Working hard

Griffin park

Pumphouse Bay

Longford caravan park

The Hazards from Rivers and Rocks

On the way to Evandale we camped at Griffin park for three nights.A great site tucked away in a valley surrounded by pine forests.Unfortunately the rain put paid to the pennyfarthing races in Evandale,however we did have a good time looking around this historic town.From there we headed into the highlands and spent a few days at Arthurs Lake at the Pumphouse camp ground.While in the area we visited the Great Lake and Waddamana power station that was opened early last century and is now a museum.
Arriving back at Longford Chris headed back to Adelaide for six days for Declans first birthday and had a great time catching up with everyone.During her time away i took the Jeep into Launceston to get the radiator looked at as the car was continually overheating going uphill towing the van.$1260.00 later the problem has been solved,a 3/4 blocked radiator.Chris arrived back on the Monday evening and on the Thursday we left for the Freycinet Peninsular and back at the River and Rocks bush camp ground also catching up with another couple we met there a few weeks earlier.
For the last five weeks we have been at the Bicheno East caravan park where Chris has a job cleaning units and i have been working at the Freycinet Winery,grape picking and general work around the processing plant.I have been offered two months work pruning over May and June also.We hope to have our new Owen A van delivered early June which has an onsuite shower and toilet,much better than our current van.After June we will slowly make our way down the East coast towards Hobart.

The East coast.



Yelow tailed black cockatoo

Ralph Falls

Swimcart beach,Bay of Fires

Evandale

Halls Falls

Four weeks ago we left the Latrobe area and headed East along the top part of Tasmania.Our first stop was in the Waterhouse Point area for four nights.A conservation park with many free camp sites avaliable,all walking distance from the beach.The fishing there was reasonable and the weather good.From there it was a one night stop over at Tommahawk caravan park and then we made our way South East to Weldborough where the local hotel offers campsites for $20.00 per night with warm showers,definately better than the 20L solar shower hanging from the shower tent in the middle of the bush.While there we drove around the area visiting Ralph falls on Mt Victoria and Halls falls,which were stunning,in the Blue Tier mountain range.
For the last three weeks have again been free camping at Swimcart beach,12km North of St Helens on the East coast.Another fantastic spot well worth the visit.With really good fishing off the beach and in Grant's lagoon we have had so many fish meals and the freezer is stocked too.
We are now slowly making our way to Evandale for the Penny farthing races on this weekend (18-19th Feb) via Lagoons beach and St Marys.

Finally :-)

Finally,we have starting our semi retirement.The last 13 days from 28th December 2010 to 9th January 2011 on the mainland,were spent in Melbourne at a friends house,which was strange getting used to the extra space,considering we have been living in the caravan for the last two months.

        

 

We arrived in Devenport,Tasmania yesterday (9/1/2011) on the Spirit of Tasmania 1 at 6.15pm.The crossing was smooth most of the way but after spending some time reading a book i soon turned a slight shade of green.
We are not rushing into any employment prospects straight away but will keep our nose's to the ground so to speak should anything come up that looks good.
It has been raining most of the day today and the forcast is for more to come so we are both catching up on neglected duties in and around the caravan and on the computer.

A toast to semi retirement

The caravan park we are staying at until tomorrow is basic to say the least,so we have made a booking at another one a few km's away that is right next to the Mersey river at Latrobe.

Back from O.S

View from our hotel in Scotland,south of Glencoe

After eight and a half weeks in Europe,UK,and Ireland we are back in Australia.It was a great time overseas and we were continually on the go.Caught up with friends and family and saw so much.
Now we are on the road and enjoying the experience.This last week was spent in Robe,south of Adelaide and for the next five weeks leading up to Christmas we will be on the West coast in the Port Lincoln / Coffin bay area.
Once the Christmas celebrations are over it's off to Melbourne till 9th January and then we travel on the Spirit of Tasmania to Devenport.
In Tassie we will start looking for work and seeing that part of Australia.How long we will be there depends on how much there is to see.

Germany 27 years later,John and Alma Hart with thier daughter Michelle and husband Axel

London Millenium wheel

Where else would you visit when in Dublin

37 years later,UK,cousin Elaine her husband Rob and daughter Verity

Where it all happened 'all those years ago' in Liverpool

Chris scattered Grant's ashes on the Man U ground

Our A380 flight back to Singapore

Haggis,neeps and tatties

Highland cow,Isle of Skye

Marina bay,Singapore

Amsterdam

Our motor home in Europe

Interlaken,Switzerland

Stonehenge,UK

Ian Evans and myself in Rushden,UK

Tiger balm gardens,Singapore

HMS Victory,Portsmouth

Buckingham palace

CLOSED !!!!!

Blackpool

Edinburgh castle

London Bridge

If you want to contact us directly go to j.hanger@hotmail.com.au

Finally !!!

Chris and i finally moved out of the house and into our new home,an A van Tayla MK 2.
I was once advised by someone,that when it comes to deciding what to take on a round OZ trip the best thing to do is lay everything out and then halve it, how true !!!!!
We feel we are nearly there,48 hours later.
We leave for our European/UK holiday in seven days,which will be the official start to our semi retirement and the blog will be updated when we get internet access.

Sold

15 Riversdale drive

   

The house and old van are now sold,all that remains is to sell off as much furniture as possible.Chris and i gave notice to our respective employers last week.We hope to be on a flight to Europe on 28th August and when we get back late October we begin the 'Lap' of Aussie. Watch this space !!!!

Sooner than later.

Our plans have now been moved forward.The house will be on the market mid June(next month)and as soon as it sells we head off to Europe and the UK.The plan is to be back in Australia around November and then we will go to Tasmania for a working holiday.
Life's too short to wait around.