Brisbane to Sydney via Armidale
Day 1 - Wednesday, 31 March 2010
Left home a little later than we expected to at about 9.30am, having to first top up with petrol and go to SuperCheap Auto to pick up a double adaptor for our cigarette lighter/charger, then on to Gai's place in Ipswich to pick up my walker. This meant it was about 11am before we left Ipswich. Had a lovely drive along the Cunningham Hwy, then onto the New England Hwy. Hardly any traffic and a lovely smooth surface. Stopped for lunch at Vincenzo's at the Big Apple in Thulimbah (www.vincenzos.com.au). A really beaut place, it was a one-stop shop selling locally made wine and cheese, fruit from the area, (the Granite Belt) gifts - such as beautifully made handbags, HUGE, crunchy, juicy Delicious apples (eat your heart out, Aunty Edna), and, best of all, lovely food. After a great lunch of fish and chips, we continued on, hoping to make Armidale for the night.
Terrific scenery going through the mountains, tho' it rained on and off. Finally, by about 6pm Qld time, we went past a motel called the Shiralee Motel (www.shiraleeguyra.com) in a little place called Guyra, which advertised outside that they had special overnight deals for Seniors.
So here we are with a lovely room with everything we need, a handicapped bathroom and free breakfast for only $82!!
- J
Day 2 - Thursday, 01 April 2010 - April Fools Day
Now 7am, dark and overcast day, and Bernard is still snoring - lucky thing! Just waiting now for our free breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage and tomato. Haven't had that for a while - Yum!
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Set off at about 9.30am and had a lovely easy drive to Muswellbrook on the New England Hwy where we stopped for lunch at the RSL Club. Had a really good lunch - Bernard had his favorite, very, very hot, huge laksa, and I had plum pork chops and rice. Continued on to Branxton, where, on cousin Carol's advice, we turned right towards Cessnock, leaving behind the suddenly huge amount of traffic. Great drive until we reached the main 6 lane hwy to Sydney, which was absolutely packed with traffic heading north (fortunately for us we were heading south), but at 110km/h we were surrounded by idiots who were all darting in and out, doing about 120km/h. We came the closest ever to being hit from the side and rolled, when one of the above mentioned idiots cut in front of us.
At about 100km short of Sydney, we got down to our last marker on the petrol guage and got a bit anxious about finding a servo before we ran out of petrol, so got off at the first exit, drove for about another 20km before finding a servo. Got back onto the freeway, and found a servo around the bend from where we had left the freeway. Just goes to show we should have more faith in our lovely Prius.
Finally arrived in Sydney, gladly in one piece, at about 6pm.
Unfortunately the motel we had pre-booked didn't turn out to be anywhere as good as the one in Guyra. So we dropped off the bare necessities and went over to BJ's for dinner, where Gai had cooked a great lasagne and salad, which we ate on his lovely deck. Came home and thankfully fell into bed, which turned out to be the best thing in the whole unit.
- J
Day 3 - Friday, 02 April 2010
Good Friday - no shops open, nothing to do around our disappointing motel (above). Looks all right from outside, doesn't it. Hmm... I do like the sunken garden though -
BJ came over and brought us back to his place. It really is as good as it looks. huge desk with a water view, if you do the John Cleese - Fawlty Towers trick. That is our Prius, parked across the road.
We'll stay here with the family for the rest of today. BJ is off to Cessnock to pick up Erin from her Dad. When we are all here there are 10 of us in his unit! I suspect he may be glad when the wedding is over (tomorrow), and we all get moving again.
- B
Day 4 - Saturday, 03 April 2010
Jewely's wedding day. Jewely is Gai's particular friend, and Erin's godmother. We drove for about 45 minutes to a village called Londonderry, near Penrith. The wedding was held in the community hall there. It was a fun wedding with the groom, Adam in black leather jerkin and pants, and Jewely in a long black taffeta skirt, with a long train, cream lace bustier, cream tulle veil, and black lace-up boots!
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Jewely with niece Kaitlyn and our Erin
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The kids spent most of the time in a bouncy castle hired for the occasion -
They were thoroughly worn out by the time it was over!
So were we. Adam was once part of a heavy metal rock band, and we were regaled with their music all evening - but we had a great time, nonetheless.
- B
Day 5 - Sunday, 04 April 2010
Easter Sunday, and and everything shut again. We spent the day at BJ's again. Tomorrow, Gai, Barry and their two kids fly back to Brisbane, and Joce and I set off on our trip proper.
- B
