At 6.15 yesterday morning I left my camp spot at Leaping Frog. Lazy Frog. Leaning Frog. Something Frog.. It seems to be a theme leaving camp spots at dawn. The night before, due to feeling a little anxious, parked alone at the side of the road miles from anywhere and without phone reception, I drove on and pulled into the Lagoon camp ground. It was dark, about 8pm and I couldn’t see the spaces so stopped somewhere flat and then left super early after photographing the sunrise. I wish I didn’t feel a bit scared at times - but sometimes I just do. After leaving the Frog campground at the crack of dawn I set off for wineglass bay on Coles Bay Rd. I nervously drove the Mouse House up the steep road to the lighthouse, thankful that I was still very early and no traffic to be seen on that steep, winding and narrow road. Once there, I strolled, with camera around my neck, the loop path that led me to fantastic views of the mountain and Wineglass Bay. With baited breath I drove back down and into town for a coffee. The lovely woman at Géographie made me the best coffee I have had so far in Tasmania (maybe anywhere come to think of it). With my coffee in hand (well not literally course) I headed to River and Rocks campground where I met a lovely group of campers. A smiling guy called Pete assured me I wouldn’t get bogged in the very soft looking grey sand. ‘If you do, he said, I’ll pull you out’. That’s the 2nd lovely little group so far this week. The other little group was a foursome of delightful young ’hippies’ at the Bay of Fires - a truly spectacular place. I helped myself to four hugs from them and then invited them to my little house for a cup of tea…where I had three more hugs from the three that arrived for tea. I’ve been missing hugs a bit. At River and Rocks I went for a couple of walks and then, in my van worked on this blog episode. 'A night or two here and then I’ll continue my southbound journey towards Cygnet and my day in the veggie garden with Nadia. I’m looking forward to that.' Well that's what I thought. When I'm driving my van it seems like a car and when i'm in the back it is my house so really it's two places in one. The car bit is Lucy, the house bit is The Mouse House. 😊 Well, I didn’t manage a night or two at River and Rocks. It was getting really busy Dogs, canoes, booze and a party atmosphere ensued and it just wasn’t the place for me. Which bit you ask? Well mainly the dirtiness. I don’t like dirt. I don’t like feeling grubby and I don’t like my van to be dirty. I don’t go home after a grubby weekend and clean the tent/van. This is my home! and…. there was a long drop toilet that required a gas mask to use. I don’t have to use such a disgusting thing as I have the Airhead composting loo in my van but when I heard, ‘if the wind changes you’ll certainly smell it’. Enough! I’m out of there! I'd come from 6 days in two stunning campsites at the Bay of Fires before all this. The bay of Fires in the Nth East of Tasmania. Yes, the rocks really are huge and if not red then definitely orange. My poor swollen and sore knee suffered again from all the many hours of scrambling, creeping, crawling, crouching and kneeling to get these photographs… Slideshow below Before that? I was on my way to there from Gravelly Beach beside the Tamar river. I camped there for 3 days and was taken on a little excursion by Pete who I met while mooching on my bike. Would you believe it?? When I camped at Bay of Fires I met someone who knew Pete. That has happened twice now. I met Mike in Rosebury, west coast, who knew Cagey, from Arthur River, the brilliant and generous fella who fitted an exhaust pipe to my diesel heater muffler - either one was never fitted or if one was, it fell off and I had a distinctly whiffy smell of diesel whenever I started the heater. Only two degrees of separation on this little island! Before Bay of Fire I stopped briefly at a waterfall or two, a cheese making place where the cows decided when they wanted to be milked. They did get a tasty snack and a back scratch each time so perhaps that was the incentive. I wonder who I'll meet next who knows Danielle, the lovely young woman I chatted to for ages. We had both studied Outdoor Recreation and she was working in the field as a tour guide. We shared cups of tea and enjoyed a waterfall walk together. I forget where it was - a place I was going to camp the night but a very noisy woman, who had set up her tent and was yelling at her dog all the time put us both off and we parted ways, going in opposite directions. The slideshow below shows my journey over to the east coast. The roads, the waterfalls, the cold and misty lookout. Personally I love the Highland cow I spotted and had enough room to pull over and photograph. That's one thing about Tassie, there isn't room on the roads to pull over very often. and before that..... I was in Sheffield for the 2nd time. This time for the Medieval Festival. I particularly wanted to photograph the jousting and I think I did capture some pretty good images. There I met Lisa and Darell and their magnificent (original) war horse, S’Calibur, a rare and beautiful Friesian stead. A gentle giant. I also met Lady Catherine who rode magnificently on her horse Kit When the Knights and Lady riders are all trussed up in the various layers of armour, chainmail and helmets they weight an extra 30+kg. At the end of the tournament, the knights and horses go over to the watching crowd and take a bow. Another slide show (below) of the Sheffield Medieval Festival...there was even a fireworks display n the Saturday night. And now, I am back at 'The Pondering Frog', for the second d time, with time, and quiet and internet, to actually finish this blog episode. I'm in the cafe at the moment and listening to Lester helping folk out with info on what to see, where to go. I'll talk to him myself before I move on. I saw baby goats being born at The pondering Frog. Four hours after birth they were frolicking around. Wish our kids were that independent and take it so well when mum's had enough and pushes them away. Over Brekky I met Smoker, Hiside and Lure, bikers travelling tassie and then back over to Adelaide they said. They sure were loaded up on those bikes. Nice guys 🙂 And now, with time to reflect a little bit (and after a delicious brekky at the Frog) here are some things that I really love about living in the Mouse House….
