Hey everyone, we have finally got this up and running. Hope you enjoy seeing The Kenny Seven on our journey as much as we are experiencing this different way of life. We decided on the name "Waking to New Sounds" because each time we move, we awake to the new sounds of a new place. It really is amazing!
Well we are up to day 41 today and we still aren't very far from home.
Days 1 - 24 (18/12/09 - 10/1/10) Crowdy Bay National Park
Woke each day to the sounds of waves crashing on the shore or raindrops. We started our journey with 3 weeks of sunshine, beaches, rain, floods and sunshine at Crowdy Bay National Park. We were lucky enough to have Pete and Bez (Manda's parents) and Brooke, Ben and Little Isla come and spend some time with us - it was really great to see them. This was our trial and error time. We spent alot of time sorting out our solar and power issues, as well as streamlining our gear to lighten the load. It took us most of this time to settle into our new lifestyle and few times we had moments of "What are we thinking! Tripping around Australia with 5 young kids" We almost started
to believe our critics. To start with everything was 100% challenge, from setting up, to washing clothes, to making sure we had enough water, delegating new jobs, making sure we have enough power, getting personal time, making systems for everything, to packing up. Remember, this isn't a holiday, this is our life and we still have to feed, clothe, wash 7 people - its just the location changes much more frequently.
Well we are up to day 41 today and we still aren't very far from home.
Days 1 - 24 (18/12/09 - 10/1/10) Crowdy Bay National ParkWoke each day to the sounds of waves crashing on the shore or raindrops. We started our journey with 3 weeks of sunshine, beaches, rain, floods and sunshine at Crowdy Bay National Park. We were lucky enough to have Pete and Bez (Manda's parents) and Brooke, Ben and Little Isla come and spend some time with us - it was really great to see them. This was our trial and error time. We spent alot of time sorting out our solar and power issues, as well as streamlining our gear to lighten the load. It took us most of this time to settle into our new lifestyle and few times we had moments of "What are we thinking! Tripping around Australia with 5 young kids" We almost started
to believe our critics. To start with everything was 100% challenge, from setting up, to washing clothes, to making sure we had enough water, delegating new jobs, making sure we have enough power, getting personal time, making systems for everything, to packing up. Remember, this isn't a holiday, this is our life and we still have to feed, clothe, wash 7 people - its just the location changes much more frequently. Days
24-26 (10th Jan - 12th Jan) Gloucester Woke to the sounds of kookaburras laughing and cows mooing. With all the rain we had at Crowdy, our batteries were critically low so we headed to a caravan park at Gloucester to power up. We hit the heat in a big way and headed to the river to cool off. The kids had a ball, holding onto the rocks of the river bed and letting their bodies float with the current. A very pretty place, for anyone looking for a weekend getaway, we would recommend it.
Days 26-28 (12th Jan - 14th Jan) Barrington Tops National
Park Woke to the sounds of flies swarming around the tent and watched the mist disappear as the sun hit it. After a drive up to 1500m above sea level and our car and electric brakes on the camper trailer giving us a some grief (all sorted now) we settled at Polblue camping ground. A very still and quiet place, almost eerie. We took a couple of bushwalks, visited some beautiful lookouts and did some camp cooking. The kids had a great time playing in the dirt, putting feathers in their hair and got absolutely filthy. So glad we take out our shower out every stop.
Days 28- 40 (14th Jan - 27th Jan) Tamworth
Woke to the voice of "Camp Vegas" announcing all showers were open. We arrived at Tamworth the day before the iconic music festival began and pitched our camper trailer on the banks of the river with thousands of others, in all manner of travelling modes. We had the most amazing time going to concerts, watching buskers in the main street, being constantly exposed to all kinds of music and trying to remember the good ones to see if they make it. It was such a friendly couple of weeks. Everyone was up for a chat and we met alot of travellers with lots of tips. The highlight for us was spending time with Grandad and Grandma Kenny who had travelled over from WA for the festival.
Days 40 - 44 (27th to 31st Jan) Dumaresq Dam Woke to the sounds of gaggling geese, water hens splashing in the Dam and the giggling of a crazy woman camped near us. We checked out nearby Armidale, saw a horse cutting auction, admired the beautiful Tudor style architecture and visited Dangars Falls in Oxley Wild Rivers National Park. Blake Amber and James started school here and are really enjoying our own pace of learning. They are starting to get it now, if they work faster they get more exploring time.
Days 44 - 53 (27th Jan to 7th Feb) Pebbly Beach - Yuragir National Par
k
kWoke to the sounds of waves hammering the shore about 20 m away. This place is paradise hidden just 40kms north of Coffs Harbour. If you really want to get away from everything, follow the track over the bumpy dirt road, through the deeps sand tracks, along the beach, down to the creek crossing, make sure the tide is low to cross. Then head up the creek bank and find yourself a bush camping spot tucked in behind a sand dune. We didnt want to leave here and we're sure the goannas, bush turkeys, wallabies, wild horses missed our noisy camp once we left. Days were spent exploring rock pools, swimming and walks along the beach, making the most of camp cooking over an open fire and some fishing. This was the place where everything started to fall into place for us. Big challenges become small ones and we really started to enjoy our whole journey.
Days 53 - 59
(7th - 15th Feb) Bangalow
(7th - 15th Feb) BangalowWoke to the sounds of a trickling creek, cows mooing and cars crossing a ricketty old bridge down the road. We stayed on a chook farm that belongs to a couple we met at Tamworth - our first farmstay. The farm is beautifully lush and green and surrounded on three sides by a runing creek. On the day we arrived, they had 90 000 day old chicks arrive to fill their chook sheds. It has been really interesting to see how a farm like t
his operates. The kids have had fun and a pet fix with 3 dogs, a cat, 4 horse and 25 cows oh and 90 000 chicks.We checked out areas surrounding Byron Bay, enjoying some beautiful beaches with this fine weather. The skinny dippers got lots of giggles from our kids. The hinterland behind Byron is spectacular, with lush green hills and mountains that make for a beautiful landscape. Put this on your list of places to visit.
his operates. The kids have had fun and a pet fix with 3 dogs, a cat, 4 horse and 25 cows oh and 90 000 chicks.We checked out areas surrounding Byron Bay, enjoying some beautiful beaches with this fine weather. The skinny dippers got lots of giggles from our kids. The hinterland behind Byron is spectacular, with lush green hills and mountains that make for a beautiful landscape. Put this on your list of places to visit.