east coast spring tour - expressions of interest.

[Deleted]

Hi folks
I have been sittin' back watching how these well organised west coasters pull together thier annual spring tour .

Snail and the crew do a bit of research on availabilty of van parks that are no more than a few 100 k apart. no more than say 3 or 4 hours travel for the day. A leisurely cruise along the coast then maybe out into the hinterlands etc.

I got to thinkin' why cant we organise something like this over our side of gods own country.
Sure we have ESk, Fingal, Munmorah and Coledale to cater for or local get togethers but we have nothing that comes close to the west coast spring tour.

I see the biggest stumbling block being the distances between east coast groups. There seems to be a fair few within 200k of Sydney so i thought we could focus a 3 or 4 day run starting from out windsor way. then maybe headin west or north west... Bathurst, wellington, dubbo, muswellbrook and down through the hunter valley
or
Head southwest from Bathurst , blayney , orange and end up down goulborn , across down kangaroo valley and Nowra and back up towards Sydney.

Idea being to dodge the major hwys but still travel on roads that wont demolish our cars or vans.

Only opportunity for a 4 day run is easter. 3 day run June longweekend( this is wintersun weekend and plans are already underway ... JBJ ) October 3 day longweekend .... too close to coledale unless we go on tour the long weekend and and end up at coledale .

Anyway its all open to suggestions and comment. Give it some thought and have your say if ya think it could be a goer.

Cheers
Reddo

[bigdidda]

Reddo,
Certainly sounds a good idea.
As you say we are spread out so distance is a problem but as a lot seem to live near the coast a country trip would do them a world of good ( and yes i am bias having a property in the Central West ).Easter would be great as its usually not too hot or cold.
I could possibly have a bit of a look at the roads Bathurst,Blayney,Goulburn,Kang Valley when i go hols in July if that helps.
Thats my little bit and we'll see what others think.
regards
don

[will and lyn]

;D
REDDO YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD

When we all met in the Blue Mountains and headed to robinvale met Col and Kris and then to Morgan

I think Jailbars wife Sue said I feel as if I have known all you guys for years when we visited the POW camp at Nowra

yet it we only met that day

Well remember the fun and good times we had stopping and talking to the old fella about his 50 year old van
it was full of treasure and and caravan trophies we ragged the local copper about his killer chihuahua (chi-wa-wa)

then we found the old vintage cars in the old garage and found that massive mural in a deserted town

well the 2005 springtime run is just like that everyday

Over 40 schoolkids spilled of school to see the old cars and vans Mark was interviewed by the ABC all over the northern part of the state and people came to the caravan park to check us out
we made the local papers in two towns

The caravan park owners put on food and barbecues great nights in the local pubs and special dinner arranged in an old railway staion house just a just a few of the good things we did more stops The 2005 and five springtime run was definately the best run we have attended and equal with the run from the Blue mountains to Morgan with you eastern staters


If any of the new members would like to peruse those runs pictures are all there they are under runs and tours and on the prefix (the page selector is on the bottom left hand side)
just look up 2005 springtime tour and Morgan run

lots of good times and irreplaceable memories

And if you do decide to set up run in that vein I would urge any V Vanners that can afford that week off to attend that run do so at all costs because you will never ever forget the fun and friendships that are formed

Apart from the great vans and cars forming a great visual treat for the locals and travellers alike its just like going back in time 40 to 50 years for some of the travellers you meet

in fact Lyn and I met one couple who saw our 53 chevy on one run and said that was the exact model they did there honeymoon in so the best times are ahead of you guys who have never attended a run try hard and make Reddos week long run one to remember if it gets of the ground


Will and Lyn
PS give us notice Reddo and we will set our goals to get over there with the Teardrop it would have to be after winter or we would have to bring (JFK) the Kennedy

[kingy]

Count us in Reddo, the week around Coldale would probally suit us moreso as we have already organised it , but lets see what others have to say. I thought once we had all interesed parties wanting to go maybe then we could decide on our destination in relation to where everyone lived ? (we could end up anywhere) but we're definitly interested
cheers kingy

[rodp]

Hello Reddo,If you're planningto go via Kangaroo Valley (my neck of the woods )remember there are two really steep hills, Barrengarry & Cambewarra mountains.A good test for cooling systems on the way up & a good test for brakes on the way down.
regards, RodP

[belinda]

With three small kids (including one prone to car sickness) and no long service leave, Spring touring isn't on the agenda for a while. Our limit is about two hours from home - the point where the back seat passengers turn toxic, or green, or both.

