Working and Traveling Australia, Our Journey.

Bookleaf · October 24, 2019, 11:06:39 AM

What van did you finish up getting to replace the camper?

tryagain · October 24, 2019, 11:45:40 AM

Quote from: Bookleaf on October 24, 2019, 11:06:39 AM
What van did you finish up getting to replace the camper?

http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=56714.msg997590#msg997590

McGirr01 · August 28, 2020, 05:24:00 PM

Apologies have been slack updating this.

We spent the last 7 months working for a company as relief store managers. We have been to Ali Curung NT, Tjuntjunjara being in the middle of the WA desert and then stuck for 3 months, due to covid, in a community called Willowra.

We then decided to take 3 months off and head back to Wollongong to pick up the car and van and travel to Cairns to catch up with Penny's family.

From there we headed back to Alice to start back at work on the 31st August. We will put our van in storage here until our next holiday.

The plan is to work till December 2021 and take 6 months off to travel before coming back.

So our first gig back is in SA at a place called Yalata. We fly out to Adelaide for n over night stop then a flight to Ceduna and pick up a hire car and drive 2 and a half hours to Yalata. Will be taking the drone for some shots of the cliff's along the Nullabor.

Any way some pics from the last 10 months.

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McGirr01 · November 19, 2020, 08:26:13 PM

We enjoyed our 4 week relief in Yalata SA.

A nice community on the Nullarbor. Spent time exploring the area. Dropped into the Head of Bight and lucky enough to see a few whales with their calves.

Also had a look around fowler's Bay. We flew back into Alice and headed to Papunya for a few days before heading to Yuendumu for a 6 week gig. Being on the Tanami and only 10 klms of dirt road, driving to Alice for a weekend break, was a good easy 2.3hr drive on the tar.

We arrived at our next relief, back on the Tanami, being Yuelamu. Here for 6 weeks and then hopefully spend the last job on the Tanami when we do a relief stint running Tilmouth Well roadhouse starting in early Jan for 6 weeks.

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McGirr01 · February 01, 2021, 12:02:05 PM

We have now been at Tilmouth Roadhouse on the Tanami for 4 weeks into our 7 week stint.

We had the pleasure of experiencing the storms and rain that turned the Napperby Creek, next to the roadhouse, into a raging torrent the that standard trucks and cars overnight.

Friday morning, after some heavy rain falling in the catchment area of the creek, the water was running 6in over the road, within 2 hours it was half a metre over and slowly rising.

It was incredible to watch.

The Creek rarely flows so we got to witness mother nature at her best.

The landscape, as expected, is lush and green.

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Moggy · February 01, 2021, 12:08:19 PM

Great pics, especially the sunset ones

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nab · February 01, 2021, 01:34:28 PM

Floods always amaze me, its almost unbelievable the amount of water needed to fill that river and flood the road!

plusnq · February 01, 2021, 01:58:15 PM

Always amazing to be present for these moments. Great photos.

rossm · February 01, 2021, 02:12:50 PM

Great pics.
There's a significant rain event on in the Pilbara after heavy rain topped up Kimberley rivers last week.
Wish I could get up there to see it.

Fizzie · February 02, 2021, 06:56:49 AM

Amazing, thanks Mark

Funny place to park that white sedan though!

McGirr01 · March 04, 2021, 07:35:57 PM

We are currently in Cairns after our 7 week stint doing relief management at Tilmouthwell Roadhouse.

We head to Darwin this Sat, taking the van and car for our next stint.

Doing relief management at the Nguiu Club on Bathurst Island for 7 weeks.

Looking forward to getting back into Barra Country.

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Fizzie · March 05, 2021, 07:41:16 AM

Bit blowie up there atm, Mark

McGirr01 · July 04, 2021, 06:06:22 PM

So where are we now.

After our 7 week relief stint at Nguiu Club, we picked up the van and car in Darwin and headed to Beswick as new managers for their social club.

The club is currently run from a small section of the building but extensive renovations will see an incredible change with a large bistro being installed.

Penny can't wait to start showing people her cooking ability.

The community is only an hours drive from Katherine on a tarred rd.

Also only a 30 min drive from the Community is an incredible water fall with barra and freshwater crocs.

We will be set up here for a few years as the accommodation is great, 3 bed, modern house with ensuite and a big garage to store the car and side parking for the van, which has a cover over it.

Good size yard overlooking the bush and plenty of room for visitors.

Currently building 9 new gardens for the club.

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Fizzie · July 05, 2021, 06:57:23 AM

Beautiful!

Thanks, Mark.

GGV8Cruza · July 05, 2021, 07:06:04 AM

Looks a great spot to set up for a while Mark

GG

wakychapmans · July 06, 2021, 10:21:48 AM

Quote from: McGirr01 on July 04, 2021, 06:06:22 PM

... and plenty of room for visitors.

you'll regret saying that...

McGirr01 · July 08, 2021, 04:31:23 PM

Forgot some of the pics from our stint on Bathurst Island.

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NZMarkb · July 08, 2021, 06:06:57 PM

Fantastic photos mate
Thanks for sharing

Foo · July 09, 2021, 06:26:41 AM

Certainly looks like you're having a top time.

Foo

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McGirr01 · November 13, 2021, 08:58:22 AM

So where are we now.

After 3 months in Beswick we decided to leave due to being micro managed by the store managers, even though they had noting to do with the club we were trying to get up and running. With no support from head office we left and had jobs at Mary River Wilderness Retreat, working with friends.

My role was maintenance, yard work etc and Penny was cook, reception and some room cleaning. We had a great time there as it was only an hours drive to Darwin.

We stayed for about 2 months but as Penny's father was not well so we headed back to Cairns, where we are now. He is doing well and have decided to drive to Wollongong to catch up with my family for xmas around mid December.

We had the opportunity to finally visit places we missed when traveling so explored Kakadu and Litchfield.

Turning 60, Penny organized a fishing charter for me so we could fish Shady Camp and she caught her first Barra.

We have another Job ready for us, we were headhunter by a CEO of a community, and after discussions on pay etc we head there mid Jan next year.

Even though we wanted a break from communities, we really enjoyed this one and the location and decided to take it as the money was excellent. Can't say where it is as yet.

The car and van have not missed a beat with both recently being serviced while here in Cairns.

Pics of Mary River, Kakadu and Litchfield.