This bucket off a dozer was huge. We couldn't tell what it was until it was almost on top of us
fFom a distance, no wonder we had to get right off the road
Taken at Clearview where we stopped for a cuppa
Camilla Beach looking back toward our van. We were right on the water when the tide was in.
Camilla Beach with the tide going out
Dear Family and Friends
On our jouney down into Rocky we had to pull over and get right off the road. this was one of those times when the CB radio can be really helpful. We passed an Anderson's Removalist truck from Maffra, near Bairnsdale, so having used Anderson's a few times to bring something back to Bairnsdale (like our lounge that we had purchased from E Bay) Ken thought he might know the driver so he got on the CB and had a chat to the driver. It turns out that Ken didn't know him but he did say their was a wide load not far ahead of us and we would need to pull over. Sure enough we soon had police cars ahead of us indicating where we were to pull over (the pilot vehicle also were using the CB to tell people what they had to do) Then, not far ahead we could see something coming. We could see the truck coming toward us was driving right on the white line in the middle of the road and it was clearly a massive big thing spanning the width of the road plus some. We couldn't work out what it was until lt was almost on us. We heard on the radio that whatever it was it was 8 1\2 metre wide. It turned out to be a bucket off a dump truck and it was massive and probably was on its way up to the mines somewhere. Thinking all the excitement was over we continued on our way. Before long we could see more flashing lights ahead of us and this time we only had to pull over past the fog line on the road. This one was a large truck with four of the huge big tyres but it was only 5 1\2 metres wide.
This time with the excitement all over we drove to our next layover which was a free camp spot at Camilla Beach. In the holiday season this place is packed but for now it had about 5 or 6 vans that we saw. It was a lovely quiet spot by the beach but again very hot and humid. It is so tempting to have all that water there and not be able to go in it to cool down a bit. We stayed three nights before coming the rest of the way to Rocky.
We arrived in Rocky about 3 pm just after they had a heavy rainstorm. It was raining still on our arrival so we got moderately wet setting up. The humidity was unbearable so we got outside finished as quick as we could and got in the van which by that time was reasonably cool. We have decided to stay in Rocky now for a full week so that we could get a few things done. Ken wants to get the car serviced and new tyres fitted to the car. For me I wanted to do a spring clean in the van. We have been out of our house for a full year so it was time to clean up and throw out. That took me all day on Friday and once again the humidity was almost unbearable even with the air con. Saturday started quite early for me as my goal for this day was to begin cleaning the awning as it needed a really good scrub and I knew I had to start early or it wouldn't get done at all. Surprisingly I got it finished all bar a section that was hard to reach due to the height of the van. We have since moved the van so I will get it done tomorrow then it looks like the new awning that it is. Next is to give the outside of the van a really good clean also.
Due to the floods some of the cement in the park is badly damaged and the park managers came and asked us if we would move to a new site as they were laying some new cement and it would make it difficult for us coming in or out.. So in the humidity on Sat we packed up our van to set up in a different part of the park. We are staying at the Southside Van Park which has heaps of cabins and only a few caravan sites. It is well looked after and this spot is much nicer than our previous position.
Yesterday, being Sunday we headed off to church never expecting to see someone we knew but as we entered the church we could see that Anne whom we had caught up with in Cairns was also there. A new General for the Salvation Army has just recently been elected and it is a woman by the name of Linda Bond. She is a Canadian lady and her current position of Commissioner is leader of the Australian Eastern Territory and one of her farewell meetings was to be at Rocky in the afternoon. Anne was asked to come down as there would be a segment recognising the work of the SAES. (Salvation Army Emergency Services). As it turns out that included us and everyone involved were given a really nice pen in a black velvety cover. On one side of the pen it says "In appreciation" and on the other it has"Thanks SAES from NRMA insurance"
The General Elect. Commissioner Bond, is well liked in this territory and everyone we have spoken to say that she will make a really good General. It was a great service in the afternoon and almost all the songs we sang are my favorites. Once again God's timing is always right and we were both greatly blessed by the service and the opportunity to hear the new General Elect speak. We probably won't ever get that opportunity again.
That's about all for now
God Bless
Taken at Clearview where we stopped for a cuppa
Camilla Beach looking back toward our van. We were right on the water when the tide was in.