However, if you're after itinerary ideas Rob can recommend the Rylstone Apex Caravan Park - small, simple, inexpensive and everything within walking distance. A bit like Coledale, but in the mountains. It is also off the main highway and much quieter than places like Bathurst.

Rob spent a few days there with another family in April and they had a great time. Nearby attractions were:
- Dunns Swamp, Wollemi National Park
- tour of Mount Piper power station
- Zig Zag railway

[Deleted]

Hi Guys
All good input so far.
I was not planning to take anytime off for coledale except friday.
But given what JBJ has mentioned about bringin the Qld contingent down to coledale i have leaned towards having the whole week off. and organising this years run for the week before coledale. Doing the "northwest loop"

Plan is head down to somewhere like Rylstone as Belinda has suggested on the monday to collect everyone from Sydney and wollongong and have monday night there as a get to know each other night.

Tuesday over to Bathurst then north towards Mudgee for a night. Wednesday up through to Dubbo and on to Duneedo for the night.
Thursday swing towards the hunter valley and stay around Maitland or cessnock way and hook up with the QLD north coaster crew for the night.
Friday you would have a 3 or 4 hour run south to coledale lobbing there early to mid arvo.
Culminating in 30 to 40 vans and a heap of happy campers friday saturday and sunday.

Again just a rough plan . Havent got the tape measure out to work out distances each day or total distance for the trip. But i can gaurentee it would be a bloody sight less than the one way trip to Morgan.
Definitley all for the idea of dodging 5 star parks and the "grey Army"with thier F250s and fifth wheelers.
. The little van parks like the one we stayed in the first night on the way to morgan .... Grenfell ...are usually fairly cheap , clean and 9 X out of 10 the caretakers go out of thier way to make you feel welcome. Who else would let Jailbars missus light a campfire in the brick BBQs in the middle of a total fire ban??

Anyway folks i will shut for a while.
Do the south west loop next year aye???

Reddontstartpackinyet!!!

[cobber]

Good on ya Reddo,
What you have in mind reminds me of the “capers” we did back in ‘93...there is no better way to enjoy the old caravan hobby than to do a nice leisurely run through country towns with like minded friends.
vintagecaravans.proboards30.com/index.cgi?board=runevent1&action=display&thread=1093764832
Count us in.

Cobber.

[Tickos]

Hi Tourists

This all sounds great , but as with Belinda, John has not enough leave to tour this year .

another idea for 2007, ;)I am putting a tour together to QLD in September 2007 to link up the Chevrolet Festival and any other events we find on the way.
Everyone is welcome towing or just touring in chev's or other vehicles. We will have at least a couple vans.
The Chev festival makes everyone welcome to their events.
This tour will be about 2 weeks. I will post later on when I have more details.

Ticko's

[Deleted]

WARNING : THIS IS ANOTHER ONE OF REDDOS LONGWINDED STORIES. ALLOW 5 MINUTES TO READ IT. I HOPE IT MAKES SENSE AND IT IS CERTAINLY OPEN TO CRITISIM / VERBAL ABUSE AND CHANGE IF YOU FEEL IT CAN BE ENHANCED.
JUST ONE SILLY TWISTED MANS IDEA OF A GREAT WEEK AWAY CULMINATING IN A GRAND FINALE.

Hello Kiddies .. Its your old uncle Reddo back after taking " A Jog Around the Block"
Had a shower and checked my pacemaker.... Geez i'm a fit bastard!!
Seems like only yesterday i left home and already i have covered the "Pre- Coledale circuit" Mind you the joggers are a bit worn out and the g string is a bit smelly.
Anyway heres what i have downloaded from my pedometer... ummmm stepo-meter, ummmmm...... i ran with a 1 metre piece of string tied between my feet and a stop watch in my hand.

Bullshit.... waddya mean ... Bullshit..... oh... allright then , i got an NRMA map out sqribbled a few lines on the map then sat in front of the computer and used www.travelmate.com.au to come up with an easy cruise around our great state.
I had plenty of time to think while sprinting up over the great divide( before breakfast).

I got all confused about when Coledale is actually on. So i checked out the "Coledale 2006 " thread to get my facts right.
Coledale is on from Friday 20th October to Sunday 22nd October 2006
., Sooooooooo That means i was miles out with the idea of leaving for the tour out west on the monday of the long weekend Sssssssoooooo.
This means that the start date for the tour would be Monday 16th of October. OK..... I SAID ... OK.... All nod your head , that way i know ya all listening... GOOD. Glad thats sorted out.