What I would like (that I don’t have just yet)… Accessible storage for my cameras and chargers, batteries etc. I’m thinking underneath my little bookshelf might work well. Perhaps I could make that myself. That’s it for now. Clare x For more of my photography do go to https://www.redbubble.com/people/colinsart
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I've seen a little bit of the west coast of Tasmania in the past couple of weeks. After my lovely week long stay at Arthur River I backtracked a bit and then headed south towards Strahan, the furthest I could go on the west coast. I've travelled through small towns, historic towns, friendly towns, soggy places, amazing rainforests and past huge dams. I've climbed up and down mountains in the trusty Fiat, staying comfortably inside the Mouse House, I've even hiked further than I should have around Dove Lake at Cradle Mountain (and suffered the consequences with a very sore and swollen knee) Once you are on a track to somewhere you are on it!! See the Youtube clip below.
Back to Strahan. I didn't enjoy my night in the caravan park there - the only choice I had. Rather too noisy for me. Kids seem to enjoy themselves though! But... while I was there, I unfolded the bike and went for a nice longe ride along the esplanade. I even rode to a waterfall in the rainforest there. Before Strahan there was Rosebury and Zeehan. With the good fortune of meeting Mike and having a fellow traveller, I had two good nights camping, with a fire, in remote spots. Great starry sky and no noise at all. Thanks for sharing Mike😊 After a good night's sleep I was back on the road. I de-toured to have a look at Murchison Dam. I'm so glad I did it was quite magnificent. Forgive me if things are a bit out of order of not actually correct. I have seen so much! Somewhere along the road I met Harold. I stopped to photograph some sheep and ended up chatting for a while....quite a while as it turned out he invited me in for a 'cuppa. 'How long have you been here?', I asked. 'I still sleep in the room I was born in', was his reply. I looked at pictures with him. I looked at his old shingle roofed sheds, his magnificent draft horse Daisy and heard stories from the last 80 years! Here are some photographs from my stop with 80 year old Harold. I think this may have been somewhere near Irish town...... maybe! Mike and I bumped into each other again in Zeehan, an amazing place with stunning old buildings and a lot of history. It seems the west coast towns only exist because of mining in the 1800s. One thing I do have to tell you about Zeehan is the there is a great little cafe on the edge of town called Pittstop Cafe. The coffee is good the ambiance wonderful but the best thing is the friendliness of Sue and her husband Ian. They were both so very helpful. Thanks for the air in my tyres and water in my tank Ian. Here are some photographs of Zeehan, one of the soggiest places I have ever been to - it rains 3.5m of rain per annum. The vans are parked fairly close to Zeehan for another quiet camping night.
I think that's about it for this newsletter. All I can add for you now is the images I took while driving. Needles to say I couldn't take photos while drive hairpin bends! My knee is much better so I'm ready to move again. I'm off to Sheffield to photograph this weekend's Medieval Festival, Enjoy the ride, Clare If you no longer wish to receive these ramblings please let me know.
Comments are always nice, lets me know someone actually reads these blogs 😊 iPhone images from Boat Harbour - North west Tasmania (remember, the best camera you have is the one you have on you!) I spent a wonderful 4 days at Boat Harbour, north west Tasmania, and was lucky enough to have a perfect day for photography when the sea was calm, when the water was a ‘stained glass’ azure. Everyone I met there was friendly, except for the knobheads that felt an irresistible urge to kick my little sculpture of found objects into the sea. ‘They're not from Tassie', said a passing lady who saw it. I rebuilt the sculpture and many others loved it. Some even took photos! More people are joining the ‘vancamerawoman’ blog every week and to answer a couple of their questions..... How much did the Mouse House cost? A van build will cost whatever you have to spend on one. I sold my house to have my tiny house in a van so I possibly spent more than others would if they were occasional travellers. I knew what I wanted and chose to go with the best I could afford in most things like the solar system, the stove/oven, the compost loo, the insulation, the rain sensor vent, the large skylight, the HW system etc. You can have it all, or you can have a bed and a bucket. To answer this question definitively is very difficult. Write a list of things you’d like to have, find out how much those things would cost and then find a builder if you cannot do it all yourself. Add it all up. Can you afford it? If not - reduce something. I will say though, if you are spending a lot on your van, the insulation and hard fittings like stove and compost loo, don't skimp on the light switches or the cabinet fittings. These may seem like little things but they can be a bit annoying when they don't work properly. Why am I doing it - living and travelling in a tiny house in a van? Why no house in the ‘burbs’ with endless hot water on tap and electricity to run a big fridge, washing machine and every other ‘thing’? Because..... How do you ‘really’ see the places I am seeing without going to them, sitting still a while, walking around, chatting to locals...If you don’t go? How do you relax without worrying about what is happening ‘at home’? Easy. Take your home with you. Take clothes for all seasons, food for all ‘fancies’, cookware and utensils for all whims - or a ‘fat wallet’ and take the chance on buying all your meals but watch out for ‘rumbly tummies’. If this happens to you cut out all dairy for 5 days. Eat brown rice with soy sauce (it’s nice). Eat a banana if you can find a ripe one and eat steamed veggies...no butter of course. I’m doing this because I am an artist, a photographic artist, who really does love to spend my time with my art. I can take photographs and then edit (or turn some into masterpieces) in my van...anywhere. It’s lovely to look out on a different view as I work. I’m also doing this to see what living ‘off grid’ with a tiny footprint is really like.
