TravelStream™ news feed for member kandkaway on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/kandkaway en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Wed, 08 Oct 2008 03:23:48 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kandkaway/1/1219502280/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kandkaway/1/1219502280/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kandkaway/1/1219502280/tpod.html Wed, 08 Oct 2008 03:23:48 -0400 SE Asia and Australia Trip!!!

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Geelong, Victoria, Australia

Oct 2 2008, 4:10pmCarmila Beach QLDAlas, we left off, on our way out of Adeliade. We decided that we had enough blankets and warm clothes that we were not going to stay at too many Caravan parks, and from our Camps 4 book (the travelling bible) we figured there were enough nice places along the South Coast for free. We were right!Most of our sites were on or near the beach, although it made it a little windier, the scenery was stunning. Places like Paradise Beach ring true to name, and the road was nice and scenic. The Twelve Appostles and numerous other sand stone formations were right off the Great Ocean Road and provided plenty of sight seeing opportunites along the way. We took our time and really enjoyed ourselves.One camping spot called, Aire River, we ran into a little trouble, we arrived after dark and in the rain, and couldn't really tell where we were. The next morning we got stuck in the mud!! Not normally a problem because most sites are full of Caravans, and 4WD's (this is Australia after all), but did we mention it is winter and no one but us CRAZY Canadians are in the South this time of year! After slipping and sliding, using sticks under the tires, and me pushing and Kylie driving forward and backward, forward and backward, we slid closer and closer to a large tree and deeper in the mud!! Luckily for us, a Land Cruiser (my favorite vehicle) finally came by on there way to visit friends camping down the road, with a tow rope and careful manuevering around the tree, we escaped!! What we found out after, was the helpful couple were planning a trip to Yellowknife, small world eh!! And, get this, their friends that were down the road camping, were actually in the camping area we were wanting to stay at, half a kilometer away, no mud, and a beautiful river. I guess arriving after dark isn't a good thing.More of the same weather ahead and the Great Ocean Road! A winding and twisting road that offers amazing scenery, and tests your driving ability. Imagine driving to Whistler or better yet, Tofino, and you get the idea.At the end of the famous road is a town called Geelong, and our first Caravan park in a while, nice to have a proper shower and a heater! We also tried to go to a Footy game (Australian rules Rugby), but it was one of the last before the finals and totally sold out. Sad. From there, only a short 100km drive to Melbourne and a visit with Ernie and SuzanneAll the bestK & K
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kandkaway/1/1220339100/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kandkaway/1/1220339100/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kandkaway/1/1220339100/tpod.html Wed, 08 Oct 2008 03:20:13 -0400 SE Asia and Australia Trip!!!

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Tathra, New South Wales, Australia

September 2nd 3:05pmGillards Beach at Mimosa National ParkN.S.W.Well it has been exactly a month since we have written a blog...oh jeez. It's just been so busy! Right now we are in the state of New South Wales. Almost at the southern tip of where Victoria and NSW touch. We found the most brilliant campground. We have a view of the ocean, kangaroos all over the place, firewood supplied, and peace and quiet. We got here about 3pm yesterday and set Howey up, Keir chopped some firewood, played some cards, had some vino, made dinner and sat by the fire for the rest of the night. Then today we got up around 9ish made coffee, sat on our camp chairs and watched the waves, then went to the beach with more coffee and watch some more waves, came back to our perfect campsite, did some essential laundry in the wash basin, read our books, had a cheese party with some Clare Valley creamed Sherry for lunch, went for a walk down the beach, and now watching the sun go behind the clouds for the night. That's pretty much it. Like I said, RELAXING! We will probably spend another day here tomorrow, especially if it is as nice as it was today. This place would be so perfect if we were here in like 3 more months. We are wanting to jump in the ocean so badly...but hence...it is still winter, and chilly if not in the direct sunlight.The kangaroos are so tame here. We saw a few with young Joeys in their pouches. Pretty cute. The one that hangs out at our site mostly, is named Shaggy...he has major bed head, and is always scratching his bum, I think he is the black sheep of the bunch. Then we have 3 or 4 birds that sing like the beginning of the Star Wars Theme song...REALLY! Duh da da duh da da duh...you get it right?? Anyways, should get going...I am oh so busy...like getting dinner started...or at least thinking about it...ciao for now!Cheerios,Kylie & Keir
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kandkaway/1/1218681960/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kandkaway/1/1218681960/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kandkaway/1/1218681960/tpod.html Wed, 08 Oct 2008 03:14:31 -0400 SE Asia and Australia Trip!!!

