Getting going

We have been slowly getting things organised for the last couple of months. The beloved conveyance is a 1971 Bedford Bus called Bustin' Loose. It was bought by my Mum and Dad in 1996. They used it frequently until the last few years. We brought it up from it Portland in January of this year and set about updating it. We were under some time pressure but received a huge amount of help from good friends

and local tradies. Special thanks must go to my great mate Kenzie. Without his expertise, I'd be rocking in a corner and dreaming of one day taking a holiday. He worked tirelessly. Special thanks also to Jason at High Class Upholstery and Martin at Quinlan Joinery. These boys were fantastic. As was Macca at Nordens and the hardworking team at TG Pell electrical.

We finally set off on Monday 4 April. We left home at about 2.00 pm. We picked the kids up from school with a team of well wishers. I felt a bit like Bourke and Wills. Our first stop once we actually got under way was Broadmeadows VicRoads. We had seat belts fitted to Bustin Loose (one of the many small improvements) and we needed to get it complied. I picked up the Engineers Certificate on Monday morning. Since Broady was on the way out of town, we stopped there. The kids played two square beneath the shadow of the Broadmeadows Magistrates'Court.  A friendly but disinterested girl counted the seat belts and stamped my docs and we were complied. Too easy.

We stopped for tea in Benalla and then continued on Holebrook for a free camp at the Submarine park. We were very tired by this point. We landed in Holebrook at about 10.30 pm. Highway very busy. Lots of trucks. Thankfully, it was mostly dual carriageway.

On Tuesday morning, after playing on the Submarine and having breaky, we set off again. We stopped for a lazy morning tea in Gundagai. Lars heated up Hot Cross Buns. Then off to the Dog on the Tuckerbox for a photo shoot. We then headed up the highway and stopped at Yass for some lunch. We found a skate park and the kids had fun. We recalled some old family stories involving the Yass Memorial Swimming Pool and had a lavish lunch of two minute noodles.

I fired up the UHF radio this afternoon. I thought it was important to hear what the truckies had to say. To my amusement, Bustin Loose was the object of some CB chatter and a number of cheap shots from them pesky interstate truckies. All in good fun. I got lots of waves and smiles Some people just stop and stare. Not sure why.

Anyway, the bus is now quiet. We are parked in a dodgie caravan park in Goulburn for the night. The only redeeming feature is the bird aviary.A number of quite exotic budgies. William suggested that we could steal one. I'm not sure where we'd keep it! With the sound of trucks in the background I am ready to call it a night. Sydney tomorrow.