Sunday 8 February 2004

This morning was spent planning where the computer could go in the caravan. After deciding that it will fit under the lounge seat and a start was made on putting it there, it didn't take long to realise that we would need extra cables and fittings to make them reach the monitor, so shopping we went.

It's Sunday you say! Well yes it is and most shopping centres are open for business as usual, it is convenient at times. We went to Knox City Shopping Centre where all shops were open and doing good trade. The first stop was Harvey Norman, then it was the Dick Smith Power Shop which is a super size Dick Smith's. (That makes sense doesn't it!)

Next one of us was getting hungry(it was 2.pm) so it was lunch at Aroma Cafe where the worms were fed. After lunch we went into KMart and bought the last of our needs for the computer. One of us wanted to have a look in a book store which was called 'Borders Books'. It was the biggest book store 'one of us' has ever been in, but we were told that this was one of four such shops in Melbourne and this one is the smallest.

From there it was into Best and Less where we purchased a floor mat for the shower before calling it a day and heading home to the caravan.

Monday 9th February 2004

This morning was spent finishing off the Computer monitor shelving and securing it so it can be left on the shelf whilst traveling. This appears to have been completed successfully, so then it was time to do what we do best.... a bit of sight seeing.

'One of us' suggested the 'other one' might like to go up to Puckapunyal as it was the start of their two years in jungle green uniforms, training, training, training, training and more training, then the big overseas holiday in a jungle within a country that attracts tourists today.

We left the caravan at about 12.30pm and headed north via Toolangy where the signs said it was C.J. Dennis country. From there we continued through Glenburn to Yea where the 'First Light Horse Park' was located on the south side of town. We were passed the park before we realised it and we didn't get in to see anything, although there didn't look to be very much there from the outside.

From there, we went through Trawool and on into Seymour which, in the three months I spent training at the Puckapunyal Army Base, I only managed to get there on one occasion. I do recall the Rail Station on that visit because it appeared to be quite huge for a smallish town. Having seen it again today, I still think it is an extraordinarily large train station for the town.

We then went out to the Puckapunyal Army Base entry (five km out of town), but obviously could not get passed the guards on duty, and they were 'Chub' guards, not army personnel at that. We did ascertain that there is an Armoured Vehicle Museum within the Army Base that can be visited on Wednesdays to Fridays and Sunday afternoons, but not today.

Pam's twin brother Peter also endured the cold, heat and hardships of Puckapunyal Army Base and we thought of him while we were there.

After leaving Puckapunyal we back tracked to Yea, then headed out through Molesworth to Alexandra and stopped at the base of Mount Cathedral which is 840 metres high. Then it was down to Taggerty, Buxton, Narbethon and when we arrived at Black Spur we found that the road on to Healesville was closed until 5.pm. This meant we had a 45 minute wait before continuing on to Healesville and the caravan.

Maybe tomorrow will be time to move on down to the Mornington Peninsula for the last few days before going to Tasmania.

Tuesday 10th February 2004

Today was a moving day, literally.. After packing up at Badger Creek we first set off to for Bayswater Jayco to pick up our annex walls that had been completed by this time. We also had a couple of warrantee jobs to be completed.

Not having pre booked into the service centre for the warrantee jobs, we expected to have the matters looked at and then get it booked in for the work at a later time, however the workshop staff could not have been any more helpful and did all they could to repair the faults which included replacing a full light fitting because the globe was stuck in the socket, however they did not have a tap to replace one that had a slight leak, so suggested we call in to the Jayco Service Centre in Dandenong as they should have one.

We left Bayswater and traveled down to Dandenong where we called in to the Jayco Service Centre and again we could not fault the service. At no notice, they replaced the tap fitting after having to visit the Jayco Factory to get a new one. They also replaced a couple of screws in draws and one in the Shower. All done with a smile as well, and whilst were were there, another couple that we met in Mt Gambier turned up to pick up their caravan after having some warrantee work done on it. They could not say enough about the Jayco Service as well.

After leaving Dandenong we made our way down to Frankston where we drove through the city centre with the caravan on behind. From Frankston it was all downhill (you could fool me) to Balnarring and the Balnarring Beach Caravan and Camping Reserve. The Park is quite 'rustic' like a nature reserve and is only about 20 metres from the water.

And from the shriek that I just heard uttered by 'one of us', she has just seen a koala walking across the ground about two metres away from the back of our caravan. The Ranger has told us that there are quite a number of them around the park and they can be a bit noisy at times during the night. There are also a lot of rabbits, some very large, running around the caravan as well.

Tomorrow we intend to investigate the local area and the Mornington Peninsula.

Balnarring Caravan Park

Balnarring Beach - 20 metres from the caravan