I forgot, I swear!

I was warned before I left Queensland that my fresh food would be confiscated at the border into Western Australia but we forgot about it when we cooked dinner at Timber Creek.  We didn't actually cook any of our fresh food and what a mistake that turned out to be! 
Knowing we were on the road to Western Australia was pretty darn exciting for us.  It wasn't a long drive either so we took our time as usual.  Having Kristy to sort out the music was such a treat.  She had great tunes on her ipod and many brought back memories to when we were younger and provided more laughs.  She made me laugh alot.  Especially when the sun got to extreme heat and beat down on her face.  She would pull the curtains in Applejack and sometimes leave me just enough to see out of to stay on the road.  It was bloody hot without air-conditioning so I take my hat of to her for being able to put up with the conditions so well.  There were days when we would go really quiet and just stare at the road and then just look at each other and laugh at how rediculously hot it was.  The silence never lasted long and we would end up singing louder. 

We started cheering when we saw we were getting closer to the border and we were in for another great photo opportunity with the Western Australia sign. Then I remembered we had to declare any food we had and next thing we knew we were driving under the shed and a very mean lady with a clipboard stopped us.  She held up her clipboard and read what I was not allowed to take across the border.  I am not sure what happened to me but while she was reading I was shaking my head and tried not to look too worried over different foods.  She said so you don't have any of these things?  I for some really stupid reason said no.  She then said so you won't mind if I search your van then?  Again I said no that's fine and I wish at this stage Kristy had taken over, gagged me and said yes we do!  ha ha I quickly said oh no actually we have tomatoes and apples in the fridge.  She didn't seem too worried she just said OK well hand them over but as I opened the fridge I realised we had alot more stuff then we thought and by this stage the border patrol lady was really angry.  She opened my cupboard and found potatoes and onions and I swear I had forgotten about these but she didn't believe me and by this stage Kristy was finding this whole situation funny.  We were all out of the van and she walked to the back and said OK so far I have found etc etc etc in your van and you looked at the clipboard and said you didn't have it!  What else do you have in here that you haven't told me about because you had better tell me now or I will report you to the head office in Perth because I don't think I should let you girls into their state!  No no no, as far as I know that is it I said.  She didn't believe me and pointed to the engine lid and said what's in here?  Trying not to sound like a smart ass or laugh I said the engine but do you want me to show you?  Oh what a turnout.  I should have just stopped and had a look through the van in the first place and handed over everything but because I had so so little of food and unaware they were so strict I stuffed up. 
Driving away we were both kind of nervously laughing at the whole situation but realised we had missed the border sign and were devastated.  We weren't turning back incase she changed her mind and called border patrol police onto us or something so we put the pedal to the metal and looked for another sign to star jump infront of to show our first moments in WA.  Kristy has the winning picture on her camera unfortunately becuase it was an amazing shot.  First go, set the camera up on the tripod, hit self timer, ran to the front of the sign, beside Applejack and started jumping and laughing like idiots until we counted the flickers and jumped in the air together.   The replay was uncanny.  Our feet were exactly in line and off the ground at the exact same height and millimetres away from touching. 
We speak about this shot still to this day.  It should be the Jetstar photo of the year.

Long dance to Timber Creek

WE spent two nights at Litchfield National Park and could have chilled out for a lot longer but I had to be in Perth early November for a wedding. At the time it seemed unfortunate that I had to make some stops quick but as you will read further down the track, if I hadn't of done what I did we wouldn't have met who we did.  Sometimes things just happen for a reason I guess.

I had to say goodbye to the crew at some stage and we had two great days of swimming, sweating, eating, drinking, singing and star gazing so we packed up early and said cheerio.  It was sad but we had a lot of road ahead of us and just got more exciting each day.
I had filled Kristy in on the places I had been before she joined me and the wonderful people I had met including the family at the Charters Towers caravan park so when I saw their truck parked across the road from the Litchfield turn-off I was stoked.  The girls ran out to Applejack which made us smile even more, they had such beautiful personalities.  I skidded to a halt and introduced Kristy.  It was really special running into fellow travellers in the middle of nowhere like this.

