The Start of our big trip

by Shakob

On the first day we drove from home to Peterborough. We stayed the night at Peterborough.

On the second day we drove from Peterborough to Broken Hill and got there  about lunch time. Today was mum’s birthday so after lunch we went to the Albert Kersten geo centre. We then went to meet up with one of mum’s friends. After that we went to the desert sculptures. To get to the desert sculptures we had to climb a big hill.

Here is a picture of us waving onto a rock

Here is a photo of the same rock in the sun

and away from the sun

On day 3 we drove from from Broken Hill all the way to Nyngan . We drove 588km with a caravan and with stops.

Overall there has been lots of driving. It will be worth it when we get to the fun stuff. 

Here is a picture of us in the car

Getting away is always the hard part of a trip like this.  Although we were pretty well organised, there are always those last minute little tasks that have to be done before you can leave home.  We were hoping to leave by around 10am but maintained that we would leave when we did.

It was 10.41am as we drove out the front gate. It’s hard to even imagine that it’ll be more than 3 months before we return.

The kids were pretty testy in the car to begin with.  In the first 200km we stopped 4 times!  It made for a pretty slow start.  Particularly given that the first 200km were bound to be the most boring of the whole trip.  It’s a trek we make often and there isn’t much of interest to look at.

Once we left Port Augusta, if felt more like our trip was beginning.  We headed toward the Flinders Ranges and really enjoyed the scenery.  TJ was particularly interested in the all the “huge mountains”.  

Lunch was on the side of the road (in a parking bay area) about 30km before we got to Port Augusta.  I made corned beef sandwiches with some beef I’d cooked the night before.  Tea was a BBQ and went down very well after a long days travel.

Overnight we stayed at Peterborough which was a lovely little place to stay.  We’d like to head back there one day and have a good look around.  Given it’s only about 350km from home, we thought we’d leave it to explore another time and keep moving on day 2 and get a little further from home.

We’re a little tired after all the effort of getting away so I’m not 100% sure if it would have been wiser to stop and have a rest before continuing on.  We only have 286km to Broken Hill though so not a huge days travel ahead of us.

We’re still getting things in the caravan organised and haven’t streamlined things precisely yet.   I think that will come with time.  I’m looking forward to a bit better weather so that we’re not falling over one another all piled into the caravan all the time. 

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After all the planning and preparation, the moment is almost upon us. It’s all feeling a bit surreal really. Although right now, I’m feeling like I need a holiday!!!! To recover from all the preparation and packing!!!! LOL.

With 1 day left until we leave, we’re pretty much packed.

Plans for the final day include washing up all the bedding, cleaning the house and cleaning out the freezer and fridge. Enough to keep me busy all day I’m sure.

It’s pouring with rain outside which is making packing food into the van a little tricky. Fortunately, there isn’t too much to be packed into the van so I can afford to wait for a break in the rain (assuming we get one). Not that I’m complaining. The rain is VERY nice. I’m just praying my dryer doesn’t choose now to give up on me - I’m trying to get everything washed and dried before we go!!!

By this time tomorrow, we’re hoping to be on the road. Somehow, it still doesn’t seem real.

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On the first night we are staying at Peterborough.

On the second night we are staying at Broken hill. (mum,s birthday)

On the fourth night we are staying at Dubbo. In Dubbo we re going to see the western plains zoo and learning about solar system.

In Narrabri we are going to see the cotton center.

We are visiting dads friends on farm near Miles.

In the Great Barrier Reef we are going snorkeling.

In Atherton we are going to visit mums friends

We are going to see some islands.

We are going to go to the Daintree Rainforest.

We are going to the Australia Zoo near Brisbane.

On the Gold Coast we are going to movie world sea world and wet n wild.

In Sydney we are going to visit our cousins.

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I tend to think a lot. It can be annoying at times because my brain doesn’t know how to switch off. However, sometimes it comes in handy.  At times my brain tends to wander to the “what if” type scenario.  Again, this is sometimes annoying but sometimes rather handy as it gives me the opportunity to “be prepared”.

So, in one of these so called “what if” thinking episodes, my brain wandered to the list of things that “might” go wrong while we’re away.  It wasn’t a “panic, tragedy…” type thought process.  More of a “what would we do if this happens….” type thought process.

One time we were in Adelaide (about 500km from home) and when I went to get money out of the ATM, my card was spit back out at me.  Turns out it had expired and I hadn’t realised.  I had a momentary panic as I wondered if we were going to be able to get hold of any cash.  Of course, it was only momentary as we were in a place where we knew people, had family and were in the same state so could go to a branch of our bank (BankSA) even if we couldn’t get to our local branch.