The deal is i set a few ground rules for myself before i mapped out this track so we aint stuck behind the wheel for hours on end tryin to make some deadline... we try makin long distance deadlines towin' vans we will end up bein just that.... Dead.
So here ya go.

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No more than about 3 hrs behind the wheel each day.

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In a Van Park no later than 3 to 4pm each day. ( I hate dodging skippys and wally wombats in the late arvo). Would much rather be knockin down a few stubbys around the camp or wandering up to the local for a schooey or 2 to settle the dust. Whole lot better than staggering around in the dark/cold trying to reverse in and set up camp.

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Somewhere interesting to look at / do enroute or have lunch at to kill a few hours each day. Plenty of breaks.

Heres Plan "A".
Keepin in mind i live in newcastle and the rest of you are down south or west.

Day one - Monday 16th.
Everyone make thier own way to either Lithgow or Wallarwang for the first night. Dunno what van parks are there but i figure because we are comin from all directions that we are better to set our own pace and end up together at the end of the day. For me this means
263K & about 4hrs driving from Newcastle ( not including wee stops etc.).

Day Two Tuesday 17th.
Lithgow to Dunedoo via Mudgee and Gulgong Check out the Museum in Gulgong ( the town on the ten dollar note). O/Night at Dunedoo ( if they have a van park???) otherwise somewhere near there. Stay tuned i will find somewhere!!!
206K and about 3 hours driving

Day Three - wednesday 18th -
Dunedoo to Lake Glenbawn Rec reserve a large camping reserve on the banks of one of the fresh water supplies for Newcastle.
Morning tea at Merriwa or scone . bit of free time to hit the antique shops , suck in some senery and Lunch somewhere in or around Scone ( Thoroughbred horse breeding capital of Australia).
206k and about 3 hours driving

Day Four - Thursday19th
Glenbawn to Munmorah State rec reserve where we had the east coast NSW May get together.
Travel down the New England Hwy through Muswellbrook, Singleton ( morning tea) then maybe take in the military museum if anyone is interested. On down through maitland past Humptys place... A guided tour of the worlds largest collection of sunliners and other assorted oddities!!! ( watch the dog)
Hang a right onto the F3 Hwy at Beresfield and blast down to the "East Lake Macquarie Tourist drive Getoff" and into Munmorah for the night. Catch up with whoever is coming down from up north or those from the Hunter valley that didnt do the tour with us.
189ks and about 3.5hrs driving

Day Five - Friday 20th October. YYYYeeeeeeehhhhaaaa
A full on stampede down the F3 . Morning tea at the Hawksbury river rest area. Better pack a few sangers cause there aint no shops there, but a pretty spot and a chance for a few happy snaps. Turn off and head in through Waroonga, Ryde, straight south to Heathcote , Waterfall,. Hang a left down into Stanwall Park. Do a cruise on the new road that hangs over the ocean and rock into Coledale from the north get there about early to mid arvo .
192ks and about 3hours driving... I wish. Be prepared for a a few dozen red lights . I can normally do this run to woolongong from my place in about 4 hours .

OOOOOoooo Bugger... I just broke a nail. Gunna havta stop typin.
So thar ya go trendsetting safari types. Mind you this i only plan A. By the time Plan "Z" hits the street we could end up anywhere.... but thats up to you lot aye.

Cheers All
Reddontfollowmeimlost!!!

[will and Lyn]

;D
Hey there Reddo
put Lyn and I down on your list of starters we will come over and enjoy the week with you guys

see ya in october if all goes to plan for you
we will bring the F100 and the Teardop
what about you guys Col and Kris ?be good to catch up

hey Jailbar how are you and sue set

Cobber will be sown up and ready to roll it will be like old times and we look forward to seeing Yvonne too

Cmon lets see some new faces
what about it you eastern staters lets do it!!!

Will and Lyn ;D

[Deleted]

Hi All
I have been doin a bit of fine tuning.
rang around and searched the net for van park options and prices.

Thier prices are all within a few bucks of each other. All prices are for powered site/ 2 persons per night.

