl & Mick McKenzies's home which only 3min drive. Cheryl is Ran's Aunty so it is a family reunion with Trad & Lauren and their girls, Claudia & Hannah, as well as Toni & Hayden & her girls Cleo & Duska.

It turned out to be a great nite, great food & great seeing everyone. FRI 22 JUN......Not much today Rans is still doing it hard with this foot, so an easy morning before we all head up to the local shop centre & returning to get ready for the footy. Late arvo Trad arrives & the 5 of us get a taxi to the Suncorp Stadium where we get the VIP treatment with us going onto the field along the side line and into the Broncos Dressing sheds.

Us 4 then go for a nice Thai dinner in Caxton St with John having the biggest soup we have ever seen.  We then return to the ground and take our seats on the 40m line 10 rows back.....how good is this place, a fantastic footy ground and it gets better with Jessica Shipper sitting next to Rans & at half time Rans get his big melon on national Tv with him getting heaps of calls/texts. After the game we stay for Petros' presentation for 300 1st grade games before heading up to the Paddo for drinks. Trad arrives 50min later & we go into the Players room and sit around with the Ist graders, the coach, Alfie,.... yes Carol was only spitting distance from Alfie and also John Williamson, who sings True Blue, singing a tribute to  Petro thrown in. 

We head off around 11.45pm & get a taxi back to our sites. Just a great night. Thanks Trad. SAT 23 JUNE....Happy B'Day Mum & Brett, 75 & 23. Hope yous have a great day. Up early head Sth to Tweed Heads YE HA NSW AGAIN, arriving and setting up all before 10am. We then head out to and have a quick drive around Tweed/Coolangatta then onto the  Nth Kirra Surf Club where we meet up with Carol & Sandras Uncle Merv and his wife Maree and their daughter Angela & granddaughter Chelsea, we have a nice lunch looking out over the beach & ocean.

Whilst there Rans sees a mate of his, Rod McCallum run past and yells out and they catch up, it was so good they also catch up his other brother Neil who was in Rans's classes at school. We then went to the Coolangatta surf club and caught up with Rans's cousin Toni and her father Mick (Dolly) McLean. We had a nice arvo on the veranda.

We then made our way back for a quiet nite. Well what thought & hoped would be a quiet nite but the house over the road had other ideas with them partying till 1am which wasn't too bad but around 4.30am we had this man & woman arguing at the top of their voices with nothing else said other than FU & CU & UGLY & something about thier mothers & about Canada. This went on for over an hr. It has been great catching up with relatives on the way down the coast and we had a good time with all.WELL WE ARE ALMOST AT THE END OF OUR ADVENTURE WHICH HAS BEEN JUST AMAZING. WE ARE SO GLAD WE HAVE DONE IT, SEEING & DOING THINGS THAT WERE ONCE JUST A DREAM. SO THANKS TO ALL WHO HAVE TAKEN THE TIME TO READ OUR BLOG ITS MORE THAN APPRECIATED. TAKE CARE AND SEE YOU SOONXXX

SAPPHIRE SUNDAY 10 JUNE 12

Hi to all    Here whats been happening, SATURDAY 26 MAY......We left Cardwell which is a nice area & van park & would return to,  headed Sth to Townsville where  Rans has been before. This is another big town & we set up down near Rowes Bay. The weather is still overcast & sprinkling rain so after setting up etc we go for a drive into & around town. We then go up to the Castle Hill Lookout which gives fantastic 360deg views of the area including Magnetic Is.

 On the way up we pass so many walkers & runners trying to make it to the top. We then have a walk along the waterfront of the Strand. The town has some wonderful parks and open areas along with some magnificent buildings. SUNDAY 27 MAY....This morning we go to the Markets in the main shopping arcade before having a walk through the Queens Park, which is a nice park with some huge trees and great plants with one flower we have not seen before. After lunch, Rans caught up with an old school mate,Stevo whilst the other 3 went to the Aquarium which was so so, as it was in the middle of repairs. The afternoon has cleared up and also become warmer.

