2008 east coast " adventure before dementia" tour

[Deleted]

Hi Groovers
Its a long way off but
Here is a rough guide to whats doin on the 2008 pre coledale east coast spring tour. Comments and ridicule invited.

Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 /10

Make your way from home to
Nambucca heads - white albatross van park
www.whitealbatross.com.au/index.html. Not that far from Coffs harbour if you want to head in for a look around.
Note: Those that wish to roll in to Nambucca on the saturday and have the weekend there will need to make thier own booking for saturday night. Tell em you wanna be on one of the sites that the vintage van mob have booked for sunday night.

Monday.-
Travel to Macksville about 20 mins south of Nambucca . Turn right at the lights and head out to "the pub with no beer at taylors arm". The pub was made famous by Slim Dusty.Lunch there then return to the highway and on down to the first Port Macquarie turn off. Hang a left and head over to Port Mac.. do a cruise through the main drag an on down the coast road through Lake Cathie .Stay the night at Bonny Hills Van Park
www.hastingsparks.com/bonny_hills/about.html
Total distance for the day approx 180Ks

Tuesday
Leave Bonny Hills head down to the fist Taree turn off . Head out to Wingham RSL or Bowlo for lunch and then on over the ranges for an overnight stay at Gloucester on the river.
www.familyparks.com.au/ParkDetails.asp?ident=gloucester&C=0
total distance for the day = 128ks

Wednesday
Travel down through Stroud ( famous for the national brick and rolling pin throwing competition) some good antique shops in town as well.,
Cruise on down the "Bucketts Way" back to the highway . Turn right and on down through Raymond Terrace and Turn right just over the Hexham bridge. Head over to the start of the F3 and then on down to Holmesville hotel ( Home of miss Universe) for a BBQ lunch . Then pick up the 2005 tour trail around the northern end of Lake Macquarie to Belmont and " The Pines Caravan park" at Lake Macquarie. Swimming , fishin or whatever. This park is on a pennisula and has water on three sides.
www.lakemac.com.au/holidayparks/parkabout.asp?parkid=3
Total distance for the day= 160k


Thursday
Belmont to the F3 freeway. down to Hornsby, Baulkham Hills , turn right onto M2 motorway, Carry on to the M7 Motorway . turn left onto Narellan Road and then right onto Appin road . Through Appin and head down Bulli pass into Coledale
www.coledalebeach.com.au/
Total distance for the day = 228K

Total distance for the entire tour... 720k
or less than 500 miles in 4 days.



Open to comment. This time we will have one night out in the bush at Gloucester. Its a big town with heaps of shops and drinking establishments. If enough of you complain we can swing that nights stay over to Forster. I reckon one night away from the surf will be good for a change of scenery. The local Bowling club is in the corner of the caravan park... wooo hoooo.

All parks are dog friendly.. dont forget to "scoop your poop".... oh and the dogs poop as well ;D

See ya
Reddo

[1954homemade]

Hi Reddo.

All sounds ok to me.

I'm sure whatever you decide on in the end, it will be a great week. ;D ;D

Hopefully we will be able to attend, but will have to see closer to the time. We have heaps organised for the frist half of this year and so i'm not certain if Alan will have any leave left by then.

Regards
Di

[Deleted]

Hi All
Had a revisited to the original proposal and modified it.
I have knocked out Stockton from the original proposal and shortened it back so we get to Coledale on Thursday lunchtime in stead of friday.. This seemed to work out good last year and gives you that extra day in Coledale to relax and soak up the .. ... beer.... rain... . atmosphere. ;D.. Yeah.. "atmosphere" thats the word i was looking for.

I thought we could make the first day (Sunday) the meet and greet day at Nambucca. See the first post. Those that wanna roll in on the saturday at Nambucca will need to make thier own booking for saturday night. just tell em ya wanna be on one of the sites reserved for the vintage van mob on sunday.
With a bit of luck they should be able to accomodate that request and you wont have to set up on saturday and move over on sunday morning/arvo.
Just take the time to read up on what i am proposing and lemme know if you would like to see something different. Plenty of time to iron out the planning wrinkles.

