August 2017 ~

Cape York

After a 2 days off in Bamaga we packed up camp, picked a set of jandals to wear and set off on our final leg to Cape York. More corrugated roads, leading to single lane tracks then we reached the tip, or at least the car park.

Summerset Camp and The 5 Beaches

fair drive I realized we were lost, we had taken a wrong turn somewhere which didn't make much sense because the road was such good quality, thats why I kept going and didn't notice it was the wrong way.

Varillia Point

After seemingly endless running around this small town, of ,shopping, getting fuel, catching bait while waiting for the bottle shop to open, we finally headed off, late in day, didn't get very far as the sun was on it's way down so we stopped at Jacky Jacky Creek.

Old Telegraph Track

First thing in the morning we assessed the Palm Creek crossing, there was no water in bottom and the drop in and climb out were dry too so I figured at least it would grip. The drop in was very steep then the climb out was steep too and had crossed up ruts, resulting in some high front wheel lifts and only 2 wheels touched the ground most the way up.

Hitting The Road

I have finally escaped from Brisbane after 18 months of planning, planning, set backs (a whole year), organizing, re-organizing, shopping (for gadgets, my favorite part), modifying and upgrading my vehicle, and packing, oh and re-packing.

Tuesday, 1 August 2017

Off to New Zealand, 1 wedding, 2 birthdays and mothers Day

00:56

Lance Dean

New Zealand- Northland and Waikato

Bridal Veil Falls, Raglan, Waikato ,NZ- Just Like the wedding veil

Another much needed break, this time off to the Northland, New Zealand, it's been a while, been working to much aye lol, mite give it away for a bit and hit the road again
Has been good to work,thanks to Evercool company in Cairns.
I managed to save some money for next trip, interesting, eye-opening experience going to mine sites and installing air cons, can't recommend the food or sleeping conditions but, oh well ya get that on the big jobs aye.

Flying into Auckland, rangitoto island.

Got used to domestic flights to and from work, can take what you want, lunch, cuppa tea, a fork. Not allowed anything on international have to forage along the way, consume what I can find or what ever I'm given on the plane.

Fly in to Auckland, met by Mum and Dad and Isabella, straight to Grandmas in Kaitaia. the whole Dean family was there for her 80th birthday on Easter Sunday. Uncle Leo did his famous tea tree wood fire Spit roast lamb, so yum was a good day.

Lamb on the spit- Awanui NZ

Isabella and Mark fishing at Awanui Wharf, Northland ,NZ

Dad and I took the kids fishing at the wharf,using one of grandads old fishing lines lol, didn't expect to catch anything, brown flood water, very crappy limited fishing gear that we found in Grandmas garage and some old sausages we scored off a fisherman who was cleaning out the fridge on his boat. they caught 2 eels and a mullet and wanted to eat them despite the fact that they would taste yuk. I cut two tiny fillets off the mullet for dinner and it was gross, kids were disappointed but had fun fishing anyway.

koro showing grandkids the rotary cowshed,gee its nearly 33 yrs old was built when I was boen in 1984

Took them for a walk to the Cow shed with Koro, to see the cows being milked, they enjoyed the mud and taking note of the electric fence, Mark learned the hard way, and learning where milk comes from, new experience coming from the city. But they didn't like the cow pooh and the smell.

I headed south to stay at Shannon's in Ohaeawai, one of my oldest friends.
had a good wood fired BBQ & bonfire, so go with out selection of 3 different whiskeys.
Quick visit to Auckland to see Rory, Antony, Kevin,his partner Taylor and new baby
We caught up with Adrian in the city briefly as well as Nick and a few other mates, was a good evening
Back to Shannon's, was good to have a driver and a mad Nissan frankin-stagia. left Auckland late as so was 10pm when we got back to Ohaeawai, sunday night. Went for a relaxing soak at Ngawha Springs hot mud mineral thermal pools. this place has been used for a long time, probably since man first stepped foot in NZ. Forgot how good it is, forgot how much it smells too phhhoorr!, had to use old clothes of Shannon''s as the mud pools make your clothes smell.

Down to Whangarei to catch up with Tim & Issac, had a good catchup and drink, nice lunch at the pub the next day, then Tim and his partner took me to a nice quiet secret beach where we chilled out next to a campfire enjoying the sea, stars and company. and a shitload of sand hoppers got roasted lol. unfortunately I forgot my phone so didn't get any pics, but I'm telling you it was seriously............... alot of roasted sand hoppers!

The North stay over, so jumped on the Bus to Hamilton via a change in Auckland, long journey but caught the early connecting bus in Auckland, and only $34, what a bargin from Whangarei
Chilling in Hamilton with family-yeah literally chilling, chilly down here!

Natalie and Jordan's wedding at Waiuku ,this weekend- 29/April 2017, it is actually on our late Poppa Elliott's birthday, what a awesome weekend we all had at "Castaways Resort", Waiuku, Auckland , New Zealand.I was the driver of the Bridesmaid car, so that was pretty cool. ( yeah I had to buy a suit too ). jandals and boardies just wouldn't cut it
It was a awesome weekend, Watch face book for more wedding photos, my sisters wedding, not mine silly, still looking for that special Lady-hey maybe I will find her in NZ while I'm here !!!!!!!

Wedding Party- Kariotahi Beach, Waiuku

Had some awesome allergy free cupcakes at the wedding to made by "Sugar Plum", Hamilton New Zealand

Back in Hamilton after the wedding, must have looked bored because Dad took me to work, forestry logging, learnt how to use sharpen and maintain a chainsaw, and was very sore from swinging the full sized forestry chainsaw around.

Helped fix Dads car, shocks too, thought I was on holidays, oh well good to help, I know Ive had my share of help.

Bridal Veil Falls

Went to Bridal Veil Falls, forgot to bring Natalie's bridal veil for a photo, LOL it is west of Hamilton- 235 steps to the bottom and then got to get back up again another 235 steps- awesome spot.
After that we carried on out to Raglan, right on sunset was great, had dinner round by the wharf- called
" The Wharf Kitchen & Bar" Raglan- highly recommend them
Next day down to swing bridge at Arapuni Dam, scored 2 big bags of fejoas only $1 each at someones front gate. Called into Cambridge on way back and found 3-4 op shops LOL-so many treasures in these places.

Mums birthday, spent day op shopping again! and cafe for lunch. Only me and mum off work this day. I tried gluten free pizza as entree for mums birthday tea, then roast chicken- yum

Fly back soon, gotta finish my 2 duty free single malts whiskey before I go so I can get two more bottles of Whiskey on the way back or leave them for Dad and Jordan to drink.

Was good to catch up with family and friends and have a look around, been roughly 5 years since I was last back in NZ.

The air con there is still set too low and someone left it running outside, bloody cold compared to Weipa, in Queensalnd, doesn't even get up to 26deg during the day, that's the temperature I set my air con to in my room at work. yes I do aircons for a job in Oz, but they work in reverse here, smart machines.