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Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Oct 2 2008 3:51pmCarmila Beach, QLD90km South of SarinaOn the BeachSo, since we haven't writen for quite some time now we thought we would try to sum up our trip since Coober Pedy.We travelled South to the crossroad town of Port Augusta, a nice little town, and the beginning of the Nellabourne if you are going into Western Australia, which we did not do, but we did head West a little. There was a wonderful secluded site we found near Wyhalla. It was just me and Kylie and the cold wind, boy could it blow! We must have been wearing everything we owned that night. Yes, the weather in Southern Australia is cold in the winter.....who knew!After a night, we back tracked through Port Augusta and slowly made our way down to Adelaide. We stopped at the small, very small town of Port Germaine, and walked to the end of the LOngest Pier in Australia, 1.5km, one way. We stayed at a road side stop a short ways away, most of the rest stops in South Australia were very average, not like the nice sites in the Northern Territory, these mostly had no washrooms, or water. First stop, the Claire Valley and our first taste of Australian wines.At this point we would really have liked it if the weather was nicer, at least warmer, but alas it wasn't raining, too badly. They have a wonderful bike/walking trail, called the "Reisling Trail", because the Claire Valley is know for their Reislings, duh. There was one winery that was an active Jesuit Monastary called Sevenhill, it was beautiful! Huge cellars, vast grounds and a church all on the property. Very picturesque!Wineries here are nothing like home, most have 12 or more wines to sample and no cost at all! Everything from Whites, sparklings, fortifieds, reds etc etc. You could pretty much be drunk all the time, and not spend a dime! We had a great time, to say the least! Next stop, the Barrosa Valley! Kylie had been looking forward to the Barrosa since we got here and I don't think either of us where disappointed! Again the samples were numerous and wonderful, what a great place to live in the Spring or Fall, we hear, too cold in the Winter and too damn hot in the summer (40+). We got some photo's of us at Wolfe Blass, neat!!Once we reached Adelaide, we met up with some friends of ours, who live there, that we met in South East Asia, named Tracy and Ian, and their son Lucas. They are wonderful people and also love their wine and together we explored Adelaide and surrounds, what a city! Kylie and I fell in love, very picturesque and great with parks everywhere. We of course took in another winery region, called Mclaren Vale. Fantastic reds! We can't say how much we appreatiated staying at Ian and Tracy's. It was cold and wet and it was the first time we had stayed in a home since Brisbane. They took us to so many places! We got to go to a Pro league soccer game. Adelaide VS Perth, was saw a boys football game, and a little girls net ball game. All very different games to what we are used to. They took us up to their place on the Murray River and had a wine and cheese party. Went to the markets downtown!!! Awesome. We were spoiled...and that is an understatement! After spending a week, we hesitantly decided it was time to head East again towards Melbourne. Talk to you soon!K & KMore to come...we hope...
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kandkaway/1/1217904960/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kandkaway/1/1217904960/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kandkaway/1/1217904960/tpod.html Wed, 08 Oct 2008 03:11:28 -0400 SE Asia and Australia Trip!!!

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Coober Pedy, South Australia, Australia

Sept 3rd 2008 Morington Swamp NSW4:00pmOn the way into Coober Pedy you drive past the "dog fence", which is the only fence of its kind in the world, designed to keep a certain wild animal out of most of the state of South Australia. It is hard to see it you are not looking for it, it pretty much looks just like a cow fence except higher and dog proof, hence the name! You also get to see all of the little or big piles of dirt from the tunnels and mines that people have dug looking for opal, they are everywhere and the whole town is pretty much fenced off so you don't go wandering around and fall in, pretty neat.We were going to stay in an underground house, but there are $100.00 per night for the cheapest one. We looked inside them and really there are just hotel rooms with no windows! Instead decieded to do a tour of the 'old timers' mine (and stay above ground at a caravan park). It was sensational! You really get a glimps of what it must have been like to discover opal and the hard work that it takes. WOW.We had pizza for the first time in Australia and it was wonderful, especially since it is freezing here at night and we are not really thinking about cooking at all outside. Appearently it gets to be 50C in the summer, not a place you want to hang out just for the fun of it!!All the bestK & K
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kandkaway/1/1220167200/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kandkaway/1/1220167200/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kandkaway/1/1220167200/tpod.html Sun, 31 Aug 2008 03:22:57 -0400 SE Asia and Australia Trip!!!

