THE BIG HOORAH

So the time has finally come - The Big Adventure has arrived!
After an extremely long week of packing and last minute magyver moves from Michael we are finally ready to head off.  With lots of excitement and  a few tears the dream is here!
Who would have thought there was so much involved in getting away.  We decided to put the washing machine in the van to save Michael's back and fitted the battery and the fridge slide into the car.  We also ended up getting a generator for those off road trips.  I'm hoping that we'll be ready for anything this trip thows at us.  The kids are extremely excited and can't wait to see this beautiful country of ours.  Will miss you all heaps and look forward to keeping you up  to date.
So a big happy dance hoorah to you all!!

THE FINAL COUNTDOWN

Ahh!!  One week to go and we are busting with excitement.  Have finally packed and decided to put all our winter clothes in containers to store in the car and I generally packed enough clothes for a week.  There is limited space in the caravan so all the photos will be in the same clothes.  Don't worry I do wash!  So we have purchased 2.2kg Lemair washing machine and just deciding whether to fit it into the caravan or leave it in the back of the Navara.  So Michael might have to do a quickie magyver move, we'll see?

So the car is completely kitted out now, the chip is in to make it faster and the canopy completed.  The awning has been fitted to the roof racks for extra sun protection and the storage boxes have arrived from Melbourne.  So I think Michael has used up his xmas presents for the next 5yrs.  Drop him a line if you are interested in any of the gizmos, he will be more than happy to talk about any of it.  I know nothing about car stuff!!

We were talking about whether to get a tent for those national park trips, where I know the van will struggle!  So Michael and his best mate Andy went off to the camping show and well you know what happened!  Those boys were like little kids in a candy store, I think they would have slept there if they cauld.  So they came home with presents - yes a girls dream - a  METAL MATCH????  Mmmmm!  A dream pot, which  I was a bit excited about, so it requires no power and will be able to cook all day and keep food warm on those long drives.  And decided to go the 30 sec Oz tent. I'm not a camper I need my comforts and lets just say the excitement level of the tent is low, but Michael assures me the kids will love it.  He loved it so much he set it up in the lounge room!!!!

Thought I should take the van for a test drive, god forbid anything should happen to Michael, and girls it's not as hard as it looks.  I did survive it, felt like waving to everyone on the road, yes a chic can drive a beast.  So with little  cooking for the trip and some final packing we are getting close.  Next week - ROMA HERE WE COME!!!

THE 3 KIDS

Hi my name is Phoebe I am nearly 7 years old and I am really excited about our trip. I like drawing and riding my bike.  While we are away it is my birthday and I was really lucky I got my ears pierced before our big trip!   I am looking forward to seeing animals and seeing snow and I really want to see crocodiles snapping!  I'm going to miss my friends and my teacher Mrs.Igoe but I will send you all post cards.

My name is Spencer and I am 9 in July, I like riding my bike and my skateboard and of course my DSI!  I'm excited about seeing crocodiles,snow and going into mines.  I really want to see Sydney and see the Opera House and Taronga Park Zoo!  I'm excited about missing school (sorry Mrs Cunningham) but am going to miss all my friends.  I know you're all jealous but I'll email you.

Hello my name is Scarlett and I am 4 in May and I like drawing and painting and playing dolls and cuddling Mum and Dad.  I want to see horsies and zebras????  I'm really going to miss my kindy friends and my teachers, but I think they are going to come with us.

3 WEEKS TO GO!!

Well it's been a couple of weeks and starting to realise how much stuff we still need to do. The kids are getting really excited now,  don't think they even realise that the easter bunny is coming soon!!  Well with all this rain around have had to change our trip a bit,  so sorry Charleville we won't be able to get to you this time around.  So still going anti clockwise and heading straight to Roma.  Trying to catch up with everyone before we head off to the great unknown, going to miss everyone terribly, but a good excuse to have a few drinks.

I'm up to the packing and well with the space restrictions, I'm a bit worried, the whole shoe debacle!!!Sure I'll just get to the point where it doesn't matter.  Also trying to make a little recipe book with some easy family friendly recipes - that macca's run cauld get a bit expensive after 6 months!!  Just kidding.  So with the grandparents all skyped up and Michael has done a magiver with wiring the rear camera onto the caravan and car, which he was very pleased with himself, we are nearly there.  Thought we had better purchase a dvd player for the kids for those long outback drives, don't worry teachers I will be throwing some maths problems and school work into the drives.

So trying to get  as many surfs in as possble,  don't think we will be able to pack the surf boards on the trip and well my pink board is as big as a canoe so something has to give.  So with under 3 weeks to go hope I haven't bored you all too much...later!!

THE BEGINNING

Hi, we are the Wood family Tam (the mum), Michael (the dad), Spencer (the big 8 1/2yr old), Phoebe (the gorgeous 7yr old) and Scarlett (the spirited 3 1/2yr old)!  We are from Brisbane and have talked about "going around Australia" LOTS!!!  So now we are actully doing it!  We have a Jayco Expanda and going to take the adventure into the great unknown for 6 mths.  So here we are, closed the family business, got the house looked after (thanks Kathryn and Pete), organised schooling and away we go.  Yes we have had a comment here and there "are you crazy with 3 kids, you'll be alcohlics" and "How are you going to live in a caravan for 6mths, you'll kill one another" Well I'm sure we are going to find out!  So with 5 weeks to go, journey mapped out, caravan serviced and ready, Nissan Navara pimped up, 1st aid course done, flu shots, dentist, bills paid, school stuff sorted and a million other things to do.  But getting there!
COUNTDOWN ON!!  Keep you posted.