The Trip Home

Ian arrived to travel home with us as Jan and April were flying back to Sydney on Tuesday. After saying goodbye to those who we left behind, Ian, John, Sue, Robynne, Steve, Graeme and I headed off at 8.40am. It was a pretty drive past Lake Albert, even though it was like a salt lake of nothing, till we got to Meningie where there was plenty of water in the lake. We stopped there for morning tea just after 10.30am. Back on the road at 11.00am next we stopped at Kingston at 12.30pm for lunch. We had a walk towards the beach and stood on SA sand. We then headed off at 1.20pm towards Robe which was a beautiful old fashioned little town. We stopped there for ice cream and met up with Qld Jaguars who were also on their way home. When we drove into the marina we were followed by Andrew and Nicole. We had a quick chat and left about 2.40pm.

Arrived at Mt Gambier at 4.15pm and drove around the Blue Lake which is truly blue. Met the Qld Jaguars again, then off to the motel with the assistance of Navman lady (she was right again). Again we went shopping and had dinner in the room of Steve and Robynne.

Departed motel at 8.00am and filled up with petrol, departing service station at 8.20am. Whilst driving down the road Andrew and Nicole were coming towards us but didn’t see us. Robynne radioed them to let them know we were at the lake the day before. We then proceeded on the highway departing SA border at 8.35am and crossing Victoria border at 9.05am. At 10.45am we arrived in Port Fairy. We went past a large wind farm. The drive was very pretty and the ocean views were great and in places the countryside was green. Morning tea stop at 11.00am by a river then a stroll down the wharf, departing at 11.50am. We arrived at Warrnambool Museum and Information Centre at 12.20pm. We then found a little park where we had lunch overlooking the ocean and very pretty views. We then departed at 1.30pm.

Going along The Great Ocean Road we called into the Bay of Islands with all the other tourists of different cultures then onto The Grotto, London Bridge and the Twelve Apostles. The weather was great and not cold.  We stopped at a little lookout at Castle Cove,  then proceeded onto Apollo Bay arriving just on dusk with our motel just another 3kms further on at Skenes Creek. After getting settled in and unpacked we then drove back to Apollo Bay for dinner at a Diner which was very nice. We then took a stroll down the street for an ice cream.

We set off early after our first night camping, stopping first at Mount Gambier. The Crater lake and the Blue lake were quiet a surprise. By the time we had done a few walks and checked out Umpherson Sink hole half the day had gone. Regretfully we had to push on, promising to return one day. Next stop was Port Fairy, we enjoyed lunch sitting next to the cannons on Battery Hill which was built to protect the town from a perceived threat from the Russians. Next stop was Tower Hill State Game Reserve. This was another volcano crater, the highlight however was the Koala population. We drove onto Peterborough were we camped again. We drove back a couple of kilometres to watch the sunset over the Bay of Matyrs.

Looking out the window at 7.26am this was our first morning of fog (I think it’s a sign of winter approaching) and it was a little cool when we headed off at 8.09am with the sun trying to come through at 8.20am. After going through Bairnsdale which is a large town and going over the river Robynne commented how brown it was and it looked just like a big chocolate. Ian thought she said she wanted a chocolate and said there was a little shop ahead, but she soon put him right and we kept going.

Just outside Johnsonville we had an emergency stop with Ian checking his tyres as he thought they were swaying a little. Then back on the road again we went through Swan Reach and pulled up at the lookout at the edge of Lakes Entrance where we stopped for morning tea at 9.28am. The view was spectacular. Ian jacked the car up and checked one rear wheel and noticed it was a little loose, so it was tightened the best he could and then he went to check the other rear wheel. But on taking off the wheel cover the nut came with it and then it was big trouble with a broken axle. He then decided to ring NRMA and when he came and looked at the car he said, yes it was going to be a trip on the back of the tow truck for it. While we were waiting Robynne and I went down to the town and found a little antique shop to fill in time. On arriving back the boys had our car packed with Ian’s luggage and room was soon made for Ian to travel with Steve and Robynne. We then waited for the truck to arrive which took about another half an hour or so and loaded the car. Such a sorry sight to see it go down the road but we were grateful this was all that happened. By this time it was 12.01pm and we went down by the water and had lunch at 12.05pm. We were trying hard to keep Ian’s spirits up. We left at 12.41pm now with 2 cars in tow and arrived at Cann River for petrol at 2.15pm - no Shell. We crossed the border around 3.00pm and arrived at Eden at 3.28pm. As much as we wanted to stay it was a quick pit stop down by the water as we still had a way to go. We had another break at Pambula at 3.55pm for petrol where Steve, Robynne and Ian had an ice cream while waiting for us. We had apples instead (how sad).

Back on the road again at 4.10pm, to save time as it was getting late and we still had a way too go, we went inland through Bega. Steve got a bit ahead.(I think he was in a hurry) but we did eventually catch up. The country was very green and lush. We went through Narooma at 5.30pm then onto Moruya at 6.02pm with still 26 kms to go and a sore bum from sitting so long. At Lynchs Creek an idiot coming the other way decided to overtake and Steve had to hit the brakes so not to collide. We finally arrived at the motel at Batemans Bay at 6.30pm. As this turned out to be a long day we were really glad to arrive and see the manager waiting for us. We settled ourselves in our rooms and headed up the street to the Soldiers Club for dinner then a lovely stroll back to retire for the night at 8.30pm

At 8.00am we departed the Bayside Motel for the final leg of our trip which was cloudy then sunny. We went through Ulladulla at 8.45am, Nowra at 9.30am and turned onto Kangaroo Valley Highway which was very pretty and my car just turned over 30021 kms. We arrived at Kangaroo Valley at 9.50am and it was foggy around the mountain. We arrived at Bowral at 10.45am where we stopped for petrol and morning tea. We then decided to stay for a look around the main street and stayed for lunch as well. This was a good break as we needed it. We then departed at 12.14pm heading down the Hume Highway and onto the M7 which was great as we hadn’t been on this stretch of road before. We came out on Pennant Hills road at 1.31pm (what a time saver) and onto the Newcastle Freeway at 1.44pm. We then stopped at the Caltex at 2.55pm for a little coffee break. Back on the road again and stopping at Carey Bay to drop off Ian and his luggage at 3.25pm. This was a quick hello to Jan and goodbye to both. After saying farewell to Robynne and Steve at 3.49pm we were then headed for Singleton arriving at 5.05pm after travelling 4362 kms.

We had a great trip with great friends. A special thankyou to Nicole and Andrew for making the journey to Adelaide most enjoyable and to Ian for the journey home an unforgettable one.

The scenery was great wherever we went and I’m sure the other members enjoyed it all too.