Our Story

Week One - Casino Motorhome Park.

Tuesday, 6th November 2007

We're not going anywhere yet, but our new van was towed by the dealer to the Casino CMCA Motorhome Village, and we are living in it while we wait to get our own tow vehicle. Got a lot of sorting out to do, trying to put our stuff in the van, and put it where we can find it again. There is an amazing amount of storage space in this Sundance. It is one of its great features.

Friday, 10th November 2007

We are getting better organized now. Been looking around Casino for bits and pieces we need. There are very few major retail chains here, as it is only 20 minutes to Lismore where all the big name stores are. Along with a lot of small stores, there is a Bi-Lo and a Woolworths supermarket, but neither stock the full lines. It was refreshing to find a hardware store here that actually had service! Lyn was checking out hairdressers, but they were not very cheap. We have noticed that prices here all seem quite high for everything. We have not yet found a good fruit and vegetable shop. All we have been to so far seem to be very expensive. We are planning on visiting the "Channon" market on Sunday if it's fine, so we might get some good stuff there.

Sunday, 11th November 2007

We have had rain every day since we arrived. Not heavy rain, mainly overcast and drizzle. Had our first real problem this morning. The Toilet blocked up. Took 5 hours and a lot of mess to clear. I think the cause of the problem was the way we were emptying the black tank, so going to try a new system of water control and see how that goes. Now I have cleared it once, it will be much quicker to do it if it happens again. Up until this happened, I was saying that the toilet was really great. Worked brilliantly and was comfortable to use. I still like it, just got to learn how to make it keep working perfectly.
With the toilet problem and the ongoing rain showers, we did not get to the "Channon" market. Oh well, next month!

Monday, 12th November 2007

Rain seems to be finally clearing. We were able to go for a morning walk, once I had unblocked the toilet again. Only took 5 min's this time. We'll get it sorted out. Where we had our house, we were on tank water only, so we became very conscious of water use. It seems we are not flushing enough water into the system to keep things moving.
They're developing a retirement village on the site at Casino as well. We walked thru parts of it, admiring some of the beautiful gardens. The photo on the left is one Lyn really liked.
Most of the houses had RV's parked alongside them, with most allotments having a driveway down each side - one for the car, and one for the van or bus. Went into a display home, and Lyn loved it. Very nicely done, but not for us at this time.
We had the first nice sunset since we have got here. Took some photos, but they weren't very great when I downloaded them.

Tuesday, 13th November 2007

Woke up to a perfect sunny day. After an early morning walk, we had a very quiet day. Bit of shopping. Bit of cooking.

Wednesday, 14th November 2007

Today was a busy day for us. Spent the morning in Lismore trying to sort out some temporary work to get some money flowing in, but ended up quite disillusioned in many ways. On the way back to Casino, decided we would chase some old contacts and get back into selling things at weekend markets. Our chosen item is fridge magnets. Always been a good seller for us in the past, and we know where to get a good range. You need to sell a lot to make it work because they are so cheap, but the cheap price does mean they sell quickly.

Got back to the van to find we still had toilet trouble. Drove back to Lismore to the plumbing supply place and finally found a rubber coupling that would fit the American size pipes we had, and enable me to cut the pipe - find out what was wrong - and join it back together. Got out the hacksaw and cut through the toilet pipe and found a great heap of undissolved toilet paper. The paper we had been using was obviously not suitable for the system. Cleared out the mess, and refitted the pipe with the new coupling. Toilet flushed really good once again. Looks like this problem is now solved - thank goodness!

The photo shows the clever rubber sleeve in place.

