5th August to 14th August

5th August
Today I decided to do our washing.  4 days worth has really given me a big load so will split it and then do the linen as well.  It is a nice day - cold but sun is shining and a little breeze.
I have cooked lunch of bacon, eggs, tomato and mushrooms. Given Darryl the Day off :D  Washing all dry and folded in the van.  Cooked dinner too - :p of tuna mornay and pasta.  Dessert was a GF Chocolate mousse.
We then went to the camp kitchen and spent the evening with fellow campers and watched the "Who do you think you are" - on Amanda Keller.  A very interesting programme we then sat chatting until the lights went off at 10.30pm.
6^th August
Today we travelled down to Victoria to Orbost.  We stopped at Cann River for a pit-stop and then decided to have lunch as it was nearly md.  Found a lovely cafe with GF options and then continued on our way down the coast.  Some lovely views along the way.  The roads department are upgrading the barriers along some of the steeper cliffs.
We arrived in Orbost at about 2 in the afternoon.  the trip took us just on 4 hours.  We settled into the van park and then went for a walk up the street, got a few groceries and then went to the Art and Craft shop across the road.  Nice display of other crafts and giving me a good idea on what to  charge for some of my craft When I have the stall at the ACC National Muster in Lucindale in October.
7^th August
We left Orbost at 9am and went down through Lakes Entrance and onto Nicholson where we stopped for a rest stop.  We then travelled into Bairnsdale where we had to turn off to Paynesville.  Once we turned onto the road we travelled about 150m when we found two 3.2m clearance bridges and our hearts were in our throats.  Our van is supposedly 3.2m high.  :C We were at the point of no return and could not turn around so snuck under the bridges and we cleared them with NO worries.  So we continued on our way and arrived at Anne and Graeme's home at 11.15 am.  they were so apologetic about the bridges as they completely forgot about the clearance - no problems - we got through without incident. 
It was SOO good to see them both.  We first met them at Katherine in 2012 when we did our big trip to WA.  We spent the day with them and then went for a lovely walk around the lakes and they explained the settlement of the Newlands Arm area where they live.
8^th August
We went for a drive today back up towards Orbost and turned off just before Nowa Nowa to go and see the longest wooden trestle bridge that is still standing.  It was such an engineering feat in its day.  You can see where they got the timber from, as the surrounding timber stands up to 30 metres high.  The bridge span is 20mtres up from the valley.
From here we drove back toward Lakes Entrance and called into Burnt Bridge rest area and found a lot of information boards about the local Aboriginal communities and their trials and tribulations.
We went from her to Lakes Entrance and wandered along the main street and checked out the cedar sculptures that have been done.  Apparently the old trees had developed a disease and were to be cut down and destroyed but a local artisan pleaded for them to be used for sculptures.  These he then did using a chainsaw and they are cared for by the RSL as they depict scenes from WW1 and WW2.  Lovely to see.  Will try and load some for you to see.
We then went from there to Bairnsdale and tried to get some more wax-stop filters for my hearing aids.  They are in the van somewhere - and I just can't find them.  Finally had success at Bloom Audio and can now here nice and clearly.
Back to Newlands Arm to find that Graeme had not been called into work - so had a nice evening with him.  Anne was at work but has got tomorrow off.
9^th August
Today we are going sight-seeing with Anne (as Graeme has to work) and called into the chemist at Bairnsdale and then headed north and then east to Metung.  A nice village, on  a spit out into the lake system that has a fantastic farmers market.  We got some lovely GF fudge and the salesperson had a HUGE range of GF sauce, jams and seasonings.
We then got some lovely GF lamb and mint sausages before getting some serves of flat-head tails.  We stopped and had a coffee before heading back out to go up the Alpine Way to Bruthen.  A lovely town and the way they have re-invented the town after the loss of businesses etc is good.  They have a Blues festival each year and a local man has started up a brewery and restaurant.  It has got a lovely park in the centre of the street which is a popular stop off for the traffic going up to Omeo.
We then went back to Bairnsdale to pick up our medication - which they mucked up and we had to get it sorted - and then took the back road out to Lindenow and checking out the food growing on the river flats.  Whilst here we had a late lunch at the Irish Pub.  Very nice indeed and the chef made up a GF Chicken Parma for me.  We then made our way to Paynesville before heading to Newlands Arm to Anne and Graeme's home.
10^th August
