Robinvale
or should it be renamed to Robin-Jail?
This is the place where any backpacker will find work. FACT!
It's loaded with vines, tree fruit, ground fruit and veg. There is work there most of the year.
ONLY GO THERE IF YOU ARE DESPERATE.
We stayed on a camp site which was $90pppw. Not bad. Free use of the kitchen, bathrooms and water.
Good you think? wrong. We only had one drinking water tap, which when it was empty it was empty. We found out that it was nearly empty as the water was green with moss coming out the tap.
The water that we showered in was from the river (murray river) which was fine. Until the floods hit us and the water turned black from the silt. The mosquitoes were terrible. As soon as the sun went down, everybody went to bed. River Ross fever was going to hit this town.
One day the weather was great 30degrees. The it went up to 42degrees in a matter of one day. Then it hit us 50degrees. You might think wow thats great weather, but i'll kid you not in the middle of no where, where the flood waters are 100meters away. 50degrees is the worst heat you can be in. There's no shade and no air.
We managed to get work. Aimee drove the tractor, and craig pinned covers over the top of the grape vines, along with a 10 wo/man team.
After two weeks the work dried up, we had enough money to last us for a few weeks. Off we drove again.....
next stop Torquay!
Thursday, 17 March 2011
Off to Kapunda
We drove another few hours in search of a town called Kapunda. This is where we had been promised some work on the grape vines.
We had been invited to stay at Racheal and Peter's house. Well in fact in their granny flat at the bottom of the garden.
Racheal and Peter had gave us a number to call for a guy who had work. He said we could have a job. Great. The bad news was that the season was meant to start in Feb and I don't think still to this day (march-11-11) the season has still not started. Australia has suffered with bad weather this year..
When we was in Kapunda there was a benefit show on the sports field in Aid of raising money to help Chris Rowe, his whole family had been murder by a guy his sister went to school with. It was great to see the whole town turn up to it.
We only stayed a week in Kapunda. We could not find any work and our finds was nearly dry. We had to find work some where, and quick. So we called every Madec (employment agency) in SA and in Vic. We had a call back from the Madec in Robinvale. BINGO he said we could start work tomorrow, but we had to be there by 5pm today to sign up.
It was 10.55pm and it took at least 5 hours to get there.
We had to say a quick good bye and off we drove again.
We would like to say a very big thank you to Rachael, Peter, Harrison, Willham and Micky for letting is stay with you.
If we get the chance to come over again. It would be amazing to see you all again.
We had been invited to stay at Racheal and Peter's house. Well in fact in their granny flat at the bottom of the garden.
Racheal and Peter had gave us a number to call for a guy who had work. He said we could have a job. Great. The bad news was that the season was meant to start in Feb and I don't think still to this day (march-11-11) the season has still not started. Australia has suffered with bad weather this year..
When we was in Kapunda there was a benefit show on the sports field in Aid of raising money to help Chris Rowe, his whole family had been murder by a guy his sister went to school with. It was great to see the whole town turn up to it.
We only stayed a week in Kapunda. We could not find any work and our finds was nearly dry. We had to find work some where, and quick. So we called every Madec (employment agency) in SA and in Vic. We had a call back from the Madec in Robinvale. BINGO he said we could start work tomorrow, but we had to be there by 5pm today to sign up.
It was 10.55pm and it took at least 5 hours to get there.
We had to say a quick good bye and off we drove again.
We would like to say a very big thank you to Rachael, Peter, Harrison, Willham and Micky for letting is stay with you.
If we get the chance to come over again. It would be amazing to see you all again.
Whyalla
We stayed on another free campsite on the side of the road, this time near the notorious Indigenous town. We was around 400m away from one of their cabins. I was quite scared. I couldn't decide weather I was scared of the Aboriginals or the dingos. As Ben told us they liked to hang around here. And nick your shoes when you leave them out side the tent.
When we arrived at the first major town/city in SA we had to say our goodbyes again to Ben and tanja. And carry on and drive over to Whyalla. To go meet some friends from Birmingham.
It was so good to see some familar faces from home. Steve, Steph and family welcomed us into their home. It was great to hear some brummie accents, and some english homely feeling.
We stayed a few days in Whyalla, we had a quick tour of the town. Steve took us on a 4WD, now thats something I'd love to have a go at.
We introduced them to This Is England '86 with thanks to Sarah..
Sadly it was time for us to hit the road again..
Thank you to Sharon and Kirk for letting us stay in your home.
When we arrived at the first major town/city in SA we had to say our goodbyes again to Ben and tanja. And carry on and drive over to Whyalla. To go meet some friends from Birmingham.
It was so good to see some familar faces from home. Steve, Steph and family welcomed us into their home. It was great to hear some brummie accents, and some english homely feeling.
