PeterCHP - Peter & Rhonda PRETTY

Peter and Rhonda retired at 30th June and are on the road from July to November 2008.
Having decided that they want to see more of this fantastic country, they bought a 23' Jayco Sterling caravan fitted with full ensuite, a couple of slide-outs [lounge and bed], washing machine and a few other handy conveniences.
The first adventure is to travel from Melbourne to Karumba [on the Gulf], out to Mission Beach [near Cairns]then down the East Coast to Lakes Entrance and on back to Melbourne.
They're due back in Melbourne for the Andre Rieu concert on the 15th November.

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Joined on: August 18th 2008
Last Login: November 20th 2008

Blog Entries: 12
Photos: 90

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Blogs & Travel Journals

by PeterCHP, order by Date newest first.

By PeterCHP
November 6th 2008

Shellharbour to Merimbula

Oceania » Australia » New South Wales » Merimbula

Batemans Bay
View from the van at night looking across the Clyde River to Batemans Bay commercial centre.

Hello from Merimbula. Arrived yesterday from Batemans Bay to a glorious sunny day. It will be short lived though as the weather is turning again! The trip was again hilly and winding but the X5 did it really easily. By the time we get home we will have done close to 15,000 klms and still holding at less than 15 litres per 100 klms. Well, it's time to come home as the weather has been much better in Melbourne recently. In fact, we should be there by Wednesday 13th all being well. We've booked to see Andre' Rieur on Saturday 15th [View Full Entry]

By PeterCHP
November 2nd 2008

The Bradman Museum [Bowral NSW]

Oceania » Australia » New South Wales » Shellharbour

Don Bradman
'The Legend'

On one of our exploratory drives, we went to Bowral and were impressed with a Museum there at the local cricket ground. Bowral, located in the southern Highlands roughly fifty klms west of Wollongong, houses the Don Bradman Museum. Don was born in Western NSW and his family moved to Bowral when he was three years old. He grew up there and formed a secondary school relationship with his wife of sixty five years. Donald Bradman As you may or may not know, Don Bradman is a cricketing legend in Australia. He is probably the most well known and respected sportsman [View Full Entry]

By PeterCHP
October 29th 2008

Yamba to Shellharbour

Oceania » Australia » New South Wales » Nelson Bay

Birubi Beach
Beach and sand dunes of the 'moving sands'

Hello! Here we are in Shellharbour and only a couple of weeks from home. Since our last report we have stayed at Port Macquarie, Nelson Bay and now Shellharbour. We plan to do Batemans Bay, Merimbula and Lakes Entrance to end the trip. Grafton I did promise a report. Somewhat underwhelmed. Grafton is a typical regional town with extensive shopping and commercial facilities. Essentially a residential area and catering to the surrounding areas for major shopping, cars, vans, computers, etc. It is close to the highway so suited to lunch stop or morning/a [View Full Entry]

By PeterCHP
October 15th 2008

Maroochydore to Yamba

Oceania » Australia » New South Wales » Yamba

Amerous Snakes
These two came crashing through the undergrowth madly entwined!!

Hello! Thought we were off air? Well, we had a spell for a month on the Gold Coast and now we are back on the road headed for home. Should arrive around mid November. We will be travelling around the coast with mainly four night stays. For the numerates, we have now done over 10,000 klm at 14 litres per hundred . Some #@!!*??!! has taken duco off the front and just driven off! I was paying for petrol at the time. Oh well ... it takes all types! TALLEBUDGERA (Palm Beach) Because we stayed in one area for so long, [View Full Entry]

By PeterCHP
September 3rd 2008

Town of 1770 to Maroochydore

Oceania » Australia » Queensland » Bundaberg

Bargara
Landscaped foreshore

We have now travelled more than 9000 kms. Fuel economy remains just under 15 litres per 100 km and we are pleased with that. The really good news is that Rhonda has had the pins removed from her wrist and the plaster taken off. We went to Brisbane on the 8th September for the appointment with the specialist . She is now wearing a brace until she is confident enough to go without it. A physiotherapy program has been implemented but it will take a few months to get back to something near normal. Bargara Our stay at Ba [View Full Entry]

By PeterCHP
August 31st 2008

Mackay to Town of 1770

Oceania » Australia » Queensland » 1770

Yeppoon_Kinka Beach
Those tides really go out!

YEPPOON_KINKA BEACH The trip to Yeppoon was about 360 km. We seem to be improving in our pack-up times because we were on the road by 8.00am and in the park set up for lunch by about 1.30pm. The trip takes you almost to Rockhampton and then out to the coast for roughly 45km. The park was small and just ok but we were put in the middle of the permanents. I don't think they really liked the intrusion! With its reputation as a tourist destination for the Japanese and a port for prawn trawlers, we thought it would be a [View Full Entry]

By PeterCHP
August 27th 2008

Rollingstone to Mackay

Oceania » Australia » Queensland » Mackay

Rollingstone
The beach

Rollingstone Beach Resort Caravan Park was quite different. Still can't swim in ocean so focus on the pool. It was really nice with a tropical setting. AIRLIE BEACH A 360 km drive sown the Bruce Highway went smoothly although we are surprised at the infrequent overtaking lanes. Travelling at 90 km/hr we do tend to slow the traffic down. We had great expectations of Airlie Beach that were not met. You know, loud music everywhere and no really good seaside eating places. A lot has been done to beautify the place and the man made lagoon was impressive. The pristine white [View Full Entry]

By PeterCHP
August 24th 2008

Mission Beach to Rollingstone

Oceania » Australia » Queensland » Mission Beach

Cassowary
Spotted on the side of the road. Only one seen!

We are now out on the coast. A mutual thought between us was that we really do like being near the ocean . MISSION BEACH We wasted no time in getting to a seafood restaurant that night. Very pleasant. Three nights here and that means two days. This area is renowned for its rain. Nearby Tully is the wettest town in the country. It was warm at around 28 deg but often overcast. We liked it a lot. Spoke to Coxy and got the address of his block to have a look at it. He and jan plan to build a [View Full Entry]

By PeterCHP
August 22nd 2008

Paronella Park

Oceania » Australia » Queensland » Mission Beach

The Castle
or what is left of it after a fire and 'Cyclone Larry' taken from where the front porch of the house framed it.

I decided to do a separate blog on Paronella Park as we were very impressed with what one man managed to do virtually on his own using local sand and cement and lots of 'scrounged' materials from around the area. Fabio, you would be impressed! Born in a poor family Jose had always dreamed of building his own castle. After moving from Spain to Australia and making money on buying, clearing and selling land, he started Paronella Park in 1912. About 13 acres of amazing planning , hard work and ingenuity. There was even a [View Full Entry]

By PeterCHP
August 19th 2008

Karumba to Mission Beach

Oceania » Australia » Queensland » Karumba

Karumba Sunset
From Sunset Point

Hello Again Well we have moved out of the Outback now and have moved to the coast. We both commented that we are really water people. We have loved the outback experience and it got better as we moved along although Cloncurry still rates very poorly on our list. We have covered close to 6000 km now and are doing between 300 km and 500 km on our 'transfers'. A very manageable thing. Rhonda is going well with her 'disability'. The pins protrude from the skin so they catch easily and that gives her 'larry doo'! What I haven't mentioned is [View Full Entry]

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