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All in all a wonderful break!
We are a retail store in Central West New South Wales selling cameras, uhf radios, aerials, telescopes, binoculars,camping and fishing supplies, ammunition, archery supplies, scrapbooking supplies and gift and homeware - in fact we've got a little bit of everything. You can contct us on (02) 63421169 or email us at cowraphototronics@westnet.com.au or you can find us on Facebook abn 46 756 428 338 All product promoted on this blog is available through our business
Monday, December 29, 2014
after the day......
The build up to Christmas 2014 was hectic - just crazy....so we decided to postpone Christmas celebrations for the kids until New Year and we headed off to the most magical spot near Tumbarumba - the images speak for themselves - we did nothing, other than enjoy the company of new found friends Brett and Libby from Tumut and two families who were related to each other - one from Adelaide and the other from Holbrook - the crisp, clear water with camping right on the edge of the river was so restful. The countryside in the high country was picturesque, fresh and clean the township of Tumbarumba was quaint and busy. The Council obviously has their act together with forward thinking encouraging free camps in two spots within around 15klms of the town - the camp we stayed at "Paddy's River Flats" had up to 30 vans at any one time and all of these vans at some time during their stay went into town spending money keeping the economy turning over. There's something about this type of camping - everyone is in the same mindset...not in a hurry to get anywhere or do anything....there is no focus on anything other than enjoying the moment...there was no rush to Boxing Day Sales and consumerism, other than the latest gadget for your tent or caravan is not a concern. The older I get the more I enjoy it...leaving behind a house with four bedrooms and pulling a caravan around that once set up leaves me all day to do absolutely nothing!
We went for a drive to find the beautiful Paddy's River Falls....
Saturday, July 13, 2013
HEALESVILLE TO PHILLIP ISLAND
We have travelled through some of the most beautiful landscape over the past couple of days - landscape that I had never paid any attention to but from the absolutely gorgeous town of Healesville
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Healesville,_Victoria
through the Dandenong ranges http://www.experiencethedandenongs.com.au/
I had never given coming to these places a second thought but our travels have taken us through back roads and off the beaten track this time, through some of the most beautiful landscape we have ever experienced.
The highlight of my day yesterday was another tick from my bucket list - PUFFING BILLY at Belgrave in the Dandenong ranges - it was pure magic - the laughter of kids - adults and children with their bodies wrapped through barriers on the train carriages and their feet hanging over the sides - we were waiting for an OH&S officer to poke their head through and tell everyone to get behind the barriers but it didn't happen - it was such fun.............we took the one hour trip (two hours return) from Belgrave to Lakeside - I probably should have taken an extra layer of clothing and a sandwich and if I were to return with my grandkids I would be better prepared and take in the longer journey - everyone was so happy on the trip with smiles from one side of their face to the other. Like the tram ride at Portland, this project is community run by volunteers and there were masses of them - all dressed in their railway uniforms and our comment was 'what a way to spend your retirement years' bringing happiness to so many people - it was a beautiful experience.
And then Don surprised me....he set the navman to a place that I love...it is my birthday today and my present is a re-visit to the Penguin Parade on Phillip Island....
We have booked back in to the caravan park at Cowes - this caravan park is the only park that I know of that hasn't given away their prime spots to permanents! Our site is right on the Bay and the permanents are relegated to the back blocks - yeh! The Island is alive and Cowes is humming - the main street this morning was alive with people from Melbourne and other parts of Victoria who are on their last weekend of holidays before returning to school on Monday and yes....we drove out to the Penguin colony to book in for tonight - we have VIP tickets which entitle us to count the penguins with a ranger and we have front row seats to watch these little fellows emerge from the water to take up the overnight stay in their burrows - you truly must visit
http://www.visitphillipisland.com/listing/penguin-parade/
http://www.visitphillipisland.com/category/explore/destinations/cowes/
And so tomorrow?
We have Donna and her family returning to live in Canberra and we are starting our return trip home. We have travelled from one side of the country to the other and back again in under 6 weeks - it has been non-stop - we have seen some wonderful places and met some interesting people - we are still married despite several differences in opinions - we have come to the conclusion that there are caravan parks which are taking funds under false pretences and we have stayed at others that have exceeded our expectations - not in the facilities they provide but in the service and friendliness of their staff and the price they charge - our overnight stays on the Nullabor were enjoyable for me and there is no way known I would stay in some of the "motels" along that route -
I also believe that if caravan parks are to survive they have got to lift their game and cater for those of us - and it's the majority - in our age category who are travelling with our family pet - our little Millie is a part of our family and the income that is being lost by parks because they don't put in a leash free area or at least allow pets on leads is huge - free stays will become more prevalent and caravan parks will ask why they are not getting the custom.
It has been a relatively inexpensive holiday with our major expense obviously being fuel - the BT50 has performed beyond Don's expectations and he is happy with the fuel consumption. The van has been comfortable and the shower and the toilet ? Well how did people ever cope without them????
