Tips for a long journey

During our travels around Australia, Jack and I have done many a long car journey. 4200kms from Yamba to Perth across the Nullarbor, 1300 kms from Augathella to Cairns and now 2680 kms from Augathella to Darwin to drive around the Northern Territory. That's a lot of kilometres and it often means several days of nothing but driving and stopping for water and a pee.

When we drove across to Perth we spent five days in the van stopping once, maybe twice during the day before pulling up. We were on a tight timescale and it's not something I'd reccomend doing but that drive, along with many others, has taught me a few lessons about taking long car journeys that I thought I'd share with you in case any of you are about to do the same. 

Water

Carry more thank you think you'll drink, and drink more than you think you need. It may sound odd but often you won't realise you're dehydrated until it's too late so make the effort to make sure you're drinking regularly. Aim to get through 3 litres a day per person, particularly when you're driving around in the heat of the day. Also carry lots because servos can be few and far between and you don't want to run out, if you don't need it your vehicle might. You can pick up big water containers from most camping stores out here and big names like BCF and Bunnings. 

Keeping Clean

When you're on the road you might not find somewhere with showers every night. And yes that is gross but it's part of the travelling experience. You can always boil some water for a wash in the evening which I highly reccomend. But for a quick on the go freshen up baby wipes, dry shampoo and hand sanitiser will be your new best friend. 

Sleepy eyes

Tiredness on the road isn't uncommon but it is dangerous. There's rest stops on the side of the road all over Australia - use them! Often you won't realise you're tired until you're fighting to keep your eyes open so pull up every couple of hours for a quick rest. Also stretch your legs and have a good drink. If you really feel too tired to carry on then stop for the day. It's really not worth the risk for an extra few k's.

The dark

Often it's tempting to carry on driving in the dark when you're really close to somewhere. We've learned the lesson now though, that it's far better to pull up a few hours before dark have dinner, get a good nights sleep and carry on at dawn. Kangaroos are at their peak activity just before dark and just before first light and you really don't want to hit one. They're bigger than they look and can write vehicles off. Also in some places stock will be on the road and they WILL write your car off. Just call it a day before dark.

Fuel

Fuel is important and there's a few tips here. Fuel stations are often quite far apart, especially when you're doing a drive such as the Nullarbor or up to Darwin. It's important to know how far it is between fuel stations and also how many kilometers you can get out of a tank. Breaking down is the worst - trust me. Carry a couple of Jerry cans as well just in case you come into a stick situation. Also a lot of smaller fuel stations, again such as ones across the Nullarbor, aren't 24 hour so take that into account as well, because if you end up not being able to fuel up because a station is shut you'll have to wait there until the morning. 

There's a few tips for anyone who's thinking of doing a crazy long drive. They are good fun and you see a lot on the way so it's worth it. Number one tip though is just to prepare for every possible eventuality and use your head - if you're not sure don't go for it. 

Until next time,

Em x

The top end | The Travel Diaries

So I'm sat in a hotel room in Darwin writing this travel diaries. Yep, a hotel room. It feels very sophisticated and important although my paint stained Yamba fishing t-shirt says otherwise. Anyway this isn't a fashion blog so I'll get on with the travel diaries. 

Jack and I have been travelling around the territory for nearly three weeks and we've been loving it. It's incredible up here and really is like another world with all it's culture and amazing natural landscapes. It really is a must do for any Australian travelling trip and I'm so glad we had the chance to do it and that we took that chance. 

We started off in Darwin and I've fallen in love with Darwin as a city. It's beautiful relaxed and full of interesting and cool places. There's heaps of history here to take in as well as great restaurants, shops and places to relax. I feel like I'm writing a tourist information guide and I'm trying to sell Darwin to you but it really is awesome here. 

Of course we couldn't come all the way up here and not check out the array of national parks on offer. We headed to Litchfield first and it's beautiful. There's so many natural spectacles to take in from waterfalls to mind blowing rock formations, and plenty of places to swim croc free which is just what you need at the end of a top end day. Kakadu is also incredible however because we're here at the end of the dry season there not many of the waterfalls are flowing but the plunge pools are still beautiful and there's so much Aboriginal culture in Kakadu that it doesn't matter. 