Thursday, 15th November 2007

Left early for the Gold Coast to sort out supplies to sell at the market. Saw lots of good things other than magnets, so loaded up the car with some windchimes and little nic-nacs as well. Lyn picked out several large cat ornaments that she liked, and we bought them too, on the provision that she can have them IF they don't sell. Called into the Gold Coast Isuzu truck dealer and was pleasantly surprised with their price on the truck we are looking to get. They are going to call us with an accurate price with all the extras like hitch fitting.
The contrast in weather was quite noticeable between the coast and here at Casino, which is inland a bit. The coast was quite humid, but when we got home, it was really quite pleasant. When we are away, we do leave the air conditioner set to come on if it does get hot in the van so the cat will be OK. Saw a little pool of water by the drain, so it had come on sometime.
Have new neighbours on one side tonight. A small "A" van arrived. There has been a lot of movement at the park in general over the last few days.

Friday, 16th November 2007

Weather really starting to heat up now. Went early to Lismore with a list of things to get for our market stall. Started well, and had most of our list within half and hour, then things slowed right down. Shop after shop, and just could not find exactly what we wanted. Lyn got very sick of it, so went back to casino for dinner and a break.
After snacks, I went back to Lismore alone, and had another attempt to find a suitable market table. Just could not find the perfect one. Most were far too heavy, or the wrong size. Some of the light ones were too wobbley, or too low. Also called into a couple of places looking for some part time work.

Saturday, 17th November 2007

Another early shopping trip. After more checking around Lismore, went on to Balina where we finally found some tables...Yeah!!! We've now got enough for Sunday, except a folding chair for Lyn. Sorted out the stock we were going to take, and printed up some price lables. Packed all the stuff in the car and we were ready for our first market in many years.
There have been quite a few new arrivals in the park today. Lyn was talking to a couple from Victoria who are having a house built in the park. They have only been here a week, and just love the place.

Sunday, 18th November 2007

Up at 5.00am, and off to Lismore. Got the first vacant stall, and set up for the first time. Had no way of hanging the windchimes, so made do with what we could display. Colours of our cloth was just wrong. Nothing to do now, so we set out what we could, and then waited, and waited. By 2.00pm, the market was dying, and we had taken just enough to cover our market site rent. Oh well - it was a day out I suppose!

Monday, 19th November 2007

Must be getting too old because today we rested. It was a long day yesterday.

Tuesday, 20th November 2007

First thing got a bit of timber and a couple of bolts and made the toilet more secure and with less wibbley wobbley motions. Then installed a small holder on the bed head. Got some good news on the tow vehicle, and it looks like we may have it before Christmas. Also got a call for a job. Got an appointment for 9.00 tomorrow.
Two lots of mail arrived. Mainly bills. The cash is dropping at an alarming rate, but one consolation is the DJ BOBO DVD I ordered from Europe arrived.

Wednesday, 21th November 2007

Zebbie the cat has learned a new trick. She can now open the mirrored wardrobe doors near the bed. We don't leave them tightly latched to make it easy for us, but it is also easy for her too. I suggested we just let her nest there out of the way, but there was a loud cry of NO from Lyn.
Had a days work in a TV repair shop in Lismore today, and with a bit more to come. The money will come in handy, but won't begin to see it for a couple of weeks though.
Also got the total price of the new truck we intend to get, and it was good. Have placed a hold on it subject to finance, and my brother-in-law, Joe, is going to see how long the tray builders will take, considering it is getting close to their Christmas shutdown. Should know tomorrow night how long the whole thing will take.

Thursday, 22th November 2007

Spent the day fixing TVs in Lismore. Lyn was not too happy being home alone all day, and it was pretty hot which made it worse by the time I got back.

Friday, 23th November 2007

Worked again in Lismore all day, but since the weather was much better, Lyn had a better day - thank goodness!
Finally was able to contact the market orgamisers we had chosen for the weekend. One had no space left, and the other wanted $40 for a site on the oval. Considering our stock, it just wasn't worth paying that amount, so no markets this weekend
Zebbie the cat is really settled in the van. In fact she is getting too content, and just putting on weight. She eats like a horse now and lines up to try and get more. We hardly ever throw out uneaten cat food now.
More good news too about our truck. Seems like we might have it much sooner than we expected, so the travels can really start.
While talking to another camper, found a supplier of Decor rubber roof sealant in Brisbane, so have put off installing the solar panels until we can go to Brizzie and get some. The same place has some of the big wheel chocks we also would like. Also on the lookout for some "don't overtake turning vehicle" signs for the back of the van. Got to get all this stuff sorted quickly now.
Another task is to flush the fresh water tank again. Need it all clean and working well before we leave here.