Day 1
Find your own way to
Lithgow C/v park
58 cooerwull rd, Lithgow
02 64314350
P/Site: $21 per night
www.lithgowcaravanpark.com.au/
from newcastle 263k @ 4hrs driving

Day 2
Out to bathurst for a quick lap around mt panorama. Up to sofala for a look at the old pub, shops and antiques. Plenty of gold Mining heritage here. up through Mudgee to Gulgong ( henry lawson country ) and a look around the pioneer museum.
www.walkabout.com.au/smh/locations/NSWGulgong.shtml
from there we head north to stay the night at
Dunedoo C/V park Bolero st, Dunedoo
02 6375155
$18
www.walkabout.com.au/locations/NSWDunedoo.shtml
250k @ 4hrs

Day 3
Travel east from Dunedoo to Merriwa for a stop and a cuppa. Then over to Scone. there are 2 ways of getting to Scone. One is via Sandy Hollow, Denman then across through muswellbrook and up to Scone and Glenbawn dam. Other is a more direct route straight across to Scone. Depends on the time of day we get out of merriwa as to which route is best. Glenbawn dam is only 20 minutes east of scone .
Lake Glenbawn State rec C/V Park
0265437193
$19
www.stateparks.nsw.gov.au/glenbawn.html
250k @ 4hrs

Day 4
Head down towards Newcastle on the New England Hwy through singleton . The Military Museum and singleton army base only cost a few bucks and is worth a look. Then down to Maitland hang a right on to the F3. Depending on time i am willing to detour around to the Reddo residence and bung on a lunch time BBQ for us weary travellers followed by a guided tour of the backyard junk mounds .... Admission is free ;D Back onto the Hwy for a 3/4 hr run to
Koala park - Delta power station rec reserve - scenic drive - munmorah 02 43907625
I think Lynelle Tickos bro runs the park. I think it was $18 per night when we stayed there in May.
200k @ 4hrs

Day 5
Up early and off to Coledale through Sydney via wahoonga, Ryde, heathcote , hang a left after waterfall (town) then down through Stanwell park and along the grand pacific drive
www.southcoastleisuretimes.com.au/illawarra/grandpacific.html
to
Coledale beach camping reserve
02 42674302
$20 night UNPOWERED.
192k @ 4hrs

On the starting grid we look like having:
Reddo, JBJs, Will & Lyn, Kingy, Cobber

Maybes: Kaybees, rodp, Bigdidda Don

Any other takers?

Reddofficaltourdisorganiser

[cobber]

Reddo,

Thanks for putting the work into “fine tuning” that run for us all old mate.
It looks like a good one
Although I think it is always best to stick together on this type of run there is nothing to stop somebody who has no interest in doing “a quick lap around Mt Panorama” from doing a slow crawl around a Mudgee winery eh? So long as we know where to
meet up and sleep that night...stick together as much as possible though I say.

I hope many VVs join the run for all of it, or even just a part of it.

Thanks Reddo, your bloods worth bottling

Cobber.

[Roehm3108]

Hey Reddo. Am certainly planning to get down there for Coledale, and your proposal sounds great. So count me in for the Cook's Tour
Ray

[Deleted]

Hi Ray

That great news. Good to see a bit of interest from up north besides JBJ.
Will "Jack" be coming??? i noticed a few parks mention "No hounds". i reckon they will be so over-awed with the midweek roll up of old vans and cars that one jack russell will go unoticed for one night. We can always say "Jack is the forum mascot , he sleeps where he likes, poops where he likes, bites who he dislikes and..... if he goes we go" ;D

Start polishing up that Propert and welcome aboard.

Reddo - Unofficial tour disorganiser

[Roehm3108]

Thanks Reddo
You remember the old song - Love me love my dog? We'll cross that bridge as we come to it. You think I should stuff Jack and stick him on the front of the Propert? By the way, he celebrated his 11th birthday - make him 77 in human years, so he now sits there demanding I respect my elders!!! YOU WANNA EAT, JACK??? WATCH THE HAND, WATCH THE HAND - WHO PAYS FOR THE DOG FOOD!!! ;D ;D ;D
Cheers
Ray

[Deleted]

Hi All
First up i wanna say 'Happy Birthday to all the horses" and remind everyone its also "Wattleday today" .... see i did learn something at school.
There now with all the formalities outta the way i can get down to business.
As time draws nearer for the spring tour i thought i would revisit this topic and ask for any further expressions of interests in the spring tour which is the week leading up to the Coledale getogether. Kickoff Monday 16th at lithgow touring out around mudgee, dubbo, merriwa, lake glenbawn, lake munmorah and on to coledale by around lunchtime friday 20th.
I would like to ask at this stage for "A firm confirmation " that you are "definitely Coming"!!!!
This includes those that have previuosly shown an interest and those that have been thinking about it and not yet committed.

Reason being i have a few suprises instore for those that are coming ( been liasing with Snail the W.A spring tour organiser ) and i would also like to get an exact number so i can order a few odds and ends as well as phone through to each caravan park the number of sites required by us.
At the moment i have:
Reddos
JBJs
Cobbers
Ray R
Kingys

Those i am unsure of are :
Kaybees ( although they have stated that they are head down bum up working on the TD to have it ready for the tour)

Will and Lyn ( a long way to come from Perth??)
Rodp
Bigdidda

So. please confirm that you are definitely going sometime over the next week or so . That way i can get stuck into some more serious organising.