MONDAY 28 MAY.....Today we moved onto Bowen with lots of stops along the way due to roadworks. I must say from my experience so far, Queenslanders are all in a hurry when it comes to driving. We arrive in town and set up camp. We then went for a drive around the local bays, such as Horseshoe Bay, Rose Bay & Grays Bay. The weather today is nice when in direct sun & out of the wind. This is a small nice town, not much to see but if you want a bit or R & R then this is O.K.

After dinner Rans walks down to the Local to watch the Footy whilst the other 3 watch & cry over the Voice??? The pub was used as a backing in the movie "Australia" and across the road is where most scenes were shot, turning a huge vacant lot into Darwin. The pub itself is nice & is owned by Mike McLean..no not Rans's uncle but the one who played for Easts up to a few years back. TUESDAY 29 MAY...Well so  much for Qld.... sunny one day beautiful the rest!!! cause the wind is blowing a gale, it is overcast & freezing. Rans goes for a early morn walk and comes back for a hot shower he is that cold. Mid morning the 4 of us go for a walk along the waterfront with our hair going every which way.  Rans & I go for a short drive in the arvo to the Big Mango, we actually don't see many mango farms or trees compared to Darwin & Broome.

There are a few tomato farms and a lot of road repairs going on which we get caught in and then we get stooped at a train crossing for 14min....yes 14. The rest of the day is sunny but very windy. WEDNESDAY 30 MAY...We head Sth with a short drive to Airlie Beach, but it was very windy and it took an effort to stay on the roadway. We set up at a Big 4 Park which is a great park, with big sites, nice grounds, great pool and as we find out good entertainment. After lunch we headed into Airle for a walk around the waterfront before driving along the waters edge to Shute Bay. We then returned & went to a father & son who entertained us by singing some old classics. Their parents also got up & sang, they were all good  and it went for 2- 1/2hrs. Its is also sprinkling rain again. THURSDAY 31 MAY......A easy day today catching up on paperwork etc, as its still overcast & wet. We also did some shopping & had haircuts etc, but overall it was nice & easy. Brett arrived home safe & well after his holiday. FRIDAY 1 JUNE 12......This morning we all go for a drive out to Cedar Falls/Creek a nice picnic area,  then drove onto Wilson's Beach and then Conway Beach, a nice small place but with a terrible access road. Here we had a walk on the beach before the rain arrived.

We then decided to become healthy people, so we drove to Shute Harbour and went on a walk through the rainforest to Coral Beach which was a nice area but a very rocky beach area and then onto the lookout at Mt Roper which would have had great lookout to Sth Molle Is & Daydream but the treetops have grown thus making it difficult to see, plus the overcast day didn't help. We then returned for an easy arvo with the Bewells going for a massage whilst we had tap problems and attempted to get a a new one which was unsuccessful but tracked one down at Mackay which we will pick up next week. Had arvo drinks prior to watching the 2 games of footy with MANLY beating the dragons...easily!!!

SAT 2 JUNE.... This morning Carol goes to the markets with the Bewells & I arrived later. On arriving Carol asked me to come with her to look at something...she had ran into our old neighbour from Horsfield Bay...Robina. She moved up here a few years ago so it was a pleasant surprise. I had to go for a massage whilst Carol talked to Robina for an hr, it was so lovely to see her, then Carol went for her massage.

We then went and did some shopping before washing etc in the arvo. Another easy day but we hope it will break by tomorrow so we are staying till Tuesday. SUN 3 JUNE...Well it is a nice day, so we decide to go for a drive over to Proserpine and out to the Proserpine Lake/Peter Faust Dam which is a huge man made lake with a mtn in the background that makes you feel like you are in Canada.

We then head back into town and go to the local showground and have a drive through as we see a heap of stall like tents ( the girls were hoping for more markets !!)..It turns out to be a dog show!! so we high tale out of there and stop in town at a nice park where we have lunch. We then returned back to our site and we played putt putt golf. It was a fun arvo with some hard holes but a good laugh. Sandra won by 1 shot...