We've still got Nitmiluk national park to see when we leave Darwin and also Alice Springs and Uluru so there's still lots on the to do list but for now we're enjoying Darwin again for a little. 

Of course no travel diaries is without it's drama so here's how we ended up in a fancy hotel room rather than a campsite. Heading to Darwin last night from Kakadu we had a spot of bother with 'the Effy' also known as the F250 we're driving around, kindly lent to us by our employers. We had a break down. Dirty fuel put an end to our drive, three attempts to clean the fuel filter and bleed the engine and lots of swearing later we crumpled and got a tow truck to come and fetch us. Luckily we have the nicest employers and we found the nicest towing company in the territory (NT towing if you're wondering) so we were on to a winner and we'll have Effy back tomorrow morning. 

Just another tale for the diaries I suppose.

Until next time,

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All photos are from my Instagram account, make sure to follow me there for more frequent updates of our adventures!

Take the road less traveled | Queensland

When travelling around somewhere there's always the places you want to go, see, experience. You're in Thailand you want to see the elephant sanctuary, you're in New York you want to get to the top of the Empire State, you're  in Australia you want to see Sydney Opera House. Of course there's nothing wrong with wanting to see these things you've just got to do them.

But there's always more. The touristy parts are only the shell of a place. To really discover somewhere you've got to dig deeper, go further and take the road less traveled.

Most of the time I've been in Australia I've been in Queensland and it's a beautiful state. It's got oceans, rainforests and of course the outback. Is there anything else you could want? 

But aside from Byron Bay, Cairns and Brisbane there's heaps of gems to discover and here are just a few. 

Toowoomba

Pizza & Pie in Toowomaba - a must

 After shopping, bars and restaurants but with a quieter feel that the city? Toowoomba, also known as the garden city, is the place for you. A few k's, well 125km but in Australian terms not much, west of Brisbane and set in among a beautiful range it's a great spot. Head to the top of the range for some awesome photos and great picnic spots. A definite must is the Sunday market for some great food, gifts and everything else a good market should have. Also check out the cathedral and one of the 150 parks in the city. 

Longreach

Longreach Stockman's Hall of Fame

Longreach is a real outback town and in all honesty there doesn't seem that much there to see. However it's home to the Stockman's Hall of Fame. The museum is a must for anyone who wants to know some more about the Australian outback and the origins of farming the land. I'll have a whole post about the museum soon as I visited recently so look out for that. You'll also find the QANTAS founders museum is Longreach as it was one of the founding centres for the airline. 

Mooloolaba

Mooloolaba by evening light

If you're looking for a quiet but beautiful beach spot this is the one. Think Noosa heads but quieter and less tourist packed. You'll find restaurants, cafes and bars and a beautiful beach which is hard to find a rival for. Located in the heart of the Sunshine Coast you can't really miss it if you're exploring the Queensland coast. 

Is there anywhere off the beaten track you think I should visit? Let me know in the comments or send me a tweet. 

Until next time,

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Currently | August

You may remember back in April I published a post that was all about what I'd been currently loving in various different things. It's a post I enjoyed writing and apparently you all enjoyed reading so I thought I might make it a semi regular thing here on LPL. 

I'm always trawling the internet for new things to try and experience and what am I good for if not sharing the best of those things with you? So here are my current favourite things.

Listening&Watching

I've been really getting into podcasts recently. They're a great way to unwind after a day without sitting and staring at a screen. Also a great accompaniment for light cardio which I've been partaking in recently due to a back injury. My favourite at the moment is Bookish Blether hosted by Nicola and Holly. It's a great podcast about books and reading and they last roughly 30-40 minutes each. The girls are lovely and so easy to listen to. I've binge listened to all the episodes so far in about three days and now I'm waiting for the next. I've also got some other podcasts I'm trying out so I'll let you know how they go shortly. 

