The first miles

Report 12 February
By Steef

The day begins with a bright sun so time to pack and leave.
During the preparations I suddenly hear a cheerful piano playing from Kathryn house.
She turns out to have a real pianola and he plays like a tierelier.
Then it’s time to say goodbye.

goodbey from Kathryn

We go to the westcoast over the Arthurpas. The Ford has to get used to get back to work, the carburetor runs over once and halfway Dirk puts the extra fan in front of the radiator as the engine is running hot. Then there is a 16% descent.
However, in the end things are going well. We drive through a beautiful hilly area with many narrow bridges over broad riverbeds.

on the road

on the road 1

on the road 2

hot engine

When we stop for a cup of coffee, a domestic bird comes out of the bushes.
Is it a chicken? or a pheasant? No idea but he / she got one out of hand.

tame bird

Then we drive on again until we arrive at Gillespies Beach in camping “Cloud 9”.
A perfect place with an extensive kitchen where delicious is being cooked.
At the campsite we meet Jack Bartle, gipsy since he was 15 years old. He lives in a home-grown bus and occasionally works as a “handy man”. His credo is: no job is to small.
Two young kittens are frolicking around his motor home, which looks like a mancave from the inside.He is a nice guy and he promises to make a donation on the website.

meet Jack the handyman

Jack’s mancave 1

Jack’s mancave 2