Finke River-2010

Lake Hart Wildflowers - 2010

Horsham - the river has been all but dry the last 3 trips south, this was the day the floods came down, half the town were down at the weir to see all the water!

Well I certainly enjoyed my holiday away with Clancy and Connor, it was sorely needed I can tell you!

I enjoyed my first day off just trying to relax, then got on the road on the Thursday, had to then do the bit down to Cadney Park a bit quick as I had to meet a man with an airplane but I do that stretch so often anyway!

As the trip went on I was really becoming more and more certain that I want to get on the road next year for at least a year if not a lot longer! Taking things much slower and possibly doing some work on the way around too.

Both boys enjoyed the trip, I was so proud of them as they both behaved really well too, and I could see and 'feel' young Connor growing in confidence almost every day.

Every trip away one meets wonderful and interesting people, this trip was no exception. The friendly couple who got everyone talking in the rest area at Finke, the young man heading north to Arnhem Land to visit a mate who has a Whippet at home in Horsham and works in Public Housing down there (I work in Public Housing in NT), the lovely locals in the South West corner of the Adelaide parklands living in very expensive housing but not batting an eyelid at me being there in my motorhome, the 86 yr old lady in Horsham CP who lives there permanantly with her old Cocker Spaniel who refused to be moved even though the floods were coming down....and so many others too.

This is The Finke River, we had never seen it this wet before!

...and this is us on the dry bit

(well, we are Whippets) onto

a really good smell!

Monday 30.08.2010 - Heading further South.

Our next stop was at Lake Hart where we have stopped before just for short breaks, this time though we got there in the early afternoon and having shared a spot of lunch we all rugged up and went off for a long walk on the Lake edge, it was wonderful, so many smells, so many things to roll in, so much space for really big Whippet Wizzies! We walked for about 2 and a half hours or so and we all want to go back and do a day hike there on our way South next year.

Before we started our walk we checked with the people in the big caravan and made sure someone else was going to be staying the night so it did not matter that we were gone so long. When we got back Annie made us wash behind our ears 'coz we had rolled in so much smelly stuff - that was a bit of a downer, people are funny they put smelly stuff behind their ears and on their wrists then they get upset when we dogs do the same sort of thing....have not worked that one out yet.

The next morning we rove in some very strong winds down to Pt Augusta, we fuelled up, had morning tea, did some dinner shopping, and Annie went to see the man in the 4WD garage close to where we parked to see if he knew where there might be a caravan repair place as we had noticed a strip across the front of the roof was lifting off, we had also heard the weather report and it was going to be very wet and very windy in the days ahead.

The nice man, who incidentally made a great fuss of Connor and I as he has friends with Whippets, said he could fix the roof for us. So Annie took us for a ramble around Pt Augusta and when we got back to the 4WD shop it was all fixed, new weather strip,sealed underneath all the way along and new screws that are longer than the original ones - all for the princely sum of $50.00 cash. Annie thanked the nice man very profusely as she had been expecting about $200.00 or so.

We drove out of town and decided to splash out on a CP for the night, staying at Port Germain, where we could empty our toilet in the morning and fill up the water tanks too.

Got to have another rather nice trot around before bed with the promise of a big run in the morning.

Some sharing type fisho's gave Annie some fresh fish for tea so that was rather good as she is a sharing type special person!

In the morning we had a long run out to the end of the jetty and back, then we went and did our household chores before heading off. We drove down to the footy oval at Mallalla where one can camp for free, expecting to have a nice quiet night, little did we know that it had been The Balaclava Cup that day and there was a big dinner on at the Club rooms! Never mind we were right over the other side in the designated camp spot.

Wednesday 1st September

Wet and Windy, still we could not stay at the football grounds all day, so we ventured off to Gawler first, when we got there it had stopped raining so we got to enjoy a good walk at one of the 2 great parks in Gawler, then we went off in search of a nice spot for morning coffee but because of the weather Connor and I got left in the H.on.W, none of the places with outside seating were sheltered enough!

After this we stopped off at an enormous shopping centre for Annie to get a couple of items, she cam out and found we had a flat battery-lucky for us the SA version of the AANT man came out and fixed it for us so we then headed in to Adelaide. The Royal Adelaide Show was starting on Friday, which was also Whippet day. We know from previous visits that if you want to be in Adelaide early am the choice is to get up and into town before the sparrows get up to beat the traffic or (much better option) go in the night before and park in one of 2-3 quite legal parking areas where, as long as one does not look as though one is camping and one is self contained, one can park overnight.

Thursday was spent going to the Adelaide markets where we got food that would make even Timmy and Skye's mouths water, going to the Charm Shop to get a Whippet charm but they did not have any, having coffee out at a lovely place on Hutt Street that welcomes customers with 4 paws, and just lounging in our H.on.W reading and listening to music...quite a pleasant way to spend the day, in the late afternoon between rain showers we had a great run on what used to be Victoria Park Race Course where we met a few of the locals, Connor and I always like meeting and greeting.

The day of the show was actually the worst yet, a really big storm like we have in Darwin, but COLD, lots of thunder and lightening too. Annie went off to the show and got drenched right through all her clothes so the poor thing came back coughing and spluttering all over the place, we spent the rest of the day trying to get her warm again.