Cheers All
Reddo

[Deleted]

Hi All

Bonny Hills and Belmont Pines are happy to hold ten sites with a site reservation payment. Gloucester hasnt got back to me yet.
Nambucca want $30.00 ( deposit) per site for sunday night. Seems a bit silly when the sites are $32 per night why not just pay the 32 and be done with it
So anyone planning on going on the 2008 east coast spring tour will need to contact The white albatross van park and tell em ya wanna pay for your site with the vintage vanners.
I would pay for them myself and chase you for the dosh later on but 300 skins is a bit too much to be out of pocket until October.
I know its a fair way off yet but it Looks like we have
Me
Sutcac
Sugar shack
Jailbar juice
Daggsey and carrots ( as at 3/4/2008)
Neilncheryl
Martyn and Julie Locke ( as advised at Munmorah 2008)
Earlee
John and Pam Daniels ( as per phone call 25/6/2008)
Lovshack
Dosse........ ( added 5/10/2008)

I know there where others who mentioned to me at Mt G that they will be coming this year but with all the goings on down there i have forgotten .

So.. who else is in on it??

Reddo

[JBJ]

Hi reddo,


I obviously forgot to confirm our attendance, during the hectic period we all just had.

We'll be there, probably in our crack free Sunliner.

Jailbarjuice

[Deleted]

Hi Trendsetters, tax dodgers, extortionists, shonks and vanites

Just got off the dog and bone to Gloucester Van Park.. Its all good brudders... and bruddettes.. and their flea ridden Muttleys.

.We have 10 sites booked there for Tues 14/10 as part of our "2008 Adventure before dementia east coast spring tour"
or ABDECST for short.
No deposits necessary... Cool bananas .
Intend coming this year
Please reply now.
I have 10 sites at each park booked . If your name aint in the first 10 you might end up somewhere else in the park, maybe unpowered site.. or worse still .. in another van park.
Now wouldnt that be embarassing.. Bloody outcasts.

oooooo the shame of it all.

For those intending to travel up from Victoria I have put in a special request for some good old Vic drought , high temps, gale force winds and dust storms... i am currently in negotiations with those "Further up the gold stars ladder" .
They said.... if we turn up on the seventh day .. the big Kahuna will be resting and no one messes with the weather knobs without his permission.

Stay tuned

Reddo "O-fishoil tore organarser"

[Daggsey]

Howdy Reddo,

Effacy and the red & white bauxite box should be in or about Taree-ish by then, so will probably join this little venture.......I'm not sure, but I think there is an annual hotrod show at Nambucca over a long weekend in Sept/Oct......there was something going on there last year when I passed through that area

Daggsey

[Deleted]

Yo Daggsey type.
Your expression of interest has been noted.
I will put you , the redhead ;D and Lady madonna :-*on the list as "definite maybes"
Taree is about 3 hours south of Nambucca. We are leaving Nambucca and heading south for 4 days until we get to Coledale near woolongong. Not too sure which way you are circumcising OZ but it might mean back tracking up and down the coast for a while.
Until then
Stay safe and hear from you later in the year as to your whereabouts.

Reddo

[neilncheryl]

Hi Reddo
We would like to tag along if there is still a vacancy
Thanks
Neil & Cheryl

[Deleted]

Hi Thar
Neil and cheryl.
I hear ya loud and clear.
Bring your fastest donkeys, Your largest Sombrero, and your longest pantellas.... Viva la Mehico ;D ;D
This years tour starts up on the mid north coast of gods state and heads south to Cold -Ale... east coast vintage van Mecca . so every day of the tour you will be getting lessera homesick for your beloved Victoria... alias .. Death Valley.. Dry Gulch.. The Mexican badlands.....Saharadale .. sandrasia... Dustbowlahoma.. wiltsville ....Oh stop it Reddo why cant ya be nice for once.. or even better.......for twice..D

