TRAVELS WITH A WOOKIE, 2014

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We are heading out Saturday morning after three weeks of hell. Everything which could go wrong did, culminating with GMan being stung by a bee again. As a result he has one arm which looks like Mr Atlas and the other like Mr Stick. The Dr's just tell him to keep popping anti-histamines. We have a very large supply under the bed with all the other medications for the quarantine people to laugh about when they inspect the vehicle. Of course we store them right next to the red wine.

Not everything got done, but what the heck it will still be waiting when we get home on 20th September.

A broad overview of the semi planned trip is - up the Stuart Highway to Henbury Meteorite Craters, down to Curtin Springs, across the great Central Road through the Aboriginal Lands, down to Kalgoorlie Boulder. Rest a while there then North via the Goldfields Highway through Wiluna to join the Great Northern Highway at Meekatharra. Further north to Karajini National Park, down through Western Australia seeing lots of things on the way. We are booking into the Burns Beach Caravan Park from 13th - 20th August. After that we really haven't worked on any ideas.

Our planned first overnight stop is at Island Lagoon Lookout overnight stay south of Pimba.

Our friends Shirley and Dave introduced us to an excellent game which we played in the second half of our trip last year. Recording all the names of the caravans you see. We included 5th wheelers as well. The next number to be used is 110. I am thinking of including campervans and trailers as well. Another aspect we are planning on recording is the number of Jayco Sterlings we see. This is the most popular caravan currently around, so much so it has the nickname of "bushfly of the road". Small things for small minds. I have a special notebook to record them in as we travel.

Our house sitter arrives today and we are heading off to the Koolunga Hotel for cheapskate Thursday dining, for the last opportunity for a serve of Clare's incredible mushroom gravy for 4.5 months.

Chewie has been very excited knowing that we were heading out again, I mean the mascot not the man. We have been giving him counselling that Bartholemew Otis is not coming on this trip, but he spends a lot of time waiting on the front verandah looking longingly down the road. We don't think he believes our promises of how good it is to be an only child. If he is too obnoxious we will pick him up a friend on the way.

We have lots to do over the next two days, but it should go quickly. We are just so looking forward to getting out on the road again.

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Comments

[Dave]

No more Jayco Sterlings
The model was dropped for 2014. You need to look out for the new Silverline (full 'van) and Journey (poptop).

[Dave]

Safe travels
Hope the trip goes safely and smoothly. We're all really looking forward to seeing you guys in August. The girls are keen to meet Chewie (the mascot) and to catch up with the walking and talking Granddad looking one too...

[Delores Vester]

Safe Travels
Hi well travel safe and enjoy yourselves, looking forward to all your news and wonderful photo's, hope you got your supply of Boere Wors with you. Delores & Rudi.

[Shirley]

Have a great trip
Whatever else, don't camp at Warburton. Our 4WDC mates are off this weekend on the Maralinga trip which my back didn't allow me to go on. Sooo jealous. Of all of you.

[Sally]

Happy Trails to you
Just a thought, perhaps you could also record the sayings written on the 'wicked' campervans, some of them are quite good. I thought you were going to say that if Chewie became too obnoxious you would leave him somewhere. Look forward to your next blog and starting to turn pale green, soon to be bright green.