The adventure has began!

Today at 10am (yes a little later than 6am but lets be realistic here) we departed Mt Colah to our first destination Dubbo via Parkes. Of course we didn't quite make it to Dubbo and are spending the night in a lovely rest area just 3kms north of Parkes.

The kids travelled well and we had our first stop at The Fruit Bowl in Bilpin for lunch in the drizzling rain and a play on the play equipment. After lunch the travelling was all too much for Kai and Ella and they soon rested their weary heads. Maddi entertained Tig and I with a game of eye spy which she kept having to tell us her answers as she was to good for us. Somehow every time it was my go, Tig would guess my answer within about 5 seconds of me telling them which letter. It was very annoying and Maddi tried to convince me that she was actually whispering him the answers.





We arrived in Orange for afternoon tea at the local park which thankfully had a swing set to play on. It was a lovely 11 degrees and the kids and I popped on the beanies to keep our ears warm. I would love to come back and explore Orange some more one day but today we had to push on.

Central West NSW provided us with our first beautiful sunsets as we drove towards Parkes.

Tomorrow we plan on heading to see "The Dish" aka Parkes Radio Telescope first thing and then push on to Dubbo to the zoo.



Today's achievements were:
1. We actually got away before lunch time.
2. I travelled past Bathurst, yippee. I don't think I have ever been further west than Bathurst before. Correct me mum and dad if this is wrong.
3. I did my first small town driving the big rig without hubby in the car. This was around Orange locating the park while he went shopping.
4. Probably more but it is late so I next need to find a home for all the items that I dumped on my bed while trying desperately to get away.

Till next time
Thea

10 days to go...

Today is the day that we were supposed to be leaving so everything feels a bit strange as it has become just another normal day. Phil went off to work as usual. Maddi off to school and now I am looking around me scratching my head not sure what to do first. Due to Phil's work commitments we are in Sydney for another 10 days. We will depart on Saturday 11th June as early as possible in order to avoid most of the Long Weekend traffic.

My mum departs to Africa this afternoon to visit my sister Saskia and her family so today involves a trip to the airport. I will miss her for many reasons but especially for the freedom of just walking out the door to take or collect Maddi from school without having to get Ella and Kai ready too.

Till next time ...
Thea

We have moved!

Last Thursday morning with kids still in pyjamas we pulled out of our place and headed down the road and around the corner to my mum's. This will be our place of residence till we drive off on the big trip.

I did manage to catch a photo of our rig as we pulled out of the drive.



This morning Phil took the caravan on a little day trip to a local repairer to have the bike frame for Phil and my mountain bikes attached. The job hasn't been completed yet but hopefully in about a weeks time it will all be sorted and another hurdle overcome.

Next major hurdle is getting all our stuff to fit. Having the three kids bikes located in the storage area has really cut down our storage space underneath.

Till next time ...
Thea

Well it is really happening.

The house is almost packed up.

The caravan is being moved tomorrow morning around the corner to my mums place where we will stay till our departure date.

The tenants are meeting us at the house on Saturday morning to hand over keys and any helpful house instructions.

What is the best bit. I have come down with a terrible head cold and feel absolutely terrible. All I want to do is curl up into a little ball and go to bed right now but instead I have to finish the packing and sorting.

I have created this mountain of stuff that is to go into the caravan in the middle of our empty lounge room. I can see that I have way to many things but the elimination process is so, so hard.

I hope it is nearly time to pop some more pills for head cold relief.

Till next time...
Thea

The caravan adventure begins

Now don't get confused we haven't left Sydney yet and will not be for another 4 weeks but tonight is the first night we are in the caravan for the next 8 months.

We have slept in the caravan before on a few different trips but only once before have we slept in the caravan in our own backyard. That time was the first night we had the caravan and it wasn't a great night. Maddi was so excited to be sleeping in our new caravan that she didn't drop off to sleep till after 10pm and Ella was quite sick with a temperature that I was up to her during the night multiple times.

Anyway the reason we are camped out in the caravan in our own backyard is because in exactly 1 week our tenants are moving in. Therefore this is the last weekend we had to pack all our furniture (including our beds) into the storeroom. Thankfully a handful of cycling and church friends were on hand to help Phil with the heavy lifting. Still quite a bit of sorting, packing and storing to be done of all the odds and ends that have been floating around the house.

We also said good bye to our precious dog Sophie tonight. She is going to live with some good friends who will provide her with much love, attention and exercise. Maddi and I shed a little tear as we are going to miss her greatly.

The next 5 days are going to be challenging as we try and move the last of our things out of the house, try and make everything fit in the caravan, move the caravan around the corner to my mum's place, and celebrate Ella's 5th birthday at the local gymnastics place. Which reminds me I better go and check on Ella's cake.

Till next time ...

Oh yeah, in case you noticed my '4 week' comment above. Our departure date has been changed. We are not leaving till the 11th June now as Phil needs to work the week of the 6th June. Therefore the new and revised departure count down is 28 days.

27 days to go...

The house is getting packed up.

The final plans are being made.

Only 27 days till departure day.

Final Test Weekend Away ...

Easter 5 day long weekend provided us with our final opportunity to get out in the caravan and test out how we plan on living in it for 7 months. We escaped Sydney by heading across the mountains to Lithgow and then took a right hand turn towards Mudgee, before turning off soon after Capertee. Our destination was a private property called Turon Gates.

We had never been to Turon Gates before but our lovely friends the Thomas' had spent time there previously using the cabin facilities they have on offer. The Thomas' along with some Irish friends of theirs joined us for this camping weekend. We had a great time climbing hills, throwing rocks in and wading across the river. We ate chocolate, the kids toasted marshmellows and we sat around the campfire and enjoyed the smokey air and entertaining conversation.

We discovered on this weekend that we could probably last quite along time on our solar power recharging battery system as long as we were careful with our light use at night, the days had sunshine and no trees over head. We also discovered that we can make the toilet last for almost 5 days before needing to be emptied if we try not to use it during the day and only the 3 kids use it over night.

Now that we are home I have been spending the days trying to get washing done, airing the caravan as it stinks of smoke and taking things out that I need in the house for the next 2 weeks before we pack it all up again.

The house tenants have been found, documents signed, dates set and now the fun of really packing begins. Hopefully tomorrow will be the start of the next 2 weeks of packing the house, sorting out computers, taking children to birthday parties, having birthday parties for 2 of our children and the normal weekly committments. I remember reading The Curry family's blog over a year ago now and Belinda the author saying how unbelievingly tiring and stressful this whole process is. She was so right.

Well that is all for now. Hopefully I will find some time in the next couple of weeks to update you further on our developments.

Thea