1. UNDERWAY.  Lake Macquarie to Gulargambone

Hi All,

The intention of Don and Carrol Langford in writing this blog is to give a light-hearted, outline of our trip anti-clockwise around Australia. As a reader, if you are after a serious travel documentary full of facts, we are sorry but you are going to be seriously disappointed. Serious is not the intent!
Also, due to never taking an active interest in politics, we apologise in advance that within this blog, there will be a high possibility of political incorrectness.

Carrol and I have been preparing for this trip for a very long time and have been putting considerable detail into the total rig and planning, and have now taking the leap. As we leave, we have made only one booking, a hair appointment for Carrol on 13th December. Apart from that, it will be as it happens, largely taking advice along the way. (Needless to say, we have quite a list of places to go, with rough dates as to when)
Don's parents did a similar trip 25 years ago, and we have some of their notes to compare and follow. There would have been far fewer folk doing the big lap in those days.

Our tow tug is a LandCrusier 200 series, and the van by coincidence is a Regent Cruiser, a 20ft6in semi off road van, set up for self sufficiency.  Our back up transport is our 25yo tandem pushbike, mounted to the back of the van. Overall length of rig is 14.5m.
We have a sign on the back of the van: Don and Carrol. "Cruisin' it, not losin' it"

All is reasonably set up for off the grid living.  Power in the van is by 2 large batteries, 2 x 150 solar panels on the roof, 2 x 9kg gas tanks, 2 x 95 ltrs fresh water which last about 4 days depending upon length of showers, and a toilet with cassette which also lasts up to 4 days depending upon the number of sittings.

Anti-clockwise of Aus is the plan in order to avoid winter, be up in Darwin and the tropics in the cooler weather, follow the wild flowers down WA with the coming warmer weather, get assistance from the Freemantle Doctor (breeze from the west) when crossing the Nullabor, through South Australia and back for the hair appointment and Christmas.
On top of this, we are taking a shorter radius around Australia in going anti-clockwise due to driving on the left hand side of the road.

Jerrys Plains with air strip further west

Our first night was at Jerrys Plains, arriving after dark.  Previously in this area, we had seen large mobs of kangaroos, and were quite aware that we might be collecting some freshly grilled meat from the bull bar for the barbie.  We had to settle on hot cross buns, far less messy and easier to prepare than hot cross kangaroo!
We had made it a unwriten rule to not drive at dusk or night if it could be avoided, however it hasn't taken long to break the rule.
Next morning, driving out of Jerrys Plains we were somewhat perplexed.  We had seen the plains and an airstrip; however no sight of any pilots or air hostesses.

Rain was falling as we left our campsite, breaking another unwritten rule.  This was to not get the car and van wet or dusty!
The road continued west up and over the great divide, where we considered that despite a reasonably low altitude, the rain falling on the western side of the Great Divide theoretically has enough momentum to make it to the the mouth of the Mighty Murray provided it doesn't evaporate, be irrigated, or consumed by man or animal.  Quite a geological feat.

The last sign of the Hunter for quite a while

The drive up the Castlereagh Highway, with the Castlereagh River along side saw the landscape change to the great western slopes as we sought out Gulargambone.  The land is in so much need of rain, missing out on the recent downpours parts of Qld and NSW have had.
The Castlereagh River for the most part, is a dry sandy river bed, snaking its way NW, joining the Barwon, the Darling, then the Murray.

Castlereagh River and highway majestically travelling together

The Castlereagh River is subterranean in parts, which must mean it is deeper than the Mediterranean. Terrariums need water regularily.

The Mighty Castlereagh River at Gulargambone

Our hosts at the Gulargambone Caravan Park cooked a very tasty open pit roast lamb (see photo below of Lambsy)  along with vegies and damper cooked in the camp oven for us weary travellers.  This was followed by home made fruit cake and cream.
The locals are so welcoming.  We came to town for one night, and will leave after 3 nights. At least we feel well rested after a hectic few months of preparation.

Locals were excited to see us. The lamb's excitement didn't last

Gulargambone is doing it's best to revitalise itself, with our timing coinciding with a number of notable artists painting murals on almost everything that doesn't move. We kept ourselves mobile on the tandem.  The artwork is fantastic.

Carrol watching paint dry

Silo (or better still Sihi) with face lift

The council pool was looking inviting, and with the temperature 36C in the shade we were aiming to keep another of our unwritten rules; to swim everyday!  Unfortunately the pool closed last weekend for the winter.  Another of our failed rules; with the rule book being destined for the garbage.
Hence back to more artists and their work.

Gulargambone Superman - Man of Steel

Bullocks chuckling after sharing a yolk together

Artist John Murray receiving painting tips

John ecstatic over advice received

Our final night in the town of many galahs before moving on to Lightning Ridge will be a slow cooked open fire dinner in the caravan park with about 50 of the various guests and artists from all over Australia.  It will give us a chance to exhibit our own cultural and artistic abilities.

Hoping all is going well with everyone's travels through life.
Thanks for reading.  We wish you well until next installment.

Please also see some previous trial blogs in the lead up to this blog; found at the foot of this blog. 

Cheers, Don and Carrol.