2013 is the year we have been working towards. We paid off our car in 2012 and the trailer has had many modifications to "get it ready". Last August we took it to Cameron's Corner to try things out and see what things we need & what is surplus. This trip was invaluable to us for working out many things we need and to also give us a greater sense of distance and obstacles.
In December the sorting/packing began. We are very fortunate to have wonderful family & friends who are storing some of our precious things and now us. We took a furniture trailer load of things to Qld at Christmas time and on our return we packed to rest of our things. We sold and donated all the furniture we no longer wanted or needed.
On the 13th of January we packed the last of our things into the car & camper and headed to Canada bay to live with the fabulous Ron & Desley until we head off in May. We farewelled our wonderful little unit 29 on Friday the 21st. It was very hard to leave our home we truly had made it home and loved where we were & how it all worked. We had lived there for 5 years and in that time gone through so much, so many memories. 5 years may not seem long to many but if you take the fact that together we have lived in 11 different places in 12 years you can see why and how it really felt like home. This little unit really helped me in particular feel like Sydney is my home. Other then our childhood homes it is the longest place we have lived anywhere.
With only 11 weeks till we leave its now all becoming very real. We are madly saving and planning the last modifications to the trailer. My thoughts are consumed with what to take and how to pack. Not carrying excess items is high on the priority list as it means weight which is money and also frustration when setting & packing up camp.
As for a plan we are going to set our travel plans as we go. It will be something we look at far more once we leave Sydney. For now we know where we are starting and the direction we want to head and that's enough for us.
I had another hurdle to get over I had to tell the kids I nanny that I am leaving. Last week I told the kids about our trip. They all took it really well. They had some questions but generally they were excited about meeting up with us in June when they are heading to Darwin. Saying our goodbye will be very hard but I know we will be friends for life so it's only farewell not goodbye. I have been their nanny for the last 7 years and seeing them grow has been one of my greatest pleasures. They are all truly amazing wonderful individuals who I love dearly.
The coming weeks are now all about enjoying Sydney and our jobs and our lives with our Sydney family. To all our SF you will be hearing from us more seeing us more you are all so important to us and we are cherishing our last weeks here.
Our World, All About Us 2 Martins...
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Camping at Mogo river!!!!
For about 4 months we had been trying to get a trip to a local camp ground organised so Anna & Keith could come and Jemma & Jeff could join Rhys & Effie. We all finally found a weekend where we were free. Well you couldn't pick our luck when a severe weather warning with possible cyclone conditions was predicted.
We were not going to let a "little" bit of rain stop us so with rain jackets & gum boots packed off we set. It was a bit of a bumpy start when Keith slept in & we had to go back to the house twice as we forgot things. We met up 30min late but still we forged on.
We met Rhys, Effie, Jeff & Jemma at Mooney Mooney and headed north. With a quick stop for ice we made it to camp at 11.30am. Surprise surprise we were the only ones there!!!! Unfortunately for us the bollards had all been replaced so we couldn't camp next to our cars & the shelter. We chose to set tents near the shelter & when the rain eased or briefly stopped we gathered things from the car.
The rain would go from drizzle to absolutely pouring. We were so very fortunate to have the shelter with the 1 solid wall. Without this shelter we couldn't have camped as most the rain came from that direction so having this wall kept us drier then any other shelter. The shelter floor was uneven so many times the fire wood was used to push out the puddles. It was going ok until it absolutely bucketed down at about 2pm and the water rushed down hill & into the shelter we were then in the middle of Mogo creek sitting in 2inch deep water.
From here on it rained on & off but Anna looked increasingly worried & after dinner opted to pack up & head home. We fare welled them & got a great fire going to keep warm. Thank goodness the shelter had the high set BBQ/fire place as it was about 9pm when the heavens really opened up & we got torrential rain for about 20min and the water again rushed down the hill & into the shelter only this time it was double the depth of earlier & kept coming for a longer time. There was a space of time where we couldn't tell the shelter from the grass as it was so deep.
When it let off we decided to check our tent. We had never had it out in rain let alone now sitting in the middle of Mogo creek. We had picked a great spot to camp right where 2 streams had formed and met right at the front of our tent. Luckily the tent design was brilliant and nothing inside was wet. We pulled up pegs & moved higher up stream where it was slightly drier.
About 10pm the rain eased off & then stopped. We were fortunate & had only caught the edge of the storm.
Sunday we woke to the birds & brilliant blue skies. After a yummy late cooked breakfast we decided to head home past St Albans Pub. The road was washed away at some points and we were not far from St Albans when we came across a tree blocking the track. We tried to winch it out of the way but with further thought Rhys dragged it off the track.
On we pushed until we came to the river crossing. The boys were smart and walked it. The depth was up to their thighs but it was the current that they all agreed was flowing too fast to risk crossing. So we turned back and made our way out.
We decided to drop past Mangrove Dam for a break, then turned for home.
We had a brilliant weekend even with the rain/river/flooding. It was a good test for bad weather to come.
We were not going to let a "little" bit of rain stop us so with rain jackets & gum boots packed off we set. It was a bit of a bumpy start when Keith slept in & we had to go back to the house twice as we forgot things. We met up 30min late but still we forged on.
We met Rhys, Effie, Jeff & Jemma at Mooney Mooney and headed north. With a quick stop for ice we made it to camp at 11.30am. Surprise surprise we were the only ones there!!!! Unfortunately for us the bollards had all been replaced so we couldn't camp next to our cars & the shelter. We chose to set tents near the shelter & when the rain eased or briefly stopped we gathered things from the car.
The rain would go from drizzle to absolutely pouring. We were so very fortunate to have the shelter with the 1 solid wall. Without this shelter we couldn't have camped as most the rain came from that direction so having this wall kept us drier then any other shelter. The shelter floor was uneven so many times the fire wood was used to push out the puddles. It was going ok until it absolutely bucketed down at about 2pm and the water rushed down hill & into the shelter we were then in the middle of Mogo creek sitting in 2inch deep water.
From here on it rained on & off but Anna looked increasingly worried & after dinner opted to pack up & head home. We fare welled them & got a great fire going to keep warm. Thank goodness the shelter had the high set BBQ/fire place as it was about 9pm when the heavens really opened up & we got torrential rain for about 20min and the water again rushed down the hill & into the shelter only this time it was double the depth of earlier & kept coming for a longer time. There was a space of time where we couldn't tell the shelter from the grass as it was so deep.
When it let off we decided to check our tent. We had never had it out in rain let alone now sitting in the middle of Mogo creek. We had picked a great spot to camp right where 2 streams had formed and met right at the front of our tent. Luckily the tent design was brilliant and nothing inside was wet. We pulled up pegs & moved higher up stream where it was slightly drier.
About 10pm the rain eased off & then stopped. We were fortunate & had only caught the edge of the storm.
Sunday we woke to the birds & brilliant blue skies. After a yummy late cooked breakfast we decided to head home past St Albans Pub. The road was washed away at some points and we were not far from St Albans when we came across a tree blocking the track. We tried to winch it out of the way but with further thought Rhys dragged it off the track.
On we pushed until we came to the river crossing. The boys were smart and walked it. The depth was up to their thighs but it was the current that they all agreed was flowing too fast to risk crossing. So we turned back and made our way out.
We decided to drop past Mangrove Dam for a break, then turned for home.
We had a brilliant weekend even with the rain/river/flooding. It was a good test for bad weather to come.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)