Photographs (slide show) from the 'real' cameras 🤗 My top 10 tips for vandwelling.... 1. To see the best of a place.....Go in the opposite direction from most others. Go to Tassie in the Spring or Autumn, far fewer people travelling and the chances of getting a great camp spot with views is much more likely. The sun still shines - ok the breeze is a little cool but with the right range of clothing you’ll have it covered! You won’t have to wait so long for anything - the chairlift, coffee, parking spot. It just makes sense doesn’t it? 2. Talk to the folk in the information centre. They really are full of local knowledge and are very friendly and helpful too. Many thanks especially to Mel, at the Arthur Pieman conservation area info centre. I learnt a lot and really enjoyed your company Mel. 3. Talk... if you want to but take the quiet if that’s what you would rather have. (Photographers and artists like to be immersed in trancelike states at times). Go for walks by yourself. See what you want to see. Take as long as you like. If you have a (folding) bicycle, get it out, meander along flat country roads - not necessarily a cardio workout - just for pleasure. 4. Have a craft or some art supplies with you. I have copper wire and fiddle about with little sculptures of ‘found’ objects’. Maybe take a little instrument too. Have fun. 5. Join ‘Borrow Box’ at your local library (if they have it) before you head off. When you have a little bit of wifi you can download books and audio books. I’ve read some great books on the road. I also have some movies and watching one can be nice on a rainy evening. 6. Avoid the news on radio, tv and papers. Constant re-enforcement of bad news can’t be good for the ‘wandering’ soul. Someone (or everyone) will tell you if you need to know something important. 7. Avoid social media. Too time consuming and really, do you need to know every detail about so many people’s life? Stick with one group that ‘lifts’ you, that makes you feel good. 8. Keep in touch with one really good friend or family member - someone you can chat to fairly regularly. Do this and you won’t feel isolated or lonely. 9. Don’t forget to wash! If you don’t have a shower, or access to one, or you are using yours for extra storage space, a bucket bath is fine. Wash behind your ears, between your toes and all the bits in between. Stay clean! Smell nice. Feel good 😊 10. Don’t get cold. Have more bedding than you think you’ll need. You can always sleep on top of it! Remember tip 1 Think ahead a little bit but don’t plan too much. ‘The best laid plans of mice and men will oft times go astray’. Remember that one? Springtime in North West Tasmania, beautiful!~ Everyone I have met here in Tassie so far has been really lovely - friendly and helpful. Here's a friendly Hi to Brett and Rowena who I met by the river yesterday and also 'hello' to the very helpful man who this morning was up for a friendly chat too. And to the trout fisherman... I hope you caught a trout or two today. Images from the Road - many taken from a moving car 😎
click on one and you can scroll through larger views. Enjoy, Clare on my origami bicycle. I do love mooching along roads without any traffic. Because I am taking so many lovely photographs I would like to invite you to relax, take a virtual driver's seat and see what I see as I travel. This first group of photographs were all taken in the last week and on an iPhone 6. I started this leg of the journey at Lake Carcoer, near Blaney, NSW and travelled a short distance onto The Etamooga Pub (where I thought I might stop but didn't) and then onto a small remote camp spot where I unfolded the bike and explored the country lanes. Then, the next morning, leaving early because rain and a muddy field may have meant getting bogged again, I drove onto Bethanga, a wee little village near Lake Hume. With a delightful friend, who kindly acted as sight seeing driver and guide, I enjoyed coffee by the river...the big one that runs through Albury/Woodonga and a quick wander through the railway station in Albury with it's super long station. I saw Lake Hume and Yackandandah (where the plants don't smoke and recycled toweling cloths are used instead of paper towels in the bathroom). I saw Mt Buffalo and the snow, stopping at the ski shop for a demo on how to fit the 'you must carry' tyre chains. Luckily we didn't need them. It was lovely on the mountain. Quite warm really if you are wearing longjohns under ski pants! Watching the children toboggan was a real joy. Crunching in the snow brought back memories of when I was a kid. That squeaky/crunchy noise is still the same! On the way home we stopped at Beechworth to admire the river and then stopped again at a little winery to enjoy a few tasty sips and a delicious platter of food as the sun set. It was a long day! The next day, in Albury, by the river and the community wood fired oven, Julia and I watched and listenend to Mathew Evens, The Gourmet Farmer (SBS) and co-owner of Fat Pig Farm in Tasmania. He's a nice guy, funny and friendly. The weather, warm at noon soon became chilly - the gourmet tastings were good little belly warmers though. After Albury I headed into Melbourne...right in! I took my favourite camera to the camera Clinic in Collingwood for a sensor clean. That was an interesting drive which, without the calm voice of my Apple maps co-pilot, could have been a bit hairy. At least in the big white van I can see - and be seen 🙂 They were really kind and helpful at the camera clinic. A good experience. I did choose, however, not to drive back into the city to pick the camera up when it was ready and instead found Zoom2U who can deliver within a couple of hours. 