Brisbane

OK, OK I got the message. Plenty of time, good internet connection, so why not more posts from Mt. perry ? The answer is pretty simple: WE ARE NOT THERE.

Last weekend we decided (after long discussions and after a long "wikken en wegen") to trade our Coromal caravan for a new Jayco. We wanted a different layout and took the opportunity. At Brisbane Camperland was our choice of Van in stock, so off we went. Coromal stripped and cleaned, everything unpacked and stored in the garage. Sunday we travelled south to the sunshinecoast, stayed overnight at the streetside opposite Sharon's place, and on Monday we went to Brisbane Camperland. We made a deal, and the new caravan will be ready for delivery on Friday. Right now we are staying at John and Val's place in Brisbane (Pam's brother) waiting for everything to be finshed. Friday/Saturday we will travel back to Mt. Perry.

I used the spare time in Brisbane to help James and Jillian (John and Val's son) with their boat.

a visitor

They are beautiful, but they frighten the sh.t out of you if you step out the house toward the shed and you run into them. This guana (dutch: leguaan) was just sunbathing and wiggled slowly away when I approached. All in all about a meter long.
Quite some wildlife around the house that we enjoyed. I will put a few more pics in the photobook (december 2008).
Life in Mt. Perry is pretty quiet. A little fiddle in the garden, some maintenance jobs, a read. It is too hot in the afternoon to be very active (35 degrees) so we take life easy and slow.
We got a new internet modem (wireless) so Pam and I can use our laptops at the same time without having to swap out internet dongle. very handy !

Reverse cameras

What's happening in Mt. perry?
I started the reverse camera project (dutch: achteruitkijkcamera). The view to the back while towing the caravan is not great. Yes i have mirrors, but there is always a black spot. So when we were in Singapore I bought a set of four wireless mini-cams and a viewer to solve this one day. Question was how to get the cam weatherproof on the back of the caravan. Well, here is my solution.
A standard licenceplate light (Super Cheap Auto), strip all the interior parts with a Dremel, replace the diffusing plexiglass with some clear plexiglass, and fiddle the cam in the housing. Done !
Now its a matter of mounting the unit on the back of the van, connect a 9V powersupply (12V -9V converter from Dick Smith Electronic's), and it should work.
I will mount a second cam on the back of the car (handy for hooking up the caravan) and maybe a third to the front of the car that takes a picture every minute or so (to record where we have been).
I keep you informed. Jan is busy !

Mount Perry

Mount Perry is a great place to be. We are enjoying the opportunity to make some modifications to the car and the caravan. The back of the car is now nicely set up to get the more heavy stuff easy in and out. The genny (generator) and washing machine now have a rolling floor that we can pull out. Some stupid cabinets in the caravan have drawers now. So we are busy in rearranging and repacking.

In the meantime we get our regular visitors: the birds, the green frogs, and yes those ugly canetoads as well. We enjoy a visit to the pub, drive around in the area, be lazy; short: bloody comfortable !

Coming weekend are the Mount Perry races (horseraces). It is going to be a great event. Looking forward to that.

There are a few more pictures in the photobooks.

Mount Perry truck pull

back in Mount Perry since last weekend. We had a busy week in unpacking, cleaning, some repairs to car and caravan, but it was also nice to have a bathtub to yourself again.
It is hot here, but a lot nicer than in Darwin. Not so humid.
Today was the anual Truck pull. One of the big events in town. It was realy fun to see the kids, the women and the big guys pull the huge dump truck over 10 m. After a long day there was entertainment and food in the hotel. Huge crowd.

Toolakea (Townsville)

Last friday we arrived at the east coast and set up camp in Toolakea, 20 km north of Townsville, right at the beach. We have a very bad internet connection here, so updating this blog and sending email is limited to the lucky moment that we do have a connection (like now). Our plan is to stay here till next friday and then make our way south along the coast towards Mount Perry.

Today/tomorrow we will visit Pam's Aunt and cousin who live nearby.

more next weekend !!

Julia Creek

Yes we did leave as planned. Via Mataranka, Banka Banka station, the Three Ways, Bakly Homestead, Mount Isa we travelled to Julia Creek where we are now. Two more stops (in Hughenden and Chartes Towers) and we will be in Townsville. It is HOT inland. the temperature has not been under 35 during the day. Looking forward to the cooler coast.
Once there, we will update this blog a bit more often.
Just now for you to know: we are enjoying !!!