Eating&Drinking

Currently I've been loving green tea with ginger and honey. Green tea is something I love as is hot ginger and honey so one day I had a bit of an epiphany and thought why not combine the two. And I'm so glad I did. It's a great tasty combo and something I'd definitely recommend. I've also been enjoying my healthy homemade muesli bars which is a recipe you should definitely check out if you're looking for a healthy snack.

Reading

Currently I've been reading 'Catcher in the Rye' by Harper Lee. Talk about jumping on a bandwagon right? But I'm loving it so far, I'll let you know more about it ASAP. Hopefully I'll have it finished this Sunday for a new book for clean sheet Sunday.

Using

My skin has been incredibly dry as of late and my face has been breaking out big time. I like to use simple products with not too many ingredients. I also like to stick to brands I know. So recently I've been loving Dove's hydro nourishment body moisturiser. It's a brand I trust and continue to go back to in several departments. Skin being one of them, in particular my body. If you're suffering with a bit of dry skin I would definitely give this one a whirl, I've been using it a week and my skin feels as good as new. 

So that's what I've been loving recently. How about you? Tweet me recommendations or leave a comment below. 

Also if you have a better name for this segment let me know! 

Until next time, 

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Pre-NT check list

As you're reading this Jack and I will be travelling around the Northern Territory. The NT home to some of the most beautiful natural landscapes with dozens of national parks and not to mention the iconic Uluru (Ayers Rock). Full of diverse landscapes, ancient culture and colourful characters it's a must visit on your Australian trip.

However, the NT is also extremely arid and towns are few and far between in some parts so it's best to be prepared. It's important you have a few things in tow before even considering taking on the Northern Territory. Jack and I got lot's of advice from people who have travelled up to the territory before and we travelled very well prepared. However, if you aren't aware of the what the conditions can be like in the top end it's easy to come un-stuck so I thought I'd share with you a few must have's in case any of you are thinking of taking the trip. 

Water WATER WATER

Water is your best friend throughout Australia but in the NT it's important to always carry as much as you can with you. If you've got your own vehicle grab a couple of water containers from a hardware store and keep them topped up. If you're travelling as part of an organised tour pick up a couple of bottles everytime you stop at a servo. It might sound insane and like you'r carrying unnecessary weight but if you break down or get stuck somewhere it won't take long to get dangerously dehydrated in the NT. 

Extra fuel

Obviously this isn't an essential if you're travelling in a coach or another form of tour transport, however if you're in your own vehicle or hired vehicle carry extra fuel. You can pick up jerry cans from most servo's and hardware stores so grab a few and again keep them topped up. Fuel stations can be few and far between sometimes and you don't want to get stuck iwth an empty tank in the middle of nowhere.

Vehicle checks

Again this is one if you're travelling in your own vehicle but it is an essential before you go. Make sure you oil and water and full and checked and maybe even be prepared to take extra with you. Check your tyre pressures and also that your tyres are in good condiiton and consider the type of driving and roads you might be doing some driving on. Also make sure you've got a good spare tyre. If you don't feel confident doing these things find a mechanic who will because it is important. Vehicle problems can take a long time, up to ten days, to get sorted so if you leave knowing your vehicle is in good order you'll lower the risk of problems you might have. 

Sunscreen and bug spray

Again this is an essential across Australia but the heat is intense in the territory and so are the bugs sometimes so take plenty and be prepared to apply and re-apply and re-apply again. Citronella candles and mosquito nets are also something to consider taking. 

These are the four things I think are highly essential for a trip around the NT. If you have any others definitely let me know in the comments or tweet me and also enjoy your trip to the NT because it's an incredible part of the land down under. 

Until next time, 

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Is it a Johnny cake?

Her at Newcome we've done two big musters over the past few months. Mustering means long, hot days, lots of dust and aching legs by the end of the day. 'Smoko', or morning tea, and lunch times are normally the highlight of the day and this year I was camp cook and had the honour of rustling up several smoko snacks and lunches. 