Cheers All
Reddo

[sugarshack]

Hi Reddo ,Shaza and myself will be there,it sounds like it will be a great week,Wayne

[will and Lyn]

;D
Gidday Leddo
Ryn and I will be there on the 16th ready for your east coast spectacular
wouldnt miss it for dim sims (oops) I mean Quids

Will and Lyn

[bigdidda]

Reddo,
would love to be part of your grand tour,but work has to come first and i will see you at Coledale on the Friday.
regards
don

[kingy]

Hi Reddo,
Count us in for sure mate,
Regards Kingy ;D ;D

[Deleted]

Hi All

Just a quick east coast tour update to say i have emailed or rang Lithgow, Dunedoo and Glenbawn dam van parks today and asked that they reserve 10 sites for the tour.
Have a definite OK at Dunedoo and waiting on replies from Lithgow and Glenbawn.
We know we are right for Coledale ( You have all rang Norm at Coledale havent you???)
Only leaves a phone call to make to Munmorah and thats the bookings done.

We have 8 starters and room for 2 more if anyone suddenly finds themselves in a position where they can come with us.
I have been a bit concerned that the parks might ask for a deposit so i have mentioned that i am trying to organise the local press and Telly stations to drop by for a yarn at the van parks late each arvo or of a morning before we leave. Hopefully that will be a big enough "sweetener" to let us "Pay on the day" when we roll into town.
We get a bit of media coverage and so does their van park ;D

Will try and contact the local paper, radio station and TV mob once i get the confirmation that all the parks are OK with 8 to 10 of us turning up.

Roll call looks like this
Reddo, Will & Lynn, Kingy, Cobber, JBJ, Kaybees, Ray Roehm and we welcome on board the Magrins. Caught up with Wayne and Shazza at Cessnock Swap. Both keen as mustard.

So we are up to 8 cars and vans. What a sight this is gunna be rolling along the NSW countryside.

Dont touch that dial. I will resume transmission as soon as i get replies from the other caretakers.

Cheers all
Reddo - Caravanning with the stars ....under the stars

[will and lyn]

Gidday Reddo if you need money for deposits say word man
and we will send you some

wadda ya reckon bring the gear for a last night celebration or come empty handed

Will

[Deleted]

Hi All

Actung Will !!!!

Yes Please. Bring the "Sqwauk box" with you and Lyn
. Norm at Coledale has mentioned that the surf life saving club has offered us the use of thier upstairs hall at the clubhouse straight in front of the van park. Top spot lookin out over the surf and the van park.
i cant see a problem with having the spit roast dinner and then heading over to the clubhouse ( lugging esky behind) for a bit of a "shindig ". Even if we cant get the hall we can still set up under an annexe or tarp up where the powered sites are.
That Kareoke night at Morgan pub was one of the funniest nights i have had in a long time and doin the same at Coledale will be the icing on the cake after a week of touring the countryside and partying at coledale.
I promise i will get the words right on Monty Pythons "His a lumberjack" and " I like Chinese" this time ;D ;D ;D

other breaking news

Got a nice reply from Lithgow this morning . They are lookin forward to having us there. still trying to catch John at munmorah . This is a private park and i dont think the rest of the world knows about it, so i am not overly concerned if i dont catch up with him in the very near future. i will keep trying.
Got a reply fro The state rec mob head office. They gave me a number for the caretaker at Glenbawn dam. They have a "first in best dressed policy".
I explained to him that we are relying on getting into the park on the wednesday. He wasnt keen on roping off 10 powered sites until i mentioned sending him a deposit to show i was fair dinkum. I will post him $100 deposit this week ( total cost for a powered site 2ppl/night is $19.00). Dont worry about sending me the dosh anyone we can sort it out on the trip sometime.

Next round of calls is to the media. Better Polish the FJ, clean your teeth and comb your hair Cobber ( earnt the nickname "Hollywood" Unofficial Vint Van Celebrity at Coledale). Its amazing what a bit of make up can do to make a"fossil" look millions of years younger.

On No folks.... I have "lit the fuse" again .

Reddonefinishedphoning

[Tickos]

Hi Reddo & Tourists

Have spoken to John at Munmorah, no problems to stay there . He will contact you when he gets a chance.

Wish we were there, but, high school kid needs some education!!! (other than Vintage Caravans and classic Cars)

Ticko's