DEPARTURE 2 - Old Bonalbo

After frantic 48 hours at the farm we were finally able to hitch up the caravan and make our second departure on Tuesday morning. After prising a teary Ella away from the horse Blaze, we boarded the Blunderbuss and did a quick head count. It was as we were lurching over ther grid that I spotted something red in the cattle yards. Lachie ran over and returned with 2 jackets. I fear we are about to embark upon a Nationwide search for Lost Property!

A few more bumpy lurches over the grid, an inadvertant but rather jaunty salute to no-one in particular with the windscreen wipers, and we were off.

We were wondering about wisdom of the trip when Lachie asked (5 minutes into the journey) how long it would take to Goondiwindi. My reply of "About 5 hours" nearly caused apoplexy. I'm not sure he has any idea of what we are undertaking! I'm not sure any of us do!

I'd like to report that we are as planned and prepared and knowledgeable as Malcolm Douglas, but I fear we are more like a re-run of "Russell Coight's All Aussie Adventures".

I'll leave you with some words from the afore-mentioned Russell Coight:

The outback is a dangerous place and I should know, I've injured myself out there. All I have to say is two words. Be ware.


I gained most of my vast knowledge of the outback from my father Russell Coight Snr, who taught me everything I know before he died from a combination of a self-inflicted axe wound, sunstroke, and snake-bite.

Stay tuned ...

DEPARTURE 1 - Mt Tamborine

Today's departure started at 3 a.m. After a thorough check for the Broxton family (Steve, no way could you stowaway - the six of us could barely fit in!) we finally prised a teary Ella away from Bonnie and boarded the bus (and the Prado) to head to Mum and Dad's at 1:30 p.m. What a departure! Sue and her family had sneaked over and attached balloons and tin cans to the Blunderbuss, so we left with a great clatter and much excitement cheered on by half the neighbourhood. Great fun.

About to depart - not much room inside!

This sign will get a lot of use!

Tomorrow we pack the caravan and then we hope to have Departure 2 on Tuesday. Tonight, I'm just glad Mum is making dinner and I can go to bed asap. Dave has been snoring a few times already!

Thanks everyone for your good wishes and survival kits and all the laughs which have kept us sane in the last few days!

Welcome aboard the Blunderbuss! Our Around Australia Adventure begins!

Stay tuned ...

Preparation Phase - One More Sleep

Yes, ONE more (very short, I fear) sleep!

Excitement levels are very, very high.

Energy levels are very, very low.

We have just fortified ourselves with a delicious chicken and leek dish (thank you Sue!) and some of Marie's baking (thank you Marie!) for the Final Push.

Stay tuned ...
PS Apologies for not being able to post comments - I have fixed the problem now.

Preparation Phase - PANIC MODE!

Marcus, Jackson & Lachlan in their 1930s busking outfits
which are packed and ready - even if nothing else is!

2 more sleeps!

AAAAAAGGGGGGGGHHHH

Lots of things done. Lots more to do!

Stay tuned ...

Preparation Phase - Last Minute Lists

7 more sleeps!

We spent the entire day yesterday running around the Gold Coast trying to complete the missing items shopping list. Things like boots for Lachie, thermals for Lachie, thermals for Jackson (and if he had mentioned that he didn't have any before we got home it would have been helpful!), snorkel gear, first aid kit ($180 later!), velcro for the (as yet unfinished) van curtains, and maths books for the kids to take.

It was just after purchasing the maths books that the kids were all quiet in the back (a trend we hope continues), absorbed in their new books and doing exercises. Jackson, who has not got his textbook from Highschool yet, said "I feel left out! Everyone else is having fun with maths and I can't!"

I think I'll suggest he takes over the budgeting responsibilities - we're going to need some enthusiasm and creativity in that quarter!

So it is official - our children are weird! We'll probably have to say things like "KIDS! Get your heads out of those bloody maths books and look at Uluru!"

Better get back to packing. And sorting. And cleaning. And yelling at the kids to stop doing maths and to help.

Stay tuned ...

Preparation Phase - More packing!

10 more sleeps!

"You can't have everything.
After all, where would you put it?"
                                                Stephen Fry

A very good question, Stephen.

Stay tuned ...

Preparation Phase - Packing

13 more sleeps until we depart!

Excitement (and stress!) levels are high.

Our Haystack Mountain Hermits busking costumes are 1930s outfits. We have been wishing it was the 1930s - we have had to find 10 electric chargers to pack (mobiles, satellite phone, lanterns, iPod, cameras ...) - thank goodness our instruments are acoustic!

We have taken a pause in trip preparations to do our traditional Surprise 10th Birthday Outing for Lachlan. He had never been to Sizzler, so we had a late lunch there on Saturday (and he was in heaven trying out all the desserts!) before driving up to the Entertainment Centre to see Walking With Dinosaurs. Here is a little snippet (so I can work out how to attach video in this blog):

The show was terrific, and a nice break from finding chargers.

Now it is back to serious stuff like packing and finishing the school term before our departure on the 26th.

Stay tuned ...