McPherson's Blog

Chassis is Coming Together

2011-10-16T15:06:00.001+11:00

Welding has begun, the chassis is coming together! Every little step taking time and patience. These first steps have helped us understand the real time and effort this build is going to take - but it is exciting, even though there is so much to do! The design has taken countless hours in coming together. Every detail being VERY important to the millimetre. Some of the finer details are

Testing the Camp Shower

2011-09-11T16:23:00.001+10:00

The camp shower has been tested! No one wanted to brave the back yard, so it was set up in the bathroom for a few days ... hot water system, jerry can, gas bottle, pump, battery and battery charger!! We went around in circles for a while trying to choose a hot water system. One major factor was to choose how much money we wanted to invest into it and whether we thought some of the

Becoming a Reality ....

2011-08-22T14:16:00.000+10:00

Friday saw the big delivery arrive ... the suspension plus related parts for the build of our new home! The awaited truck arrives out the front, I quickly text Stephen with the news, open the door and the delivery man says "where's your fork lift?". I give a "you've got to be joking" look, he gives the same look back as we stare at the pallet on his truck holding 120kg of metal. We discuss

The Garage Sale ... Clearing Out

2011-08-11T15:16:00.001+10:00

The other weekend we had our second garage sale ever. I think with our trip in mind and the fact we plan to empty our house in about 6 months time this garage sale was far more successful than our first. I spent about three weeks prior emptying book shelves, display cabinet, office drawers, kitchen cupboards - therefore we had plenty to sell! The kids got involved including our eldest with her

Step Two for the "Big Trip"

2011-07-18T22:12:00.000+10:00

It is the eve of step two towards our "big trip". Our "big trip" is the long talked over, mulled over, yearned for trip around Australia. We plan to build a trailer, sell up and travel and work around Australia for 12 months, most likely beginning early to mid next year. Our first major step towards this becoming a reality was to finish hiring camper trailers and sell them all. A couple of

Dunn's Swamp - Wollemi National Park

2011-05-10T23:06:00.001+10:00

The beginning of April saw us taking a trip for five nights. It was the first time we've gone away in the school holidays camping and were bracing ourselves for the crowds. We arrived at Dunn's Swamp, about 25km out of Rylstone on the Friday afternoon and didn't have too many choices of campsites. We where pleased we arrived on the Friday thinking it would fill up fast. A few more arrived

Landscape Photography Workshop

2011-03-28T21:23:00.001+11:00

Here are a few of my favourite shots from the latest landscape photography workshop with photographer, Glenn Mckimmin. It was a great day with an added bonus of no rain! (The previous landscape workshop was quite wet!) Although we had no grand, spectacular sunrises or sunsets it was still a beautiful experience as that special early and late light always gives. Sunrise - Wamberal Somersby

Photography Workshops - Portraits

2011-01-24T22:23:00.005+11:00

Last Saturday afternoon was our portrait photography workshop with Glenn McKimmin. What a blast it was for me and from all reports for many others! I'm loving my job organising these workshops - it is such a privilege to be involve. I get to meet amazing people who all share a passion for photography and of course learn something new along the way. It was not until I attended a few workshops

Front Line Management

2011-01-17T15:45:00.004+11:00

The holidays are nearing to an end. Our busy time has passed - with all the trailers currently out on hire with only a couple more hires to go for January.Although the month is busy we get longer stretches of having all the trailers out and a little more time to give to other aspects of our business.Last year Stephen & I began some training. We have started a cert IV in Front Line Management

Outback Adventures

2010-10-20T19:38:00.044+11:00

I do apologise ... it has been such a long time since I've updated this blog!! I have one excuse after another, but will not bore you with that now but give you a little run down of our latest trip to Outback NSW.In August we (being my Mum & Dad, Stephen and our four children) set off for a relaxing three week trip. We decided this trip was to relax and chill out for a while, rather than

Easter camping .... will it rain?