We left the house at about 10.30am and made our way up to Buchan Caves about 70km away.  The day is horrid, overcast and squally showers and bitterly cold. It was here as we arrived that Darryl discovered that I did not have his Wallet.  He presumed that because it wasn't with his glasses that I had it :C  ummm where could it be.  We are hoping that it fell out of his pocket and into Anne's car yesterday.
The area around the caves is great and some of the buildings are reminiscent of the ones you see in the American documentaries about Yellowstone National Park..  There are trees from all over the world planted in this area and were planted in the early 1900's by Frank Moon, the chap who first discovered 'Fairy Cave'.  There are 4 caves in this area but only two are now open to the public via tours.  You can camp here and the cost is $58.10 per night per site for 1 - 6 people.  They say this is peak time - weekends Fri and Sat from Melbourne cup weekend to end of April.
Shoulder season is Sun - Thurs and $54.30 per night per site and then the Off-peak season is $48.70 per site all week from 1st May to Melbourne cup weekend - excluding September School Holidays.
We then went back to Bruthen where we stopped at the brewery for a very late lunch and an ale.  It was 2.45 pm so we had a nice light lunch and the boys tried 4 different beers each - whilst I settled for a Apple cider.
Back to the house by 4pm and Anne arrived home from work just after us.  And Darryl was very grateful to find his wallet under the front passenger seat.
11^th August
Today we spent the day with Anne and Graeme. It started out very overcast and misty rain but then developed into some sunny periods with a cold wind. Darryl helping Graeme to cut up wood and do some repairs whilst Anne and I went into Spotlight and I got some sewing supplies to finish off items for the Stall at Lucindale in October.
I am also going to make some burp-cloths for Anne for the new baby that is due to arrive in November.
Anne headed off to work at 2.30 and Darryl, Graeme and I headed out to walk along the lake foreshore.  We had been going for about 45 minutes when I leant against a bollard to wait for the boys (they were lagging behind) and then I felt like the bollard was rocking back and forwards or I was losing my footing.  Kept walking for another 50 m before leaning up against another bollard to await the lads, when it happened again, I got a really full feeling in my left ear (my good one :C) and then felt the nausea coming.  Suddenly the boys were there and Darryl helped me back tot he house where I laid down for a couple of hours.  I needed to hang on for fear of 'being spat out' until the feeling subsided.  I was able to get to vertical again about 3 hours later but my balance was TRUELY shot.  I had more than my usual 'left-hand tilt' so spent much of the evening sitting and trying not to think about it.
12^th August
Today we awoke to the news that Robin Williams had died from a suspected Suicide. :( He was suffering from depression and it is such a great loss for his family and the entertainment industry.  The world will be a darker place because of his loss.  RIP with the Angels, Robin.
Anne is off to Traralgan this afternoon as she has to see a specialist about her back and will be leaving at about 12.15pm.  Graeme will be working a late shift and leaving about 2pm.  Darryl and I will have the house to ourselves so I will try and catch up on emails etc.
My balance is still shot but the heavy-head, brainfog is reasonable whilst I am sitting.  The weather has been a bit iffy today but some lovely sunny periods this morning.  Will see if we can get the fire going again and keep the house warm.
13^th August
Today we left Anne and Graeme's and have made it to Healesville by 4pm.  Took us just on 5 hours.
Cooler here.  VERY VERY wet ground.  Soggy underfoot.
Came up via Warragul and Yarra Junction to Worri Junction and there were lots of trees that had fallen either very close to the road or across the road - all of which had been cleared to allow traffic flow.
The country side is stunning.
Tomorrow we are going to do a trip to Marysville.
14^th August
Up and out of the park by 10am and on a drive out to Marysville.  Where a lot of the devastation/damage from the February 2009 fires occurred.
A beautiful drive up through the TALL trees and fern trees and into the town that they are rebuilding.
It would appear that about 95% of the town was destroyed in the fires - so there is a lot of re-building happening.
We went out to Steavenson Falls (84m drop) and the power in the water is amazing.  It all drops into a pool at the bottom where the town water supply comes from and they also channel it into massive pipes to go through a turbine to provide power.
From here we went back into Marysville and stopped off at Bruno's Art and Sculptures Garden.  WOW!  An amazing creation and you have to go slowly or you will miss the little sculptures in the shrubbery.  Most of his sculptures were destroyed or damaged in the fires and he has rebuilt them.  We spent about 3 hours going through the walkways.
Back into town and lunch and then back to the van park.  Leaving here tomorrow to go to Seymour.