Ok, Ok .. alright then, i will bung your name on the list i have a few posts back... Its all good Neil and Cheryl.. We of the superior state will welcome you with open arms... you just have to fill them with Beer. ;D
1 from QLD ( Quack Like Ducks)...( Queens Like Dressinup)
4 from NSW ( N.ice S.unny W.eather)
1 from W.A ( Wait Awhile)
1 from Vic ( Very Inhospitable Climate)

Reddo.. NSW.. N..ot S..ure W..hy

[neilncheryl]

Thanks Reddo
Looking forward to it
All downhill to get there, problem is all uphill to get back home.
Poor ol FB will be puffing a bit
Neil from QLD (Quite Luvly Days)

[sutcac]

Hey there Reddo................called in and checked out the park at Glouchester ..........it's a beauty..........plenty of shady sites ....and could all be grouped together.....you've picked a winner there , I reckon.

Also , Bonny Hills is a Ripper..............small park with only basic services, but the sites are pretty special .....most have great views NE to the surf and coastline beyond..........here's some pics.................

[Deleted]

Hi "dementiarists"
Had a great day out doing some blokey type retail therapy ( towcar) ;D. I arrive home to a letter from The White Albatross Caravan park at Nambucca heads.
Seems as though they wont hold our 12 sites unless i pay a deposit of $380 within the next seven days. Bit of a bugga considering all the other parks are sweet with "Just turn up and pay on the day"

So waddawee do . I cant really afford to shell out that much in one hit.
Only way i see around it is to ask for a commitment now for final numbers by posting here and saying you are coming on this years east coast spring tour . Then you back that up by contacting the park manager and stating you want to reserve one of the 12 sites with the vint van mob on the sunday ( dont forget to make your own booking for saturday if you are gunna be there for the weekend)
and then pay your own deposit.

Then come back to this thread to confirm payment.. getting messy isnt it.

Sorry for any inconvenience,
Remember you have seven days to pay otherwise i cant gaurentee you will get a site with the group .. or worse still you might not get a site in the park that weekend. I think this would be highly unlikely as it is the Off peak season.

I will post this notice again every second day for the next seven days as some might miss the update in the last 25 posts.

Geez this run organising can be a pain aye

Reddo

[JBJ]

Hi Reddo,


Thats about all we can do. I'll contact them tomorrow.

Jailbarjuice

[sutcac]

Either that..................or move just up the road a bit to Valla Beach .........haven't stayed there .....but it is dawg friendly....JB and Sue may have stayed there for Rod runs over the years??............ but happy with White Albotross too.....just an idea?............waddayousethink

[Deleted]

Hi Collide

I have stayed at Valla on the June longweekend a few years running for the annual bike rally.
They have big sites and there is an onsite woolshed style dance hall with a bar in it.
Ideal for happy hour starters. Its cheap and they have just installed new ammenities blocks etc.

However i feel that The white albatross will be just as good ( if not dearer). Valla is a bit isolated whereas the white albatross is right on the edge of the river and within a 5 minute walk of the (steep) ..main street.
Good to see you and JBJ picked up on my message quickly and replied.
Lets just leave it as is and i will PM those that have shown interest in the tour and let em know whats doing with the white albatross park manager.

From memory the deposit they want on each site isnt that much short of the entire overnight rate. If you are gunna pay em ya may as well pay the full ammount for the night ( dont forget to sort out your saturday booking while you are at it). I will definitely try and be there saturday as well.
Hope to have the old sloper chev up and galloping by then.
Might have to leave on Friday to get up there buy saturday in time for happy hour ;D
Reddo

[sutcac]

Alls cool mate .....will book and pay for our site(Sat and Sun) tomorrow. Cheers. C&B

[neilncheryl]

Hi Reddo
We will contact The white albatross this weekend & pay for our site
Luv ya Chev - and a sloper too
Neil

[JBJ]

hi All,

Just paid my deposit, but the price for the sites has gone up to $42 per night as its school holidays. Thats possibly why they wouldn't hold the sites without a deposit, but who knows?
White Albatross park phone is 0265686468, or 1800152505

Jailbarjuice

[sutcac]

Just booked.........................there are waterfront sites available......slightly dearer though...........the lady said that there are 10 waterfront sites available.......... and we can be all together......either on the waterfront(lake) or one back.... but still all together as a group....if that makes sense ??