2010-03-18T15:45:00.003+11:00

All camper trailers are now booked for Easter. It is always a very popular time to go camping. We never camp then as we have no camper trailers available but we do try to take a break over the school holiday period.Hopefully this year will be a dry Easter, as most Easters since we have owned this business have been WET! Rain never seemed to bother us 4 years ago, but now we are very conscious

Barrington Focus

2010-01-24T15:49:00.008+11:00

Last weekend we visited our favourite camping place at Barrington - Camp Cobark. We took photographer, Glenn McKimmin with us. The purpose of the weekend was to find great photography locations for a photography workshop.... and that we did! There were so many great locations - too many to fit into one workshop! We scampered down the scrub, explored private properties, stood in the middle of

Big Yengo Camping

2009-12-03T12:16:00.015+11:00

In early November we took a weekend out and went to Yengo National Park for a family camping weekend. We camped at Mountain Arm camp ground in the Big Yengo area.This area is behind locked gates and is beautiful. There is a house you can book through National Parks or bush camping with toilets provided. We were the only campers there and enjoyed the ease of not having to keep our children

Sunset - Sunrise

2009-10-26T20:16:00.008+11:00

I am really enjoying photography at the moment! It has always given me a huge buzz to take a great shot and over the years the time I've spent enjoying the hobby has dwindled. I've continued to take photos - mainly of the kids, but my real passion has always been landscapes and nature. I completed a course with Ken Duncan earlier this month and well it could be an understatement to say my

Yengo National Park

2009-10-12T20:05:00.005+11:00

We had a wonderful day last month exploring Yengo National Park and surrounds. It was a National Parks Discovery 4WD tour. They have fantastic guides, who are volunteers and are passionate about the area and its history. We saw Aboriginal artwork, rare plants, spectacular views and found out some real interesting facts and history.It is an all day event. We started around Kulnura at 8:15am

Dirty Gear Bag

2009-08-17T20:03:00.002+10:00

Well the long awaited Dirty Gear Bag has arrived! Stephen was promised the bag months ago when he renewed his 4WD magazine subscription. Even the courier started to duck his head every time he passed our house as Stephen would stop him in the street just to see if maybe he had forgotten to deliver a parcel to our house.What is a Dirty Gear Bag... some of you may ask? It is a strong canvas bag

Fourth Baby Camping Woes

2009-07-31T11:57:00.010+10:00

Having our fourth baby has really slowed us down this year. The older kids are going into camping withdrawals .... "when are we going camping again?" "I want to go horse riding" "when can we go outback?" are all weekly questions in our household. "Soon... When Matthew starts sleeping better" or "When Matthew starts walking" (for the outback) is the answer.We've camped with all our kids as

The Joys of Camping - Flies!

2009-07-25T20:01:00.005+10:00

In 2004 we took our two small girls to the Flinders Rangers in South Australia. It was the days before the red Patrol and the days before camper trailers. I found the days a little long with constant fatigue and MORNING SICKNESS! The nights were COLD and uncomfortable in a swag. Call me soft, a wimp... whatever you like, but I do LOVE our camper trailers. Thank goodness the days of

Comeroo - Outback Camping

2009-06-22T20:43:00.010+10:00

Comeroo is about 150km north of Bourke, out in the middle of nowhere and has become a family favourite of ours.It is an 100,000 acre working property, with friendly hosts Bruce & Chris and a lovable dog, Ralph. There are always new animals for the kids to feed, pat or play with and plenty of Yabbies in the dam for Stephen to catch. Last trip we enjoyed a camel wagon ride to the letterbox and

June Long Weekend 4WD Day

2009-06-09T21:38:00.005+10:00

What a fabulous June long weekend. The last 3 years has been torrential rain... I remember them well since hiring camper trailers - and drying them all!This year we spent the Saturday four wheel driving around the Watagan's area. We had 7 vehicles and 27 kids all up!!! We found a lovely place for a BBQ lunch - Boarding House Dam in the Watagans National Park. There is a bush walk, water

Lemonade Scones

2009-05-30T20:07:00.004+10:00

A favourite of ours while camping is Scones. This recipe is so easy to cook making it a fun activity with with the kids. They are totally scrumptious straight out of the camp oven, eaten hot with jam & cream (we generally pack ready to go whipped cream when we know we're gong to cook these treats)We haven't made them for a while since we cook gluten free now for Lily - but will add a new recipe

Photo Shoot for Camper Trailer Magazine

2009-05-28T11:05:00.017+10:00

Glenworth Valley, on the Central Coast was the location for a photo shoot with Carlisle Rogers from Camper Trailer Australia Magazine. Complete Campsite will be on the front cover with their 2009 Nomad Camper Trailer. We were lucky enough to tag along and be apart of the shoot with our kids and two of their friends.Glenworth Valley is a great camping location, so close to home! There is horse

Point Plomer

2009-05-25T21:32:00.005+10:00

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Camping with Kids - Article for Kidz on the Coast

2009-05-25T20:49:00.003+10:00

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