Forbes to Mendooran

Today left Forbes around 9.30. What a way to start the day. Up around 7.30, breakfast and then getting ready. A lot stress. It rained most of the night at Forbes, so was really wet outside this morning.
Glad to get away and started heading to Mendooran. A nice free camp about 500mts from the town. Will go for a walk to town this afternoon and will then have a bit more to report.

A photo of my setup at Mendooran ( there is optus here).

Walked around Mendooran this afternoon, an interesting old country town. Very quiet and some interesting buildings. Thinking of driving straight through to Texas tomorrow ( Friday ) and then spending a couple of days until heading to Brisabne.

Here are some photos of Mendooran city centre.

The days travel

Heading to Gold Coast 2014

About to head north. I have just finished changing the bearings on one of the wheels on the caravan. Also found a leak in one of the water tanks, so will have to fix that before I leave. Getting really close now.

About to head North

It is the 15th July and I have left Holbrook and have travelled to Forbes for the night. If you have been reading the blog, you will know that the last time I was here, the awning blew off and cost me a fortune ( even with insurance).

Arrived here after 4 1/2 hours ( took it slowly), only to find it had been raining here for a while and it is all mud. Anyhow, I have found a reasonable spot that isn't too wet. Had to use 4WD to get around it is that muddy. All went well though.

It was a slow drive due to beig wet and held up by some slow drivers ( I cant pass when towing the van).

Muddy at Forbes




The days travel

Last days at Holbrook

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If you have been folowing this, you will know that the motel has sold. As of Friday I am living in the van and getting used to my new life.
Paul and Sonia are getting into the running of the motel and I believe they will do well.
I have taken some photos of the staff as a goodbye. I have made good friends here in Holbrook and will continue to visit over the years to come.

The Yellow Submarine of Holbrook

Holbrook has done an amazing thing to get itself on the map.
Murray arts decided to do the biggest yarn bombing done so far in Australia. For those of you who dont know what yarn bombing is, this is the best explanation I received. Yarn bombing is going in the mid of night and covering some structure with knitted yarn.
As the submarine is so large, they couldn't do it as it is meant to be done, however they have done a great job. People from all over Australia knitted items for this. they even had people from Scotland where the submarine was constructed send over knitting for it.

It was organised to celebrate 100 years of Submariners in Australia and 50 years since the Beatles first toured Australia.

We had local radio stations and news services here reporting on it. A lot of travellers called off the highway to have a look. The submarine will remain covered until the 12th July.

Here is a photo of how it looks.

It has finally happened !!!!

The motel is sold !!!!!!!

Settlement is to be the 1st July.

I will be staying in Holbrook for a couple of weeks to settle things with the Accountant etc and then will be heading to the Gold Coast to see Ashleigh and Havana. While I am there I will change my licence, catch up with Ben and Michael, which will be great. Would like to be there for a couple of weeks but depends the cost of caravan parks on the Gold Coast. Then onto Noosa (home town) to catch up with a couple of people.

After there, who knows. All I know is that I will be heading north, so no more freezing winters.

It will be sad to leave Holbrook which has been home for 7 years. I have promised people here that I intend to come back every couple of years.

It is also scary to realise that I am now at my own devices. I will have to get to know this bloke Neil and work out what I am going to do for the next 10 years. I dont think I can retire even if I had the money to be able to, (which I don't) because I need to be doing things, being constructive, involved and useful. However having said that I am looking forward to a few months of nothing but reading, fishing , socialising and getting the van into the shape I want it to be.

Talking of the van, the battery charger doesn't work so I have had to buy a new one. Another $500 to be spent on the van. At least I will know everything is ship shape.

Within about 1 month this blog will be getting updated much more regularly as I start my new life.

Join with me as we go through the ups and downs and see Australia.

Neil