We both now feel more able to go back to our business and talk about our experience and advise regarding so many of the products we sell....it is an area of our business which Garth wishes to grow and expand and we are happy to support him with his dream. For those of you who have followed our journey from Day 1 - thank you for joining us on the journey and we look forward to serving you soon,
Cheers.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Healesville,_Victoria
through the Dandenong ranges http://www.experiencethedandenongs.com.au/
I had never given coming to these places a second thought but our travels have taken us through back roads and off the beaten track this time, through some of the most beautiful landscape we have ever experienced.
The highlight of my day yesterday was another tick from my bucket list - PUFFING BILLY at Belgrave in the Dandenong ranges - it was pure magic - the laughter of kids - adults and children with their bodies wrapped through barriers on the train carriages and their feet hanging over the sides - we were waiting for an OH&S officer to poke their head through and tell everyone to get behind the barriers but it didn't happen - it was such fun.............we took the one hour trip (two hours return) from Belgrave to Lakeside - I probably should have taken an extra layer of clothing and a sandwich and if I were to return with my grandkids I would be better prepared and take in the longer journey - everyone was so happy on the trip with smiles from one side of their face to the other. Like the tram ride at Portland, this project is community run by volunteers and there were masses of them - all dressed in their railway uniforms and our comment was 'what a way to spend your retirement years' bringing happiness to so many people - it was a beautiful experience.
And then Don surprised me....he set the navman to a place that I love...it is my birthday today and my present is a re-visit to the Penguin Parade on Phillip Island....
We have booked back in to the caravan park at Cowes - this caravan park is the only park that I know of that hasn't given away their prime spots to permanents! Our site is right on the Bay and the permanents are relegated to the back blocks - yeh! The Island is alive and Cowes is humming - the main street this morning was alive with people from Melbourne and other parts of Victoria who are on their last weekend of holidays before returning to school on Monday and yes....we drove out to the Penguin colony to book in for tonight - we have VIP tickets which entitle us to count the penguins with a ranger and we have front row seats to watch these little fellows emerge from the water to take up the overnight stay in their burrows - you truly must visit
http://www.visitphillipisland.com/listing/penguin-parade/
http://www.visitphillipisland.com/category/explore/destinations/cowes/
And so tomorrow?
We have Donna and her family returning to live in Canberra and we are starting our return trip home. We have travelled from one side of the country to the other and back again in under 6 weeks - it has been non-stop - we have seen some wonderful places and met some interesting people - we are still married despite several differences in opinions - we have come to the conclusion that there are caravan parks which are taking funds under false pretences and we have stayed at others that have exceeded our expectations - not in the facilities they provide but in the service and friendliness of their staff and the price they charge - our overnight stays on the Nullabor were enjoyable for me and there is no way known I would stay in some of the "motels" along that route -
I also believe that if caravan parks are to survive they have got to lift their game and cater for those of us - and it's the majority - in our age category who are travelling with our family pet - our little Millie is a part of our family and the income that is being lost by parks because they don't put in a leash free area or at least allow pets on leads is huge - free stays will become more prevalent and caravan parks will ask why they are not getting the custom.
It has been a relatively inexpensive holiday with our major expense obviously being fuel - the BT50 has performed beyond Don's expectations and he is happy with the fuel consumption. The van has been comfortable and the shower and the toilet ? Well how did people ever cope without them????
We both now feel more able to go back to our business and talk about our experience and advise regarding so many of the products we sell....it is an area of our business which Garth wishes to grow and expand and we are happy to support him with his dream. For those of you who have followed our journey from Day 1 - thank you for joining us on the journey and we look forward to serving you soon,
Cheers.
Friday, July 12, 2013
JULY 10 AND 11
DID YOU SAY COLD?????
This is what we woke to before we commenced our journey along the most amazing and beautiful coastline....
Beautiful Port Fairy
Contented cows everywhere....cheese factories...
Sending off photos......
And so on we travelled to stay overnight at Apollo Bay through huge gum trees forming canopies for us to drive through - more cows - green grass - so much water everywhere - caravan park was disappointing and overpriced....evening pasta at Illume - yummy....
then yesterday we travelled on and went to see the bushfire devastation around Whittlesea and King Lake - one can only imagine how it could have been with huge trees blackened still after four years but Mother Nature is a wonderful thing and greenery is prolific on the ground and re-growth forming on the trees - the view from the mountain top at King Lake looking back over the Melbourne skyline leaves me with no doubt as to why these residents have chosen this place as their home and why anyone, even after going through what they have gone through , would not wish to leave - it was stunning.....
And from there we travelled through to Healesville - what a lovely part of the world this is!
We arrived late and settled in to the Top Tourist Park which is about 3klm out of town on Don Road - the town is humming and there is a Beechworth Bakery here which will be checked out on our way out this morning to go to the Puffing Billy train at Belgrave - home soon......
Cheers
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