We had a quick catch up as we had quite a big drive ahead of us to Timber Creek.  Looking back over my map makes me feel bad and confused as to why I didn't take Kristy into see Daly Waters and Katherine Gorge but I have a feeling I asked her, she would have said "I don't mind" and after much confusion on my behalf I clearly kept driving.
Sorry Kristy, do you forgive me? haha
Katherine as I wrote earlier in my blog was not what I expected.  I was aware it had a large Aboriginal population which is what I looked forward to seeing in a large skale to learn more about their culture and dream time stories but it was also very daunting.  Sprinklers in garden beds were being used as drinking fountains and Applejack and I couldn't get out of the park as I was getting asked for alcohol, money and cigarettes.  I had stuck close to the guys when we were in the shops as I was unsure of how to handle everyone but after taking a moment to take it all in, I felt OK.  We had also taken the drive to Katherine Gorge on the way to Edith Falls but unless you take a boat ride you don't see much of the Gorge and I think this is why Kristy said she didn't mind not going there.  Thinking back to when I went with the trio of treats makes my stomach turn a little, as we swam a long way to the other side and I'm sure there would have been crocodiles sneaking around somewhere!  

So anyway we drove through Katherine and turned right for the road further west, which I remember feeling really excited about at the time.  I was lucky I worked with many wonderful nomads at the Information Centre in Bowen who gave me heaps of great advice on where to stay along the way and one beautiful couple in particular wrote notes on every page that I flipped to.  Marg and Brian's encouragement and support before, during and after my trip will always hold a spot in my heart.

We got to the tiny town of Timber Creek at 6pm which was half an hour past crocodile feeding time.  We were devastated so without wasting anymore time we hurried to the bridge.  Hmm how do you call a crocodile?  I have video footage which shows how we tried to call them but I was as handy as tits on a bull trying to video and look at the same time so it would make you sea sick to watch.  After a lot of "here croc croc crocie" I decided to throw a stick in the water and sure enough bubbles started appearing.  I get shivers just thinking of them.  This was the first time I had seen them in the wild and they gave me goosebumps.  They just rise to the surface without moving, it is so bizarre.

I am surprised we didn't lock Applejack this night in Timber Creek as the camping grounds were actually on the creek.  I am also not sure why they weren't interested in climbing the banks.  There were quite a few nomads with little dogs which I am sure would have been delicious.  Maybe that is why they feed them at 5.30pm everyday.

Yeah yeah so it doesn't look like a big crocodile but trust me....they were freaky!

music in the toilets?

KRISTY greeted Applejack and we decided to hit the town even though we were dog tired.  We had no idea where we were going to park up for the night but after a little confusion we decided on the esplanade opposite a flash motel.  It was close to the main street of pubs but not too close that we'd get the drunken locals annoying us after close.  We had no idea what we were in for!
With alot to catch up on, our care factor for meeting other people was zero and I especially had no interest in making small talk with annoying guys.  But somehow that's what we attracted when we sat outside with our beers at one of the Darwin pubs.   Not sure if we chose the wrong watering whole or if it was just "annoying people night out".  The music was super loud and the men around us were super annoying.  One guy asked me my name, I told him and he repeated it as something different, I told him again and the same thing happened so after a bit more dribble from his mouth I ended up blurting out "I don't want to talk to you, stop talking to me'.  You might think, damn gal you are rude but I just wanted to talk to Kristy and I didn't have patience for poor small talk and ridiculous pick up lines.  This was actually one of the things on my list I was driving from.

So after alot of laughing about our night we headed back to Applejack.  It was probably sad the way I could spend all my time in this kombi but it felt like my little place of peace.  This was the first night on my trip that I not only shut the doors but also locked them and buttoned up all the curtains.  I think we even laughed about waking up and seeing a local, including a crocodile, poking their head through the hatch of the pop top.  It just felt like we were attracting annoying people?

