Lap of the Big Paddock: April 1st 2010 - April Fools Day (how fitting for our Griswald adventure!) – here we go, The Shirleys, doing "A Lap of the Big Paddock!"

After months of preparation and the ENORMOUS logistical task of packing up our home , extracting our girls from school and their hectic extra-curricular activities, leaving jobs, relocating our dog Louis and our daughter Jasmine ,(who has stayed behind to continue her university studies), renting the house, redirecting mail and finishing renovations.....the day to embark on our adventure was here.

We have to say that this trip’s inspiration has come from our friends Jan and Mark Devine and their four beautiful girls.In 2008/2009, they did a lap, taking over a year, arriving home in December (perfect timing for us to buy their truck!!). We would receive monthly emails updating their travels and were so inspired, that now we have the courage to carve out our own road.

The day started early, thankfully with a knock on the door at 6am, otherwise we would not have woken. It was Mark, with a bottle of champagne and a helping hand to assist in getting the van hooked up to the truck. Thank you Devine’s!!!

After a teary goodbye with Jas, we departed our Willoughby home at 8.08AM towing our new home. With large coffee in hand and french pastries, compliments of our gorgeous neighbours, The Crowleys( who have adopted our groodle ,Louis, for 6 months) we were excited and nervous . Yep, it was peak hour, what the hell, let’s see the Sydney Harbour Bridge one last time....and towing the Jayco Expanda no less....an hilarious Griswald sight!!

After a lunch stop in Berri and numerous bathroom stops (get in sync girls!!) we arrived at our first stop just after 5:30 – Eden. We stayed 4 days on beautiful Two Fold Bay and we loved getting out the bikes and riding together along the beachfront.Sas & Bella are loving the space. Bike riding is going to be the ‘thing’ for this trip.One morning we went for a ride in and through Eden. We came across an historic, cute little hall overlooking the sea that was once a church . It has been recently converted to a Mary Macillop museum. Saskia brought home a prayer card. Last night Sas was reading the card and asking questions. " Mum,what's an Apostle again?" Sas asked. Danielle replied "The 12 Apostles were Jesus' disciples ........" After a moment of quiet, Bella piped up with "Well, they're all rocks now!!" Boo has been keeping us all entertained with her passion and great sense of humour...even though she is a flea in a bottle( but in this case a caravan!)

We’ve been to the Bega cheese factory and to the Killer Whale Museum – ‘Old Tom’ what an amazing story.

We had to laugh as we enjoyed our gourmet Sydney delights in the Eden Tourist Park amongst the caravaners........There’s been Piper champagne, Peroni beer, Bunnamagoo wine, organic chicken, organic milk and veges….even organic pancakes!! How long before it’s KFC & VB for breakfast?!??! Not on my watch, says Danielle!!

Already feeling the distance from home, David went into town on Saturday night to watch the Waratah’s game. The first pub had one TV – the League. He went to the Amateur Fisherman’s Club – no Foxtel. The only other pub was the Australasian. They had the League on too.He was thankful though – they put on another TV in another room for him to watch…..for him, no one else......clearly, the Union is not the game on the far south coast.

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