22nd July to 4th August 2014

23^rd July

I have had a very runny right sinus over the past two days and it is causing me some grief.

Today we have arranged to go out and visit Darryl’s Aunty Thelma so we left the van and headed out to Culburra Beach.  We had been asked to arrive about 11.30 so on the way we stopped at the coffee shop and the old mill at Jandy Andy.  A lovely 180ish year old Mill.  Finished in the 1830's.  The brick work is 20inches thick and the staircase and floor trusses are the originals.

We continued on our way to Culburra Beach and arrived at Aunty Thelma’s just on lunch time.  We helped her reprogram her electronic door opener and then went inside for lunch.

After chatting for quite a while we went for a drive around Culburra and then went to visit cousin Tracy - who lives about 5 minutes from Aunty Thelma. 

Apparently Darryl’s cousin Robert has a holiday home which is just across the road from Aunty Thelma also.  We said our farewells at about 5pm and headed back to the van.

We will have to come and try and stay at one of the caravan parks next time so that we can spend some quality time in the area and visit them both again.

24^th July

Today we decided to head out to the Coolangatta Historical Village out near Shoalhaven Heads.

My head is feeling very full with a lot of pressure behind my eyes and around my right ear - but will persevere.

We turned off the road toward Shoalhaven heads and then realised that we should have continued on toward Berry.  We had a nice little drive around the area and there are about four van parks here and they all have a lot of PERMANENT VANS/COTTAGES in them.

We then went back to Bolong road and turned left and then turned right into the complex.  They have a HUGE bus/truck here called ‘BIGFOOT’ which takes customers up the nearby Mount Coolangatta – 1000metres high.

 We went to the cellar and got a map to find our way round and then went upstairs to restaurant and had morning tea.  Whilst there I made a comment to Darryl that if my head was no better by the morning then I would have to see a doctor.  The waitress recommended a medical practice in Berry.

We went out to do our tour and were VERY disappointed that ALL the buildings are now accommodation and we were not allowed to go inside any of them :(.

We went back to the cellar and chatted to the chaps there and tasted some red wine and a frizzante and got two bottles of each, and a small book on the history of Coolangatta for $3,

On our way back we travelled towards Nowra and turned back up the highway toward Bombaderry and Berry, got some chicken and chips for lunch but I was feeling so sick that I asked to be taken to the doctors.  Here I was originally made to feel I was a problem but then the receptionist asked me to come back at 3.15.  An hour away.  So Darryl drove down to 'The Treat Factory' and then back to the van.  I lay down for about 1/2 hour before going back to the doctors.  The doctor was very nice and says that the clear loss in my nose is going to get yucky in a few days so has put me on AB's for a URTI.

Back to the van and back to bed.

25^th July

I have been on the antibiotics for 18 hours and can feel a lessening in the pressure, but the drip is continuing L

We called Denise this morning and awaited a response ( this is the lady whose name we were given from the lady at the Family History centre on Sunday).  John Dolan-Brown has rung us and he will come to see us tomorrow although we said we would go to them.

Got a response from Denise and we are to go to her house after lunch.

Went to Stocklands Shopping centre and had a coffee and some lunch and got some groceries before heading out to Denise's residence.