While we were getting ourselves locked in we got to see more then we bargained for.  A group of drunk locals were walking along the path and one of the women in the group squatted behind the toilet which was in front of Applejack and peed.  Well tried to pee, she was so drunk that she struggled to get her undies off and then got up and struggled to get them back on.  We saw way too much but it was hilarious. 
It took me a little while to get to sleep and daylight woke us up with council workers in their trucks with reverse beeping and other awesome loud machinery.  I peeked through the curtain to check we weren't getting towed.  With the coast clear I dashed to the toilet where we had seen the show last night.  It just got even more amusing.  Have you all seen those stainless steel toilets that are a little box and you just wave your hand in front of everything for it to open, shut, roll and flush?  I always leave going to the toilet to the last minute so I had no time to spare I was on a mission or there would be an accident.  Jigging like I was in the "River Dance" crew I did a few laps around this very small building before finding a button for the door.  It slid open and what I thought was the most bizarre song for a toilet came on..."What the world needs now, is love, sweet love, that's the only thing, that there's just...too little of".  What the?  I also don't have the ability to laugh when busting to wee so I quickly sat down as I also heard on a speaker that I had a certain amount of time before the door would automatically open I think.  Farout, then I couldn't work out how to get the toilet paper.  Turns out it was a wave of the hand action as well.  I felt like I was in a sound-proof box but I yelled out to Kristy as she had to experience this.  I also wanted to know if the same song would play for her.

It was time to get off the esplanade and search Darwin some more.  Still without maps or any clue on where we were going we just drove.  We visited the jetty, wave pool and war museum before racing around the shopping centre grocery shopping to make a movie on time which I fell asleep in anyway.  I really should watch "Eat, Pray, Love" again.  Unable to swim in the beach at Darwin supposedly because crocodiles roamed the water I suggested we go to Litchfield National Park and meet the trio of treats again.  I was excited for Kristy to meet them so we beeped the horn on our way out of town and drove into heavy rain.  My Camps 5 Australia book was great to find my way to these camp sites but unfortunately it didn't warn me of the big ass hill ahead of me.  I was driving really slow because I couldn't see through the heavy rain, so when I hit the hill I knew I was in strife.  We tried to cheer Applejack on and I pressed his turbo button but it was too late we were half way up the hill when he stalled.  Trying to hill start on here was pointless I don't think the handbrake would even hold us and I couldn't hear the engine the rain was so heavy.  Kristy was nearly wetting herself laughing in the passenger seat so she was not helping as my legs started shaking from laughing as well.  We had to roll back down and get a run up.  It wasn't at all embarrassing when the car full of young people drove past us laughing.  ha  The whole situation really was hilarious and I look forward to getting my hands on the video footage Kristy took.

We were excited to see Gregg and Mish's vehicles in the camping sites.  It was beer time!

These were the only crazy crocodiles we saw at the beach but we still didn't risk swimming.

He wasn't going anywhere!

I can feel the humidity looking back at this picture.  It was bloody hot!

We played alot of guitar...I had to count myself down a few times before any words would come out.  I think I was just strumming myself in on this pic.  It took me awhile to sing out loud for the crew.

Dancin to Darwin....

I have to first say sorry to my followers for getting behind in my Dance of Happiness trip around Australia.  Between computer problems and the sun finally coming out in Victoria I haven't been able to update my posts.  But I will do my best to update you as quick as possible!
So I left Edith Falls, still travelling solo a week ago last year.  I cranked the speakers in Applejack and sung my little heart out all the way to Darwin where I was staying with my friend Renee for the night.  I have to say I was surprised at how much I enjoyed my own company!  I had needed a break and this trip which I can remember talking about wanting to do since High School was the best thing that I have experienced in my life.  I can't exactly remember what I thought about while driving on these very quiet roads but I do remember never feeling annoyed or upset.  Just complete happiness and peace.  When I think back to these days of driving, I smile to think about how happy I was considering how hot it was.  I'm talking 35-45 degrees everyday.  You will notice I had a headband on in all my pictures and this was to soak up the sweat.  I stuck to Applejack but for some reason even the feeling of dripping with sweat made me feel alive and I knew I was on the right road in life.

