Time flies with a Toddler

It’s been a while between posts, 2 years in fact. Our little girl Eleven is now speeding towards turning 3 and it’s safe to say it’s been quite a busy time.

The most important event in that time would have to be our wedding in New Zealand in December last year. That trip wasn’t uneventful as far as accessiblity went, kicking off with getting stranded at Wellington airport in the wee hours of the morning with no wheelchair taxis on duty. This was a bit of an eye opener for my sister Karen who hadn’t traveled with me before. I ended up in a patient transfer van with the ambulance service, and Eleven got to ride in an ambulance with her aunty.

We traveled across the straight once again on the ferry as the wedding was to be held on the beach at Whenuanui Bay in the Marlborough Sounds which is where Jess’s family own a very special ‘bach’ or holiday home that’s been passed down through the generations. We kept it small and just had a couple of my closest family members - my sister and my adult daughter Courtney, and Jess’s immediate family, aunties and uncles.

Jess came walking down the beach with her Mum and Dad and holding Eleven who got the swing of throwing the rose petals as they walked. My sister Karen did the bulk of the food, with her background in catering she did an incredible job and we had a spectacular lunchtime picnic. It was truly a magical day for us.

Although we were unable to stay at the bach due to there being no accessible bathroom, we had a great unit with an incredible view over the water in Waikawa, a 20 minute drive away. We had a few hiccups in registering a car that I’d shipped from Melbourne so we instead had to hire a car in Wellington - which then had a ceiling that was too low for me to travel in comfortably.

We enjoyed Eleven’s 2nd birthday with my family in Caloundra, again renting our favourite unit at La Promenade overlooking the river.

Back here in Darwin I’ve been busy finishing up a Cert IV in Community Services at Charles Darwin University, giving school talks with NDS re life with disability and encouraging kids to think about the disability sector for a career pathway, and working to establish some more supports here depending on getting some funding.

I’ve also been volunteering with a local disability advocacy organisation called IDA, and even found myself a board member. I’ve currently got my fingers crossed for some funding to be approved so we can have more impact here in the NT.

In other news… I’ve modeled in a fashion show, been fixing up a 1963 Combi Van, found a regular Saturday market job looking after the bouncy castle, and kept improving the house and section.

Jess has been back at uni studying Visual Arts and is enjoying getting involved with the arts community here slowly and is particularly impressed with me at the moment as I just helped her create a studio space here at home.

I’m hoping to do a bit more of this blogging thing, so let me know what you want to know about…

The Epic Road Trip v2

We've packed up once again and hit the road. This time with a 9 month old baby. We underestimated how much extra luggage would be required! Oh and Jess's father Willie is tagging along this time. Add the dog into the equation and we're a full house in the Chrysler and the 6x4 trailer is chockablock.

2017 has been a big year. We've had the usual crew up to help with renos over the dry, including our now proud-as-punch Tigers fan Jonesy. The property is looking amazing, just gotta pray the house doesn't turn to a mould-fest while we're away over the wet season.

Big George our labourer took off a few weeks back and has set up shop in Yeppoon, our first destination in Queensland (after the compulsory overnighters on the way over). Have missed having my 'hands and feet' around but now Willie is stepping up to the mark for the next few weeks.

Jess has been getting back into her drawing and is currently working on a portrait of my late brother-in-law that I'm excited to give to my sister next week. 

Before we left home I made a new seat for Eleven to go onto the front of my wheelchair with parts from a pram toddler seat stand attachment.  People love it, it's amazing how many conversations it's started.

We reached the Queensland coast a couple of weeks back, we stayed a few days at a caravan park just out of Yeppoon, then in a cabin on the beach at Agnes Water, and now we're in an apartment just down from the beach in Hervey Bay. 

We are winding down and loving our time together as a family. It's good to get out on the beach with the wind on the face, getting sand in everything, and I'm really enjoying fanging with Eleven on my lap or in her seat up front.

As I did last time I've stopped in at a couple of Men's Sheds. They've come to my rescue here in Hervey Bay with making some ramps to make our apartment (safely) accessible for me - a big improvement on the improvised paver tile ramps we initially had. 

Roadside picnics

Wind got my hat!

