2022 was a very quiet year for Maggie and I travel wise.  Due to family commitments and our own health failings we only spent 19 days total in the Motorhome.

This year, health willing we are planning to make the most of it.

I have been using WikiCamps Trip Planner to do some planning.

So far have come up with the map below.  These are just the highways and we want to visit many other byways along the way and in between.

It could change of course but this is where we are at now.

Day 1.  A quick run down the Gore and Newell Highways.  Stopped for a rest up at Millmerran then down to North Star Rest Area about 30 k’s south of Goondiwindi.  Staying here the night.

Hi Derek
Happy travels to you Maggie and the two kids (Dogs)
regards Kev

Just a quick run down to Gilgandra today.  The Newell Highway is currently terrible so far.

Last night read about a new campsite here that opened two weeks ago so decided to check it out.

It is under a two year trial by the council and located within the cultural centre.  Only ten sites available. 

Need to book online.

We had a great run down today and now parked up with Bear and Molly at Gum Bend Lake.  Our day ended with this beautiful sunset

Some photos of the facilities here.  Hot showers, BBQ with power points, undercover seating areas.  Quite a nice spot and the sun is trying hard to push through the cloud cover.

All they ask for is a donation with the amount up to you.

My first loaf of bread for this trip in the Weber BabyQ using the Vienna loaf pan.

I am getting good at putting warts on them.

Going to make a point of stopping there some time in the future.

Aart

A walk around the lake this afternoon.  I reckon about 2 kilometres.  Lots of bird life on the water.

Council are installing a walking track right around.

An interesting concept in the showers here.  The taps are push button timers. You twist to set the temperature then you push to operate it.

Only thing is the timers are set for 20 seconds. 

You have to constantly keep pushing the button in but you don’t have to wait until the water stops flowing.

All tucked up at a friends farm at Old Junee for a few days.

Hi Derek
Hope your trip is going OK I have catched up on the forum
stories.
Have been off air due to computer trouble. New computer now
take care
regards Kev

Hi Derek
I was so use to the old one. not they use to be like HAHA

good to see you are having fun with your friends.
I got a phone call i was not expecting from my doctor
yesterday in urgent need to heart specialist seeing him in morning.  plague in some vessels
take care
Kev

Derek
thanks for the photos
Everything will be OK  more tests over the next few day
regards Kev

Hi Aart
Thanks for that mate will do that.
yes a few more test. Funny how it all started with trying to find out the reason I had a cough.
Enjoy your travels
Take care
Kevvie 

First photo is where we were on the farm at Old Junee

Have now moved on and with friends for the next two nights at Mangoplah. Second photo.

Pulled into the Brown Brothers Winery car park.  One of our regular stops when heading down through this part of Victoria.

Staying two nights as Maggie wants to go to the Wangaratta Woollen Mill Shop and it only opens on a Friday.

Kev, that is what Maggie and I enjoy in Victoria this time of the year.  Everyone else has gone north for the winter. 

I don’t think my ramps are going to make the distance.  This one already has given way at the top.

The clouds thickened up, went dark and the rain is coming down again.  Photo from our window.  It is a lovely view.

Goodmorning sunshine.

Photo taken from the open door of the motorhome.

Maggie waving goodbye as she disappears into the bowels of the Bendigo Woolen Mill Shop.

Heading to a caravan park here if she ever comes out again. 

On the map the red is our trip so far.

Definitely a Grandpa seat that one Kevvie.

Well Maggie eventually came out and this is home for the next three nights at the Park Lane Holiday Park, Bendigo.

Forgot it was school holidays and had a hard time finding a park to get into.

Very wet underfoot and had difficulty getting on the site.

I consulted Dr Google for the best fish n chip shop in Bendigo and it came up with the results.

Picked the closest one.

When I got home the food rated four out of ten.   

Getting very disillusioned with fish n chip shops in general.

After a pleasant three days in Bendigo we made it to Green Hill Lake just outside of Ararat.

Drove through and visited some amazing little towns between here and Bendigo.  Most of them very unique and charming.  Some of the architecture is amazing.

Like all of Victoria it is very wet here at present so hopefully we can drive out ok tomorrow.