5 stars there too. After 2 nights at the lovely Big 4 tourist park in Coburg and the delivery of my camera, I droved out towards Barwon Heads and am now parked beside a big blue bus and a small aircraft runway - very close to Lake Connewarre where the Black Swans are nesting. I even saw two wild deer. These photos are pretty much in that order. Enjoy! There are loads more of course...on the other 3 cameras! So much to see when travelling in a Mouse House These are some images from small country towns along the Olympic Highway I have decided to amalgamate the images, learnings and musings into one simple blog story. Hope you like that idea too. Clare - heading over to Tassie on Sunday ...and just kept on going. How thoughtful? I've driven a little way. From Dorrigo to Blaney where I am now. Actually with this update I am now parked in Wombat!! I've driven a couple of hours from Carcoer dfam where I perched for 3 nights. The roads have been pretty good, some quite steep stretches with fantastic views. I have stopped to take photos but mainly I've snapped one or 2 as I drive with the iPhone - just so you can see what I have been seeing. Sometimes a co-pilot would be good! Enjoy the slide show of pics below, Clare While I was in Oberon, parked outside Jenn’s place, not only did I meet crazy Bella, the young pup, but I was taken to Jenolan Caves. A lovely drive from Oberon and I have to say I had the best chicken noodle soup for lunch there. All about food? Yes - sometimes it just is! These wind turbines suppply electricity to 500 homes in the Blaney shire. Up early this morning I took photos of the rising sun, the mist over the dam and the huge power generating windmills. Then I enjoyed the best ever breakfast of champions, delicious scrambled eggs (cheese and onion) on toasted bagels - all bought at the Oberon Farmers market - and fresh espresso coffee made right here in the Mouse House. Does life get any better? So now here I am with a nice hot cup of tea, sunshine pouring through the leadlight windows, listening to Mark Knoffler (thanks Hugh), scratching down some thoughts ready for the next Vanblog when I have Internet.
New photos from this leg of the journey are in the 'Photos from the Road' section. Some of them are on RedBubble. There is a link on the home page. Enjoy 😊 I might drive on today as it's really blustery here at the dam today. Next stop?? Not sure. PS...The sleeping bag is fantastic (so far). Wide and warm PPS.. Michael fixed the fridge plug problem in Mudgee - even if I did have to drive there twice! .... for my new 100cm wide, all cotton, with removable liner, sleeping bag to arrive. it will be so much easier to make my bed. And that's what it's all about in The Mouse House. Make things easy so that life can really be enjoyed. Simply! Yesterday and the day before I read books ..from beginning to end! What a luxury that is. I have joined 'Borrow Box', which is available through the library and allows me to download 5 audio and 5 digital books at a time. Perfect for someone like me who doesn't have room for many books inside the van. When the sleeping bag arrives I'll be off. Mudgee first to say hello to Michael and Emma, then on to Oberon. After that I'll mooch my way over to Albury where I have booked a lunch/talk with Mathew Evans of 'Fat Pig Farm' at the Writer's Festival. That will be excellent and I have a question if the opportunity arises. Has he really left the 'fast lane'? He seems incredibly busy to me. Unlike me who is wandering around with camera, pottering occasionally in my brother's veggie gardens, cooking, listening to music and reading. I don't have a TV and haven't missed it at all in fact until now I haven't even thought aout it. I have my favourite DVDs and can watch them on my Big Screen.
Did I just hear you say, 'what's a gimbal?' Well in this instance it's a hand held stabiliser for iphone or camera. Useful for making little films that are not jumpy or jerky. The above filming is my first attempt at using one. I've already been one month in the Mighty Mouse House and I'm looking forward to reviewing it with Michel and Emma from Roamingwildcampers in a week or so. Together we can go over what's amazing, what's brilliant, what I love to pieces and what lets the draft in, what I kick when i'm in bed, what squeaks and what could do with some sound deadening. Overall I am extremely pleased with my van. I like the way it looks and the way it all works. Today I made the chair I'm sitting on now nice and secure for traveling and it looks good too! Doesn't it fit just perfectly? I tell you, the best thing ever is a cordless drill. So very handy for so many little jobs. Helen and Bruce came to visit and see the Mouse House. I thik they were rather surprised that all 3 of us could be in here at the same time. They declined a cup of tea but couldn't decline a home made biscuit.
