After a great sleep up for breakie overlooking the beach, time for a catch up coffee with Linda Berryman, Linda was running the Encore Program in Dubbo when I had finished treatment 2010.
On the road again Bras flying music pumping next stop Yamba. Arrive at the Jones ( Roger and Shawna) lovely fresh prawn salad for lunch, then they take me sightseeing over to McLean this is a old Scottish with 100 different tartans painted on the telegraph poles! And a quick coldie at the Pacific Hotel and then at the Yamba Shores Tavern!
Lovely dinner Orange Chicken cooked by Roger from his senior mag!! Few more drinks remembering fun times from our work days at Myer in Dubbo.
Tonight in a big fluffy bed!
Friday February 24th
After a lovely cooked breakfast by Paula, time to say goodbye and hit the highway not sure how far I will travel as stopping in Nambucca Heads to say a surprise hello to friends Kay and Nev Mc Donald and Leonie Smith, after a lovely morning catching up back on the highway , I decide to stop at Woolgoola. Lovely spot they were excited to see Groovy. Had a few people come over for photographs.
One lady who's sister was fight Breast Cancer now, took pics and sent them to her, see came back and said thank you my sister loved the photos and they made her happy! She then invited me to join her sons birthday party sausage sizzle.
But I could see the locals heading to a fish and chips shop so I headed a over and it was prawns, chips and a white wine set up over the beach.
Thursday February 23rd - Rest Day Hat Head
This morning a nice relaxing swim, floating down the river in crystal clear warm water!
A shower and then Paula takes me to South West Rocks for lunch and sightseeing!
Wednesday February 22nd - Tea Gardens to Hat Head
Today a leisurely drive taking the scenic route through Forster and Tuncurry! Arrive at Hat Head just in time to make a sandwich for lunch.
Then head down to fellow Dubians Col and Paula Brien, happy hour starts at 3pm, meeting some other happy campers!
Tuesday February 21st - Dunedoo to Tea Gardens
So after a comfortable night sleep, I was up and ready for day 2. Stopping at the news-agency to pick up my sticker for the van, a man walked across the road he had heard me on the Radio yesterday morning and wanted to say well done.
Then as I was backing up I could see in my reverse camera the gutter, i heard some tooting as I was about to hit the shop awning oops still forget about the height. A lady comes over to the window wanting to know what Groovy was all about, she grab my hand and says bless you, she had lost her best friend in Currumbin to Breast Cancer!
I then headed off and was to travel around 50kms through where the Sir Ivan Fire had been and destroyed.
My thoughts of how lucky I was to have what I do, as I am driving past homes that have been reduced to rubble, it still had a slight smell of smoke, it had an eerie look, some trees where still smothering, I don't think you can understand the enormity of it every bend or hill I think there can't be anymore, but there was and then you see the hope and resilience of our land with green tuffs starting to sprout!
I pulled up at Sandy Hollow for fuel and a coffee, the Manager walks out for a break and she says wow well done and hugs me, then 2 ladies pull up and come over for a look and chat.
Got a few waves and a big thumbs up from a workman on the stop sign at road works.
While checking in a guys comes in and says have you seen that van with pink wheels and bras everywhere! I laugh and say yes it's mine!
Monday February 20th
Early start this morning 7.20am interview at ABC Western Plains Dubbo with Dugald Saunders!
Monday February 20th after an early morning interview, quick check on the tension on Groovy's tyres after there paint job last week, then off to Dubbo Photo News office to pack all the generous donations from Dubbo Businesses and individuals to take to the Dunedoo Bush Fire appeal!
Frances Rowley followed me over then jumped in and we headed out to a few properties of people Frances knew, seeing the damage and loss for many on these properties.
Hearing the stories and seeing it first hand was very emotional.
It was amazing to see the generosity of so many and true Australian spirit and mateship when things are tough.
Decided to stay at the Dunedoo Caravan Park, so set up for my first night on this adventure North!
Thursday February 16
Thanks to Todd at Geoff Richards Panel Beating and Tony at Bob Jane T Mart Dubbo for my new Pink Wheels!
Saturday February 11th
Thanks to Dubbo City Toyota for helping out with a check up and service.
David Hayes DCT principle checking out Groovy with me!
