Well here I am and day 35 and still enjoying being out in the playground.

I have been busy being the tourist in Kiama NSW and make sure I still get relaxation time. I have been trying to see the blow hole in action but each time I visited it didnt want to play, I also checked out the little blow hole but that didnt want to play either, never mind.

If you read my update #4 I mentioned I was going to visit Sri Venkateswara Temple, Nan Tien Buddhist Temple and Sea Cliffs Bridge in Wollongong, well, I did. I called into NTBT first and intended to spend only a couple of hours there but that turned into 5 hours, what can I say, WOW, was that a great place I just loved everything about it. I had a vegetarian lunch and for a meat eater it was yummy indeed. If thats how the Monks eat I think I will become a Monk.

I had the pleasure of having a great chat to one of the Monks and he was very interesting indeed, he even showed me around a little until he had to do something else. At that stage I sat quietly inside the main temple and just thought back over the past few years, very peaceful indeed.  I have been in a couple of Buddhist Temples but this one beats the others for sure. I find the Buddhist beliefs and practices very interesting and peaceful indeed.

When I finished at the NTBT I decided to head for the SVT and 30 minutes later I was very disappointed indeed, the Temple is closed and barriers all over the place due to work being done so I didnt even get out of the car instead I headed for the Sea Cliffs Bridge.

I had a drive along the full length, North to South, south to North and back South, parked the car then walked the 2.5 km return.  While walking along I noticed padlocks attached to the rails, apparently people are putting them there to say they have been there OR in memory of someone close they have lost. I would have liked to have put one there for Margaret but didnt have one and by that time it was 5.30pm. Its too far to go back. I noticed on the regional news in Kiama the next night they were saying that the padlocks are causing a lot of damage to the rails and they are removing them and asking people not to put them there so if I did put one there it wouldnt last long anyway.

I have been getting everything in order for the next leg of my journey to Greens Lake, between Shepparton and Elmore where there is what sounds like a big Grey Nomad gathering so decided to turn the 3 way fridge to gas and try it out as I will be free (Alternative) camping. Just as well I did as I was getting a burning smell inside the Avan, not gas. So I took a drive to Port Kembla about 30 minutes north to talk to a Caravan Repairer and he arranged for the Manufacture repairer to check it out at 8.00am Monday 12^th in Port Kembla. As I could go via that way heading across to the Hume Highway I made the appointment.

I now have had the fridge checked out and it appears that it is the paint on the parts at the back, because it is new and never used on gas thats whats happening, he checked everything over and found nothing loose or damaged so he said to run on gas with all windows open as long as I can and it should come good after a few hours or so.

After finishing at Port Kembla it was time to leave the great south coast of NSW but I sure did love that coast. I wanted to head across to the Hume Hwy then south so I told Nav lady to take me to her leader in Yass and because I always do what I am told I just followed her directions with no questions asked on my part.  I am now settled for the night in Yass, I even washed all that south NSW coast of the Avan, the car was done yesterday (few! Work). I will leave here tomorrow morning and head for somewhere around Albury or close to there anyway; I cant rush these things you know. I find about 3 hours travel each day more than enough.

Thats it for this update so until next time,

Edit....added some pics

Hi Dougwe mate, good to hear you got the gas infomation you required, also good it was not any parts needed.

Watch out for those GN's at Greens Lake, I think they tend to hit the grog down that way. 

3 hours is a good day's travel, we do about 3-4 a day when we are away, but not every day.

Enjoy yourself at Greens with the rest of the guys that will be there

Hi Doug,

It sounds like you are having an awesome time out there in the playground.  I think the Buddhist faith is a beautiful belief system and very very peaceful and serene and being there in that environment for hours would have been so relaxing and renewing Doug.  Love vegetarian food and could quite easily become vegetarian as I am not a big meat eater at all.

Have fun out there

Michelle

jules47 wrote:

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Sounds like you had a great time up there - will have to checkout the Buddhist Temple when we are in that area - love temples - and the monks are so peaceful - as for vegetarian food - love it!!!

We stayed at Yass at the little caravan park on our way down to Victoria, nice little park, no dump point, but the guy let us empty in the old toilet block.

Enjoy the rest of your trip to Green's - lovely spot.

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Sounds like the same one Jules. Yass Caravan Park, just south edge of town next to the oval. Very nice and just got busy busy busy at 7.00pm. Gone from nearly empty to nearly full in a short time.

you r having fun

neilnruth wrote:

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BG has re-surfaced! Welcome back Michelle. Hope your trip to Sydney went OK and you still love caravanning!

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 Thanks Neilnruth.  The trip to Sydney was exhausting as we helped my daughter and her family move house.  Ray scraped/dented the side of our van going down to Sydney as he miscalculated the petrol pump at a garage.  I am still spitting chips over that one lol.  I still love caravanning but not sure about Ray at the moment 

We did stay at a lovely place on the way down to Sydney and it was only $30 a night for a powered site and it had a wonderful camp kitchen and BBQ area with full amenities.  Got it out of Camps 6.  Coming home we drove the whole trip in the day and got home just before dark.  We stayed in our van in my daughters driveway whilst in Sydney and loved it.

Good to be back though in my bed.  We will be travelling down again for five or six days not this weekend but next weekend as my daughter and her partner are heading to Brisbane for a wedding so we are babysitting the grandbabies.  Not taking the van this trip as we will be sleeping in the house.

Michelle

Dougwe wrote:

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Michelle is a happy camper but Ray is not happy Jan. just get back out there Ray. Practice makes perfect mate.

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 I will tell Ray your message Doug lol and duck when I say practise makes perfect hehehehehe

Michelle

Dougwe , there are 3 parks in Lavington ,about 5-7 km north of Albury Wagga Rd. one is Abury all seasons tourist park 481 wagga rd

But on your way down the Hume check this one Lake Anderson Caravan Park, Chiltern

30 km south of Albury .

Hans

don't know what is going on with this writing?

Doug - have stayed at Holbrook CP a couple of times and found it OK - quiet but nice and clean.  On the way from Albury it is on the left as you come into town - so from you way it would be on the right as you go out of town.

Cheers, Helen

Glad you are enjoying yourself Doug.  We visited the Nan Tien Budhist Temple on the first safari.  It is a beautiful place.  I love the little statues all over the gardens. I am at Batemans Bay for 3 days then off to Canberra to stay with friends for a couple of days.  Would like to have made it to Greens Lake, but don't think I am going to make it this time.

Keep having fun Doug and stay safe.

Cheers!

Chris

Batemans Bay! I'm jealous Chris, I just loved it there.

Thanks for the info Hans and Helen.

Wow Doug, your days just seem to get better.

Love the temple pics, thanks.

I've been missing out on reading your posts Doug, but but your photos and info were so interesting, now I've put the Temple on my list as we go up the coast.

Michelle! I haven't seen any posts from you for ages! It's probably just me, as I haven't had a lot of opportunities to browse the forum.

Sorry we'll miss you Doug, but hopefully we'll meet when you come through my neck of the woods.