With Renee's address in a text message on my phone I made my way to her house for a cup of tea and a hug.  We couldn't remember the last time we had seen each other so we had a lot to catch up on but I was also desperate to buy a camera after mine got wet at Mataranka Thermal Pools.  Taking photos was one of my favourite things to do on the trip so I was feeling lost without it.
A little annoyed about having to fork out the extra money I drove into the big smoke of Darwin and finally found a Dick Smith.  I nearly wrote I was completely lost but I guess you can't be lost if you don't have a real destination.  I think it was all meant to be anyway, as I ended up with a great camera for a great price and a few free extras so I was stoked.

My catch up with Renee went to quick but she had to fly back to our hometown the next day so we hugged goodbye and I discovered Darwin alone again.  At some point I had to buy a dress for a wedding I was attending in Perth in November and knowing the next couple of weeks would be remote I searched for a shopping centre.  I can't describe how nice it was to relax in the air-conditioning for a while and randomly run into a familiar and friendly face of another friend from home, Fleur.
I had bought the few things I needed so I faced the heat again and took the advice of my friends Luke and Alicia from Perth and visited their good friends Craig and Angela.  I had never met these people before but it felt like we had known each other for years after introducing ourselves over a beer.  These two new friends then told me I should check out Darwin city and introduce myself to their friend who was working at Happy High Herbs for the night.  I thought why the hell not, I was having such a great time meeting people that I thought I should follow some more advice.  I ended up sitting with another stranger for a couple of hours, had a few herbal teas before going with her to see some of her friends and family.  I was loving Darwin and the locals!  She offered for us to park in her brothers street for the night but I knew I wouldn't be able to find it again after picking Kristy up from the airport at 1am.   I was lucky we were heading in the same direction otherwise Kristy would have been waiting awhile for me as I didn't have a GPS or any maps so I never really knew where I was going.

When I saw Kristy walk off the plane I got really excited.  It was time to run a muck on the Dance Of Happiness and first stop was back in the bright lights of Darwin!



This is where it began with Kristy.  She was already being a pain in the ass..excited but not letting me take her photo...it soon changed. haha



WAS IT A UFO? WAS IT A PLANE? OR WAS IT A MOSQUITO?

I had another random early morning wake up and quickly whacked Ryan in the head to show him the bright object flying across the sky above us.  I thought I had sighted a UFO at Edith Falls but we took a breath, sighed with disappointment and had a laugh when we heard the plane. We had dragged our beds under the stars to only end up getting eaten by mosquito's.  This was the first but as you will find out not the last time I spent the night out of Applejack but he was definitely the snuggest place to sleep!
It was hard to get back to sleep with the mosquito's buzzing round our heads and the sun beating down on us so we thought we'd freshen up in the water but I was too scared to even dip my toe in when I read the sign "no swimming before 7am"  with a crocodile snapping under it.  There was a tyre tube hanging on the post so we took turns in having a quick paddle in it.  I'm not sure why we thought this was going to save us from a crocodile but it was the only way I was getting in and admit it Ryan...you were scared too! ha
I didn't spend much time at Edith as I was excited to get to Darwin to see a long lost friend from my hometown of Theodore and my darling friend from Primary School had decided she too needed a break from normalcy so flew up from Melbourne. I had spent two weeks alone to clear my head and enjoy my own company but I was also feeling ready to have the company of my best friend who was not only easy going but also bloody hilarious!  We had a way of making an ordinary situation fun and funny.  I felt everyday was just getting better and I was meeting beautiful people and I looked forward to Kristy experiencing the same joy that she deserved in her life at that time. 
So although it was sad leaving the trio of treats again I arranged to meet them on our way out of Darwin but before heading across to Western Australia.




