As you might remember our caravan was stalled at a friend of ours in Bullengarook and because we had to go to Sydney for a reason, which I will explain later, we thought we better leave the caravan there and go just by car along the family/friends to say good bye as we won't be back for about a year.
We stayed a few days with Lida, our friend in Patterson Lakes and she recommended us to go to the William Ricketts Sanctuary as we had been to the Dandenongs several time but never visited this; not only one of the Dandenong’s more iconic experiences, but also one of the most inspiring and tranquil places on the mountain.
A quiet gentleman who had spent much time living with aboriginal communities in central Australia, William Ricketts created the sanctuary as a place for quiet reflection and replenishing the spirit. He believed that all Australians should adopt Aboriginal philosophies, respecting the spirituality of the mother earth and all things in the natural world. Some of his works throughout the grounds also depict his feelings on the takeover and devastation of white man into the natural environment.
(source; https://visitdandenongranges.com.au/activity/william-ricketts-sanctuary)
There are over 90 sculptures carved into rocks and tree trunks, they are fantastic and the atmosphere in the park amazing!
After our tour along the family we picked up our caravan and drove to Bendigo to the people, who became good friends in the mean time, we did several house sits for. This came suddenly in between which we didn't mind as we are always happy there, they just wanted to go a few days bike riding.
On Thursday the day before Good Friday, we had a shock: under our car was oil again! We drove off to a RACV mechanic but he didn't had time, fully booked and of course it was the weekend before Easter so we had the terrible feeling we were facing a disaster as we had to be in Sydney on Monday. Another mechanic had a look at it and said the same, he gave us a big can with oil with the advice to keep an eye on the oil level and top it up every time on the way to Sydney.
Our friend in Bullengarook, who knows everything of cars, said it was a too big risk to drive like that that far, we could blow up the engine.
And then it was Good Friday, everything was closed and the car leaked as hell. I googled at "rent a car" to find a car with a tow bar, which we could hire but that was very hard to find. Then our lovely friends came home and suggested us to take their car to Sydney, they would brings our car to a mechanic after Easter to let it repair and when it would be finished, they would meet Fred halfway to swap the cars. And so we drove off to Sydney, in a very convenient car......
We had a great stop on the Yass Showground......
in the mean time it was Easter so that's the reason of this brunch with eggs and...... booze
The people in Tasmania most probably didn't mount the tube properly as that was all it was! And so it happened that Fred drove the Friday after Easter 1200 k's on one day to Holbrook and back to swap the cars. We are very very thankful to our friends as they prevented us from another disaster!
The first reason we had to go to Sydney was because Fred's Dutch passport was due, we had made an appointment at the Dutch Consulate in Sydney already a long time ago. Sydney is the only place where you can go for a new Passport, isn't that ridiculous!! All the Dutchies who live all over the country have to go to Sydney which costs a lot of travelling money and time! Anyhow, we thought if we have to go to Sydney we rather go further and end up in the tropics for winter!
When the kids in The Netherlands heard about our plans, they thought, "well, we might travel along with them for a part". And so, Sheila would be the first to come to Sydney to travel with us to the Gold Coast .........
So on the 3rd of April, hubby's birthday and our appointment date at the consulate, Sheila leaves her home to go to the airport.....
And we travel by train to the city....
On our way to the train station we saw this fellow, we are on the caravan park at Lane Cove National Park, not far from the city centre and easy to travel by train which is a relief.
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| Can be expected in a National Park.... |
All dressed up for a nice day out, first; The Consulate, another disaster!
We thought we had all the paperwork needed, how disappointing when we were told so much more was needed. It's too complicated to explain but because Fred had became an Australian citizen in the mean time, there was a lot paperwork extra to hand over. It took us approx. 2 months and a lot of extra money to accomplish this task.
Anyhow, we had a nice drink for the shock.......and some phone calls for Fred for his birthday.....
And a nice dinner at a pub.......
In the mean time Sheila was flying and arrived at Sydney Airport on the 4th of April...
Next time;
SYDNEY!!
Cheers!
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