The adventure begins...... again

The cruise Maria went on with her sister and mum made such an impact on Mum that it's worth telling the story.

Maria and Grace's mum Isabella had come out to Australia in 1957 with her own mother and youngest brother - her father and other brothers were already in Oz. Two women and one young boy who had grown up in a very rural town in southern Italy (to give perspective right on the toe of Italy in the province of Calabria) where they had been farmers and although they also had a small place in the town, they were basically rural people.

They set sail on a very large boat, albeit with other Italians making their way to Australia. They had rarely travelled outside their province and here they were on a large boat going to a country they knew nothing about.

They were too scared to do much outside the cabin, other than to go to the dining room and let's face it, in those days cruising was not as we know it today.

Isabella often talked about her journey to Australia and how she would like to have that experience again – before she passes. 

So as her 85 birthday approached Maria and Grace discussed this and as luck would have it, Grace found a 3 day cruise to nowhere, but would fulfil her dreams.

As Don and Maria were back in Sydney tending to the beachside apartment and had made time to attend their friend's wedding, Grace booked the cruise and, on the 8 Feb saw the 3 of them set sail.

Isabella was in her element - she relived her memories and given her 2 highly adventurous daughters who took her to all the events on boards, the shows, the degustation, Isabella experienced her voyage all over again and then some.

The three of us cruising

She was astounded at life outside the cabin. She kept saying over and over how she didn't get out of her cabin (she had been a little ill with all the inoculations she had to have prior to coming to Oz) and if she had she would have seen all of this. (Personally, we didn't think she would, because in those days ships provided a function, ie to transport people, rather than entertainment - but we let her think that.)

We wanted her to enjoy it for what it was. And enjoy she did. You couldn't wipe the smile from her face (even weeks later, she is still thanking us over and over).

Mum was certainly seen in a new light - that of a young woman sailing to the other side of the world wondering where she was going to and what she would find. (Luckily, she found our dad otherwise there would be no us!)

Disembarking back in Sydney Maria met up with Don and Zingara and headed south. Could hardly contain our excitement! This is it!

Illawarra - Towradgi

Aeiral of Zingara

First port of call was Towradgi in the lovely Illawarra region. Don honed his droning skills and with school holidays over, we practically had the place to ourselves! 

Maria was able to catch up on some TAFE work. Her "office" is now complete with dual screens, phone 

Maria hard at work

(mobile) to speak with her learners and internet by tethering off her phone. The big comfy chair is actually the passenger seat that swivels around.

Next stop was Huskisson where Don had a job reglazing a window at a friend's home. The weekend we arrived at Husky (as it is affectionately known) was the weekend of the annual triathlon (apparently been going for the last 13 years) and the population of the tiny coastal village swelled from its usual number of 3300 people to standing room at the pub!

Huskisson Pictures

Maria deciding
which movie to see

We turned up to have a meal at the said pub and hopefully a dance on the Friday night, but the place was so packed and the line so long to order, we headed in a different direction. We walked to the other side of the small town and found Huskisson Pictures. The building was built in 1913 and the outside facade still had that old time look. 

Peter, the owner and Maria

We headed inside and found a small counter that dispensed old fashioned (Admit one) tickets and the necessary munchies along with a comfy lounge to sit on whilst waiting to enter the theatre. In the warmer months you can also sit outside as tables and chairs were set up.

We bought our tickets and headed into the cinema. Once inside, sitting on the plush red chairs (the theatre would hold approximately 50 people), we noticed the little things that the owners, Peter and Jan had done to make it just that bit more comfortable for their patrons - a number of cushions to put behind sore backs or raise a patron a little higher (like Maria) and booster seats for the littlies. 

Husky Pictures is a must if you are travelling this way. Way better than those big fancy impersonal movie theatres and a lovely personalised service. Best of all? The ticket price for everyone was $11. Check them out http://www.huskipics.com.au/

Oh and the movie we saw? Bohemian Rhapsody! Awesome movie! And if we had stayed in town a little longer the following week there was going to be a singalong to the songs from the movie.

The following day we decided to check out the triathlon. It was quite a big deal with lots of people about almost like a party atmosphere. We browsed around the stalls - mostly biking and sporting accessories, but nothing really took our fancy except... 

Great Aussie Swim Parka

Daryl, Maria and Cindy

We came across Cindy and Daryl. Now picture this. Maria not a seasoned camper like Don. She works out she needs to get to the amenities block, so she brings along a warm fleecy dressing gown for this, which is all fine at home, but not to walk anywhere from 10-200 metres to an amenities block in full view of everyone. The white dressing looked like something old (older than us) people would wear, flapped around in the wind and basically looked tired and it had to go. Cindy and Daryl to the rescue with their Great Aussie Swim Parkas.

