John and Gloria Travels

The waters between Fremantle and Mauritius were quite calm, not what we expected! After long days at sea we finally arrived in Mauritius a little earlier than planned....what a welcome sight Port Louis was and John and I were quite excited to be there as our bestie was picking us up at the Caudon Waterfront at 10am. So off the ship as soon as we could with Renate and Ivan and had a quick look around the waterfront and also the Central Market, I always like to stroll around markets wherever we go as it gives an insite as to how the locals live their daily life. Caudon Waterfront is relatively new with lots of shops, bars and restaurants a busy little area. Then a few blocks away to the Central Market to have a stroll ... read more

So the second week we are more or less in the centre of Ubud. Staying at the SenS Spa which was a great spot and a nice hotel. Whilst in Candidasa one of my back teeth crumbled at dinner one night but hard to find appointments up there so made an appointment in Ubud few days in advance! Lots of nerve pain but kept up the Panadol until we could get there. Anyway ended being a pretty bad infection, so three root canals cleaned out. Packed with antibiotics, filled and temp crown, loads and loads of anaesthesia and also oral antis to take til next visit, over two hours in the chair that first visit. Also fell over on way to dentist as some paths terribly broken and uneven then when we were heading out for ... read more

Arrived in Junee Sunday and so lovely to see Diddles and Amanda are in their lovely new country house on the outskirts of Junee. It has taken a LONG time to get built as it is a specialist build with all beams dowelled together with no nails etc. So nice and well deserved after waiting sooo long! Very picturesque spot overlooking the town of Junee. Diddles took John for a tour of the abattoirs in Junee and John was very impressed with the automated system that Diddles designed for them and they process 5,600 head of sheep per day, Diddles is a very clever fellow! We left Junee Monday 23rd and headed to Wang, stopping over in Holbrook for lunch at their famous bakery. Weather is getting cooler and needing long pants and windcheaters even though ... read more

After leaving Caloundra we climbed over the great divide which was a bit windy in patches but went through green pastures and cattle country and pretty little towns on the way. By the time we arrived at our campsite at Kumbarilla which was about 5pm we had well and truly got out of the hills and across onto the more flat roads, the campsite was great well off the road and we slept like logs. Friday we went onto Moonie and stopped for a break and morning tea, after passing loads of gasfields and even oil which Santos seem to control....Moonie a quirky little place with lots of John Murray art on display, we are looking forward to seeing his gallery when we get to Lightening Ridge....from Moonie we went further on to St George, we ... read more

Got away from Winton by 7am on Sunday morning, had breaky en route and arrived in Jericho around 11.30am, our camp for the night Redland Park on the local waterhole, nice spot with toilets, good for overnighter, then onto Emerald Monday just about 3hrs east. Had made a booking for 2 nights, got out and about after we arrived, down to the local info centre and got a few maps of walking trails etc and as we walked back we noticed big billows of smoke coming from behind the caravan park, no one seemed too worried about it but lots of smoke! John awoke at 3am and said he couldn't breath because of the smoke, it was hot so we had the van all opened up, so he escaped to the car for a couple of ... read more