Phase two with replacement Caravan Beginning in Jan 2016

We arrive back in Cairns in time to see Lauren and Ryder off on their trip to Europe. July, August, Sept 2015 are spent doing some gardening at the house and some home improvements.
departure
Cairns airport , on their way
light
Let there be light, and some considerable time later there was lots

dogs
These are the house guests and security

We also keep an eye on the real estate market on the tablelands and become quite familiar with the various sub areas and  climates which are remarkably different from place to place despite being in relatively close proximity. 20Km can make a huge difference to the rainfall . We have made offers on a few properties, that's another story, but so far remain nomads.

Oct sees us in Vietnam (Hoi An) for Lauren and Ryders wedding on the 6th Oct. A great time with both families and friends who also made the journey.
down the isle
Down the isle

Bride and groom
It's all over now mate

team
In Black and white

We stop over in Singapore for a few days on the way home but experienced the smoky conditions as a result of the Kalimantan fires in neighboring Indonesia, despite this we had a good time and visited all the usual spots.

at night
Night time boat ride

city high
Changed unbelievably in 30 years

gardens
Under the domes are the most amazing Gardens in climate controlled environment.


new hotelraffles
New hotel , it's a long way up there, not natural.                                                                             The more traditional and legendary Raffles Hotel


ranga       ranga 2
Wendy got traded                                                                                                           Blue got traded


gardens 2
But they found each other in the gardens

Returning to Cairns on the 15th Oct we renew efforts to find a suitable replacement Van. Blue is due to start a teaching gig in Dec in Townsville.
The van hunt is stressful, we know what we want but any that are close are (In Blues opinion)  way over priced and offers do not attract acceptance.
Then just before Blue is to leave for Townsville we get acceptance on an offer for a 21' Kedron in Nossa . Sight unseen we take off to pick it up. The van is pretty much as expected, pay the man, hook up and of to Townsville leaving Wendy with  Kris, Alley and Grand kids in Moranbah on the way through. There is a Birthday boy waiting for Grandma.
birthday 1birthday 2 
                              Presents are opened                                                      Slides are slid by Kale and his mate Jhet                             

Blue has 5 weeks in Townsville living in the van while working there.

Pick up Wendy from Moranbah and tow the van back to Cairns where we have a Family Xmas with all the troops and news of a new grand child from the newly weds (no muckin around there).
Had a great day at the Bacon ranch in Tinaroo, all the kids were home for xmas, nice snap below.
xmas cairns 15bacon xmas
Xmas in Cairns,Kris,Ally,Kale,Lauren,Conner,Wendy,Blue                                     Bacon Ranch in Tinaroo, great day hosted by Mick and Marie
     
                                                                                                                                        
 
spit       creek 15 xmas
 Xmas Dinner                                                                                                                And a cool off in the creek

After Xmas it is time to modify the van for our special/peculiar needs, Bike rack, outboard rack, wifi router, Satellite TV provisions, Modify solar system, extra power outlets for computers and phone charging, slide outs for storage units and tool box,modify lighting,new awning, +++ and a generator. Finally its all done and we are off again with the intention of getting south of Sydney and continuing to explore the NSW south coast.
van cardwellvan 2
  New second hand van 2008 Kedron, stopped at Cardwell for crab sanga. Bike rack and sat  tv dish at rear.  It's home now
       
First night out 7th Feb, after a late start, we stop at the home hill show grounds, then on to Mt Larkin show grounds, then Caloundra for two nights where we catch up with an old school friend of Wendys (Geneita and parents Joyce and Graham).  It has been 20 years since last meeting, lot to catch up on.

On to Urunga in NSW then Port Macquire where we spend two nights catching up with Raymond and Anne from Townsville. On to Nabiac where we stop briefly to catch up with Rod and Kim Allen for coffee and directions to get through Sydney along with some good tips for sites to visit south of Sydney.

On to the M1 100Km/h all is well then BOOM a tyre on van blows out. Lucky it's Sunday and the traffic is a little less than manic. Pull over as far as possible and get to work changing the wheel as the traffic flys by and the trucks causing the van to flop about on the jack. We were lucky it was an inside tyre other wise it would have been really death defying.
flatjacked
  Bother bother  bother                                                                      I think this is how it's done

14th Feb landed at a little spot called Gerroa, just south of Kiama (Rod and Kims Tip), it is an ideal spot for us, right on the inlet, close to beach, and good location from which to explore surroundings. Here we meet some fellow travelers, some special characters, and the familiar short term family atmosphere is again present, puts a smile on the dial as we recall many similar experiences and characters.

From Gerroa we explored North to Kiama, Wollongong, Stanwell Park, west to Kangaroo valley and Berry, south to Jervis Bay and Ulladulla which will be our next stop.
bald hillgerroa
                       Looking south from Bald Hill North of Wollongong and the beach near our Gerroa camp
Kiama marketspretty beach nsw
  Kiama market day                                                                           Pretty beach near batemans bay
green patchwendy jervois bay
Green patch south Jervis bay. The entire bay area is attractive                                           Another part of Jervis bay                                      

Moved to Burrill lake, just south of Ulladulla, on the 24th and settle into a very nice park with a site right on the lake (sea water connected to ocean).
The boat is in and we off fishing without much success until we get some tips from the locals and start using different gear and techniques, now were cookin, back into the flat head good tucker, and again Wendy proves to be the assassin.

flat headtoes burrill
 Dinner                                                                  Toes at Burrill


After a week we have to move to another site a little further back from the beach but still a nice spot. This weekend is a long one in Canberra and the park is almost full of Canbereans. We are due to leave here on the 21st  and will  move into a little spot (Congo) between  Narooma and Batemans bay, It is run by the state parks with no bookings available. The plan is to try for a spot in here and stop over Easter when it will be difficult to get in anywhere else. There is no power or water at this spot limiting the rigs than can use it, we hope a spot is available, it will test our solar system and ability to make the on board water stretch.

More to come and some additions