One of the morning tea treats that went down, well, like a treat, was my chocolate and vanilla cupcakes. Cupcakes that have since been referred to as Johnny cakes, though there's a lot of discussion and debate around what's a Johnny cake, patty cake and cupcake? 

However, that's not why we're here. Today I am gifting you my yummy cupcake recipe. It's easy to whip up, decadent and will be sure to convince your friends that you are king or queen of morning tea. 

For the cake:

150g self raising flour

200g butter

200g caster sugar

50g cocoa powder

4 eggs

1tbsp milk

Preheat your oven to 180C/365F/Gas Mark 4 and put 16 cupcakes cases into a muffin a tray.

Cream the butter and sugar together until they are light and fluffy.

Crack the eggs into a seperate jug or bowl and beat them until the eggs and yolks are well combined. 

Add the eggs to the butter and sugar mixture a bit at a time, mix in between additions so all the ingredients are really well combined. 

Next sift in the flour, cocoa powder and baking powder and stir all the ingredients until it looks glossy, and chocolatey and like you want to dive in there and then.

Now add the milk and mix again. 

Once everything is really well mixed divide between the cupcake cases. 

I filled mine with two teaspoons per case.

Bake for 20 minutes. 

Before removing from the oven make sure the cakes are cooked by stabbing them with a knife or skewer. If they knife or skewer comes out clean the cakes are cooked. 

Leave the cakes to cool completely. 

For the vanilla buttercream:

100g unsalted butter

500g icing sugar

2 1/2tsp vanilla extract

1-3tbsp of milk

Beat the butter until it is very light and fluffy. This will probably take about five minutes. Think of the arm workout you'll be getting. 

Gradually add about half of the icing sugar beating well with the butter. 

Slowly beat in the vanilla and 1tbsp of the milk. 

Slowly add the remaining sugar continuing to beat the mixture. 

If necessary add the remaining milk to create your desired consistency. I used two tablespoons so the icing was thick and held it's shape on top of the cake.

Once the cake is completely cooled spread the buttercream mixture onto the cake. I like mine to look rough and a little messy but you can pipe the mixture and add other decorations such as chocolate chips or sprinkles. 

I hope you enjoy this recipe let me know if you use it in the comments below or tweet me with a picture of your creation.

Until next time, 

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No sugar September

Well it's September already can you believe it? Nine months of 2015 down, three to go, just to scare you some more. I hope you all had a brilliant August and if you're in the UK had a beautiful summer and if you're here in Aus enjoyed some cooler weather before the summer months hit. 

I had a great and busy August. I feel like I've got back into the swing of things in many ways. I've been blogging more regularly, reading more and working out nearly everyday. I've also been trying out some new things like morning yoga and meditation. And wow what a difference it's made to my day. 

Now we're in another new month I want to carry on with being in the swing of things and trying new things.

This September I want to try giving up added sugar. No that doesn't mean sugar completely, because sugar is in a lot of things including fruit and veggies and they're two things that I cannot live without. However added sugar, or foods and drinks with added sugar are things I can live without and that's what I aim to do.

Foods with added sugar are generally foods that don't contribute to a healthy diet anyway. Sweets, crisps, chocolate, ice cream, those sorts of things. And yes things that I really enjoy eating, especially ice cream, oh ice cream. 

However things that you may think are healthy also contain a lot of unnatural, added sugar. Fruit juices, smoothies and healthy biscuits are some of these things. So these are things that will remain out of my diet as well this month. 

Maybe you're considering doing this but think you couldn't cope? 

Well, no added sugar doesn't mean you can't enjoy eating and food of course. Good quality dark chocolate  usually doesn't have added sugar and good quality fruit juices and smoothies. And don't forget making your own is always an option. If you're a fan of fizzy drinks try soda water with added freshly squeezed fruit juice. Crisps are you weakness? Okay grill some sweet potatoes and regular potatoes until they are dry and crunchy. 

So why not see how you go? You might surprise yourself.

If you decide to join in let me know in the comments below or tweet me and let me know how you get on.

Good luck,

Until next time, 

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