The Saturday was not much better but we did get to go and visit a few friends in the suburbs, by Sunday the worst of the weather had passed over and Annie made the decision to take me to the OT at Port Adelaide, I was not going too badly until the 2 stewards came running into the ring as they had missed their cue to take up their positions for my Figure 8, they had big warm coats on and to tell the truth scared me, after that I went to pieces.

After our part in the trial was over we drove out of Adelaide and got down to Keith CP for the night, bit more expensive than what Annie usually pays but we had just had 4 free nights so hang the expense! There was a laundry, really good showers, water and dump point here so all was at hand, which made it better value than at first it seemed.

This is our spot while we are travelling, we have a nice bed to stretch out on and a pillow for our weary little Whippet heads to rest upon.

26.08.2010 - thursday and we are off on our holidays in the new to us H.on.W. This is us all comfy on the back seat/bed with a nice cushion between us for resting our weary little Whippet heads when we get tired!

Annie finished working on Tuesday but spent yesterday doing other stuff, resting (must have been living with Whippets for too long!) and baking some yummies for the trip!

We got away today at about 11.30 or so and took a slow ride down to Pine Creek where we had a lovely leg stretch and Annie had a cuppa, we then drove on to Katherine and filled up with fuel but did not stop longer than that, instead we headed down to the rest area known as Warloch Ponds. Some nice people to talk to and make a fuss of us.

Plenty of room there too and fairly quiet, so we did not have too bad a sleep although it was a bit stuffy, our little fan saved us though.

In the morning we got up nice and early and headed off in the cool, we had a run at Daly River but did not go up to the Pub, we pushed on and we were making such good time that we got to Tennant Creek in daylight, had a quick run, filled up again and spent the night at Devils Marbles so we had walkies pm and again am. It was also a lot cooler and far more conducive to sleeping for us all.

The next day we got on the road early again and got past the bit Annie does not like much and had a play at Ti Tree but decided that rather than pay for the CP at Ti Tree or Aileron we push on and see how far we could get, In Alice we were very sad to discover that our favourite cafe that served food with a distictly Central Australian almost Bush Tucker flavour had been sold and was now a Noodle House and, to make matters even worse no longer allowed dogs to sit at the outside tables. Needless to say Annie did not eat there!

She then thought we could camp at the Showgrounds but as soon as we got near she realised that we would not be doing that either as it was the week-end of the 10th Anniversary of the Transport Hall of fame and the Showgrounds were packed, we could not even stop there for a run like we usually do. In the end we went down to Finke rest area which had been sort of extended as some of the fence had been removed - there were lots of vehicles there and as we found a spot a friendly lady called out for us to get parked, bring a chair and a drink over and join the mob!...and bring your dogs too! That sounded all right to us.

We had a lovely night, shared tea and music and a glass of red (well Annie had that, we didn't of course). Annie and I have camped here before but we have never it looking so pretty, there was still a fair amount of water in the Finke, lots of greenery and the sand was dampish and cool, our morning run was just wonderfull, loads of smells some of which I just could not make out at all. There was a dingo sharing the morning with us, he kept well back but was keen to sniff all the places we had been.

Once we had enjoyed this lovely walk and had Annie had another cuppa we headed South again, we did some training at Marla as they have a little Oval of sorts, we both did nice work and scored a lot of treats but I am so bored with this Obediance stuff really. We then drove down to Cadney Park where there is a roadhouse, a cattle station, a landing strip and friends with an airplane. We camped at the Station paddock overnight and in the morning we got a horrible shock - Annie gave us a run and our breakfast and then said 'see you later boys I'm going flying for a while and you have to stay here'.

We could not belive that she would just abandon us like that.....but then a nice lady came and gave us each a big bone and lots of pats and said she would keep coming back to talk to us (which she did) and before we knew it Annie had come back and more than half the day had gone by.

Not long after Annie had left us all alone (except for the nice bone lady) we saw an airplane take off, our Annie was in it. Now I had to have a serious talk with her about that, what would have happened to us if you had crashed or something I asked? She said we would have been taken care of, now what does that mean I ask you? eh? Not good enough I think. Anyway, it seems she flew off to see some silly old Lake in flood, I mean we have just come from Darwin where we see lots of stuff being flooded each wet season, but she was quite excited about it all.

Connor and I did forgive her quite soon after that, well it was tea time after all and we were so very very pleased to have her back with us!

I have been somewhat rude in not introducing you all to Carlin before now, Carlin is my big brother Black Labrador, he is an elderley gentleman nowadays and not very well but he taught me so much good stuff like how to tell which rubbish bins have the best tucker, how to 'retrieve' things and even how to swim. Carlin and I took Annie all down the coast of WA back in 2006! We had a lot of adventures together, even being puppynapped, gulp gulp that was very scary for both of us....Carlin does not come on big trips any more as he doesn't see well now but we still all walk together 2-3 times a week and he is still my big brother!

Ooooh, only 1 more sleep in the boring (stays in one place) house then 1 sleep in our new H.on.W but in our garden....and then we are on the road for 5 weeks and a bit! We are two very excited little Whippets.