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Orbost, Victoria, Australia

Hey everyone!I know it has been a LONG time since we updated this thing...but there are thunder and lightning storms right now and we are locked up inside Howey until they pass...and what a better time to get our butts in gear!!! I have updated where we have been but haven't yet added any blogs. I am putting a whole shwack of photos on...hopefully they are self explainatory...if not..sorry.Miss you all!Love Kylie & Keir
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kandkaway/1/1217955180/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kandkaway/1/1217955180/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kandkaway/1/1217955180/tpod.html Tue, 05 Aug 2008 22:55:46 -0400 SE Asia and Australia Trip!!!

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Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia

Aug 5 2008, 12:45 pmWe are on the road between Alice Springs and Coober Pedy.On the way South from Darwin, we stopped at another AWSOME free site called Robyn Falls, we were literaly camped next to a little creek with a small pool to sit in, or have a bath (which we did), unforchunately it was the coldest water to date in Australia, literally freezing our butts off!!We have been to Alice Springs twice now, the last blog said we were on the way and that was true. We didn't even really stop except for groceries, and continued to Uluru (formerly Ayers Rock). We unforchunatly had a small problem with the Alternator (not charging the battery) and after a few days at the 'Rock' we had to drive the 500km back to Alice.Ayers Rock (Uluru) was AMAZING! I thought it was just going to be a big rock in the middle of the desert and I guess thats what it is, but WOW, it is a lot bigger then I had ever imagined! There is a walking trail around it, for 10km (yes 10), and when you are right next to it, the 300m height (920 feet) is outstanding, I know why people die climbing it, it is almost verticle in most spots. It was a hot and windy day, dust devils would swirl around vilantly, and there were large red sand dunes, and absolutely no water! The atmosphere was a bit touristly, but because the rock is so big, you felt like you were there almost alone. A fantastic experience.Well after the Alternator was fixed, by a guy named Jim, who we totally stumbled apon and open on a Saturday, a long weekend in fact (Monday was 'Picnic Day' in the NT), and a few days in Alice, we are heading to Coober Pedy to see what it is like to live undergroung!!Take care all,Keir and Kylie
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kandkaway/1/1217195400/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kandkaway/1/1217195400/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kandkaway/1/1217195400/tpod.html Tue, 05 Aug 2008 22:53:30 -0400 SE Asia and Australia Trip!!!

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Katherine, Northern Territory, Australia