Got a push through soft sand

As we travel I'm planning on catching up with a few bennies along the way as we head south to Tasmania (Boof we're looking forward to some amazing smoked meat) via Brisbane (Cory hope to see you real soon), Canberra (Scottie B will hopefully show us around), and Melbourne (another Echuca local is at the rehab) with a trip out to Geelong (Mark from Geelong who's wanting to modify his excavator). Then onto Rendelsham in SA (Seagull has made his holiday home accessible for me so we get to test it out), Millicent (Speedie have you got that room set up for me yet?!) and back home to Darwin eventually – some time next year.

A fellow Darwin benny Alan sadly passed away recently following a battle with a superbug, our love goes out to his friends and family.  

Destination Darwin

We have arrived at our destination; our new home in Darwin! Yep we made it.

Leaving Adelaide we traveled along the Flinders Ranges on our way to our first stop Port Augusta. We stayed at the Shoreline caravan park, Jes thought the cabin was dated but it suited my needs.  The interest the croc  is attracting is amazing with one fella wanting to buy it.

This croc surely has made us the most photographed vehicle on the Stuart Highway in 2016

Up early and 600kms to travel to our next stay Coober Pedy, it's a pretty barren drive but we stop at Pimba and Glendambo and start our sticker collection for my toy hauler I'm towing up. Coober Pedy is a real example of anti social behavior in and around town going out of a night is not an option. We stay at a cabin at the Big 4 caravan park (Stuart Ranges Outback Resort) a little out of town and is a grouse place to stay with a little band playing away at the pizza bar next to reception. Refreshed from a good nights sleep and more travel today we head into town for the morning market, after chatting to many different characters it was sadly time to hit the road..

The Stuart Highway sticker haul on the toy hauler

Another 600 kms today as we head for Alice Springs with Marla and kulgera stop at it is a pretty easy drive apart from the road trains and caravaners everywhere. It's Saturday night and Jess has been great so we decide to unwind with a couple of nights at the casino and relax and sit around the pool jess or gambling macca. It's a very luxurious place and is just what we need.

Monday morning we head for Tennant Creek traveling the Stuart Highway the countryside is stunning  as it changes all the time, we stop at Ti Tree, Barrow creek , Wycliffe Well and Wauchope for coffee and stickers and arrive at the motel about 5pm. We have tea at the restaurant and get a good nights sleep. We head into town and meet a few fellas and one particular bloke had me in tears as he told me the struggles of isolated life and his time in the war and how some locals treat him and three other diggers - a fair dinkum tear jerker. I had a couple of frozen crayfish with me and gave them for him and his mates to enjoy.

Crays caught in South Australia that made their way to an old digger in Tennant Creek

Daly Waters here we come - 400 kms until I can have a beer at the oldest pub in Australia. We collect stickers at Renner springs, Elliott, Dunmarra to name a few.  Temperatures have changed dramatically since Coober Pedy 18 degrees to Daly Waters 33 degrees, ah feeling better already. We book at the Highway Inn and enjoy the night.

Darwin and our new home at Howard springs are 600kms away it's a very easy drive with Mataranka and Katherine to enjoy with rivers flowing because of recent rains.

Although we did have our new toy hauler with us, it was so jam-packed with stuff and it was first of all too cold, then too hot and we don't have air con or heaters sorted in there yet, so we opted to find accommodation along the way. Below is a few pics of places we stayed, reviews on these to come.

My initiation into Darwin life has been one of going shirtless and shoe-less, and pouring water over my head in attempts to prevent myself from overheating (quads have no body temperature regulation).

Jess has also been struggling to adjust to the heat but her real initiation has involved the wildlife in her nightly trips out to the outdoor bathroom. This morning the squeals were due to a giant grasshopper perching on the shower curtain (a google search just showed this is actually a thing) and a green tree frog hiding under, and then refusing to get off the toilet seat.

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There's going to be steep learning curve I think in terms of life in the tropical north. We just learnt today there's a scary disease you can catch from mossie bites... any other stuff we should know fellow Territorians?!

We've spent our first few days cleaning, unpacking, buying up furniture and home stuff, and exploring the neighbourhood... and we'll likely remain busy doing all of that for a few weeks as well as tidying up the property and house improvements... luckily I love to work myself hard, and Jess is a goer too, when not snoozing the afternoon away!