Yes, the oven works really well. Gas 4 is abut 180 deg on an electric oven. That's all I really need to know isn't it? On Friday the Mouse and I are heading over to Valla to visit some friends, pat puppies and share a meal. Shortly after that I'll be meandering down to Oberon (via Mudgee) to visit another friend and then over to Albury and Yackandandah to visit a couple more. Then on the 15th September the Mouse and I will drive onto the ferry for Tasmania. How long I'll be away only time will tell. I'm booked on the ferry to return on the 15th December. Life is good 😊 I've lived in the Mouse House for 2 weeks now and it's my home. It feels comfortable and it's exactly how I had imagined, how I had pictured it during all those months of planning, drawing, messaging, talking. It all came together well. This is a quick look around the Mouse House as it is now. I have to say how lovely it's been having you with me as I journey from home owner/veggie garden grower to minimalist photographer living in a van. Hidden behind the white sliding door I'm typing away while sitting on the fridge box seat with the laptop on the slide out table. I'm listening to Cat Stevens, playing through the bluetooth speaker, singing along, making typing mistakes 🙃 Who would have thought this would be my reality back in March? What is Michael doing? I'm sure there are times when the van build seems to go on forever for the 'van builders'. I'm sure there were challenges - new things to work out to 'have a go' at, things they've never done before but are wiling to try. I'm sure that every van build is a journey for the builders too - especially when they have someone like me as a client. I knew what I wanted, I'd done the research but I didn't know what was really involved in the execution of my ideas, so I definitely take off my hat to the young couple Emma and Michael of roamingwildcampers.com Thanks Michael and Emma. Friends I hope - not just the van builders that I happen to choose. There are so many things I am noticing that I absolutely love so what's a broken knob or step when you are friends? Easily sorted. Emma was right about curtains on the little leadlight windows...that would have been a good thing. Any of that navy material left for two little sets of curtains Em?😊 Here's a little collection of pics taken by Michael in Mudgee and me here in Dorrigo. You can tell the ones taken by me...the van has that 'lived-in' look. (click on the first and it will enlarge and you can go through them all) Things you buy when you have a van!I needed to be on 'blocks' where I am now, to be level, so I bought some blocks, (suitable for 5,000kg the advertisement said) and tried them. Here's the result. Busted! I buy most things on eBay because I am nowhere near big shops that sell what I need and because the items I buy get delivered to my door. If there is a problem, as with these blocks, (busted the first time I used them) I can ask for a return and refund. The refund for these came within minutes...yes, really....in minutes my PayPal account had been credited for the full amount. I did not have to send them back! Gotta love that kind of customer service. Today the next pair arrived. We shall see. And then I took the Mouse House on a little adventure.....I was invited to join a group called the VanDykes for a weekend at Mylestrom, a beachside villiage not too far from where I was parked at Dorrigo. I thought it would be a good idea to go for a wee drive in the Mouse House and maybe show her to a couple of people and to find out if anyone else lived full-time in their vans. There were only 2 other women who lived full time in their vehicles. Annie lives in a huge old Mercedes bus and Rosie lives in a very schmick caravan which she tows with an equally schmick 4x4. The other 25+ women take their vans on little meet ups around the country but definitely have homes as well. All 30 of them looked through The Mouse House! So I looked through their vans too. A lovely group of friendly women. By myself I rode my bike early the next morning and saw the sun rise.