We stayed a few days in Whyalla, we had a quick tour of the town. Steve took us on a 4WD, now thats something I'd love to have a go at.
We introduced them to This Is England '86 with thanks to Sarah..
Sadly it was time for us to hit the road again..
Thank you to Sharon and Kirk for letting us stay in your home.
Friday, 11 March 2011
WA SA
We was only 19kms from the border, the border Craig and I longed to cross. It took us a few days to get there and we finally done it.
Eulca
The town we wish never to see again.
We stayed in a free campsite on the side of the road over night. Betty was getting a bit hot and needed to have a well earned break, so we decided to have tea/dinner and sleep.
In the morning Betty was drinking coolant and water like no one's business. This triggerd alarms, so we had to pull over. Nearly 5 hours it took the RACV to get to us. We was only 100kms away from Eucla (the last town in WA) 119kms away from the border craig and I had dreamed about crossing.
During the 5 hours we had been on the side of the road, we had made pancakes whilst Ben played with Bettys bits. We then made noodles. Good old backpacker food. The boys went on a boy walk to see what they could find. They found a stick and a fence. Whilst the girls tried to make, friendship bands and other mess.
When you drive along the nullabour your see all these different trees. People decorate them with things from tea bags to flip flops. There was christmas trees, cutlery trees, kitchen tress, electic-trees (all electrical appliances) teddy bear trees.
So as we had nothing to do we started our own tree. We planned that it would be the best tree on the nullabour. And in my opinion it was. We made the Pirate tree.
This part is a bit sick, but your love it.
So on went our blue latex gloves.
We decided to make a dead pirate, out of.... wait for it....... Kangaroo bones and string. It took us a while to do it but it was worth it. We even made a plaq for it. We decorated the tree with few pirate banners and a jolly rogers flag and a solar lamp underneath the pirate.
So if you ever go along the nullabour look for our tree. 100kms west of Eulca
So back to Betty..
She's ill, but fixable. We needed a good mechanic to sort her out. The RACV put us all up in motel for a few nights and they new betty would take a while to be fixed.
The next morning the good mechanic turned up. In fact the good mechanic was an excellent chef and goes by the name of Ben. Yes Ben, Bettys owner. It took him a few days but he done it!!
So yes we was back on the road after 2nights in Eucla.
We stayed in a free campsite on the side of the road over night. Betty was getting a bit hot and needed to have a well earned break, so we decided to have tea/dinner and sleep.
In the morning Betty was drinking coolant and water like no one's business. This triggerd alarms, so we had to pull over. Nearly 5 hours it took the RACV to get to us. We was only 100kms away from Eucla (the last town in WA) 119kms away from the border craig and I had dreamed about crossing.
During the 5 hours we had been on the side of the road, we had made pancakes whilst Ben played with Bettys bits. We then made noodles. Good old backpacker food. The boys went on a boy walk to see what they could find. They found a stick and a fence. Whilst the girls tried to make, friendship bands and other mess.
When you drive along the nullabour your see all these different trees. People decorate them with things from tea bags to flip flops. There was christmas trees, cutlery trees, kitchen tress, electic-trees (all electrical appliances) teddy bear trees.
So as we had nothing to do we started our own tree. We planned that it would be the best tree on the nullabour. And in my opinion it was. We made the Pirate tree.
This part is a bit sick, but your love it.
So on went our blue latex gloves.
We decided to make a dead pirate, out of.... wait for it....... Kangaroo bones and string. It took us a while to do it but it was worth it. We even made a plaq for it. We decorated the tree with few pirate banners and a jolly rogers flag and a solar lamp underneath the pirate.
So if you ever go along the nullabour look for our tree. 100kms west of Eulca
So back to Betty..
She's ill, but fixable. We needed a good mechanic to sort her out. The RACV put us all up in motel for a few nights and they new betty would take a while to be fixed.
The next morning the good mechanic turned up. In fact the good mechanic was an excellent chef and goes by the name of Ben. Yes Ben, Bettys owner. It took him a few days but he done it!!
So yes we was back on the road after 2nights in Eucla.
Nullabour
A few days after New years day, we decided that we had to leave Perth. We needed to find work to make some cash, and working in Perth would mean that we would be spending more time over there. We'd already been there for 3 months and travelled around the south of WA. We felt that it was time that we headed east.
We had an invite from our good friends Ben and Tanja, to cross the notorious Nullabour (meaning: plain with no trees). It took us a few days to make up our minds, we needed to decide if we was going to sell The Pom Bomb or was we going to drive from WA to The east.
We actually decided to sell The Pom Bomb. So we made signs put them in the car and around the Scarborough local shops, and placed an advert on gumtree. We heard nothing. So that was it we made up our minds we was leaving WA and we would take up Ben and Tanja's offer and drive the whole way.
Craig and I said our good byes to Aunty Rachel and Uncle David, we also said farewell to our good friends Ellie and Nella. The off we went.