Connor is so looking forward to seeing his sister and his Whippet mummy and 1st Mum again that I am sure he will spend most of the trip woofing 'are we there yet?' at Annie and me.

Annie has lots of stuff to do tomorrow, the first day of her holidays - we have still got to fill water tanks, and Annie said a very scary thing this evening, she said she was not sure that the fridge was working....gave me a fright I can tell you. So Annie will have to try and get it working for the trip or we will all starve.

We have lots of stuff in the van now and some pictures up too so it is starting to look like our home, we just need some more Whippet photos and maybe a throw rug for us too.

I did a obediance trial last Saturday - well I did about the first 2-3 minutes at least, before my nose got the best of me, again.....Annie was fairly cross with me this time, she said I didn't even try, I did try, I looked everywhere for all them tasty morsels over by the BBQ's....she didn't mean that I'd say, by her expression.

In fact she was so miffed that when we got home she walked Connor and me, fed us and then went out to tea on her own.

Never mind by the next morning she loved me again and we had a good Sunday!

I had better leave this blog for now so she can get her beauty sleep for her busy day ahead tomorrow, Connor is already asleep.

I should have some good tales to share when we are out on the road!

I know I know, I have been very slack in doing my blog thing, we have been having so many nice long runs that I come home and all we want to do is crash on Annies bed, (see example above).

Connor has been showing off but he didn't get any more ribbons, I did an obediance trial last night, I got good marks for my stand for examination, recall, change of position and stays but while I was doing my heel work we swung around the figure 8 person and my nose was pointing straight at the tree where Annie had let me lift a leg before I went into the ring, and I remembered there had been some biscuits on the ground there (tiny teddies, to which I am rather partial) and I forgot myself and raced over to see how many I could gobble down before Annie realised I wasn't heeling with her any more....not many as it turned out...she called me and I raced back to her (people outside the ring were heard to say 'what an impressive recall') and we went on with our work out, of course I had sort of blown it but we went on...I lost some more points for not going right down on my tummy for all the 'drops' whilst we were heeling too, that really confused the Judge lady coz she said at the end how was it I could do such a good drop in change of position exersize but not in the heeling?

The stays were a terrible temptation coz I kept tasting them tiny teddies all the way through and glanced over to where they were on a couple of occasions, just to make sure no one else had found them!

This morning we went to the park for brunch after first training with Loki and Freya, all went very well and Annie did a lot of work on my drops, I have a feeling I will be doing quite a few of them this week! At brunch I blotted my copybook and snapped at Kodi the GSD puppy, I am all over puppies right now.

Connor thought he was great fun though, they played and played.

we are both rather tired again now and taking advantage of the fan over Annies bed again.

show off week-end coming up!

We have to go to bed soon coz Annie is taking us to the beach early tomorrow morning, we are exhausted from going up and down the stairs here whilst Annie was putting everything she owns (which is a lot of basically useless stuff) and the litte that we own (priceless soft toys and squeaky toys) into our new H.on.W.

She has nearly done it I think, that is to say that if she hasn't she had better get rid of some of her stuff! the next challange will be if she can remember where she has put it all, that should provide Connor and I with hours of fun just watching her pack and unpack all the cupboards! Just as long as she never forgets where our food is stored.

Tomorrow night Connor is going to show off again, he is filling out and starting to look a lot more matured so maybe the judges will like him tomorrow night.

On Sunday Annie is having brunch out in town at a really nice coffee shop at the museum, well it is sort of nice except for a silly no dogs ruling - when will these people learn? I think she intends to meet up with some of the CMCA peoples in the evening as well, no doubt we will get a good run in between times though.

Next week will be good as she only has to go to work (please excuse the foul language) for 4 days as Friday is a holiday in Darwin, yeeha!

We have also been planning our shakedown trip in the H.on.W, it is having a trip to the car vet next week, then Annie wants to put it's new name up 'Pawsaroundoz' so that we can take it's photo for the Forum. There's not much else to do then but enjoy our new home for 5 weeks and 3 days on the road, we love being on the road.

We will try and get some photos tomorrow.

Hallo again, bit of a slow week, we did train this morning but nobody came to see how good and clever I was...and our posh poodle friend didn't come to play either, shame that as I rather enjoyed playing with her...perhaps she will come next week?
We spent most of the day helping Annie put our things in the new H.on.W, and decide where to put stuff.
Annie also made the table fit better and fixed up the spot where the microwave was so as we can use the space for important stuff like the doggy treat box, you know REALLY important things like that.
Next week will be a bit more exciting I think - there is a double dog show on Saturday night, sadly that usually means we both have a bath but on the up side it means socialising with all the visitors here for the NT Royal circuit too.
Annie didn't put Connor in the Royal but we have about 4 shows to do, then about 3 or 4 OT's for me...if she ever gets her act together and puts the entries in!
Mr Blake is coming on Wednesday to stay for 2 weeks, he is a friend of Bob's, he likes dogs and used to have a Black Labrador like Carlin, Annie and Carlin have met him before, in Mt Isa.