Where the river meets the sea. A week ago exactly I went, with my dearest friend Rah, to Mudgee to pick up the van. It was a good drive - especially for me as I could take photos out of the window - a rare treat. We arrived late in the afternoon and Oooh-ed and Ahh-ed over the van for a while. It looked gorgeous and inviting with all of Emma's lovely welcoming touches. Then we popped a few of my things in the van. She started to feel like mine! Rah was heading on to Canberra so she dropped me back out to the vineyard and the van in the morning. Michael 'ran me through' the solar stuff, the water pump stuff and other stuff. I say 'stuff' because that's how I felt....stuffed with thick cotton wool - my brain said.....'computer says NO'! It really didn't go in. For me, and many others I'm guessing, new technologies really only settle in once the situation to use the bits and bobs occurs. Michael suggested I take the van for a drive and stay somewhere for a night or two to see if anything need adapting or changing a little bit. A great idea. I drove all the way to the Mudgee showgrounds, 2 klm. perhaps. I relaxed a bit and, super physically and mentally exhausted, I slept. It was so so so cold. With the diesel heater still in it's box in Michael's workshop and not in my van, I really felt the feezing -7 morning. It was 4 deg in the van! The good thing was though, in the early morning misty cold the young kangaroos were out playing. I thought of my friend Alice knowing she'd loved to see a good photo if I could get one. Freezing cold forgotten, I watched and photographed the kangaroos through the van's back windows. The next morning I tried out everyting. I heated the water, that is, I turned it on. Miraculously the gas sprang into life and heated the water for my first shower in the van. While the water heated I used the Airhead composting Loo. Easy! The shower worked really well (a bidet shower with a trigger to stop the water flow while soaping) and I only needed to pull the curtain around 1/2 way around. With shiny clean hair and body I was ready for the day. I used the STEALTH Scrubba- the biggest one that's also a backpack and an out door shower- to wash my 2 days worth of clothes. All merino under layers and over layers. The wash bag performed brilliantly and in 5 minutes the washing was hanging over the fence 🙂 Next? Fill the water tank. No can do. My hose had the wrong tap fitting for the showgrounds taps. I have the adapter now so I'm good for all tap sizes. What's with the Bogged Blog you ask? Well that was the next morning. At dawn I decided to go for that drive Michael suggested. So off I went chirpilly singing something and didn't notice that the end of the bitumen road wasn't actually the track it was thick thick mulch covering a 45 deg slope to the side of a hall. The arse end of the van slid, the front wheels bogged and I jumped out, just slightly scared that the van might actually just fall over. What to do?? I know...call the NRMA I called them and a lovely NRMA guy was there within 15 minutes. I must have sounded a little flustered when I said it might toppel over. He look at the situation. Over, under, around, over again, under again.. and then said, 'If I try to pull you out I think it will topple over. I'll call you a tow truck'. He made a couple of calls, said goodbye and good luck - and left. I wandered up and down crunching on the frosty grass with nowhere to sit for 1/2 hour until Denis arrived and said, 'you got me out of bed just for this?' He did say it with a smile though. Denis assessed the situation and lowering the tray on his truck he hooked up the van (who was called Mike the van at this point) and with some fancy positioning and pulling, with me sitting in the driver's seat taking comands like, 'keep the steering wheel pointing the way it is', up she came. PHEW! She's no longer called Mike. Mike the van got bogged! Later that day the diesel heater got fitted and a few little things got fixed, like catches on the drawers, that with some weight decided that coming oout was good while on the road. Coming out is always good except when you are drawer full of stuff. One more (nice warm cosy) sleep in Mudgee and then I headed home stopping to take photos. I'll put some here soon. (Done!- check out the tab ‘Photos from the Road’) Exhausted, I took the turn off to the Lookout above Tamworth. Definitely worth it, an amazing view. Then I crept into the back of the van and slept for about 2 hours. The next stop was for the best Chinese food i've eaten for years at a place called ???(I'll get back to that) Was it Werris Creek? I finally arrived home in Dorrigo at about 6.30pm. It was a long few days! Today i've moved more of my treasures in, sorting and leaving half behind again. I cooked a proper meal tonight. This is my van, my home. Right now she's called "The Mouse House". I like that, it makes me smile 😊 I shall have fun moving the three mice around. She was Juniper, then she was Dandelion, now she is definitely (quite possibly) called 'Narnia'. You can't really name a van until she is born can you? I saw the cab door with the port hole and said to myself, 'this looks like the door to Narnia and then I saw the next door, the most amazing, beautiful hand crafted door...the door behind the door and it definitely is Narnia behind this door! I feel so attached to this new 'baby' of mine. It's taken me a couple of days to share. You understand I'm sure. I can't remember feeling so possessive about anything! I sure chose the right people to bring my plans and dreams to fruition. A million thanks Michael and Emma. But now, I'll share with you and let you be amazed too😊 I bet you say, 'WOW!' Not only does my door have a window, a beautiful leadlight window, one of the ones Michael showed me when I first met him in May, before I even had a van, before I had even sold my house, but I was even able to plan to use both of them, and here they are. A beautiful statement indeed. You have no idea how many scribbled plans, messages, screen shots and phone calls go into a remote van conversion but we did it, we understood each other and here are the results. And if that wasn't perfect enough, Michael was able to do what I wanted and make them into windows that open with stunning brass window keepers. As if the outside were not beautiful enough... Here is the inside of the door. I have decided to keep the inside of the door as it was made, with the curved wood showing. It wasn't easy to make but it sure is loved and appreciated. In two days time I'll be travelling from Dorrigo to Mudgee and I'll step inside 'Narnia' for the very first time. I'm a bit dopey from pain medication but there's definitely a layer of excitement 😊 I dropped my empty van off about 8 weeks ago and there she was, an empty cargo van sitting in a vineyard. Full of nothing but great ideas ands plans for an amazing home on wheels. Because she grew into life in a vineyard I wanted a cupboard handle made frome old gnarly vine wood. I want to take a bit of the vineyard with me as I travell or as I sat still, exploring the space around me with my camera. So here there are, possible handles made from hand whittled old vine wood. I may whittle them further, when I see a pattern perhaps. They may end up being totally different...you just never know. Six days in hospital, with the very best of care, and I am on the mend again - soon to be ‘on the road’! While I have been lounging around, having meals brought to me (and medication for the pain) Michael and Emma have been busy in the van. So much has happened. The gas is in and the stove and hot water system are working. The water pumps are in and working...I think. The timber has all been Danish oiled to protect and bring the grain and lustre in the wood. The ‘pull out table’ has been fitted and looks beautiful. The secret bathroom has been lined and fitted with amazing taps. The air head toiled goes in next. The spice rack and a little row of tiles have been fitted. and much more...... I’m heading down on Friday. This part of my journey is almost over. I’ve watch ‘tiny house’ and van build YouTube videos until I’ve watched many of them twice (or more) I’ve drawn 3 grid books full of plans, I even made a mock van with cardboard. I’ve sold my house. I’ve sold (or given away) 98% of my possessions. Many, many thanks to my beautiful friends for helping me, especially Nadia, Helen and Bruce, Anke, RaH, Ali, Amanda and the many who helped kick it all off by coming to the ‘Penny Auction’. I’ve packed up my treasures. I’ve stayed in a Winnebago. I’ve stayed in Hospital. I’m now staying at Nadia’s house, with 2 wonderful people while she is on the road in her much loved and well travelled 1985 Toyota HiAce. So here you are, a slide show of new photo’s of what’s been happening in Mudgee. Photos (except Dorrigo park) taken by Michael. See you soon in a big white van, clare 😊 There’s more! What lies behind this door? You won’t believe how neat it is.