We are parked up pretty close to the water and the view through our very dirty bedroom window is terrific.  I am looking forward to the sun setting later.

Kevvie wrote on Jun 29^th, 2023 at 6:03pm:


WE are both doing exceptionally well Kevvie, thanks.

Derek
Thanks for the photos
forgot to ask  Being cooler weather have you been trying
the local bakeries whilst traveling.
regards Kev

Derek
You are very brave people is it  "Will Power" 
regards Kev

Derek wrote on Jun 30^th, 2023 at 2:53am:


Same with us.
Haven't stopped at a bakery since leaving home.

Aart

Hi Derek
Sorry to hear about your troubles. At least you have something nice to stay.
regards Kev

Hi Derek
That is true mate 
regards Kev

Hi Derek
Always great to go to a caravan park that had a nice shower block that was nice and clean.
I would always used the shower block.  I could spread out. Lesley would always use a caravan shower so she didn't have to take what she needed with her.
It is funny how everyone likes are different.
regards Kev

Point Danger just to the south of Portland has the only mainland breeding colony of Australasian Gannets.  Lawrence Rocks a small Island just off the coast has tens of thousands of them.

Had to use the full extent of my Tele lens to see the island.

My second time seeing them here.  It is out of breeding season but you can make out the mound nests in the photos.

Day trip yesterday to Warrnambool.  Here are some photos around the Island.

The last photo is an interesting place.  It is of Middle Island.  Some years back it was a thriving Fairy Penguin colony however was devastated by foxes who could get out there at low tide.  When the colony was down to only a couple of pairs they came up with the idea of protecting them using Maremarra Dogs.  It is now once again a thriving Fairy Penguin colony.

In 2015 a movie was released about it called Oddball based on the story.  It is a nice good feel movie worth watching.

I wonder also how old that concrete bollard is.   

Crossing the border into South Australia tomorrow and not allowed to take fresh veggies with us so cooking up a big stew on our little induction cooktop with all our excess veggies.

Well we crossed the border into South Australia.  Nice to know we no longer need Covid Passes.   

Here we are at a 24 hour free camp at Cape Northumberland.  It is just a car park where/ self contained RV’s can stop for the night.

The video ends with our motorhome sitting in one of three long parking bays.

The photos are from our bedroom and bathroom windows looking out over the Great Southern Ocean.

Would have to call it as the nicest spot we have stopped at this trip so far.

Very cold outside. 

Hi Derek
Thanks for the video and photos. Looks like it is a cold day
Take care
regards Kev

Our diesel heater is playing up.  Surging the motor up and down, cutting in and out all the time.  Been struggling to get the inside warm this morning.
Trying to get a repair on them is very difficult even if possible to repair.  Plenty of installers but few repairers

Yesterday bit the bullet and rather than pay a couple of grand for a new Eberspacher like we have we ordered two cheap Chinese import complete kits for less than $300.  Bought two so that I will have heaps of spares. 

They are getting sent to Bear’s place in Adelaide and will collect them when we get over there.

Installation should be straight forward as I have installed diesel heaters before.  Hoping I can use some of the current wiring rather than run new looms.

Fun times.  Got down to only 14 degrees inside overnight but we have partial sun today. 

We did some coast hopping today.  Visited some amazing coastal towns.

Ended up at the RV Park in Kingston SE.  You might remember Shackles was here a week or so ago.  $20 for two nights with a maximum 6 nights.

Two photos from our bedroom window. The Lobster Shack over the road is closed for the season unfortunately.

Hi Derek
Good luck with the weather gods.
At least comfortable in the motor home. Handy have windows to take photos. Hope you Maggie  and the little dogs are rugged up.
Take care
Kev

Was a rather nostalgic drive through the Coorong area yesterday.  My third visit here.

It has always held a place in my heart.  I remember learning about the mouth of the Murray River at school and as I grew older read a lot about it.

The pioneers, the fishermen and the farmers who settled here.  Was especially interesting in how the fishermen learned of the movement of the shoals of fish from the aboriginal folk.

I like this area.

Hi Derek
Thanks for the photos.
Glad you got a little bit of nicer  weather
regards Kev

You know you are in the country when the locals drive the tractor to Bunnings. Was parked in front of me.