Well as the topic says the van is finally all fixed and operational (as per my introductory post). We tested it out on the weekend at a friends property up past Laidley (Qld). This weekend to a winery up Gympie way so making sure all is well.
A big thank you to dave, you were on your trip when we became members of the forum, but read many of your posts and through your reccomendation purchased both of the Camps Australia Wide books and love them. Thank you once again dave, your a font of wonderful information.

Cheers
Ellen

So you are off to Gympie..... Forget the winery, have a ride on the Valley Rattler and enjoy the included wine and chese tastings at the stations en route; Luncheon at the pub, then return with errrrrr yet more wine & cheese tastings..... I give you my personal assurance you will enjoy. One of the Liquers they sell in a blue bottle called Blue Moon or similar is mind blowing drizzeld of fresh fruit salad... Oh yeah... You may need to book and the Wednesday or Sunday all day trips are best....
If you can get a seat in the club car that is worth the extra too
http://www.thevalleyrattler.com/


-- Edited by Basil Faulty at 11:01, 2009-02-19

absolute pleasure Ellen, if I/we can be of further assistance just give us a yell, as Basil states, I think you are in for a treat with your trip, do take his advice about the train, some of life's best journeys are by old rail, however "forget the winery" sacrilegious words indeed, how could one ever forget or bypass a winery, Bad Basil, god help us!! I also hope these wombats gave you a decent welcome, if not then I am glad to see yet another in our fold and look forward to seeing many more posts from you!!

Basil, thank you for your reccomendations, sounds fantastic. The hard part is getting "he who does not listen" to go on a train for pleasure purposes. He works for the "dreaded QR" so is very reluctant, however, at the mention of food he may just be pursuaded  Will definitely look out for the 'blue moon" sounds lovely and bieng the alcohol imbiber of this duo I will research it thoroughly.

Ellen

Ahhh dave, man after my own heart, my reaction exactly "forget the winery" .. sacreligious. Of course I only drink for medicinal purposes you know, I have a health problem... I'm married!!! (I wouldn't swap him though). Thank you for your wonderful welcome, and yes everyone was very welcoming, so much so I have come back... and love it

Ell&Mick wrote:

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Basil, thank you for your reccomendations, sounds fantastic. The hard part is getting "he who does not listen" to go on a train for pleasure purposes. He works for the "dreaded QR" so is very reluctant, however, at the mention of food he may just be pursuaded  Will definitely look out for the 'blue moon" sounds lovely and bieng the alcohol imbiber of this duo I will research it thoroughly.

Ellen

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Oh jesus don't let on he works for QR.... He'ed be pressganged into shoveling coal, answering questions, he'd have people wanting to reminisce, he may even enjoy himself - heaven forbid....

LOL Basil, and I certainly cannot have him enjoying himself!!! I know he would love it. We have a friend who is right into steam trains (another QR worker) and is a member of a club. When the 2 get together they rave on for hours. With me, if it incorporated good wine and cheese you can count me in, I'm just happy to go with the flow so to speak.

Well see I have this Dr who gets really abusive if I even think about Wine or Cheese.... At Kandanga I think it was a lady was handing out sumpoils of cheese  and had some  low calories no fat cheese which normaly I eschew as it tastes like soap but this stuff was really good - so I bought a kilo LOL and the Blue Moon which is NOT wine but Liquoer I can drink with confidence LOL....