Merry Christmas from Groovy
Friday December 16
Groovy headed from her base in East Dubbo travelling the 5kms to the discovery park in West Dubbo.
Set up and ready for girls night, Jac, Ann, Jenet and Donna where not deterred by the thunder storms, enjoying food, drinks and laughter.
Sisterhood gets the Groovy Booby Bus
3 nights in Canowindra
I have had 3 lovely spring days, meeting some lovely people, firstly my neighbours Trevor from Victoria he was travelling with his wife, his story he had an early diagnosis of prostrate cancer, and just travelling enjoying life, then a local lady had been told I was in town, so walked down to introduce herself, she had Leukaemia and was seeing if I would be around as she had organised a "Light the Night " here on Nov 5th.
Then beautiful lady from North Sydney came over she was 12 months down the track, fortunately it was an early diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer. Her and her husband were taking some timeout!
Another reminder to know your body and have your regular check ups or if you don't feel right see a Dr!
4 of us with a Cancer story and lucky for early diagnoses!
I have enjoyed wandering up the streets seeing the locals, Wednesday morning I called in to a quaint little coffee shop and heard some regulars laughing and joking, one commented this is like a scene out of Cheers only no alcohol!
Thursday morning after another restful night wandered up the Street again to call in and see friend and Ex Dubbo resident Jackie Yeo and hubby Geoff, enjoyed a great coffee and great catch up in between Jackie baking a salmon and sweet potato pie at her lovely Finn's Store.
Then spent a couple of hours under a shady tree writing, enjoying some fresh air as some new vans pull in and set up for the night.
Happy days
Tuesday October 25th
Decided to fly the bras at Canowindra, it's beautiful spring day not a cloud in the sky, cruised along landscape is so green, listened to Sarah Head on CD, such talent.
Now let me tell you it has takes a little while to adjust when I first head out, as Groovy has a little sister Suzuki, who is small, petrol and a manual so then to jump into Groovy who is big, diesel and auto, takes a little adjusting, also to have wipers and blinkers on opposite side, no rain but I know the wipers work! And sorry to the cars behind about blinking so late!
I must say Suzuki has been happy of late as big sister Groovy has been able to hand down a few pink items that were to small for her!
I wonder as I drive past the road workers what they are thinking, it is such a buzz to see them smile and wonder what they tell the guy at the other end of that walkie talkie, big pink bra headed your way, doesn't really matter as long as they smile, wave and hopefully might just start a conversation that might encourage someone to be more breast aware!
Arrive safe, cheering it is a drive through site, thankfully no backing as I am still working on that skill!
Light gas - yes hot shower tonight!
Plug in and TURN on power - yes
Hook up water - oops must of left tap connection in Mudgee, lucky I had a new Pink one! note now need a new spare.
Start talking to the family next door they have a mobile food van and been at Orange field days, husband tells me his wife 54 has just found a lump and is going to get it checked out, also heard someone else I know 47 has just be diagnosed! Cancer it just doesn't discriminate!
Canowindra caravan park nestled amongst trees on the Belubula River.
Tuesday October 18th
After staying overnight at the Riverside caravan park, up and out to the Mudgee TAFE to speak at there Pink Up Mudgee Morning Tea.
Friday October 14th
Had a lovely drive with Debbie to Wellington for lunch at the Calf and Cow then onto Mudgee.
Walk into office at Riverside Caravan Park Mudgee and in walks Paul Cheshire from Dubbo and invites us over for 5pm drink!
Head to our site to set up, still need to work on my backing skills, a lovely gent comes over to see if he can helps, of course we stay we are new at this and would love some help, so he helps hooks up water and power!
5pm We take our bottle of bubbles from fridge nice and cold, not even thinking it has been bouncing up and down all trip!
Paul opens and bubbles everywhere!!!
6.30pm Head over to Groovy to freshen up to walk to local for dinner, lights on, but power points and fridge not on! Hum ok so look for a switch, ring the son, then Paul comes over and finally checks, the other lovely gent had plugged us in but haven't turn power on!
Comfortable night sleep, hot shower and off to check out Mudgee and all the pink for the Mc Grath foundation - Pink up Mudgee.
Then out to Gulgong for a look around!
Lots of waves and smies!
Lesson one - don't drink bubbles when you first pull up!
Lesson two - check power is turned on.