Camilla Beach with the tide going out
Dear Family and Friends
We have had our first blow out and didn't it go bang. Thankfully we were just on the outskirts of Bowen. We had left Home Hill reasonably early as we wanted to be in Bowen by 9.30 am so that we could find a church to go to but of course we didn't make it. Because Ken's back is causing him some grief we decided rather than change the tyre ourselves we would ring the RACV and within a half an hour they had the RACQ out and he had our spare on the car in no time and we were off to a caravan park for an unplanned stop over. Having had one blow out Ken wanted to put new tyres all round on the van. They were all the same and getting quite old so we figured if one has blown it's possible the others may blow also. So 8am Monday we were outside the tyre place and had four new tyres fitted and our spare put back on the van to be our spare again. And once again we hit the road and had a smooth run down to Rocky.
On our jouney down into Rocky we had to pull over and get right off the road. this was one of those times when the CB radio can be really helpful. We passed an Anderson's Removalist truck from Maffra, near Bairnsdale, so having used Anderson's a few times to bring something back to Bairnsdale (like our lounge that we had purchased from E Bay) Ken thought he might know the driver so he got on the CB and had a chat to the driver. It turns out that Ken didn't know him but he did say their was a wide load not far ahead of us and we would need to pull over. Sure enough we soon had police cars ahead of us indicating where we were to pull over (the pilot vehicle also were using the CB to tell people what they had to do) Then, not far ahead we could see something coming. We could see the truck coming toward us was driving right on the white line in the middle of the road and it was clearly a massive big thing spanning the width of the road plus some. We couldn't work out what it was until lt was almost on us. We heard on the radio that whatever it was it was 8 1\2 metre wide. It turned out to be a bucket off a dump truck and it was massive and probably was on its way up to the mines somewhere. Thinking all the excitement was over we continued on our way. Before long we could see more flashing lights ahead of us and this time we only had to pull over past the fog line on the road. This one was a large truck with four of the huge big tyres but it was only 5 1\2 metres wide.
This time with the excitement all over we drove to our next layover which was a free camp spot at Camilla Beach. In the holiday season this place is packed but for now it had about 5 or 6 vans that we saw. It was a lovely quiet spot by the beach but again very hot and humid. It is so tempting to have all that water there and not be able to go in it to cool down a bit. We stayed three nights before coming the rest of the way to Rocky.
We arrived in Rocky about 3 pm just after they had a heavy rainstorm. It was raining still on our arrival so we got moderately wet setting up. The humidity was unbearable so we got outside finished as quick as we could and got in the van which by that time was reasonably cool. We have decided to stay in Rocky now for a full week so that we could get a few things done. Ken wants to get the car serviced and new tyres fitted to the car. For me I wanted to do a spring clean in the van. We have been out of our house for a full year so it was time to clean up and throw out. That took me all day on Friday and once again the humidity was almost unbearable even with the air con. Saturday started quite early for me as my goal for this day was to begin cleaning the awning as it needed a really good scrub and I knew I had to start early or it wouldn't get done at all. Surprisingly I got it finished all bar a section that was hard to reach due to the height of the van. We have since moved the van so I will get it done tomorrow then it looks like the new awning that it is. Next is to give the outside of the van a really good clean also.
Due to the floods some of the cement in the park is badly damaged and the park managers came and asked us if we would move to a new site as they were laying some new cement and it would make it difficult for us coming in or out.. So in the humidity on Sat we packed up our van to set up in a different part of the park. We are staying at the Southside Van Park which has heaps of cabins and only a few caravan sites. It is well looked after and this spot is much nicer than our previous position.
Yesterday, being Sunday we headed off to church never expecting to see someone we knew but as we entered the church we could see that Anne whom we had caught up with in Cairns was also there. A new General for the Salvation Army has just recently been elected and it is a woman by the name of Linda Bond. She is a Canadian lady and her current position of Commissioner is leader of the Australian Eastern Territory and one of her farewell meetings was to be at Rocky in the afternoon. Anne was asked to come down as there would be a segment recognising the work of the SAES. (Salvation Army Emergency Services). As it turns out that included us and everyone involved were given a really nice pen in a black velvety cover. On one side of the pen it says "In appreciation" and on the other it has"Thanks SAES from NRMA insurance"
The General Elect. Commissioner Bond, is well liked in this territory and everyone we have spoken to say that she will make a really good General. It was a great service in the afternoon and almost all the songs we sang are my favorites. Once again God's timing is always right and we were both greatly blessed by the service and the opportunity to hear the new General Elect speak. We probably won't ever get that opportunity again.
That's about all for now
Love to one and all.
God Bless
Ken and Lyn
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