When we arrived she showed us lots of information on the PARRISH family.  Louis Jane Parrish married John Walker (b1887).

She also had more information on her immediate family and some of her ancestors.  Her mother is Heather Jean SMITH nee WALKER.  The oldest living WALKER descendant. Heather is to celebrate her 90th birthday tomorrow.

Denise gave us some information on the THOM family who were Maori.  She has leant us a chart of this family for us to get copied on Monday and then we will come back and see her again.  She will have photos and documents for us to scan and copy.

26^th July

Today is Ben’s Birthday.  Such an ‘old’ one too – turning 32 today……

Have wished him a happy Birthday but he is at work today.

My head seems to be getting better too – so that is a bonus.

John and Joy arrived just after 11am.  I had managed to get the washing done and half of it dry.  The other half is in the dryer.  We had a coffee and then they invited us to go to Nowra to the Jayco outlet as John needed to find a replacement LED globe for his bargeman light outside the van.

They have a Ford Territory and it is a very comfortable car to travel in.

We went down to South Nowra and whilst there I remembered about the clothes in the dryer.  So after John had done his business we headed back to the showgrounds so that I could get the washing out of the dryer.  2 ladies were waiting to put their clothes in the dryer - oooooops.

We then went up the street and walked until we found a café.  We had a lovely lunch and then went back to the van where John and Joy said their farewells before heading back to Heathcote.  This would take them about an hour.

27^th July

My head is much better today so hopefully won’t need as many tissues J

Today we drove up to Warilla or Lake Illawarra and arrived at about 9.40am.  It was great to sit and chat to Sharon, Greg, Krystal and Catherine.

Spent a lovely day in their company and Sharon had told me to bring the washing so took up our sheets and towels and mats etc.  We managed to get both loads of washing dry before we were due to head back to the van :D

In the afternoon she took us for a drive up where they had thought to buy and also past Greg's mothers place.

We also learnt on our arrival that Greg's sister Denise passed away last night - sad times but thankfully Greg, Sharon and Krystal had visited her at the hospital last night.  Our deepest sympathies to Greg and his Mum and the extended family

We left there at 4.30pm and headed back to the van.  On the way we stopped at the Berry Bowling club for Chinese dinner.  We had been told it was very popular and that it was very good.

WELL.....

They made Darryl's soup order as a main meal and therefore bought it out AFTER his real main meal.  So his Satay combination sat getting cold whilst he ate his short soup.  My chicken and Cashews was ------ ok --- but at least we didn't have to cook.

28^th July

Got an email from Aunty Margaret last night saying she had spoken with Heather and that we were to go and visit her.....?

So we rang this morning to confirm that she would be available and off we went at 9am arriving at her room at 9.35am.  We spent a great 1 1/2 hours with Heather and it was lovely to meet the oldest living Walker Descendent.

We then went to go to her daughter - Denise BEU - but had to have a relief break.  So rang Denise and she said - where the bloody hell are you!  We explained about our visit to her Mum and the need for a ‘pee’.

Had morning tea and lunch combined and then headed over to Denise's home.

She had lots of documents available for us to scan and lots of family photos also.

As we all sat chatting I did a lot of scanning and documenting and finally left there at 7pm.  We drove back to Berry and decided to get something to have for dinner BUT all the shops/cafes were closed and only the pubs were open - but neither of us wanted to go to the pub :D

So back to the van and a ploughman's dinner it was.

I then spent a few hours down-loading the photos and labelling them so that we could find them later.

29^th July

Today we travelled for 5 hours and made it to Bermagui.  They are predicting some very wild weather for us over the next couple of days so we have decided to stay put and go touring tomorrow so that Darryl can then do some fishing.

The Zane Gray park has changed managers and some big changes have occurred.

The amenities have been refurbished inside and out - but they have taken out the music :(

The camp kitchen is all on its own on a hill with no protection. It too has been refurbished BUT is VERY open and nowhere to get out of the wind.  VERY disappointed.  All the permanent vans with the annexes have now had roof's put over them to make them look more like homes.

Not many people here to keep us company though.

