Here's the latest offering from the on-road painting dept. "Sunset at Meninge SA". I just realised that you cannot leave comments unless you are a member so the email address is da53@bigpond.com if you want a chat.

Hello from Shoalhaven Heads

Well we have finally arrived at our last stop before heading inland to escape the chaos of Easter on the Coast. We landed here on Thursday and checked in to a great little park and lashed out to get the luxury of our own ensuite for the week. Shoalhaven is a pretty forgettable place, really not much to say except its bounded by a river on one side and ocean surf beaches on the other. Berry is close by and its a haven for foodies. Great cheese, wine, meat etc etc so we spent a fortune there stocking up. Friday night the weekend warriors arrived and as usual caused absolute havoc in the park all weekend ending up with the management arriving at 2.30am to tell them to shut the ---- up or ---- off. which they sort of did.

Last night was Mardi Gras in Sydney and to celebrate Ron and I gave Miss Guided her first big bath LOL. She's now spic and span for Mardi Gras. We are off fishing this afternoon, (Sunday) so the Hunter and Gatherer can do his thing.

Guess who's neighbourhood this is ??

While I was snorkeling at Jervis Bay this mightly eagle dropped in to get a snack and check us out.

Attack of the Killer Goanna

Now for those who didn't believe we would ever get off road here's the proof. Hidden away on the coast was a wonderful little beach which to get to required a bit of rough roading - stream crossing and wild life avoiding. LOL

This little fella just wouldn't pose from the other end, so you have to work with what you've got. He measured about 4.5 ft long and if he had decided that he was photo shy you wouldn't have seen me for dust. LOL

At last we are back in contact with the world. LOL The story so far: We finally headed north away from WET Mallacoota to a little place called Tathra. It is heaven on earth. The park is a palm filled oasis with a resort style pool and great staff. It is situated across the street from the best beach so far, so you know where we spent alot of the next week.

After selling my diving gear on Ebay, I had to bite the bullet and buy a new set to go snorkeling. The water is crystal clear and many hours were spent chasing fish towards the hunter gatherer (armed with fishing rod)- to no avail LOL. That said he did manage to catch the sucidial "Mullet".

We walked the national parks which were full of very wild life including snakes, goanna's, the cutest black wallabies and everything else that bites etc.

The only hitch to this wonderful place was it's a black spot for communication - no phones or internet. Some would say that's a good thing LOL.

We originally booked in for four days but stayed a week before we had to leave as the park was booked out. A must return.

Friday we headed up the road to Batemans Bay in anticipation of continuing the great beach adventure, unfortunately we are getting closer to Sydney and close to Canberra so the populations have increased, the parks standards have decreased proportionaly in relation to population and twice someone has tried to burgle us. Getting out of here on Tuesday - Thank God.

Love to all and feel free to leave comments etc.

Well we are off and running with the big trip. We headed down the highway to lake Tyers for a couple of days just to sort out the cobwebs and get back into the routine of life in Miss Guided. The weather was ok and we got to spend lots of time wondering up and down the beach.

As usual it didnt take long to work out what we had forgotten something and the first was the B----- phone charger and we are in the only town in the world without a phone shop. Quick call to steve and he mailed it to Mallacoota for us.

Stop two as you have guessed was wonderful sunny and relaxing Mallacoota. (that's what the brochures say) We have now been here three days and it has done nothing but rain rain rain and unfortunately the forcast further north is more rain. I keep telling Ron that we need to turn left and the sooner the better LOL. The pic above is the Huner/Gatherer at work. This was the only dry 5 minutes at mallacoota and he ran off to the jetty to catch dinner. Luckly I had the lamb roast ready to go, however he did find a couple of dozen oysters in the rocks so we had oyster mornay for lunch. Next stop is Tathra in NSW and if all goes well we head that way tomorrow. That again is dependant on the weather as we wont pack up Miss Guided while she's wet, a bit like going to bed with your leathers still on - you just dont do it LOL

The question has been asked "What do you do in your retirement?" well after many years in publishing and hospitality I have decided to try my hand at painting. Now I know that one day these will be million dollar artworks and I have reminded Ron that while art appreciates once the artist has expired, he should at least wait until I have a few more finished LOL This one is called "Nailed".

