Our latest Adventure - Queensland 2012 (and the fun getting there).

Day 1 - Thursday 6th September - Adelaide to Swan Hill - By "Trudy" 
Planning for this trip had been in progress for a year so we were excited that the day had arrived to leave. Pulled the kids out of school at lunchtime Thursday to leave Adelaide in good time. Dropped our dog Rusty off at Murray Bridge to have his own holiday with Nana and Pa then we drove 4.5 hours to Swan Hill. Stayed the night with our friends Peter and Tracy Shadbolt. We had a fabulous night catching up with them, and their gracious teenagers played a game of Cluedo with our 3 kids. 

Heading off!

Ryan at the border

The Cluedo game with Jake, Ryan and Hope Shadbolt.

Day 2 - Friday 7th September - Swan Hill to Bathurst - By "Trudy" 
Breakfast with the Shadbolt family before their kids had to go to school and we hit the road early for a big day of travelling. Sad to say goodbye to this beautiful Christian family who just love life and are such an encouragement to others. We drove through Tooleybuc, Hay, West Wyalong (where we visited the bakery for lunch), Forbes and on to Parkes where we went to see the big satellite dish - will have to re watch the movie "The Dish". Drove on past Orange and through Bathurst to get to our friends the Jamieson's about 7pm. Was lovely to share a meal together and before long the 7 kids were all busy playing while Chris and I got to chat with Rob and Alice.

The lovely Shadbolt family

Another state border

Cotton Pick'in on the Hay plain!

The "Dish" at Parkes, also a great movie 

Day 3 - Saturday 8th September - Bathurst - By "Trudy" 
Had a relaxing day with the Jamieson's and Alice taught me a few healthy recipe's. We all went for a walk around their property after breakfast and the kids enjoyed climbing rocks in the creek. They taught us some new board games and in the afternoon we went for a drive around the Mount Panorama motor racing track in Bathurst. That was fantastic to get the perspective of how big the hill is for the car drivers. Ryan and Minko performed a brilliant magic show for us all after dinner with a range of tricks that had us confused! More board games and talking before bed.

Mikayla and Luka feeding ducks

Ryan, Micah, Luka, Mikayla, Amy, Moses and Minko at the creek

OK Ryan, who's going to win ?

Our Prado at the famous Bathurst finish line, after the hot lap

Day 4 - Sunday 9th September - Bathurst to Toowoomba - By "Trudy" 
We were up and ready to leave by 7am ready for a long day in the car - 11 hours of driving.
Was sad to say goodbye to the Jamieson family - really enjoyed our time together and will look forward to seeing each other at the next Growing Families conference. Drove through the cute little town of Sofala and on through Mudgee and Coolah (the town where I was born). I was so thrilled to recognize the road side letterbox and farm house where I lived up until the age of 2 along the road from Coolah to Binnaway. Drove through Coonabarabran and on to the Queensland border at Goondiwindi then made it to my brother Benjamin's house at Toowoomba by 6pm. Was great to see Benjamin, Elisa and their 3 excited boys Michael, Daniel, and Jonathon.

Amy and a great roadside postbox we loved.

Coolah, the town where Trudy was born.

Kids, beyond the famous "Black Stump"

Trudy's old letterbox at the farm where she lived until age 2.

Finally in Queensland

Ryan and Amy and their newest cousin Jonathan

Day 5 - Monday 10th September - Toowoomba with the Bradtkes - By "Trudy" 
We had a relaxing day in Toowoomba with the Bradtke's. The younger boy cousins enjoyed the attention of our 3 kids and walked everywhere hand in hand when we went to visit a Japanese garden and other beautiful gardens throughout the city. It was great for Ryan to have some piano lessons from his very talented uncle, who also entertained us in the park on a public piano.

Cousins at the Toowoomba Japanese Garden

Chris and Benjamin with Michael, Ryan, Amy, Daniel, Mikayla and Jonathan

Just some of the beautiful flowers in Toowoomba.

Amy and Daniel

Benjamin playing a public piano in the parklands

More updates to follow, and as always -  Take Care and Stay Warm !