The little heart just shows how much love is going into this van. Well right now I am here. Dorrigo hospital. That awful shingles pain increased so much I was admitted to hospital and on morphine injections for a couple af days. I didn’t have the umph to do much at all so this may be a very small update. I had a room mate last night, a lovely woman called Barbara. She was so ill they took her away to observe her more closely. This morning they closed the curtains, between me an a new patient who was in terrible pain. To reassure this new patient, I said, ‘don’t worry, the woman who was here last night sounded awful and she’s still alive’. She said, ‘that’s good’. The nurse opened the curtains. It turned out it was the same woman. We laughed at that one😀 The van is progressing fabulously and I pick it up in two weeks time. For a while even the van wasn’t exciting me because I was in so much pain but now, down to 7 pills morning and night and great care, I am here, sharing some news and pics with you. The solar panels are on the roof and the electrical bits and bobs are in. We have power! The awning is on and looks pretty good in green. Here's a few more photos from Michael and Emma. (click on any to scroll through larger)
Things are happening everywhere. Who knows what's happening behind the scenes? The kitchen is looking lovely and promises to be absolutely fantastic when it's all finished - it's posing at the moment for a photograph. The copper jam pan sink is a real winner! I may not have the room or the equipment to make huge batches of marmalade anymore (not inside anyway) but the preserving pan was too good to leave behind. A little memory of the 'big' kitchen. Perfect repurposing. (once one useful thing, now another). The pull out table is looking gorgeous. Fitted on heavy duty drawer rails it can handle a fabulous dinner party for two or three or the iMac, Wacom and a good few books. The bookcase, next to the the bed end overhead cupboards, with it's copper pipe rail, is looking very special. I couldn't imagine a living space with no books at all. You can tell so much about a person from a wee shelf of well thumbed books and a few artful journals. There is storage under the bed... a cupboard to hang a few things, a cupboard with a shelf (I think) and a couple of drawers. I think there will be oodles of room for my small wardrobe of clothes. All the feather and down things - jackets, doonas, and sleeping bags can live in the space above the doorway to the cab. The contrasting timbers continue in the van with a lovely Tassie oak lid for the fridge /seat box and the same beautiful wood for the sofa back storage. The bathroom, with timber slat flooring and mini-orb lining, is a little hidden gem housing a shower and the Airhead composting toilet. Somehow I have managed to re-activate the Chicken Pox virus that has been dormant in my body for the last 50 years. The result is called 'shingles' and it's not a very pretty sight. It is very painful and I haven't been my usual happy self for a few days now. But... the van is coming along really well and I feel a bit better knowing what is happening to my new little home on wheels. Michael and Emma found some nice 'natural edged' timber for my bench tops in Dubbo on the weekend. Of the two I chose the Australian Cedar as I liked the darker colour of the wood. I do wonder how they got such a slab back to the van in Mudgee? All the timber in the van will be sealed with Danish Oil, not sure how many coats but I expect a few layers on the bench tops. The bed base is made and in 2 sections for ease of access to storage space under. I think having slats with be better for the mattress and the bend in the slats will be better for my back. I have chosen not to have memory foam as I find it unnatural, hot and with a smell that takes a while to go. I shall have an ordinary foam mattress with a down mattress protector. I think that will be lovely and comfortable. The overhead cabinets are in at the end of the bed and I think the cupboards and drawers will be fitted to the front of the bed any day. The bathroom gets fitted in today and I can't wait to see it. It's a bit like something I saw a long time ago and I'm pretty sure it's going to be amazing. Watch this space 🙂 ...I said. You do beautiful work. Oh good, said Michael - with a smile I could hear. Can we take it to Tassie then? Can we have your ferry ticket and go for 3 months? Ummmmmm - let me think......No! If I were to let anyone take my van anywhere it would only ever be you two - but NO. Nice try 😀 Isn't it lovely when your van builders are loving your van as much as you do? |
I especially like the last photograph of the overhead cupboards, the silhouette of Michael is brilliant. His light source for taking this picture was his drill. It seems that work goes on into the evenings most days. | |
My friend Susan and my other friend Sarah and I spent a fun few days together in Byron Bay and Brunswick Heads after the van went to Mudgee. A little bit of rest time from van thinking, YouTube watching and cabinet designing. A rest too from those 3 am wide awake times with little ideas demanding to be acknowledged.