Looked croc infested to me at 6.30am...I would have felt alot safer if it was atleast 7am

  

Following my new mates to Edith Falls

Dancing UFO's

I was hesitant to lower the roof on Applejack in the morning at Daly Waters.  I wasn't ready to move on but I had a get to Darwin by Friday so I shook the feeling and focused on the good points.  Turned out my new friends were heading in the same direction so I warmed Applejack up and organised my music for the drive to Mataranka Thermal Pools, 100km south of Katherine.  Along the way I stopped at Larrimah to see the pink panther for a large statue photo opportunity.  I am kicking myself for not venturing into the zoo as I heard by the guys that it was the funniest zoo they have seen.  The place looked shut when I stopped by but that will teach me for not going to greater lengths. 
The drive to Mataranka was hot, humid and the scrub looked really dry.  I parked Applejack and nearly jogged to the Thermal Pools I was that keen for a swim.  I had no idea what they were going to look like and I felt like I was in a rainforest in North Queensland not the Northern Territory.  Boardwalks wound between massive green trees with bats hanging from the branches.  It was bizarre and beautiful.  I didn't question it too much I just ripped off my clothes and floated on my back gazing up at the little piece of paradise in the bush.  Mish and the boys weren't far behind so I floated a little longer.  I asked Ryan how Applejack was out the front and his response made me both laugh and realise I wasn't the only one that would be talking to Applejack on this trip.  He said "Oh Alyce he's pretty annoyed at you for leaving him out there in the heat."  I chuckled and said well I left him a carton of beer, I thought he'd be happy enough with that?"  He was part of the group and how could he not, kombi's have so much character!
We couldn't lay around here all day so I quickly had my usual lunch of tomatoes on saladas and followed the others to Katherine. 
I had a completely different vision of Katherine so when I arrived I had to blink a few times.  I can't go into detail tonight but we only spent a brief moment there before going straight up to Edith Falls to spend the night spotting UFO's.  You read right!  The week before we arrived there were UFO sightings reported so we got in on the action to.  Did we see any?  Well you'll just have to wait until tomorrow to find out....

Didgeridoo, Dog Blues and Daly Waters

I saluted the truckies on the wall of fame at the Three Ways Hotel then jumped in behind my own big steering wheel for another day of cruising.  It was just me and my big yellow kombi driving along the open road and I was HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY!  My finger pointed to Daly Waters Pub on the map and although it was only early morning I could taste the ice cold beer that was waiting for me.  I had heard good things about this little remote pub and when I arrived, I actually didn't know where to begin in this museum like stop.  I booked my camping site and popped the top.
I did what I did best.  Beer, swim and introduce myself to the locals.  I fell in love with Daly Waters straight away and even got offered a job.  I felt a small tinge of sadness that I wasn't able to say yes I'd love to stay!  Unfortunately, I only had three months before I had to go back to work in the Whitsundays and a big drive ahead of me.  Not letting it get me down I got a photo behind the bar for a laugh and what happened next was one of my most favourite meets of the trip. 
This is where I want to introduce into my Dance of Happiness, Mish, Gregg and Ryan.  I kept saying before I left that it would be nice to meet other travellers along the way to drive with and after meeting these folk I knew they were keepers.  They were down to earth Australians that made me laugh.  We agreed on a time to catch up for tea which then turned into a jam session with a guitar, didgeridoo and Gregg singin' the blues.  I laugh everytime I think of Gregg and Ryan singing.  Guys if you are reading this, I high five you.  You are champions, don't change!
So readers this is why I am glad I let my instinct guide me past the Barkley Homestead the day before, otherwise I would have missed out on meeting this trio of treats. 

Dancin to the border!

KNOWING the Northern Territory border was ahead of us when we left Mount Isa made my body skip a beat with joy.  I guess I felt it was a little accomplishment making it through Queensland, hassle free.  I remember this day being extremely hot yet driving up to this border sign was a man jogging.  I lined up Applejack with the sign for a photo and when I got out to say hi, I couldn't believe he wasn't even puffing.  He offered to take my pic and then just turned around and kept jogging.  I was only driving and I felt I looked like the camel on the Barkly Homestead door.   If you ever travel this stretch of road to the Three Ways in the NT, you have to stop at the Homestead.  Coldest, most delicious beer I have ever had!  I actually felt bad leaving Applejack outside here.  So after a few cold ones I sprawled out under a shady tree near him, waiting for his ass (engine) to cool down before trekking on to the Three Ways for the night.  At the time I kept thinking in my mind I should have stayed at the Homestead because it was so lovely but I was getting pulled to keep driving and lucky I did.  Sorry, I can't tell you why tonight, you will just have to keep following my blog to find out why!