The plan at this stage is to spend the next few months in Darwin, and see how we go in the wet season, with perhaps a trip south in the new year. Let us know if you're coming up for a break, and tell any locals WE HAVE ARRIVED!

On the Road Again!

Yes we are officially on the road again after a few months in Echuca working on business matters, renovating a new southern base, refitting a toy hauler (aka caravan), and packing up my old house. It's been a super busy time but still squeezed in some trips down to Melbourne to check in with some of the newbies at Royal Talbot spinal ward.

We got on the road finally last Thursday and we spent our first few days in south eastern South Australia at my mate Seagull's holiday home in Rendelsham. I've got a few old mates down there as I lived there in my 20s and played in the local footy team. Below are some pics from a stormy day out at Beachport pier.

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We had a day out at the races for the Mount Gambier Cup and enjoyed some luck coming our way, including meeting a fellow benny there - Trevor Palmer - who is a good bloke and gave us some top tips for Adelaide hotels.

Chatting with Trevor at the races

Trevor's Fave Adelaide Hotels:

1. The Stanford Plaza
2. Mercure Grosvenor Hotel
3. Riviera

We tried the Stanford, but they didn't have great availability, and were a tad on the pricey side for the nights they did have available. The Mercure ummed and ahhed, had to move some guests out of our room (that had no need of an accessible bathroom), but came through with a good rate and all five nights available.

We've enjoyed our stay here, although we were disappointed to find there's no wheelchair access to the breakfast buffet - heartbroken! We did have the option of room service however which proved helpful. It is a good central place to be (opposite the casino!), with secure basement parking (we will write a thorough review and post soon).

Our room at Mercure Grosvenor Hotel

In the past I've spent a lot of time doing volunteer work for Paraquad SA so there were a fair few catch-ups over the past few days in Adelaide including contacts at the spinal rehab as well as personal friends. Sadly didn't get to meet any newbies, but hope to be connected with some people that have been through recently and returned to the NT.

We will be hitting the road and heading north to Darwin tomorrow - Thursday 19th May - with our newly renovated toy hauler (rear-opening caravan) and a whole load of our stuff bound for a new life in Darwin as it gets cold down here in the south.

The setup - snow-skiing croc and all - we've had a few looks and piccies taken of us!

If you're along the way and want us to drop in give a shout, we're always keen to meet new people and get some local tips. We'll be taking it easy this trip and doing it over a week or so - whereas I normally aim to make it in 3 days.

Wish us safe travels.

Macca out.

Tasmania Travels - getting lucky in Hobart

Our final days in Hobart consisted of enjoying the harbour views, solid time with the bennies and Peg (an upright mate I used to play footy with in Waaia in Victoria) and his missus Chrissie before heading to Launceston to see some old mates from rehab.

Peg, me, and Boof in front of the Grand Chancellor Hobart

We stayed at the Grand Chancellor in Hobart for three nights, lapping up the 5 star luxury, which ended up being paid for in the winnings off the roulette wheel at the Casino - my numbers 33 and 35 came through for me again. For the full report on the hotel room take a look at the review blog post... did I mention it had an AAAAAAAMMMAAYYZZZIIINNNGG view over the harbour... you'd pay 4 figures a night in Sydney for a view like that!

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Whilst there we visited the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery which was right across the road - check out the pics below of the pretty groovy sculptural ramp come courtyard seating. We didn't have enough time to have a good look around but what we saw was really interesting.

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We also called into the Maritime Museum of Tasmania where we were greeted by ol' mate x 3 - they finished off our look around with some entertaining stories (even if they did have a tendency of repeating themselves!). Fantastic access here and a lift is going in to open up the second level of the building.

On our drive up from Hobart we stopped into say goodbye to Boof and he recommended we take the turnoff to Ross for a stopover... and we were glad he did.... Ross is one lovely old town and I even bumped into my mate Bruce from the cigarette shop in Echuca there! It boasts the third oldest bridge still in use in Australia - a sandstone number constructed by the convicts in 1936.  There's many lovely old buildings down tree-lined streets- including the old barracks for the soldiers - throw in a great bakery, and a fantastic antique shop or two and this is one town I was happy to have discovered. No antique finds for me, but I enjoyed the process of looking! 

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Then on up the highway to Launie...