July 27th 5:45pm60 km's north of Tennant Creek(yes, the same spot as when we wrote the previous blog)Well, we have been 2500kms and are back to the same spot. We left this little road side stop called Attack Creek, eleven days ago, and headed north. It was a long day driving to Elsey National Park. But when we got there, there was a "swimmable" river to jump into, so worth the long day. The National Park takes out the Salt water croc's after the wet season from that part of the river and they even had a few pontoons you could swim out to and get a sun tan! Yes, there were fresh water croc's in the river though!! CRAZY!!! No bites though!On our way up to Darwin we stopped at a few places. I'm not sure if we mentioned this before but we bought a book when we got to Australia, called Camps 4. It is full of free or budget places to stay. Most of the spots are free rest stops on the side of the hwy but some of them are actually really nice places. Perhaps set back from the hwy, with toilets, maybe water, maybe even a lake or river and best of all 98% of them are FREE! After Elsey NP we stayed at a place called Copperfield Dam, it was about 5 kms off the hwy, along a dirt road, and when we get there and get parked, we have the best view of the lake . We followed our schedule by unpacking and having a beer, then made a B line to the water and jumped in, again at least 2 freshy's (fresh water croc) lived there! Unfortunatley we had to leave the next day, to Litchfeild NP. BEAUTIFUL!! We stayed at Florence Falls. It was 2 waterfalls side by side and a great swimming hole beneath it. Crowded when the tour buses where there but otherwise awesome and refreshing. We stayed 2 nights and took advantage of showers and swimming. The day we left we saw some termite mounds that were up to 2 meters high!!! It actually looked like a huge cemetary with headstones, there were so many. Pretty cool. then off to Darwin. We stayed at an overpriced caravan park about 20 kms from downtown. All we cared about was that we could take a bus into town. It proved to be successful. We went to a market that night. It was like we had just been transported back to SE Asia. Food stalls, trinkets, live music, and busy busy. Not to mention a heck of alot more pricey than SE Asia and everyone was taller!!! We pretty much walked around the city during the day and explored. We were just happy we made it that far!!! This counrty is huge!!Then headed back south...to where we are now. We will be continuing on to Alice Springs tomorrow, straight through the center.More when we can get cell service again...Kylie & Keir
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kandkaway/1/1216248420/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kandkaway/1/1216248420/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kandkaway/1/1216248420/tpod.html Tue, 05 Aug 2008 22:49:23 -0400 SE Asia and Australia Trip!!!

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Tennant Creek, Northern Territory, Australia

July 16 200860km North of Tenent Creek, NT6:40pmThe sound of a digeree-doo plays in the background as I write this, unknown where it is coming from, just somewhere in the bush! We have travelled for most of the day from a camp site opposite the lonliest police station in the world. There was no town, no crime as far as we could see, just a bunch of elderly campers (and us), a free coffee stand, and a modern looking police station. Australia is odd! ( we were also about 80 kms from the closest gas station and 475 kms away from an actual city.)There is the digderee-doo again, on and off it plays. The sun has just gone down and it is probably going to be a full moon tonight, it has been treatening itself for the last few nights, everynight is clear. In fact the doesn't ever appear to be a cloud in the sky in the Northern Territory, well not in the winter time at least, where the grass is turning grey from yellow it is so dry here! Not one of the creeks we have passed in the last 3 days (since Normanton) has had water, not even a little bit of water. There are wells for the cattle, but you REALLY need to bring your own water here. We read the the only yearly flow of water north of Alice Springs is Katherine, and we are 2 days from Katherine and god knows how many from Alice Springs!Did I mention that we haven't had a shower in 5 days! Yes, we are truely living the outback life, and the cheap life, not that there are no showers, its just that we haven't stayed at any caravan parks recently.We also crossed the time zone today as well, 30 minutes back, which is significant. But then again, do we really care what time it is?Keir and Kylie
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kandkaway/1/1216084860/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kandkaway/1/1216084860/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kandkaway/1/1216084860/tpod.html Mon, 14 Jul 2008 07:23:35 -0400 SE Asia and Australia Trip!!!

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Cloncurry, Queensland, Australia

Hey everyone!We just were going through our photos and wanted to catch you up on our last week or so. Hope you enjoy the pics!!Love Kylie & Keir
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kandkaway/1/1215889500/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kandkaway/1/1215889500/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kandkaway/1/1215889500/tpod.html Mon, 14 Jul 2008 07:20:18 -0400 SE Asia and Australia Trip!!!

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Karumba, Queensland, Australia