The next chapter of our journey.
We headed towards Esperance, taking the Albany Highway and then the South Coast highway. We drove 712kms in one day.
We had arranged to meet Ben and Tanja, but we didn't say where. So when we got there it was getting pretty dark and we needed to find some where fast. We tried the national park where it was on $9pppn. No good there it was full. The camp site in town was full too. So we ended up at the next cheapest available place the YHA. $60 for two single beds in one room. Bit pricey but the bed was comfortable, and there was no setting up our great little tent.
So after a good nights sleep we woke up checked out and went to the car. I wish this apart of the story didn't happen. The Pom Bombs exhaust had shit it's self. I was hanging around 2inches off the floor. Fixing this was priority. We found the near garage this happened to be behind the YHA. And it was a discount place. BINGO.
He had to replace the whole exhaust. $400 dollar's out of our pocket, but it needed to be done.
By 2pm we was able to hit the road.
Whilst the car was being fixed we managed to get hold of the White's and plan what we was going to to. The decided to head off a few hours before us in Black Betty. We would meet them for a spot of lunch in Norseman (The start of the Nullabour).
After Norseman we would start to head east towards the WA/SA border.
Here's a few snaps of random stops
We had an invite from our good friends Ben and Tanja, to cross the notorious Nullabour (meaning: plain with no trees). It took us a few days to make up our minds, we needed to decide if we was going to sell The Pom Bomb or was we going to drive from WA to The east.
We actually decided to sell The Pom Bomb. So we made signs put them in the car and around the Scarborough local shops, and placed an advert on gumtree. We heard nothing. So that was it we made up our minds we was leaving WA and we would take up Ben and Tanja's offer and drive the whole way.
Craig and I said our good byes to Aunty Rachel and Uncle David, we also said farewell to our good friends Ellie and Nella. The off we went.
The next chapter of our journey.
We headed towards Esperance, taking the Albany Highway and then the South Coast highway. We drove 712kms in one day.
We had arranged to meet Ben and Tanja, but we didn't say where. So when we got there it was getting pretty dark and we needed to find some where fast. We tried the national park where it was on $9pppn. No good there it was full. The camp site in town was full too. So we ended up at the next cheapest available place the YHA. $60 for two single beds in one room. Bit pricey but the bed was comfortable, and there was no setting up our great little tent.
So after a good nights sleep we woke up checked out and went to the car. I wish this apart of the story didn't happen. The Pom Bombs exhaust had shit it's self. I was hanging around 2inches off the floor. Fixing this was priority. We found the near garage this happened to be behind the YHA. And it was a discount place. BINGO.
He had to replace the whole exhaust. $400 dollar's out of our pocket, but it needed to be done.
By 2pm we was able to hit the road.
Whilst the car was being fixed we managed to get hold of the White's and plan what we was going to to. The decided to head off a few hours before us in Black Betty. We would meet them for a spot of lunch in Norseman (The start of the Nullabour).
After Norseman we would start to head east towards the WA/SA border.
Here's a few snaps of random stops
Thursday, 10 March 2011
Money Money
We're pretty shit at updating our blog really aren't we. I'm not going to say sorry any more and promise to up date it more often as I always seem to break the promise.
Any since our last entry which was about Christmas and new year we have been doing a lot of this and a lot of that. We have had good times and some times we wish to forget about.
What I've noticed since being on the road is that people always seem to worry about money. You either have it or you don't. If you don't have it, you work for it. Simple. Or you can always beg steal or borrow, the easy way if you ask me.
As you probably know, we went through a stage of having a few grand, to having virtually nothing. Thank god we had the easy option of using our credit cards, having Christmas money, and birthday money. If we didn't have any of these we would be back in the UK, either on the dole or working our tits off.
Looking back now at January and February I wonder how we done it.
We would love to say thank you to Ben and Tanja for helping us over the last 3 months. You really don't know how much we love you pair. Also we would like to say thank you for our Christmas presents (money) and birthday presents (money)..
It's not all bad news mind..
Any since our last entry which was about Christmas and new year we have been doing a lot of this and a lot of that. We have had good times and some times we wish to forget about.
What I've noticed since being on the road is that people always seem to worry about money. You either have it or you don't. If you don't have it, you work for it. Simple. Or you can always beg steal or borrow, the easy way if you ask me.
As you probably know, we went through a stage of having a few grand, to having virtually nothing. Thank god we had the easy option of using our credit cards, having Christmas money, and birthday money. If we didn't have any of these we would be back in the UK, either on the dole or working our tits off.
Looking back now at January and February I wonder how we done it.
We would love to say thank you to Ben and Tanja for helping us over the last 3 months. You really don't know how much we love you pair. Also we would like to say thank you for our Christmas presents (money) and birthday presents (money)..
It's not all bad news mind..
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