We then went to our van where we had our cheese & bikkies along with a drink whilst watching the Knights get thrashed!! The girls also cracked heaps of pecan nuts which Carol had bought at a show a few weeks earlier. A nice day. MON 4 JUNE....Today is a great weather day & we all head out to the Whitsundays on a very fast boat (4 x 225HP Out Board Motors),

We stop at Border Island where we snorkelled for and 1hr or so. Rans sees a big Blue Groper, & Carol & Rans a Turtle whilst the Bewells see a big number of clams. We are the last ones back on board....this is Carols new sport! We then head over to Whitehaven Bch, where the sand is the whitest in Qld. It is a busy beach especially with such a nice day, We have a nice lunch a walk along the beach & Rans has a swim.

We then head off going past Island like Pentecost Is, Lindeman Is (which the Chinese just bought for 12mill !!), Daydream Is & Hamilton Is, where the rich try & outdo each other, with the new Sailing club costing $50mill & the nearest Island which is owned by Oats of Wild Oats fame just putting in a $50mill golf course!!

We have a great day with the 2 crew, a real laugh. We get home have dinner & Rans goes to the Pub & watches Parra win, whilst the others watch the Voice. This van Park was probably the nicest & best one we have stayed at & if anyone comes up this way, this is the place to stay.TUES 5 JUNE.....Today we head Sth to a place, Seaforth just Nth of Mackay. It is on the ocean looking out to the Whitsunday Islands. After setting up we all go for a drive into Mackay to a caravan shop as Rans had to get a new tap. We then attempted to find the Info centre which took us back into town & then back out to where we started, so we saw heaps, although it was the same stuff! We then had a short drive around the place which is very big & industrial so we headed back for a drive around the town before heading back.

WED 6 JUNE......Today we catch up on things around the van, in the arvo we went for a drive to Ball Bay, Cape Hilsborough, with a walk along the beach. We find this better than Cape Tribulation. Returned for another early nite as its getting colder.

THURS 7 JUNE....Up early today as we go for a drive into the Hinterland to a place Eungella. The road out is flat for the first 40km but the last 5km is straight up with a couple of one lane elbows. It is steep..... very steep! we were thinking of bringing the van up here for a couple of days, but this trip changed our mind. Once up top the views back down through the valley was AMAZING..

We then went out to Broken River where we saw 2-3 Platypus's swimming in the creek. We then checked out a couple of lookouts before heading back down the Mtn to a place, Finch Hatton Gorge, where we went on a 3km walk to the gorge and the 2 boys decided to go for a swim..maybe a dip..maybe a jump in race out...as it was freezing. John swam for 10m whilst Rans went in up to his head before getting out as his legs had gone numb & red. This is the coldest water so far. It is also where a German tourist drowned last week, he fell in off a rock.

We then made our way back to the car and drove to the very small town of Pinnacle where we had lunch at the pub with the boys having a Jenny Craig meal.... Pie, Chips, Gravy & a schooner of beer!!! We then made our way back to our site with another enjoyable day over.

 FRI 8 JUNE......Today we headed off towards Emerald taking a back road which was being repaired for the first 100kms or so.  It was slow going especially with the big mine trucks and the roads so bumpy again. There are heaps of mines out this way. We passed a big cotton field and Sorgen fields but mostly is all mines  mines mines!! We then stopped off at Moronbah, where we tracked down Uncle Ron, Carols fathers brother. It was over 30yrs since they had seen him ,but it brought back instant memories of Ed, especially with his touching of his head, his hankie & his hands. We had about 30min with him so that was good.

We continued on but no free camps out here not even stopping areas as they are doing the roads up, so we stopped at Clermont. It is only a 1 niter here as the positions we got is not ideal but that happens. Nights are getting really cold now. Watched first half of footy with the Bewells.

SAT 9 JUNE 12....Up & headed off towards Sapphire which was a slow bumpy, wheel rutt trip, with lots of roadworks. Arrive at Sapphire which is probably on par with Andamooka in S.A. & if anyone remembers our comments about that place....  " The arsehole of the world" so that give you an insight. The van park is OK but some of the people...well, they are all hoping for the big find of a Sapphire or gem!!! In the arvo we all go for a drive into Rubyvale which is not much better, but it is laugh.

So we are here only for 2 nites, and are heading back towards the coast and making our way South. Everyone take care and we will see most of you's soon. Love Rans & Carolxxxxxxxxxx