Sydney to Dubbo - Day 1 - We're Off

I mentioned in the first post that I hoped to do another post before leaving but I didn’t think I really would get time and I was right. There was so much to do in preparation for the trip. After finishing work (for a year, yahhh) on Easter Sunday there was the job of helping my eldest daughter and son-n-law moved into our house. It would be a good move for them and good company for our other daughter.

Then there was the squillion jobs to do including picking up the van from storage, packing it (I think we did to much of that, a bit overloaded), getting a protection of paint sealant on the Land Cruiser, etc etc. We did take some time out to spend with family before leaving, lunches, dinners, and Linda shopping with the girls etc.

Got everything done by 6pm on Sunday the 12^th, had a nice evening with the girls and son-n-law and left home for 12 months on the road by about 8.30am on Monday the 13^th. First stop was the weighbridge at Box Hill to make sure we were safe on the road. We will have to make a few adjustments with the weight but it is OK. By that time we got word that Linda’s contact lenses had arrived so rather than waiting for them to be posted to us somewhere down the track we detoured to pick them up. Then finally we were on the road in earnest. It started to sink in a bit then that we were really doing this, yeehaa!

We had a good run to Dubbo where we met up with Linda’s sister Jan, and brother-n-law Ross. We are travelling with them as far as Alice Springs or so and they will then make their way back. For our first night we stayed at a ‘Members Stopover’ (MSO). This is a program that the Campervan Motorhome Club of Australia have where members voluntarily make their property available for other club members to stay for free. Peter and Janet, our hosts at Dubbo have about 2 or 3 level acres that members can camp on. It was terrific. They have a donation box that people can contribute to, to assist with lawn mowing etc which, of course, we contributed to. It is a great program. There are 25 MSO places so far. We will certainly be looking to stay at other MSOs.

This is Peter and Janet’s MSO or part thereof.

 

Had a lovely night there with a great Barbie and few drinks and peaceful night. Next morning we had a walk and then back on the road.