Hello Isa and Friends

THE only thing I really had to think about on this adventure was where I should fuel up.  I may be known to be hopeless at fuelling up but lets all be honest here, it is a real pain in the behind.  Yes before I got applejack I ran out of fuel twice, but trust me I was actually on top of the fuelling up on this Australian trip and even carried spare fuel which for me is super organised.  Actually, deciding what cd to play was the most challenging thing I had to think about for the day and these songs were taking me to Mount Isa.  I said at the time I wasn't a fan of the Isa but looking back, this is where I met more great friends and speaking of fans, an industrial fan wouldn't have gone a stray when I drove into town with the temperature at 45 degrees.  I peeled myself off the seat in time to take a free underground mine tour which I'd like to give a big thanks to Dianna at Outback Queensland Tourism for organising.  Here I met a sweet old man that bought me a photo souvenir and pointed me in the best direction for a caravan park.  Applejack was in need for a rest due to the heat so I grabbed a cold one and went straight to the pool.  I quickly made friends with a beautiful country family whose generosity I will never forget.  Along with the fathers words "If it was my daughter travelling I'd want to know she was getting looked after".  Well they did just that.  A roast dinner, beer and introduction to the RACQ man who changed Apple's battery.  We exchanged numbers incase we were in the same area again and they waved me goodbye.  There was no way I could feel lonely when I kept meeting people like this.  I felt like I was going to bed everynight smiling and waking up the same.  I couldn't ask for more.  I was just so damn excited to see what the road had install for me each day!   



These young girls were amazing.  They had beautiful characters and were making the most out of their trip around Australia as a family.



Week One - Queensland to Northern Territory

THIS time last year I was just stepping out of a cold swimming pool at the Three Way Hotel in the Northern Territory.  It was night four of my adventure around Australia and I was loving life!  Applejack and I had only been together for just over two weeks but he had become my security blanket. 
Over the next three months on my blog I will take you on my journey of self discovery around Australia.

I was finally fulfilling a dream of:
1. Owning a kombi
2. Travelling around my gorgeous country in a kombi
3. Escaping society
4. Meeting like-minded people
5. Letting the wind blow all my unnecessary worries out the window
6. Picking up my best friend along the way to provide even more laughs
7. Introducing myself to Pearl Farmer Jamie..ha
8. Attending a wedding of one of the cutest couples I know
9. Making it across the Nullabor
10. Most of all completing a goal

I really didn't have many plans when I left the Whitsundays on October 1, 2010.  I know some friends and family were worried about me travelling Australia alone in such an old vehicle but after many friends saying "yeah I'd love to come" I had a feeling it would just be Apple and myself and to be honest it's exactly what I wanted and needed.
After a few drinks with friends in Townsville on the first night I thought I had managed to send the concerns away when a friend made a last minute, random and most probably drunk decision to join the drive to Darwin but unfortunately his work had other ideas.  So after a quick shop for food I was on the road by mid morning and still solo....
An hour out at Charters Towers I was already lifting the lid to the engine.  (Don't think I ever told dad about this hiccup) ha  The little mechanic in me kicked in and I connected the spare battery to wake Apple up and put him back on the road.   I had a laugh to myself and shook my head but I wasn't at all worried.  I felt free and I remember beeping the horn every time I passed a sign.  I will never forget the feeling of joy and relief that took over my body that day.
 When I arrived in Richmond mid afternoon I was really excited, after all I had made my first destination!
I made a quick fuel top up, booked into the caravan park which overlooked the lake, grabbed a  XXXX Summer and introduced myself to a family enjoying a ski.  Oh yeah this was the life.


A few yarns later, barbecue and another beer and I was calling it a night, ready for day two of my Dance of Happiness around Australia.



First time in a long time I was more then happy to wake up at 4am...what a sunrise :)