Life Finally Begins

Well the time has come for us to hit the highway and enjoy our travels in our caravan along with our little moodle dog Rangi.  Sadly we have to leave our Russian Blue cat in boarding as Mitya is too old to teach him to travel in a van with us.
Steve has semi retired due to a major stroke back in May 2009 so we purchased a van and have been away five times now. 
Our first trip was to Jimmys Beach caravan Park at Hawks Nest which is on the northern side of Port Stephens Bay.  Just a short hop from home here at Anna Bay. Decided not to go too far just in case Steve took sick and I needed to get us home.  It was a good five days but park was very old and since then has been closed.  We had some close encounters with dingos as they are very prevalent on that side of the Bay.
They love little dogs so I kept Rangi close by my side at all times. One day we were sitting on the beach - Rangi was cuddled up to me thankfully because when I looked up there was a dingo about six feet in front of us.  Of course staring at Rangi and thinking about his next feed!
Our next trip was to Great Lakes Caravan Park at Tuncurry.  We had an excellent week here.  Great park and conditions and the fishing was good.  Not too many people so we had some good quiet time.  I also managed to catch up with a close friend of mine who lives at Tuncurry.
Trip No. 3 was to Beachfront Caravan Park at North Haven.  What a wonderful spot.  Right alongside the ocean and the river.  Steve fished.  Pretty unsuccessfully I must say!  Rangi and I walked up to 5 times daily.  He was in heaven.  It was here I caught up with a cousin of mine whom I had not seen in years.
We also met Barbara and Jim who have become good friends and we are planning a trip away together in 2011.  Not sure where to at this stage.
Trip No. 4 was to Lane Cove National Park Caravan Park in Sydney.  What a fantastic spot.  Right on the CBD and all we needed to do was walk 12 minutes to catch at train into the city.  We had a day with my daughter Jenny and her husband Ashley.  Jenny was down to see a specialist.  It was lovely to see her.
We are planning a trip back to this park in 2011 for about 4 nights so we can do the sydney sight seeing thingy.  
Trip No. 5 was back to Tuncurry and to the same park.  BUT this time I was not too keen on the stay there as there where far too many people.  Every night the park was chockers......and no quiet time was had at all.
Rained for the first 3 days which put a dampner on it and then Steve had to go and get bitten by a 100 sandflies. The bites subsequently became infected.  $58 later I had all the chemist said he needed to ease his misery.  I was not feeling too great either as I was recovering from surgery and while there actually had my staples removed from 3 wounds.   Rangi was attacked twice - once by a loose cattle dog who did break the skin on Rangi's back leg and then the next morning by another loose minature thing that just tore into him.
I reported both but it got me nowhere.
I have to say that I came home from here more stressed than when I left to go away.  We are not in a hurrry to go back to this park.
We have decided to stay right away from busy times and try to pick the quieter periods. 
Next trip we hope maybe to South West Rocks - perhaps it maybe this one we will go away with our new friends