Cheers , Sutcac

[Deleted]

Hi Guys..
Shades of Mt Gambier here.. I rang the managerette thingy today and expressed my discontent in only a way Reddo can.
She ended up apologising and said all would have been cool with just rolling up.
I went into top gear and asked why in the hell then did i get a bill for $380 pay now or else.
Something about school holidays .
I replied.."Aint gunna be too many still on thier dung mounds by Sunday smoko time" reply.... I a really sorry about this .. the invoice is computer generated...
"oh really.. with a blue biro managers signature on the bottom line..
Geez arent those people at Microsoft a clever little bunch... ;D

Long story longer.. I am in the bikky tin for saturday and sunday. Still would be a good idea to ring em and pay up if ya intend coming.
Just in case they have a "Change of Policy again".

Just a small hiccup in the start of what should be a great tour.
So... run as fast as you can and catch the "Dementia express out of Nambucca" ;D

Reddo.. Soldier of fortune.. of which i have none ;D

[Deleted]

Greetings Vandwellers

Just a bit of a wake up call for ya's.
At the moment i have 4 definites and 3 "definite maybees" for this years E.C.S.T.

Liddle bit thin on the ground so far??

I appreciate that people may still have to sort out work leave etc and i am hoping we can get a few more in on this great week of touring leading up to Coledale.
For those of you that are in 2 minds about coming along i can assure you i am not the evil monster i appear to be here on the forum sometimes... Truth is i love all caravan creatures great and small. No matter what they are made of... There is only one thing i love more than the vans and thats is... seeing a heap of people having a bloody good time and doing what our forefathers/mothers done.
Going on holidays in thier old vans and hitting the road...
The only pre-requisite is that you have an old van. Duzznt matter a rats rectum what ya tow it with .
Just bring your crew, bring your van, bring your sense of humour. bring your thirst for adventure ( and drinks) .. and get your butt
along to what promises to be another great "www.vintagecaravans.com - East Coast Adventure Before DementiaTour"

I am looking at getting T shirts done for this years tour "Showbag"..
This years screen printing will read..

" www.vintagecaravans.com.. A drinking club with a caravan problem!! " ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Waddya reckon guys.. am i on another winner or not......... ....ooooo look there's that 4 letter word...... "Club"
Anywho.. tell ya boss wot ya think of him and put your name down here for the tour to end all tours...

Reddotel Travel Agency... specialising in disorganised stuff ups all up and down the east coast. A disgracefull reputation in the tourist industry for over 50 years ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

[neilncheryl]

Hi Reddo
Just phoned the White Albatross Van park to pay/book for Sunday 12/10.
Plenty of sites available that weekend but she didn't have a record of what sites the Vintage Vanners are on.
I don't know any of the groups surnames so I couldn't get her to search which sites the group have. Can you tell me what site you're on so I can book mine amongst the rest of the V Vers

Looks like I'll have a new tow car for the trip also.

Thanks
Neil

[Deleted]

Hiya Neilncheryl

I have sent you a pm which should sort it out.

Reddo

[Deleted]

Oiy..
Just got off the phone to
John and Pam Daniels from Muswellbrook NSW.
They arent members yet but had such a good time at Munmorah (with their off white EH panel van and silver bondwood with the red and blue dots.) that they have signed up for the2008 tour .
Onya guys your names have been added to the list back on page one of this thread.
Please ring the White Albatross Caravan Park at nambucca heads and book in for sat and sunday ... or sunday only depending on your plans.

Reddo