So here we are...
Photographs by Susan
So here we are...
Photographs by Susan
Sarah pretended to be a door so I could see what the door knob would look like.
Yes, we did have fun!
Women in their 60's know how to do that.
But what's happening to the van I hear you say.....
Amazing things have happened to Dandelion my van at roamingwildcampers.com
In the last week the van has seen these changes and I am very happy with the way it's all going. I don't feel pressured into anything or feel that I am unable to change some small details as we go along. It's my van - my plans and design. It's Michael and Emma's experience and expertise. A perfect match!
In the last week the van has seen these changes and I am very happy with the way it's all going. I don't feel pressured into anything or feel that I am unable to change some small details as we go along. It's my van - my plans and design. It's Michael and Emma's experience and expertise. A perfect match!
Dipa Das is an amazing craftsman and this door was was the inspiration for mine. Watch his youtube clips - he really is awesome!
The timber paneling is all in and painted. The doorway into the cab area is in and the flooring has been laid. the Maxxaire fan vent is in and the skylight has been installed at the other end.
And then, as if by magic.....
Soon I'll see the beautiful bespoke cabinetry and doors. I'm really excited about that. This is when the amazing Artistry begins.
I thought I just lost everything.... all the previous little journal entries and photos.
Luckily I didn't, just the entry for today.
When that happens - you just start again!
A lot happened last week. The insulation was finished in the main cargo area and the lining boards went in.
The brackets for the awning were fitted and the little dog went to a van party.
Luckily I didn't, just the entry for today.
When that happens - you just start again!
A lot happened last week. The insulation was finished in the main cargo area and the lining boards went in.
The brackets for the awning were fitted and the little dog went to a van party.
And then the lining - board by beautiful pine board.
Next, the skylights will be fitted. The holes in the roof were the first thing that happened to this van, letting the starlight in.
Makes sense now that the pine lining had to go in before the actual fitting of the skylight and the fan vent. I'm looking forward to seeing that!
The wall for behind the passenger seat is already made but will be installed once the floor boards are in. When the last bit of the paneling is done the floor boards go down, then the bulk head wall will be fitted.
Next, the skylights will be fitted. The holes in the roof were the first thing that happened to this van, letting the starlight in.
Makes sense now that the pine lining had to go in before the actual fitting of the skylight and the fan vent. I'm looking forward to seeing that!
The wall for behind the passenger seat is already made but will be installed once the floor boards are in. When the last bit of the paneling is done the floor boards go down, then the bulk head wall will be fitted.
Wow...it doesn't look like a cargo van anymore does it?
As a means of stopping myself from worrying about whether I actually remembered to tell Michael and Emma all the important things, I mucked about yesterday designing a magnetic sign for the side of the van for when the situation for it arose.
Dandelion is the name given to Air Force kids. Actually, all 'Services' kids. The seed blows on the wind, they land anywhere and yet adapt well and grow no matter how hard the ground.
Yep, that's me and my brother.
Dandelion is the name given to Air Force kids. Actually, all 'Services' kids. The seed blows on the wind, they land anywhere and yet adapt well and grow no matter how hard the ground.
Yep, that's me and my brother.
They battened the floor then used foil board inbetween, followed by foil tape to fully seal it. Then a 7mm ply floor was fitted on top of that. They will put the 7.5mm floor boards down toward the end of next week once everything else is lined. | Progress photos by Michael and Emma www.roamingwildcampers.com |
Not only that......
the back doors are fully insulated and panelled. They just need sanding and painting when they paint the walls.
Michael will cut holes and install the 240v inlet, water inlet, and water heater vent tomorrow, and also run all the wires - followed by the installation of the solar cables, and awning brackets.
Next they will insulate, batten and panel, the entire van. They are hoping the van will be a completely painted and panelled by the end of the week.
Michael will cut holes and install the 240v inlet, water inlet, and water heater vent tomorrow, and also run all the wires - followed by the installation of the solar cables, and awning brackets.
Next they will insulate, batten and panel, the entire van. They are hoping the van will be a completely painted and panelled by the end of the week.
I am very happy with what I can see and appreciate greatly the updates and photos as it can be a little unnerving being so far away.
We send emails to each other, Michael and Emma send late at night, after a busy day, and I seem to be awake, reading and replying, in the wee hours of the morning.
I think that makes them laugh a little :)
Photographer since the age of 10 Clare has decided to make photography her full time life by living and working in beautiful areas, in an amazing, hand crafted van. |