In the ACT, Canberra

Wednesday the 9th of May... It was the dawn of a beautiful new sun shiny day and time to pack up and say farewell to Merimbula. We were originally only staying for 2 days but 5 days on we were finally happy to move on feeling like we had seen and done everything the region had to offer.
All packed up with caravan in tow, we stopped at the reception area at the caravan park to say farewell to Andy who runs the restaurant in the Caravan Park called The Cheeky Mango. Richard and Andy had got on like a house on fire over the last few days...

Andy & Richard

The restaurant within the caravan park, Merimbula

Farewells done and one more of Andy's coffee's in hand, we were on our way to Canberra.

On the way we were pulled over in a small country town for a breath test...

The police block

...it took a little longer to get away when Richard realised his drivers license had expired. The police were't impressed but as Richard does, he managed to talk his way around it.

No damage done, we were back on our way travelling through the beautiful Snowy Mountain region...

A view of the Snowy Mountains

We stopped in Cooma for lunch before passing over into our Sixth state - the ACT and arriving at our good mates Noels and Dougie's around 2ish. Noels and her baby Maxie were waiting for us  - full of excitement. It was so nice to see her smiling face.

Noels & Maxie

Noels & Moet - here's trouble! Noels says "wish you were here Rosetta."

Before long we had well and truly moved in and the Moet was out...

The kids went for a swim in the spa and then in the freezing cold pool - almost as mad as our hostess!!!

My crazy kids

Warming up in the spa

....needless to say it was a big night and many bottles later we finally passed out but not before allowing the neighbours the privilege of  hearing us sing our favourite Cold Chisel songs....

This morning, Thursday the 10th of May.. was very slow, Dougie left for work early and any plans made the night before to go for a morning walk were never going to happen.

Eventually, we dragged ourselves out of bed, Noels dragged herself to work and we ventured out in the beautiful Canberra sunshine (I kid you not!!!) to see some of our national capital....

Anzac Parade

 ...and to visit the Australian War Memorial...

Inside the War Memorial

I knew it was going to be an emotional day when I was in tears before I even got into the Memorial after passing by the sculpture of Simpson and his Donkey and reading his story....

Simpson & his Donkey

The museum itself was amazing and 3 and a half hours later, we emerged, proud to be Australian, so grateful for being born in this place in time and emotionally drained from reading so many amazing stories of courage.

The Wall of Remembrance

The grave of the Unknown Soldier

It was a great follow on for the kids after only weeks earlier, attending their first Anzac Day Dawn Service... a kids section in the Memorial allowed them to play dress ups....

Harry the helicopter pilot

The kids in the trenches

In the navy

Jack the sailor boy

We then, ventured to the top of Mount Ainslie to get a birds eye view of Canberra, we had obviously brought the sunshine with us... the day was perfect.

The view of Canberra from Mt Ainslie

We arrived back at Doug and Noels and organised dinner, both got off work early so we could all go to the local pub to meet their friends.

Back home we had a BBQ and an early night after such a biggie the night before.