Day 16 - The Long Road Home

After our little trip to Tamworth, we decided that we would make a nice little "retreat" stop into Byron Bay. We figured that we had spent a fair bit of time on the road, in a tent and a little pampering was well deserved, somewhere where we could relax and enjoy ourselves before we got back into things (including finalising a wedding!).

So we packed up and got on the road relatively early and headed to the coast. Our country quota well and truly met, some sand and water were definitely required! 

For those of you who don't know, Byron is about 30 minutes from our final destination. 

Needless to say we waved to our little beach retreat from the Nav, and continued north bound!!

We just couldn't handle the thought of being so close, but still so far with lots of packing and unpacking in between!!! So after a little over two weeks on the road we are relaxed, refreshed, and have a greater appreciation for this beautiful country of ours, if not whilst being slightly smelly!

We have loved every second of this trip, even the testing ones...but entertaining nonetheless. With memories to last a life time, and adventures to continue, we say farewell, for now, as we get ready to embark on and even bigger journey.

Day 15 - Tourists of Tamworth

Howdy from Tamworth Folks!

Ya'll had a good day? We have had a 'dandy' day in Tamworth playing tourists and brushing up on our country 'speak'!!! 

After a very slow start we finally made it to the showers and got ready for the day! We headed into town where we did a spot of browsing and had a bite to eat for breakie - then it was off to see the Big Golden Guitar! (I will just stop here to let you know that Cj got caught up in the moment of being in the country and made his big purchase for the day - a "flannie" from "Blowes"!)

We let Karen our GPS lead us out to the "Big Golden Guitar" - and I have to say - we were both a little disappointed!! I for one was expecting it to be on a hill - it's not!! And Ceej was expecting it to be about "3 times the size"!! But no instead it's a 12 meter high guitar right next to a motel and a McDonalds!! 

Inside however there is a wax museum of Australian Country Stars and a bit of history and of course a souvenir shop! The wax museum wasn't quite a Madam Tussaud's!! But it was very interesting and told me a lot about the history of Australian Country music stars - which let's face it - I didn't really know a lot about!!! 

We then headed back into town where we decided we would see a movie in the afternoon - we still had a little wait though - so browsed through the bustling city of Tamworth (which let me tell you - EVERY shop in Tamworth plays country music...and I mean EVERY shop!!) then we went off to we play a game ten-pin bowling, some pool and have some lunch (I won't tell you who won bowling or pool - I don't really think it's necessary!!!)

Then it was off to "Paul" - which I was reluctantly going along too - however I will admit...it was great!!! Very very funny!! It was getting a bit late for anymore site seeing - and we kind of thought we had retained all we could about country music! So we headed to the pub from the night before for a couple of drinks and a few games of pool (once again - I won't tell you who won - I really don't believe it's necessary to focus on these type of things!!!)

Back to camp where it was dinner and pack up and ready for our drive tomorrow where we are heading out to the coast for one last beach retreat! 

Nightie-Night from Tamworth folks!!

H & Ceej xx

Day 14 - Dubbo to Tamworth

Hey Ya'll,

Thats right guys we are totally getting into the swing of it out here in the country, we do need to brush up on our country slang like, " get em up", and "yeeha", and of course "Coowee". We will continue to try out these when we are home so be prepared.

The day started with a bang as we realised we were late for a date with Heba's cousin in town so we had to rush to get everything in order to make it to the date.

Breakie was great and after a long chat and a new golfing buddy established for me back on the goldie next week, it was time to cram ourselves back in the car and off to Tamworth the home of Australian Country Music, YEEHA.

We got into town at around 4 and we made a quick setup of camp, well we really only set up the tent!! We also received a call from an old school buddy which we made a date to go down to the local to have dinner.

Dinner was great and the pub was an old beautiful place that we really enjoyed (thanks Jane it was great!). After dinner we went on our tour around camp and snuggled into bed to play a few games of shit-head which I always win!!

