Xmas day Wycheproof 2014

As the sun rises over Wycheproof early Xmas morning I start to wonder what this day will yield, this is a very special day with the most wonderful family I have ever known. After kicking all the reindeer crap off the front lawn I am ready for this big day, yes this is Xmas . As the sleepy heads start to appear you can feel the  air start to thicken this day is brewing into another special event. As the morning wears on it seems like confusion but the plan slowly starts to unravel. With the furniture moved out of the way it's time to roll in the tables and chairs ,yes in a few hours rent crowd will be here to fill there empty stomachs with some of the finest food in the land. With feed time at the zoo well under way and our glasses full we all sit down as one big family...this is very special . After much merriment we retire to the back yard for more festive activities, time to hand out some gifts that Santa has left behind. Some gifts are big some are little but the spirit is still very strong, this family sure knows how to celebrate . The time to unwind is about to begin,with a cool drink in hand and  we start to mingle. As the afternoon drifts into evening and the crowd starts to thin the hardy stayers are still trying to run a race they just can't win. The time  has finally come for me the hang up my Christmas stocking for 2014 and head to my place of rest ,as the sun sets on this great great day, my dream is still alive.........WADDA

The Festive season has begun

The time has come for me to jingle my Xmas bell again, as usual this event will take place in the small town of Wycheproof  situated about halfway between Melbourne and Mildura. As I arrive in this small country town 2 days prior to the big day I reflect on my previous 40 odd festive seasons spent in this tiny community. Yes these times have been special to me ,the crowd will be slightly down this year numbering only 43. In the past we have had over 50 sit down for Mary's hot Christmas lunch, with people so busy nowadays it is almost impossible for everyone to make it to the same table on the same day. To those who don't make it there is always next year .........WADDA

WADDA has returned

Today I have returned to my blog site after a fairly long lay off, after my last trip to the wilds of this vast country a lot has happened. I have taken a early redundancy package and stopped to smell the roses.....HA HA. My life is still very busy and I am very happy to be off that dreaded Hume highway,so as I have had time on my hands to hatch a plan with my 2 daughters to do a 41 day trip to England....Europe and Dubai ,also in the tour party will be 2 of my grandchildren and my wife Denise. This grand plan will take place in September 2015 ,more details will be revealed as this plan slowly grabs a life of its own and starts to breath without life support. More details as time goes on ,anyway to all you people who follow this blog site have a very merry Xmas and a happy new year.         WADDA

Back at last

I suppose for those of you that don't know me you may have wondered where I have been and what I have been doing. A lot has happened in the last 10 weeks since our return from the outback adventure . Firstly I have retired to now enjoy a free a wheeling life  doing zip zero zilch ,yes the trains have been put back in the shed for the last time and my time is now my own. The new cycle of life has begun .......no shift work ,meals at the proper time , and going to bed at the proper time and no weekend work, my life just got a whole lot better . On the other 3 blokes who took part in this fabulous outback trip they have returned to the daily grind of a full time work . Anyway gotta go and do a few chores.           WADDA

Clare to Wycheproof

This is the last day in what has been an unforgettable journey through some of Australia's remotest country ,as we thundered through this desolate landscape at times with not a lot to take our interest .  I took many moments to reflect on just how lucky I have been travelling with these 3 wonderful brother in laws ,no bull s....t or bad manners just an all out great time was had by all. As we sit in the cabin here in Clare time is running out and the dream will soon be all over , life will resume some sort of normality at sunset tonight. Leaving Clare around 7.30am we are heading for Tanunda for our last big breakfast together,we filled our little bellies one last time then hit the road for home. With about 550 ks to go I sure that I will enjoy the remainder of this wonderful trip. We continue in a easterly direction cutting through the Mallee towns of Murrayville   Under bool    Patchewollck and Speed This country has gone from just so so 3 weeks ago to a green paradise since the good rains have gone through this area ,this is the Mallee at its best. We haven't eaten a lot of s..t today because  mother inlaw Mary has promised us a roast on our safe arrival into Wycheproof ,I hope she has peeled a bag of spuds because we have not had a decent roast for over 3weeks. We decide to have just one last drink at the Patchewollck pub but alas not opening till 4pm, one last chance for that elusive drink and the location is now set for the Minapere hotel at Lascelles . One quick pot and were off again ,Wycheproof here we come the smell of a roast is calling. Our arrival goes unnoticed in this small sleepy town but that's how we like ,no fanfare for this group of weary travellers . With the gear unpacked and sorted I think we can all smell that roast, better get to Mary's because we would hate to miss out on a good feed . Thanks to all our followers and I hope you enjoyed the trip as much as we did.............WADDA

Ceduna to location unknown

As we scratch around the cabin at some ungodly hour the decision has been made to alter our travel arrangements ,today we will head for a little known place called Lucky Bay where the touring party will board the  ferry to Wallaroo . As we check all the marine charts for wave heights and tidal flows i suggest sea sickness pills might be the order of the day for some . STOP PRESS the big Ford has just died from a mystery ailment ,with heads downs and bums up we are un able to locate the problem . 3hrs on every Tom Dick and Harry has probed the guts out of the Ford but no cure can be found,so the decision is made to leave our faithful friend in Ceduna. With our bums in a new set of wheels called a land cruiser we head out off town bound for home , today is day 21 of this fabulous trip so we have been lucky nothing happened at one of the many remote locations we visited . As we head back towards Port Auguasta passing through many small farming towns you can see life creeping back after the rain ,the paddocks are green and the crops are starting to come through ,the rain continues. The Agent has taken care of our last nights accomadation in the small country town called Clare , just another cabin and a long way out of town so taxi required to get a feed and return. Still raining so it's home to watch the footy on a very small TV. The excitement of a roast at Mary's is to much so it is early to bed for our big run home tomorrow..............WADDA

Cocklebiddy to Ceduna

We awaken to rain and more rain ,yes in the middle of the Nullarbor the rain is coming down, we have a quick breakfast then hit the road to Ceduna . The road home is still about 2500 ks long and care still needs to be taken , after stopping at Eucla for fuel and a quick look around we March across the  SA boarder .We manage to stay ahead of the rain but it looks gloomy up ahead , after the Nullarbor roadhouse we arrive at the head of the Bight so we detour down to view the coastline and try to spot some whales, no luck with the whales and the coastline was rugged . Another side trip to Fowlers Bay then we continue to push eastward ,we arrive on the scene of an accident where a small camper van has tried to force its way past some native fauna . The 2 young people from Holland have tried to park a kangaroo on their dashboard, with the wind screen broken the 4 Man Aussie assault team get to work and make it safe to drive this bongo van to the next town to have repairs done . With still along way to Ceduna we loosen the reigns on the big Ford, the Big4 will be our stopover point tonight and we can't wait. Just on dark we arrive at the Big 4 and check in to our 3 bedroom cabin, now it is off to the pub for a counter tea .The rain has finally caught up with us again so we grab a cab home for an early night ,there will be no nightcap tonight ,with 1 more night on the road with these 3 wonderful travelling companions just let me say how lucky I have been to have these 3 blokes      make my dream come true let's hope this trip meant as much to them as it did to me .........WADDA