30^th July

Took Darryl for a walk down the street and got a sinus washout system for him to help with his stuffy sinuses.

Well I finally pulled the sewing machine out and started to sew the table protectors for the craft stall.  Got five of them quilted when the walking foot made a loud noise - the pressure foot sprang up and the walking foot looked like it was missing some parts. :C

Took the walking foot off and put the bias on with the normal foot.

Now have to sit and handstitch the bias onto the wrong sides.

31 July

Today we went up to Narooma to the quilting shop as my walking foot decided to die,  but found they weren't too helpful as to the cause and would you believe -  it worked fine whilst we were in the store.

We then drove back down to Central Tilba and spent a lovely couple of hours wandering around the National Trust town.  Another lovely day but they are predicting a cold snap for this afternoon and VERY strong, destructive winds for this afternoon evening.

We then went on to Tilba Tilba and then down to Cobargo.  Here we stopped and got some lovely pork chops and GF sausages.

2^nd august

Today we are moving on and travelling from Bermagui, back out to Cobargo and then down to Bega.  We stopped at the cheese factory for morning tea and got some cheese and then we drove down to Eden going via Merimbula and Pambula. This is the way of the OLD highway and quite scenic.

We are now in the Garden of Eden van park.

We have been for a trip out to three lookouts and to Aslings Beach.

We then stopped at the 'Hooked on Seafood' take away and got fish and chips and drinks for dinner.

VERY nice fish.  I had Grenadier and chips.  Darryl had Warehou and chips.

3^rd August

Not a good day for me today. Woke with Meniere’s spins and was in bed until 1.30pm.....

It appears that today has been a lovely day MINIMAL wind and the sun is shining but Darryl has been inside all day playing his game :C

I have made him take me for a walk [albeit a wobbly one] and he is now sitting in the sun reading some magazines from the laundry.  The area here is lovely.  It will look really pretty in the spring with the new leaves coming on the weeping willows.  We have decided to extend our stay here at Eden and will now leave on Wednesday morning.

4^th August

Today we were up at 8am and it was MINUS 1.4 degrees outside. Burr

We then got ready and decided to go down to Wonboyn Lake.  A cute little fishing village with a very tight caravan park.  You would need to have lots to keep you entertained here as unless you are a fisherperson, there isn't anything else in the village.

We then went back to the highway and found a nice little rest area on a creek.  There were two vanners there, fires going and look set up for the time being.

We then went 4.5km back up the road toward Eden and turned into Edrom road, heading to Green Cape Lighthouse in Ben Boyd National Park.  We stopped at the Disaster Bay lookout and paid our $7 entry fee for the day and then continued on our way to the lighthouse.  A Lovely lighthouse on the point and still being lived in today and now run on Solar Power.  Lots of wrecks in the harbour over the years - hence its name of Disaster Bay.  One of the main wrecks was the Ly-ee-mon and there is a cemetery for the 70 odd people who did not make it out of the wreck.

From here we went to Biggangbee bay where you are able to camp - with tents or trailers NOT vans.  Lovely shaded areas BUT would be hopeless trying to get enough sun to power up your solar panels.  Lovely walks through the bush to several bays and the ocean.

Back into the car and we headed back to the asphalt and out to the Chipmill (passing lots of log-trucks with lots of wood on them) and turned off to Boyd's Tower.  Built in the early 1800's to watch for Whales and signal the whalers when there were whales of the headland.

Back to the main road and turned down to the 'Davidsons Whaling Station and Historic Buildings'. Once we were here Darryl's camera battery died so there won't be any photos :(

It was now getting close to 4pm and we still had to have Lunch!!!!!  Ahhh well will have to have an early dinner :)

Back out to the highway and heading up to Eden and into the Bi-Lo to get some groceries before heading back to the van.

We have decided that we will have Pizza for dinner as one of the local stores does Gluten Free Bases - and they make their own.

We are now sitting in he camp kitchen, have got the fire going and there are about 8 of us here.  Darryl and I have had our Pizza which was very nice indeed and now we are trying to catch up on our emails.