July 12th, 3pmSunset Caravan Park, KarumbaOn the Gulf of Carpetaria. The Savannah WayWell hello there blog followers!Since we have left Cairns, we have covered about 1400 kms!! First we went north to Cape tribulation and the Daintree. It was very picturesque. The road was a bit windy and raining all along the ocean. Very pretty, but would have been that much better with sunshine. I guess that is why they call the area a wet rainforest! It rained the whole time we were there, but it was still very pretty. We heard that it is the only place where the rainforest hits the ocean, and we definitly saw it touching! At the campground, they had a few different walks you can do through the rainforest on the property. I'll see if we can get those pictures on here with the blog, as we are using our cell phone as a modem right now while we are in the boonies.We were up there for about 2 days, and then headed back south and then straight west. And I mean STRAIGHT! At first we went through some "mountain ranges" but then drove on the same straight road for the next 1000 kms. Pretty much the same scenery, grasslands, cows, kangaroos, and very dry red dirt. We stayed at a road side stop close to Ravenshoe. Not much there other than the "grey nomads" and their caravans. I think it is pretty cool when the 3 of us (Keir, Howey and me) pull up among them. And I think they are pretty impressed with our set up! They always come over and ask where we are from, where we are going, etc. Neat little community.The cool thing with these roadside stops, is that they are FREE and there is no check out time! We can wake up around 8 ish make a very slow breaky, enjoy the coffee, and then pack up and start our long straight drive. Oh have I mentioned how straight it is yet?? hahaha, it's nuts!Anyways the next day we went to Undara. It is a national park that has the longest lava tubes in the world (I think, don't quote me on that, I didn't finish the geology degree haha) unfortunatly we were a bit too late for the tour through them, which is the only way to see them, so instead we went climbing up to the crater of the volcano. Pretty cool. It was only about 2.5 kms around the top (only!), but nice break from the straight drive. We took a few pictures up there too!We were going to stay the night there, as they have a campground, and do the tour the next morning, but the campground was fully booked!!! In the middle of nowhere! Crazy! So we just kept driving, to the next road stop, which was about 200kms down the, ahem, road. The sun was going down, which was very pretty BUT that is when those cute little bouncing Kangaroos come out to play! *&$#^#$&*^% stupid animals! Oh sorry, I mean, what I said before. But they are a little stupid. We almost hit 3 or 4 of them. They either are eating the grass on the side of the road, get freaked out and bounce in front of you, or they are hopping across the street at the pace of a turtle for the fun of it. I am thinking they are saying with a lisp of course, " Hey mate, who do you fink you are? I wath here firthst!" We were able to slow down and swerve a bit to miss them, Howey did well, oh and Keir. :) But jeez it was stressful! We did unfortunatley hit 2 birds...and HARD! They just decided to play chicken with us, but really, when there is a 50 meter long road train (REALLY LONG SEMI TRUCK with 5 containers) coming in the next lane, which by the way is a shared single lane, you just keep going straight, and let the bull bar deal with the hit. Kind of a crappy deal for the bird. We got to our overnight stop a little shakey, and said while we were opening a nice cold beer, that we won't drive past 5pm anymore. Not worth it.The next morning, was another lazy slow going breaky and STRAIGHT on to Karumba! Sounds fancy I know but really quite the opposite. Just a post office, mom and pop grocery store, gas station ($1.95 /liter diesel) a few caravan parks and grasshoppers!! And when I say Grasshoppers, wow! I have never seen so many of them in one area before! There are clouds after clouds of them, and the poor palm trees look like skeletons! When we were driving here at one point keir closed his window really fast and about 5 of them smacked up against the window! I guess they are more like locusts cause they are huge and have wings. Anyways, This place is so busy! We got the last camping spot there was in this area! I guess the nomads come here for months at a time in the "winter" to get away from the "cold", and go fishing. The cool thing is we are right on the ocean. And right on the Gulf of Carpentaria. Pretty neat! But the sad thing is it is hot...not like normally that would be a bad thing, but Crocs are HUGE here! and they are Hungry! Oh and there are sharks, oh and lethal jellyfish...so in other words if it is hot, there is no releif in the water to say the least. (well it would be short "lived" releif. Literally) So right now, we just folded our fresh laundry off the clothesline, had a game of Skip-bo had a few crackers and cheese, all out of Branston pickle :( and about to go for another walk to "look" at the ocean. Life is pretty good. Tomorrow we will be heading, in the daylight, to Cloncurry, if we leave early enough. We may stay at Burke and Willis Road House (a gas station). Should be interesting. Maybe we will have a bit of a curve in the road, OR maybe we will be lucky and have a 2 lane road!!! Woooo! That would be cool!So from the Gulf of Carpentaria, G'day!We'll write more soon!!!Miss you all!Love Kylie and KeirPS J & J have a good and safe trip to Denmark!PPS if anyone tries to call us, and you get the vm right away, we are in the BOONIES! Try again in a week or so!! haha
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