Well guys today nothing much exciting happened so hopefully tomorrow will be more eventful!

Enjoy your TUCKER, (another bit of bush slang)

CJ & Heba

Tourists of Dubbo

Ahhhh - well first of all I have to say it - sometimes playing tourists can be so much fun!!!

So Tuesday, what a day! Here we go....

Since we have arrived in Dubbo pretty much all we have heard from people we know is "are you going to the zoo!?"!? So we figured we had better go to the zoo!

I will just point out now; I am not usually a fan of zoo's, however I must say I was very impressed by Dubbo's Western Plains Zoo! The whole park is open and spread out. There is so much space for all the animals and they are not caged up in small enclosures which is pretty much what I hate about zoo's!

So after collected our tickets (and meeting a few reptile friends in the line!) we jumped back in the car out started our "safari"! As you can imagine, us photo happy tourists took LOTS of photo's today! (Yes we were really playing the part well!) I will try not to bore you with too many! But here are some of our fav's! (And yes although I am writing this today not Ceej, I will put some "Heba's" up just for him!!)

"E" IS FOR ELE-PHANT!!!

I swear this Zebra did NOT move! Perfectly still! Maybe I should get some tips off him!!!

Life of a Lion - yeh they were boring!!!!

The evil evil bird that was WAY too used to human interaction!! So many haunted memories of Trafalgar Square! He tried to steal my lunch and scared the crap out of me!!!! 

Ahhh - the monkey's! I could have sat and watched these guys all day! (I'm glad I'm doing the post with the photo's of the monkey's! I can' only imagine what Cj would have said!!!!)

"Typical Tourists"!!

So after the zoo, we headed into town to go to the "Old Dubbo Goal". Seriously, if anyone is visiting Dubbo soon and wants to play tourists too...this place is great!!!

Unlike the goal visit in Silverton, where they had turn it into a museum, the Dubbo Goal is set-up to depict how it was back then. It is GREAT!

We wandered through taking in lots and lots of history - and lots of photo's of course!! Sometimes it's easier to let them do the talking!! So here we go...

Cj told me he couldn't lift his head - "der you're not meant to!"

...I managed!!

Yes - for those who were thinking it...Cj rang the bell - of course!!!

Transportable prison cell

Solitary confinement - Cj took this photo - I could not go in there - WAY too dark and scary for me!!!

Part of the actual hangman's kit. Once again - Cj took this photo - I didn't like this room!!!

Cj where he belongs! :P

GET ME OUT!

"Typical Toursits"!

One female prisoner's attempted escape plan - she actually made it to the top by scaling the wall with the drain pipes, however when she reached the top she fell backwards and broke her ankle and was caught! Fair to say they removed the drain pipes after that day!!!!

So! After the prison, and feeling a lot more educated after the day so far! We had a quick bite to eat and a yummy little Vietnamese place, then headed out of Dubbo to go to Wellington to the caves out there! (I warned you at the start - we had a BIG tourist day today!!!)

We got there a little early for the tour, so we wandered through the gardens, and I stupidly followed Cj through the avery - which I proceed to run through saying "I hate birds - why did I even come in here!!!", however I did quickly snap Cj getting bitten by one - which almost made up for it!!!!

Then we met our tour guide, who was probably about 20 or so and we both kind of glanced at each other thinking oh great!! However - never judge a book by it's cover! She was fantastic! Very very VERY knowledgable!!

We headed up through the bush and in to Gaden Caves, the smallest cave, but has the most stagnates. And it was incredible. So so beautiful.

After the caves it was back into Dubbo, and back to camp for our afternoon ritual of a walk through the caravan-park checking out camper trailers! Then we decided we would head out for dinner to Hog's Breath. While at dinner we got a surprise, random call from my cousin telling us they were only 20 minutes out of Dubbo! So it's off to be bed now, then we will be catching up with them tomorrow for breakie.

Lot's of love form the tourists of Dubbo!

H & Cj xx