Maria modelling the Parka

What is it you ask? Well it's a longish coat, with a hood, but the inside is a towel. It is designed to wear from swimming pool (like Maria will ever get in one) to your tent, car, wherever, and it keeps you warm and the towel dries you off. Perfect for Maria to wear to the amenities block on the cooler mornings and perfect for her in the winter! Check them out - one very versatile piece of clothing - https://www.swimparkas.com.au/

As we have a rule that if something new comes in, then something has to go. Someone will be the recipient of a white fleece dressing gown when it gets dropped off at the Op shop.

Speaking of showers. Amenities blocks are interesting. Usually a row of toilets and a row of showers, and not necessarily closed as there are lots of vents to allow air to come through and of course outside noises. Whilst in Towradgi Maria marvelled at the lovely bird sounds whenever she was in the shower block. Oddest thing was when she went to use the amenities in Huskisson, it seems the same birds followed her - until it dawned on her it was her thongs. She was told to wear thongs when showering in public places and when the thongs got wet they kinda squelch in a variety of sounds - very similar to birds. 

The Fat Bike

Don's new toy

Don had been toying with getting an electric bike. Whilst at Towradgi he came across John who was upgrading fat bikes into electric bikes. This bike allows you to ride on the beach on the sand, bicycle paths, roads and other terrain. A bike that goes up to 25 kms an hour and with a battery where you can travel 40 kms before recharging, Don was sold. 

It's his new toy and a fantastic conversation starter that sometimes sees him getting back much later than anticipated given the amount of people that want to chat to him about the bike.

Dancing in the Streets

Dancing in the Streets

A lovely afternoon was spent at Angels Bayside Cafe where there was live music by Emma Jene a delightful vocalists that entertained us and the street crowd for several hours. Of course we got up to dance, which made others do the same! We loved that people came up to us and thanked us for just doing what we love. Julie Gunn we could have had classes down here.....

Local identity Raven

Doing the Nutbush

Enjoying the atmosphere

So where to next? We are heading further down the South Coast along the coast road....

After the turmoil

Back at the beachside apartment we finally got a date to fix the flooring! That’s right, from the 6-12 February the magnesite will be removed, floor levelled, wardrobe put back in and floorboards laid! Things finally were starting to sort out....

That's Life Mega Monthly

We made print and the net!

We also featured in “That’s Life – Mega Monthly” magazine! Thanks to our dear friend Eva for suggesting us. Apparently we are going to appear each month for the next 12 months – or until they get sick of us 😊, so you can also follow our adventures in print form, or you can follow us online as well as on the net! Click here to see more of our story online.

Whilst riding out the hot weather at some of the best beaches on the south coast of NSW, Maria found it extraordinary (remember first time camper here) at the rigs (is that the right term??) people had, from the well experienced to the novice. They opened off the top of mini-vans, utes with tray tops, caravans as long as a road train and in fact one had a truck to tow it with two separate entrances to the van!

At one place we stayed, there was a Japanese family who after making friends with us told us that this was their first time camping and you could tell. The light bouncing off their brand spanking new caravan, outdoor tables and chairs, cookware and clothes line, nearly blinded us but both Don and Maria thought - good on you for having a go.

This contrasts with the lovely Afghanistan couple with 3 little people’s first camping experience. They turn up very late in the evening on the Friday before Australia day and begin putting up a tent. After about 30 mins we notice that they had gotten in the car and left leaving a very deflated tent on the ground. They return late at night and we had gone to bed but got woken up by lights being flashed around and an odd noise that sounded like a whooshing sound.

The following morning after we make friends with them (well Maria) they explained they had decided suddenly to come camping, dashed to the shops and purchased a tent amongst other things and headed south. It turns out the husband was 6’3” and couldn’t stand up in the tent, so they had gone out at night to buy a new one.

Returning to put the new tent up, some other campers, saw them trying to erect the tent in darkness and offered lights (hence the flashing lights) and pump up the air beds by hand (the whooshing sound).

The husband went on to tell us a lovely story. He had come to Australia when he was 7 and in that first year of being in Australia and with very little English and knowledge of the Australian way of life, he went on his first school camp. He was fascinated by it and was taught how to put up a tent, cook over a fire, eat and sleep outside. He was so excited that when he got home he rushed to his parents to tell them about his experience.

His mother looked at him. Son why would I want to give up my bed, my oven, my kitchen, to eat outside and sleep on the floor? his mother had said. He was deflated to say the least, but the memory lingered and now with his lovely wife (she had come out when she was one) and their three lovely kids they had made a snap decision to come and as he said creating memories with the family!

Although this couple were 30 years younger than us we had a laugh about how the reaction from migrant mothers who left war-torn countries to start a new life in Australia was the same. Very appropriate for Australia Day.

