Itinerary, of sorts

Only two more sleeps to go! Yikes!!! 

We are leaving on Thursday night on the Spirit of Tasmania (boat) and will reach Melbourne at 7am Friday - a whole night at sea! And what a night it will be! Due to large family syndrome ie small funds, we resigned ourselves to purchasing what the shipping company politely call "ocean recliners'. Ha, they recline a measly 6 inches lower than usual - and we pay to spend an entire night on one of these instruments of torture! They even generously supply you with a scratchy grey blanket that has no doubt been used by several other unfortunates on previous trips. 

Of course, if Lady Luck is smiling upon us, we will have calm seas; but if the swell reaches 10 or more metres....... look out!! Several of us (and half the other passengers) will be 'reclining' with churning stomachs and a spew bag brown paper bag clutched tightly in trembling hands! 

Aaaahhh, the joys of sea travel!

Corrina ferry - west coast Tasmania

We'll spend three days in Melbourne with our son and his lovely brand new fiancee - yes there's a wedding on the cards, our first wedding! My children have had a busy 2011..... I'll be a mother-in-law and a grandmother in one year - and I'm only 39.... and a bit - ahem!!!!

From Melbourne we travel to Canberra, our nations capital. On the way though, we will spend a night on the road, and in true pioneer fashion (for which we are renowned) we will rough it 'somewhere along the way'! This is how it goes - we drive and drive until we all feel we have done our dash for the day, then we pull out the map and usually, I pick a spot. Not too isolated (too scary); not too close to town (possible hoons); not too many other people and so on until we agree on one thats Just Right! Then a cold meal of bread and cheese and fruit and into bed. Ahem, I mean three swags for the older kids under the car, two kids in sleeping bags in the back of the Landrover and the Best Man and I on an air bed in the trailer!! 

Did I mention that we rough it? ....but it's only one night and I feel the adventure of mozzies, moonlight and the Milky Way more than make up for the deprivation of a motel and swimming pool!! Surely?

Marrawa - west coast Tasmania 

In Canberra it will be most of the day at the War Memorial (the older kids choice) and a visit with one of my lovely swap partners! Now, you know, I am looking forward to meeting a 'cyber friend' in the flesh but I'm also a little concerned about first impressions. We will have driven all the previous day and spent a night under the stars and will undoubtedly be wrinkled and travel stained and smelly! I do hope she is very understanding - I also hope we find a nice creek or maybe a restroom, along the way for a bit of a tidy up of the crew!!  

View from Mt Roland (1234m) to the sea - Tasmania

We shall continue on to Kiama to turn the in-laws house into chaos; then Windsor just west of Sydney for a quick visit with my brother; on to Wauchope to visit friends and then our final destination Lismore for a week with my mum and lovely sister. And when all the visiting and celebrating is done we shall turn around and do a very similar journey home! 

I really hope I can keep this blog regularly updated while I"m away - I am very much enjoying ranting on here and meeting all you lovely ladies (and men?) Thanks so much for your input and ideas and if you are a new follower, thank you for doing so, as it is very gratifying to know that some one, some where in this vast world of ours is keen to pop over here on return visits.