Q. What has a bill like a duck ? coat like an otter? lays eggs but suckles its young and is a mammal ?

A. Platypus

We spotted this one in a quiet section of the Yarra River at Warburton, thought you might like to have a look.

Hi all, well this is the last of the pics for this trip. 5680 klms travelled, many great beaches

lots of fun and Ron and I are still talking LOL. This was the last day at the Grampians. Stay tuned for the travels in "Miss Guided" Part 2 coming from the end of January.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR

Ron "Lets go to Whyalla and see how our investments are doing". Well beautiful downtown whyalla is not so beautiful. As you can see from the pic Ron is protecting his steel mill from incoming magpies.

Well we had to turn around at some stage and Ceduna was the turning point. After a month of travelling along the coast it was time to turn inland for the trip home via as many vineyards as we can find, LOL of course on the way there is some spectacular scenery in the outback. Yesterday we planned our first stop at Wildinna ??????? and when we got there we just kept on going. Eventually we arrived at Port Augusta which has something open, not much but at least the pub is not the only thing in town LOL.

Pictured above is Ron at the Pildappa rocks, as you can see pretty good for a rock.

Help

Here is the Blog competition - Can anyone identify this tree. It is in the park at Ceduna and is fantastic - I want one LOL. prize is a good bottle of SA Red

PS. Ron is temporarily out of action post his official reaching retirement age - or was it the wine ????

Hello from "Streaky bay" and so far there's been no streaking anywhere. Pic above is Ron at Murphy's Haystack about 50klms of dirt from here. Temp is 33 and we are camped on the shore of the bay. Heading to Ceduna on Tuesday and from there we will start our trip home.

Havent killed him yet but its been close a couple of times LOL.

Now I guess I should tell some home truths. First off I should tell you that the first camping trip was not all that hard. LOL We spent two nights out under the stars and then fled to the Mildura Grand for two nights which of course meant we went to Stephano's for dinner, life's tough LOL. Dinner was - A vegie pastry (Heaven), next cheese souffle (to die for), Quail Ravoli (Hmmmmm), Baked Snapper (Yum), Comfit of Duck (mmmmmmmm) and finished off with Creme Carmel (there goes the diet) with Blood Oranges all accompanied with great wines from the local area.

The pics above were taken yesterday here at the Coorong, Ron in the lake outside "Miss Guided" and me at a very dry salt lake.

I dont think I need to add to this

Cape Jaffa is literally in the middle of nowhere between Robe and Kingston on the SA coast, but is a wonderful place to visit. Small is an understatement, it has 5 light poles , one caravan park ,four Lobster stores, 40 lobster boats and an enormous pier and can be seen in 5 minutes. But, the beaches are wonderful, huge stringrays cruise through the water, squid and thousands of fist around the pier.

The pic of madonna and child was on the way to Cape Jaffa.

Well here we are on our way. Most said we wouldn't make it in the camper but it has proved to be lots of fun. We have named her "Miss Guided" as I am sure that is exactly what she will do to us.

We have been in Warnambool for 4 nights and apart from the bloody screaming rug rat two doors down things have been going great guns. We have also added to the culture by purchasing two painting at a special exhibition at the local Art Gallery, the collection continues.

Yesterday we headed off to Port Fairy ( ok it was a family thing LOL) and took a boat cruise out into the harbour. The weather was fantastic, the water clean and clear and the local hospitality was wonderful. Tonight will be our first dinner out as we move on to Cape Jaffa tomorrow. Stand by for more updates.

Well it was time to go to the hills and enjoy some hospitality from DW and Peter. A great night with fine hosts in what must be one of the most stunning gardens in Victoria.

Hi all, just thought you should get a look at Melbourne. Spring has sprung and the city is getting greener every day. Unfortunately the drought has taken its toll on fountains, parks, lakes etc but it is home and we love her. Ron and I live just to the left of the two towers in the center of the pic.