NT & WA Trip 2013: 4 Days in!

G'day Everyone!

We are now 4 days into our trip & enjoying ourselves!

After saying our goodbye's to our family (dogs & chickens too!) & friends we set off on our trip. Tuesday afternoon we travelled well, kids very excited. We got to St. Arnaud by about 6pm (after a late start getting on the road) where we decided to have dinner at the Pub. Pretty good meal! We got back to the van and decided that we would try & get to Sea Lake where we would stay at the Truckies Rest that we knew of. However, when we went to start the car, it wouldn't start. Trent managed to jump start the flat battery with the other battery that we just had fitted into the car for the fridge. We then decided just to drive into the council car park near a park and stay there the night. It was our first night 'free camping' as such. It went well except for when at 4.24am we had some hoons drive through the park and toot their car horn as they drove past us! By 7am we were on the road, the car started fine so we were bound for Samara and Brad's place at Nyah West. We drove to Sea Lake & we were all hungry for Breakfast so we stopped at the Truckies Rest. Got out the toaster and plugged it into the power in the rotunda, had my weeties and then it was time for a shower! The shower at the rest stop was great! Warm and just what we were after. Packed up again and ready to go, but the car again wouldn't start. After about an hour of Trent charging the battery up, we got going again. Instead of heading to the farm though we headed to Swan Hill. At Swan Hill Trent got a new battery installed while the kids and I got some retail therapy and lunch at the bakery! Have decided that ARB have a lot to answer for with regards to the installation of our new 2nd battery in the car!

So, by 3pm we were finally at Nyah West and enjoying the hospitality of the McQueen Family! Kids were so excited to see Samara, Brad & Paige and so were we! Its always great to catch up with these guys and we always have such a fun & relaxing stay. Home made Pizza's and Spaghetti for dinner and a fairly early night was called for! Oh, exchanging birthday presents to was lots of fun too!
Yesterday the kids and I spent time around the house enjoying the sunshine, playing with the dogs, then we painted our nails (Maurice too, he can't help it when he is surrounded by girls!), made a Pav for sweets and just had a good time catching up! Pheobe made a start on her Journal for her homework as well. Trent was busy too, helping Brad with a few things around the farm. It was beer o'clock before Sam and I knew it! Kids were bathed, Takeaway for dinner and then Pav for sweets! We were all full and had a reasonably early night.

Today we got up after what was a VERY windy night. Thought that a couple of times that we may have ended up on our side! Anyway, all was well and we packed up and said our thankyou's and goodbye's and were on the road by 9.40am. We made our way to Mildura by 12.30pm, after a quick stop for fuel at Buronga, we were literally running on empty! We have booked in the the All Seasons Caravan Park where we are staying for 2 nights! Once we arrived we un-hitched, checked out the facilities in the park & then went for a drive around Mildura. It has changed so much since Trent and I were last here almost 8 years ago now. Its grown so much, so many more shops etc... We went to take the kids down to the lock and weir but they are doing maintenance works so we couldn't show them. So then we went shopping and got the kids a few things they needed and some groceries that we all needed.
Back at the van and Trent did his thing with the Webber Q and cooked up a lovely roast lamb & veggies for dinner. Yum!!! Everyone enjoyed this! I didn't enjoy the cleaning up, but sitting here now doing this feeling full and satisfied. The kids have enjoyed playing at the park, playing ball and riding their scooters! Flick got a new pink 'big girls' scooter today and was very happy! Has been a little cooler than we would like it, but rugging up when it is and enjoying the sun when its out through the day.
Not sure what the plans are for tomorrow yet, but we are sure to come up with something! Hope this finds you well and happy. Until the next post, stay safe & well.
Love the Guye Gang! xo