Anyway, it occurs to me that something “might” happen to one or both of our wallets.  Or the car might get stolen with our stuff in it.  Let’s face it, these things can happen anytime.  But when you’re 4000km away from home and know no-one, this could be more problematic than usual.

So, I thought it might be wise to take a small “emergency box” with us, as much for peace of mind than anything else.

In it I have placed some cash, a spare credit card and photocopies of what is in our purse/wallet.  I’m also leaving a copy of what is in our purse/wallet at home with family.

One hopes we won’t need to use it, but it’s there in case we do.

I think I’d make a good Scout, don’t you? (LOL. “Be Prepared”)

Anything else you think I should include in my little “emergency kit”?

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On the first of July me and my family are leaving on are big trip. We are going through New South Wales and from Dubbo we are going straight up to Rockhampton (in Queensland). From there we are going up the coast of Queensland up to Daintree where we are seeing the Daintree Rainforest. After that we are going back down the coast of Queensland to the Gold Coast. At the Gold Coast we are staying at a caravan park there with some friends and going to the theme parks (e.g. movie world). After that we are going down to Sydney and seeing some cousins for a little while. After that we are going back through New South Wales to home. Overall we will be gone for a little over 3 months. On the way we will be visiting lots of places like Australia zoo and the Great Barrier Reef.

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One of the challenges we’ll face living in a caravan for over 3 months is the daily trips back and forth to the shared toilet blocks.

For Christmas, each of the kids got a hangable bathroom wetpack for the trip:

It folds up into a neat pack and has separate compartments to help keep their gear organised.  The hook at the top means they can be easily hung on the hooks on the back of shower doors.

I was then looking for a simple idea for carting clothing and other gear from the caravan to the shower blocks.  I didn’t want anything that would take up too much room.

I love these ecosilk bags for my shopping. 

I have a set of hot pink ones that always get comments in the supermarkets.  They come in an assorted range of colours which suited my purpose perfectly.  If everyone has their own colour, we’ll easily know which bag belongs to which person (saves on fights – always a good thing).

I tried this idea out last time we went away in the caravan and it works really well.  You can hang it on the back of the door and everything is kept out of the water and together.  No dropped underwear on the way to the bathroom!

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I’ve been trying to work out what to take and what not to take.  Not an easy decision really.  Today, I’m working on a “packing list” for the kids clothes (well, everyone’s I guess but particularly to help them work out what to take).

Here is what I’ve come up with so far:

Good Clothes for Church and Going Out:

Winter Set (jeans or nice pants, top – can be short or long sleeved, nice jumper)

Summer Set (shorts or dress/skirt, top)

Comfortable Clothes For Travelling:

Winter Set (can be short sleeve shirt with jumper and long pants)

Summer Set

Extra Clothing:

5 T-shirts/ Tops

1 pair long pants (either jeans, leggings or trackpants)

1 pair shorts (or ¾ pants/leggings)

1 jumper/jacket

Underwear:

7 pairs socks

9 pairs jocks/knickers

Sleepwear:

1 set winter pj’s

1 set summer or in between pj’s

dressing gown (optional)

Shoes:

sneakers

thongs

other shoes if desired (maximum 2 other pairs)

Accessories:

Beanie

Cap/Hat

Belt (if needed)

Hair Ties (if needed)

The hardest part is that we’ll be living in at least 2 different climates.  The first part of the trip is likely to be rather cold and toward the end, it could be quite warm (our trip to Canberra in Sept last year ended up being surprisingly warm).  I think I’d rather be washing more frequently than carting around too many clothes (taking up space and weight).  On the other hand, it’s going to be annoying if we get busy for a few days and get behind in the washing (or something happens that we can’t wash).

I’d love some feedback on what you would and wouldn’t take.  Do you think I’ve got enough on the list?  Have I forgotten anything?

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This is a question I’ve been getting with reasonable frequency over the past few weeks.

And the answer is “sort of”.

There is a certain amount of packing that can only be done in the last few days. In fact, most of it will have to be done then.

Which means that no matter how organised I am, the last few days are likely to be frantic.

I don’t think there’s any way to avoid that. Hopefully we can keep the final week reasonably free and avoid too much frantic activity that way.

What I have already gotten organised is the kitchen stuff. There are a couple of things I use regularly that will be packed last minute but for the most part, I’ve set up the caravan kitchen so that it’s ready to go at any time.