Saturday, 24th November 2007

Went shopping for bathroom fittings in Casino and then Lismore. Finally settled on some wood with gold trim ones. When we got them back home they actually matched the interior of the Sundance quite well. Soon fitted them up, so now we have a towel rail, ring and toilet roll holder. Also found a small digital clock to fit above the bed. Photo is the new towel ring fitted where the latch for the sliding privacy curtain used to be. (Since there is only us two, we will never use the curtain, and we still have the sliding door between the bedroom and living area if we want.

I've also noticed a leak around the bottom of the toilet itself. Looks like it is still not sealing properly. Got to look for a new foam seal ring I think.

Funny thing about RVers - They are always talking about toilets, toilet paper, and dumping black water. When you have a complete self- contained living system, like an RV, you are involved in all aspects of operating and maintaining it. Things other people rarely, if ever, have to concern themselves about become your daily fare. It presents an interesting challenge to understand all the systems and to keep them running as perfectly as possible.

Sunday, 25th November 2007

We went to the Yamba market as spectators this morning. Drove down the valley flood plain thru Coraki. It is a great road being very flat. Coraki itself had a really nice riverside van park - quiet and you really could not get closer to the river without a house boat. Went on thru Woodburn and then down the pacific highway to Yamba. Yamba itself reminded both us of Byron Bay - seemed to have a lot of Sydney people there, and a lot of "trendy" and "beautiful" people. We were glad we did not do the market. We would have done very poorly there. The picture is of a part of the market.

We left there and went to the closeby town of Maclean. This was much more to our liking being smaller and with a much more "local" attitude compared to the "tourist" feel of Yamba. Maclean was originally settled by Scottish people, and all the power poles are painted with different tartans, like the one to the left.

Started back toward Ballina, and went across the Harwood lift bridge. Then past the Broadwater sugar mill, though it really felt like the highway went through the mill itself, as it was in the process of spreading over to both sides of the road. Passing through the town of Woodburn, we saw a great sight on the bank of the river, alongside the road. A clever artist had fashioned animals and people in a lovely wild garden setting. There were things hidden waiting to be found right up in tree branches and behind bushes. It was very cleverly done, and quite easy to miss, as the road is busy, narrow and there is nowhere easy to turn to go back. I found a good turning spot at the speed camera installation, so if you are near the speed camera, you are just about there.

Balina was the next stop as we wanted to exchange one of the tables we got for the market last week, then back home to Casino as lyn wanted to do some washing before it got too late.

Monday, 26th November 2007

Another day fixing TV's in Lismore.

Tuesday, 27th November 2007

Yet another day fixing TV's in Lismore. then back home to Casino as lyn wanted to do some washing before it got too late.

Wednesday, 28th November 2007

Off to Brisbane to buy some bits for the van. Went straight to Coast to Coast in Meadowbrook, and bough a couple of tubes of Dicor rubber roof sealant, and some large wheel chocks. Then on to Marsden shopping centre where we used to have a shop. Caught up with friends there, and had a haircut too. Had to go to Rocklea to the truck suppliers to get the "Don't overtake turning vehicle" signs.
W hile in the area, we also chased around and found a place where we could both have a complete skin cancer check without an apointment. It had been 12 years since our last one. All was well too.

Came back via Mt lindsay Highway, through our old area of Jimboomba. I was really staggered at the changes in just a few months. Huge areas being cleared for the four lane highway extensions, and also around Jimboomba township, where it looks like a huge housing estate is being created. That was one thing about Brisbane - there is always something happening and changing.