June 16, 2006
Well, I finally made it into an internet cafe but I’m having problems loading photo’s so words will have to suffice for now (at least until I learn how to use the software properly!)
I’m buggered today. I helped Deb clean a couple of cabins yesterday and since I haven’t done any real physical work for a while I’m out of shape. It’s a big job. I slept really well last night. Must do something about exercising more (or maybe clean cabins more frequently!)
It’s David’s birthday tomorrow so we are all going out to dinner tomorrow night. There’s a great restaurant in Tathra which does fantastic gourmet pizzas and seafood, so we’re really looking forward to that.
Not much else happening today, as I want to spend a couple of hours on the internet (I’m suffering withdrawal). Hopefully we can update in the next few days (with photos!)
June 15, 2006
We took the day off and went to Canberra on Wednesday. It was really cold when we left and we’d seen that the forecast for Canberra was -1 so I wasn’t really looking forward to the cold, but it was a glorious day in Canberra, a beautiful crisp sunny day.
The plan was to pick up some bits and pieces we needed and then head to an internet café to update the website and send emails to let family and friends know we are alive and well. However, the trip to Canberra took longer than expected (generally it’s about a 2½ – 2¾ hour trip) due to thick fog, icy roads and slow drivers, so the internet part didn’t happen.
Because of the fog we didn’t get to see too much on the way up, but on the way back the fog had cleared and we could see just how lovely the countryside around this area is.
We’re both really looking forward to seeing as much of this country as we can. You forget how beautiful Australia is when you are on the daily grind.
We’ll probably stay around Kalaru for the next 4-5 weeks so will hopefully have more time for checking out the scenery and taking lots of photos.
The only way to get internet access at the moment is by going into an internet café but I’m planning on doing this at least once a week to keep this site updated. We’ll see how the plan goes.
June 13, 2006
Countryside Caravan Park
We have finally left our brick and mortar home and moved into our new home on wheels and have started on our big trek around Australia.
First stop is Kalaru in NSW, about 5km west of Tathra on the NSW south coast (the Sapphire Coast). We are staying and working at Countryside Caravan Park for a few weeks, thanks to our friend Karen and her partners who are giving us the opportunity for some work experience.
We’ve now been working in the park for 2 weeks and are really enjoying it all. David has been working in the park with Mick, doing maintenance jobs, mowing lawns etc. The park is quiet right now so it’s a good time for us to be here.
I’ve been working in the office, learning to use the reservation system, taking rents and utilities payments from permanent residents, checking people in/out, running reports, answering the phone, taking bookings, organising the banking etc.
As well as that, there is also a convenience shop and a take away food section so both of us have been making burgers, fish & chips, and other tasty stuff.
While we’ve been here, we’ve also both attended the local TAFE college and received our RSA qualification (Responsible Service of Alcohol) which is required if you want to work in a pub or club where we would be serving alcohol. David has also completed the OH&S certification which is required in NSW.
We are learning a lot, and since it is so different to our normal type of work we are really having a lot of fun. One of the nicest things is meeting all the people who either stay at or visit the park. Also, the park is in such a nice setting it isn’t hard staying here.
However, it has been cold and the first 5 days/nights it absolutely bucketed down. The locals loved it, they needed the rain, but we were happy when it stopped for a few days. It started raining again a couple of days ago, but the forecast says it should clear in a day or so.
We’ve settled into the 5th wheeler very easily. It’s very comfortable and cosy. One change we made was to swap the mattress that came with the van with the one off our normal bed – it made the bed here a bit higher, but it’s so much more comfortable – and we’ve both been sleeping well.
We had a day off on Sunday and went for a drive up the coast – it’s really pretty, especially the section between Bermagui and Narooma. It was raining when we left but soon cleared up to a sunny (but cold) day. After lunch in Bateman’s Bay we meandered back down the Princes Highway through Bega to Kalaru. We had lots of stops on the way up, but not so many on the way home as it had turned quite cold, and it started getting dark around 4:30.
A lovely day all round!
