Crossing

So much to write, we have seen so much, but I am so tired at the end of each day. We are up early every morning and I mean to get the car acked and get organised quickly each day and get more kilometres driven each day. However we are on holidays and we are taking it easy and so easily distracted by things of to the side of the road.
Yesterday we ended up at Streaky Bay beacause I needed to see water, so I made the detour. Today we went to the Great Australian Bight, it wasn't planned, but it was beautiful and I did see a whale!
We have passed through the halfway mark of Australia and the start if the Nullarbor Plain. I got so excited when I saw the sign, I'm really doing this, can you believe it!
Right now we are camping the night at the Nullarbor Roadhouse. So empty, but full of caravans, camper vans and camper trailers. The road trains park out the front. Behind the campground is part of the golfcourse that spans the whole Nullarbor.
It is going to be a cold night, it is the desert. Looking forward to what tomorrow brings xoxo

We are camping travellers

"We are camping travellers" Zach has said this to quite a few people that we have meet on our travels and he's right. From Bendigo, we camped in a small country town called Ouyen, then we made our way to Mildura and had a cuppa with friends there.
We crossed the border into Sourh Australia and had to dispose of all our fruit and vegetables. In Renmark we bought some oranges from a stall by the side of the road, they are the best oranges I've had in years! We passed by the big orange in Berri, which unfortunately has closed down, but still we took a photo.
I'm loving South Australia, so many historic towns. I love all the old stone cottages and I love that so many are still being used, we have seen so many ruins as well. We took a random left and ened up at an old country pub, The Overland Corner Hotel, perfect place for an ice cream.
We ended up camping near The Murray in a town called Morgan. We checked out the old railway station, and walked around part of the town reading the plaques in front of the old buildings, though I think the highlight for Zach was being able to pet the pet goat at the petrol station.
I stopped so many times to get a photo of old windmills, I think Zach got sick of them, they are everywhere and so many look so rustic and quaint, I love it!
We drove past through such a pretty little town, it was Burra. And so chuffed I got a photo of the old homestead that is on the cover of Midnight Oil's album 'Diesel and Dust'
We drove through the windiest part of the world, I'm sure of it, it felt like my car was going to be blown away! Mount Bryan has a wind farm, one of the vanes is one display, I could believe how big it was!

I'm trying to load photos, but with difficulty, will try in the morning

On the road again

It has been quite a few months since I have written, a lot and nothing has happened.
We have had two two terms of school and now school holidays will start next week. However I have taken Zach out of school a week early and we are on the road to Perth . That means we will be crossing the Nullarbor. Yes I am finally doing this!
We are now overnight in Bendigo, in the morning for my birthday, we will go to the woolmills and go shopping!
Good night all, tomorrow will be a busy day for us

Echuca

It is our third and last night of camping in Echuca. We are camped in a very dusty, beautiful away from everyone campground. It's free, on the banks of The Murray a few k's out of Echuca. We went with friends, one friend came with her partner and her two girls, (the first two nights) first time camping as a family, they loved it! My other friend turned up yesterday afternoon, seasoned camper, rockclimber, biker, all round amazing woman, could only stay one night, but she spent the day with us today.
What a day, what a lovely weekend, our weather has been perfect! A touch of rain this morning, followed by a rainbow, as Zach said " it's so colourful!"
We went out today on a paddle steamer up The Murray. It had a wood powered steam engine and we even got to see the engineer load it up with firewood. Zach and all the other children on board got to steer the boat. Also we went to the miniature railway, yes I found one just for Zach! We had a few rides and Zach got to fill up the water tank of one of the steamy's, so pleased he was.
Yesterday the two of us had gone into town and looked at the railway station and the old steam engine parked just near it. We took many photos of the engine, the turn table and the old run down caboose. Zach wanted to climb into the engine and the caboose to have a look. No to the engine, it wasn't safe. No to the caboose, because someone had made it their home. I could see through the door, the blankets, bedding and few possessions there and I could smell the long term unbathed smell from them and I knew. I explained to Zach about some people not having homes and how they made a home where they could. Someone had made a home for themselves there and we had to be respectful and not go into their home and touch anything there. No matter that it was on public property. He understood and was very curious and perhaps a bit envious of who might be living in the caboose. Having a home is such a blessing.
We have really enjoyed our weekend away, tomorrow the big pack up and drive home. A few places we want to see, I don't think we will get to all, but we do what we can. Good night all xoxo

I ate a chocolate heart

The first lot of school holidays are here. The hot days are over. I am now waiting for the rain to heal the gaping cracks in my front lawn. The chooks are free ranging around the yard and I am waiting in anticipation for eggs, soon, very soon.
This Easter weekend I am busy, working four night in a row, three nights are usually my limit, but I have done a few shift swaps to have six days off next weekend. Zach and I are going camping in Echuca on the Murray river. I have bought new sleeping bags, that can handle -2 degrees. I tried them out yesterday after my night shift. Slept so well, they so toasty. So we will be right if it is cold next week. I love going to Anaconda when they have specials on, I love all the camping gear you can get. There is a few more things I want to get before our Nullarbour trip in September.
Zach has spent the last few days with his nana and pa in Gippsland. I rang before I started work, he told me all about the treasure egg hunt this morning and all the clues to find the chocolate eggs, he is having a marvellous time! I will pick him up Tuesday afternoon, do looking forward to seeing my boy!
Zach will be so chocolated out from Easter, I didn't buy myself any chocolate eggs this year, because I have given up sugar. So after my second night shift, when I got home, I had a chocolate craving like you wouldn't believe and I had no chocolate in the house, or so I thought. Rummaging through cupboards, I found super dark cooking chocolate that was to bitter for me and a milk chocolate heart. I haven't had chocolate for months and I devoured that chocolate heart in seconds. It was way too sweet.
Check out my latest knitting project, I hope I get it finished before we go camping. Beautiful pure wool, it will be very cosy. Of course after camping, we will have to go home via the Bendigo wool mills, not that I need more wool.
Hope you had a happy Easter xoxo

treasures!

Yesterday morning at school drop off, Zach had a mini meltdown as he was being coerced into the classroom. He calmed down as soon as I was gone. But I was stressed and needed a wee bit of retail therapy at the local opp shops. Oh, what treasures I did find!
I found some more apple plates, I collect this pattern, so pretty.

A few golf balls to put in the chook nesting boxes, they will be laying in a few weeks and I have to let them know where to lay, with fake eggs.
Some fabric with trains, some with hearts, I'll find a use.

Fourteen balls of pure knitting wool, Patons 12 ply Jet. So got lost on Ravelry last night, plan to make a poncho with this lot.
 
A gorgeous turquiose jug, I love retro glassware!

A. B. "Banjo" Paterson's Collected Verse.

Autumn

It is the first day of autumn. The last few days have felt like autumn, it has rained, what beautiful rain. In anticipation of the change of season, I bought wool, big thick chunky 16 ply bold red wool. The rain has brought out the urge to knit and collect more wool.
The dust on my car has been washed away, it will be back, I cannot keep my self from driving down dusty, hidden roads and seeing what's down there.
This chalk drawing from Zach has also been washed away, it was by the front door. So glad I took a photo

Time to get lost on ravelry. Good night ♥x♥x