Things still to be packed include:

1. Bedding

We’re taking our doona from our bed so that will have to be packed on the final day. The kids are taking their sleeping bags but will need them on the 19th. After that I’ll air them and put them in the caravan ready to go. Pillows will also get packed on the final day (however, our plan is to sleep in the van on our final night home so I will have all day on the final day for packing bedding - and washing up what is being left behind).

2. Clothing

I could start getting some of the summer clothing ready and packed and may do that in the next few weeks. Bathers are already in the van but need to be checked. I also need to come up with a list of clothing to be packed (still haven’t decided how much of what to take yet).

Other than the fact that we’ll need some winter and some spring/summer clothing, we shouldn’t need to take anymore clothes than what we’d take for a week.

3. Electrical Gear

I’ve started a box for chargers, cameras etc in the hope that when I do go to pack them, it’ll all be there ready. A lot of it is still being used so can’t go into the van yet.

4. Bathroom Gear

The kids bathroom bags live in the caravan so there’s only DH’s and mine to be packed. I think I’ll put our towels in the van soon as that’s something that can go in there. Our bags for carting clothing etc back and forth to the bathrooms are also in the van.

5. Food

I can’t really clean out the fridge until the final day and then what we have left will get transferred to the caravan fridge. We’re planning to turn off our fridge and freezer. Those using our house in our absence will have to turn it on when they arrive and off again when they leave.

6. Schooling Stuff

A certain amount of this is already packed and then there’ll be a few more things from the school plus what I’m working on to be packed into the van at a later date.

7. Kids Bits and Pieces

I’ll probably get them to pack their backpacks the weekend before we leave with what toys and activities they’d like to take. We’re trying to keep stuff to a minimum so they’ll only be able to take a few things each.

They’ll also need to choose some DVD’s before we go (for the car dvd player - we don’t have a tv in the van but do have the dvd player in the car plus will have the laptop with us).

8. Camping Gear

We’re not taking a lot but will take our camping chairs. We’re undecided about our camping table at the moment. We have several that we could take but none of them will fit very well. We’re contemplated purchasing one of those slatted roll up tables but haven’t made up our mind yet. We may even head off with nothing and buy something along the way if we find we’re looking for it.

We won’t be doing much camping camping so we’re not taking any of our campfire gear. There will be fishing gear to pack but that’s DH’s department.

9. Laundry

The caravan has it’s own dirty laundry bag and pegs. We also have a camping clothesline we’re taking with us. All that needs to be packed is a collapsible crate that I’ll use as a laundry basket.

10. Medicines/First Aid

Last time we went away in the van, I didn’t pack any of the normal medicines I’d normally take away with us. We will need a few basics. Keeping it to a minimum may well be my biggest challenge. Of course, there will be chemists along the way.

One big “DON’T FORGET” will be our scripts that will need to be refilled along the way.

What Haven’t I Thought Of?

My biggest fear is that we’ll forget something vitally important. We need to err on the side of “less is best” as we don’t want to be carting too much unused gear around with us. Still, it’ll annoy me if I have to spend money on something that we could have brought from home.

Is there anything you can spot that I might not have thought of?

Technorati Tags: caravanning, packing to go away

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Today marks the “1 month until we leave” milestone!!!!

It’s unreal to think how quickly this trip is coming.

The seed is now in the ground and while there are still a number of jobs to be done on the farm before we go, seeding was a big milestone to get over.

I’m starting to make a list of all the things that need to be done before we go. Hopefully that will stop the constant whirring of my brain and I try to keep a handle on what still needs to be done.

The reality is that we’re well on track to be ready to leave when we’d originally planned. The house might not be “perfect” before we go but it should be pretty reasonable. There are still a number of farm jobs to be done but for the most part, we seem to be on track there as well. There’ll still be a last minute flurry but I think that’s almost unavoidable.

The biggest things I need to focus on in the next few weeks are the recipe cards I want to make and to finalise some of the kids schoolwork projects I’ve been working on.

I also need to make some decisions about what tickets we’re going to pre-purchase from the RAA and organise those. It’s a toss up between wanting to take advantage of the discounted prices and wanting to keep our options open about what we will and won’t do. We’re thinking we’ll get some for the places we definitely want to see and leave the others open to decide as we go.

Life is busy and there’s plenty to be done before we go. Most of it just “life” rather than preparation. I think we’ll be ready for a break by the time we leave.

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