They were curious about Zingara and we showed them around and they loved the concept and what could be done and there was great discussion on how they could outfit it with the three kids.

Port Kembla

They didn’t know the area, so we headed them off in a couple of directions – Port Kembla beach, the port to see the big ships come in (and do some fishing), the walk along the breakwater and Seacliff bridge. (Guess where we were 😊) – they were delighted with Port Kembla beach and their littlies had a fantastic time in the water.

Again we both thought how great for them to do this and create memories for their family.

As the drama at the country and beachside apartment subsided, we spent a morning repacking the bus. By this stage we had been on the road a couple of months and we found things we were using quite a lot (we kept these), things we were not using much (these went to the back of the bus) and not using at all but wanted to keep (these we will drop off at home when we go back to see about the flooring), with a few things being donated to the Op shop.

This appealed to the neat freak and organised side of Maria where everything must have a place and put everything back into place when done. Living in a small environment this is imperative, as space is small and needs to be used as best as possible. For example, cooking – two people just can’t do in the bus, so we either move it outside, or one person does it.

Speaking of food, it has been suggested to do a few videos on how we cook on the bus, so this is in the pipeline 😊. We are generally eaters who love fresh fruit and veges and some protein, but we got off track whilst at the country residence and we have gotten a little – well pudgy. We are back on track eating heaps of salads, greens, berries and fitting in some exercise.

At some point during our travels the seat from Maria’s pushbike disappeared. Maria says it was stolen, Don says it fell off, either way there was a pushy with no seat just a very straight upright pole.

Somehow as we passed thru the beachside apartment the bike (minus the seat) got left behind, prior to heading down the south coast. As Maria needed it because she was stranded without it, Don came to the rescue with his Seniors Opal card, a borrowed seat from brother Robert, hopped on the train to head back to the beachside apartment to collect the bike for the grand total of $2.50.

What he wasn’t counting on was the heat. No problems thought Don, I can hop on the bus with the bike on the way to the train station. Wrong. Bus driver would not let him on, so in the heat he cycled to the station to catch the train back. Needless to say, he was very hot and bothered when he finally got back. The good news was Maria did a 10 kms ride the next morning and was ecstatic that she wasn’t stuck!

Don finally got his drone and he has spent the last couple of weeks honing his droning skills (is there such a word?) and is having fun making videos from the sky. Don did insure the drone in the event it is lost. Apparently, the insurance pays out two new drones (a year) just in case…. We have also gotten in to making short videos, so catch them on our YouTube channel

One afternoon as a big storm approached, Maria learnt how things needed to be packed up, batten down and basically ensure that any big winds wouldn’t send any of their belongings out into the beach. Finishing this and sitting inside the bus as the rain arrived, a curious thing was going on outside in the next camping bay (is that what it’s called?)

A woman about 30 turns up in a smallish car. She hops out and has several big flatish boxes with her. Don looks out and says it looks almost like an Ikea flat pack. She lays all the plastic tubing on the ground. It had quite a few connectors and she began trying to put this together. She kept referring to instructions, then going back to the plastic tubing and connectors. This went on for about half an hour.

Then she gets in the car, moves it around a bit and stops. She moves to the next camping bay (she is now occupying two). Someone from the next camping bay comes over and asks if she needs help. No  she says my partner is coming soon. More time elapses.

Soon two other people arrive and start to work with her. Next two turns into eight (still raining). They somehow manage to put all the tubing and connectors together and form a roof. A tarp is found and thrown over the plastic roof trusses. Then six people raise the roof and the other two ran to each end and in between and insert the longer pole. When the rest of the tarp is brought out it turns out she is erecting a gazebo, complete with fake windows. Two tables are set up inside. And it is still raining.

Don and Maria shook their heads, if this was up 3 hours ago when the wind was howling, there would be very little left of the gazebo as there were no rope to tie it down and even Maria (the novice camper) knew you had to secure it!

the wedding

On the 1 February good dancing friends of ours were wed at the Kirribilli Yacht Club. It was on of the best weddings that both Don and Maria had been to. Low fuss, great food and wine, lots of dancing and a rocking DJ all made for a fantastic night!

the wedding

Later that week Maria left Don and Zingara to go on a 4 day cruise with her sister and mother. Mum was turning 85 and was yearning for a trip on a boat as she had done some 63 years ago when coming to Australia from Italy for the first time. To say she was excited was an understatment. As we cruised under the Harbour Bridge and pointed out the Quay, Opera House, and other famous landmarks, Mum was excited as a little girl.

the three of us on the cruise

The cruise people even got into the spirit and bought out a cake for her birthday with everyone singing happy birthday. Lots of cocktails later, an 8 course degustation dinner with matching wines, and some great shows and some sisterly and motherly time together, Maria eventually returend back to Don and Zingara ready to start the adventure again . . .