Monday, November 22, 2010

Ballarat at last

Hello again. We left Brisbane on Tuesday 16th Nov stopping over night at Coffs Harbour then Golbourn via Sydney. On Thursday we decided to head for Victoria not knowing just where to spend the night. As we approached Albury Helen asked about the wineries at Rutherglen as she had some fond memories of some "white port" from days gone bye. We located Morris's Winery, however, upon asking about their white port we were informed that it only came in 20 litre containers. A bit out of our league. Not to worry, a successful port tasting was had and bottles purchased. On leaving Morris's, we headed into the town of Rutherglen and successfully got lost. Thank heavens for the GPS. We punched in Ballarat and were directed back out on to the Freeway. With Melbourne in our sites, we decided to turn of at Seymore and find an alternate route to Ballarat. As we drove along some back rodes, Helen's faith in the GPS began to wain until we arrived in Daylesford, familiar territory at last. After 700 km for the day we arrived in sunny Ballarat.

After a couple of days rest the bike got it's chance to hit the road again. It had been almost four months since we had been on a ride and we were chaffing at the bit. Through Ballarat and out on the highway to Creswick where we checked out the old woolen mill before lunching at the Farmers Arms Hotel. A quiet ride back to Ballarat via Dean and out to Buninyong to visit some reatives before heading back to Mt Helen and dinner with mum.

That's about it for now.

Keep the shiny side up.

Col & Helen
'Old Farts on Tour'

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Back in Brisbane (again)

After leaving the tranquility of Kangaroo Valley, we arrived in North Haven on Friday night 22 Oct, in preparation for the Ulysses RV club AGM on Saturday. The happy hour on Friday night was an eye opener, the amount of people present was amazing. We were told of a club member, believed to be in his 80's, who had stepped out of his van and broke both ankles. (Three plates and seven screws later). The club members from Mudgee organised for another club member to fly his plane up from Mudgee and bring a driver with him so as to be able to fly the patient and his wife back to Mudgee whilst leaving the other member to drive their rig home for them. That's what I call club comradeship.

Sunday morning after Saturdays AGM, we hit the road for Qld. After eight hours and a bit over 600 km, we arrived at Burpengary to yet another house sit. This time for a week, just to help out a mate who decided to go to Phuket (Thailand) at the last moment, for a holiday. Monday, 1st Nov, saw us back in Brisbane with our beloved Honda Goldwing. We had been without it for so long, thanks John for looking after it for us.

Another house sit, this time in Warner, a northern suburb of Brisbane. We are looking after two Long Legged Jack Russel Terriers who are spoilt to bits by their owners. This two weeks in Warner will allowed us to catch up with old friends and most importantly, with our kids. On completion of the sit, we will be headed for Ballarat to visit family and spend Christmass with Mum.

That's about it for now.

Love to all.

Don't for get to "keep the shiny bits up".

All the best.

Helen and Col.
"Old Farts on Tour".