The Long Drive Megalong Valley on Linda's Farm

April at Linda's Farm.

Linda has invited me to stay at her farm to relax and catch up on past events only Linda is not on the internet so extremely slack about keeping in touch.

I painted Plods roof with a Solagard paint ready for the fitting of my new solar panels. 

I drove in to Sydney to fetch some solar panels some aluminium angle as well, for fixing it on to the roof of Plod as well as an old generator from near the airport that Lyle has given me I have to get it going though an extremely lovely thought. I had a very long day arrived back at Megalong well in to the night. 

The worst part of doing anything that you have not done before is finding out all the pit falls and advantages especially where to buy the necessary parts.

I started to make a frame for the solar when I had finished Linda helped me to lift it on to the roof of Plod an ingenious method of lifting it on to the shed roof then on to Plod using a top quality sikafex as well as pop rivets a job well done. All this took five days off and on with bad weather stops. One day it rained cats and dogs without a break.

It was time for Linda to sell some cattle to round them up, John with his four dogs and on horse back did a splendid job far better than noisy quad or motor bikes.

John off to round up the cattle

I 

Cattle for the chop

 John's horse

Still that was only the start of the task, we then had to sort the cattle out from the ones that had to be kept for breeding, the older heifers and a a few steers were for the chop. We had a little hiccup as one of the gates had been left open and off they went back to there hiding place that was the last straw. We had a few heifers that had bad tempers with a mind of their own; John packed up and headed off home early, well it was on a Sunday.

John arrived back with horse and dogs early Monday morning rounded up the escaped cattle with a few unwanted ones as well, another day sorting them out then John drove the cattle across the fields to a neighbours holding pen (Luke’s farm) we then had to sort out the smaller steers from the heifers ready for loading them in to two lorries Linda arrived with her lorry taking the smaller steers while Luke took the bad tempered beasts. By this time it was dark and we had a 3 hour journey to the market Linda and I had to unload the cattle all on our own as every one had gone off to the pub or bed. Time we arrived back at Megalong it was midnight. The whole day was extremely interesting and fun.

I repaired quite a few gates in the holding pens that needed some attention. Dug out some earth for the water to run away in the cattle yard. Fixed the choke cable on the Land-rover that had been left off, made up some brackets to fit the wing mirrors on. 

The Little Red House

The large tree that I did not cut down

Megalong Valley

Another few days had past away fitted Linda’s wind shields to her Land Cruiser as well as thinking about packing up my goods and shackels ready fro my flight back to the UK.

The Long Drive Tanah Merah, Sydney, Megalong Valley

April 4

Time I was on my way to visit Rainbow Power a solar power company at Nimbin NSW to replace my stolen generator for Plod. Paul was the man I had to see I arrived while Paul was at lunch and was told to go and have a coffee down town, I replied I will be in my van. I waited half an hour and walked back in Paul had arrived back from lunch and was with a customer, well I was here first I was palmed off on to another man and he did give me a quote that took a long time I was there three hours and Paul was still tied up with the same customer that jumped the queue. I then walked out I was going to wait but decided to give Johnston a ring in Sydney as he had already given me a quote I asked when he would be in as it was Easter week end my reply was Thursday 5 and I am on holiday next week. I drove off at 3pm passing some beautiful country side. I had over a ten hour journey to do at night.

Currumbin Valley fresh fruit & veg

I was making good time I stopped for fuel at Lismore and again at Kempsey for half an hour I made Taree before I had to stop and have a sleep.

April 5

I arrived at Australian Wide Solar at 8pm Johnston was out for the day won't be back till 3.30pm I had a detailed list of parts that I needed from the quote. I waited and I waited I told them I wanted to fit the panels on to my roof before I left here.  I had to pay for them before I could get them. I received the panels and brackets at 2.30pm by the time I asked him a question and he eventually got back to me it was 3pm, So I said this is not good enough you know I cannot fit these panels on to my roof by the time it gets dark now so I think I want my money back. I left about 3.30 and still had a 3hour journey to do I arrived at Lynda's Farm in the Blue Mountains just as it was dark. I parked up by the cottage and plugged in then went over to the Easter campers and had a beer. 

Quote; What a day I had still, who knows was it bad thing or was it a good thing “Who Knows”

April 6 Good Friday down Under.

I really do not know where the day has gone. I have been on my computer writing this blog, and answering a few emails rang my better half, my sister skyped me, not to mention setting up my camp. A beer with the campers and now to bed.

 Lynda Farm

Easter meet

Easter meet

April 7

A lot more people arrived friends and family we had a splendid BBQ at the cottage looking out over the dam as people were enjoying themselves in a canoe. 

Canoeing on the dam

Young children riding a motor bike

Mark, Linda me Barry & Fran

Back at the camp

April 8

Another fine day so many people playing on motor bikes horse riding and milling around the children had their traditional Easter Egg hunt. 

They start them young in Australia

Jack on the pony

A proud grand mother 

A morning rest

The dogs had a great time my favorite dog was little George I thought of smuggling him in to England under my coat. The collies were wonderful as well not used as working dogs just family pets

 George the dog

Just having fun

 It  is now 10pm so I am off to bed and left all the young folk sitting around the camp fire having a drink or two or more than likely three.

April 9 Easter Monday

We went around Glen farm just to have another Easter egg hunt the children just love it.

Megalong Valley

Megalong Valley

Just some of the family

Eating an Easter Egg

Look I have some left

Megalong Valley

April10

Easter has gone so have the camper’s I have been enquiring about solar for Plod seems as if every motor home has solar so that is the way to go. I have put Plod on the market for sale if I do not sell Plod solar will be good for next time round cost about the same price as a good generator.

I have parked up at Linda’s on her farm just milling around enjoying life. The contractor men are very busy sorting out the drive and putting in drain’s.