Monday September 1

Monday 1^st September

Monday. It had started raining in the night. Just a few splots but by morning it was a steady shower. We were still hitched so all we had to do was get the van off the chocks and away. We didn’t want to get bogged.

But where to go posed the problem.

We both have to be back to work today week. Lots of time but not enough all at once.

This means that we don’t have enough time to do another adventure without rushing and not seeing it and spoiling it for when we do have time.

Quandry with a sad face.

According to the blog site – there is a front coming through and another one behind it so not really good holiday weather – unless you want galleries and museums. I like both but get over them quickly.

I drove while Greg IPad researched and, well, home seemed the obvious choice. Should have gone the Strezleki track. Its not raining there. Too late now. Too far away, not enough time.

Because we high tailed it out of our camp so quickly we didn’t have time to do anything much except the basic pack up and go. No shower but did teeth and that sort of thing. That meant I didn’t have time to have a cuppa tea or anything. Sadness.

We arrived at Renmark. We were going to stay a day but the weather was so miserable, wet and cold – last time it was windy and cold we decided not to. We found a nice coffee place with people so friendly. My coffee was so lovely and in a  huge mug. Greg and I shared a breakfast wrap. We were on our way again. This time to Mildura. “We are in need of supplies!”

Greg drove to Mildura in the rain. We parked at the central shopping center which has a Woolworths – we parked there last time when Greg did his Telstra thing – except as sod’s law has it we could not park right out the front on the road but miles up so it was further to walk in the rain. Fab. Parking is always an issue when towing a van.

In spite of the fact we were so starving hungry we managed to stick to our shopping list  and not buy naughty yummy things - and even decided to make lunch in the van (hot pies on a cold day sounded so tempting) So fresh bread sangers it was. I did lash out and buy 2 truss tomatoes at a silly price of $8 per kilo. Broccoli was $3 p/kg. Yay fresh veg!

All I now wanted was some nice fresh oranges. Oranges in Canberra are just not as nice and half the time come from America. How stupid is that – we have orchards going bankrupt and the stores have American oranges in them – what a stupid government policy that is! Anyway when the oranges all come from the states I just don’t buy any. Hence I crave oranges all winter until the Australian ones are back on the shelves.

On the road again and through the traffic and the traffic lights not ideal when towing a big van and its hard on the brakes and transmission. Our eyes peeled to find a roadside stall heading out of town - we found the first roadside stall we could on this road  - where we could park. I hopped out of the car with my purse and bought 2 bags of oranges (planned to buy one bag but didn’t have change) and 3 avocados -  in the rain – juggling it all precariously on the way back to the car which was the other side of a busy road.

After that there was a roadside stall every 500 meters so it seemed. Typical.

Greg drove until I found a truck stop so we could pull off the road and I could make lunch and had a driver change. I managed to boil the billy for a cuppa tea. I will drive wherever you like so long as I have a cuppa tea in my thermal mug. I chain drink tea most road trips. Always very sad when I get to the bottom of the mug which is normally when its time to stop anyway. The mug I have keeps your tea so hot that the first hour you can’t drink it anyway without  burning your mouth.

I drove from the roadside lunch stop to Hay – about 230km on top of my 80km this morning and Greg’s drive was over 100km– which equals about 400 odd kilometers. It rained ALL the way. Its scary being passed by B Doubles in the rain – but even more when the side of the road is full of water. Needless to say the under guards of the car are not crusted with mud any more.

Because of the rubbish weather, our solar wasn’t charging the fridge and the batteries were running low in the van thanks to our overnight free camp.  It was so cold again – we booked in to the Big 4 Caravan park at Hay. Yes lovely Hay where tomorrow I am going to buy a jumper on special from the women that knit at the tourist information center– that is if they have not sold out by now.

I must say the people that own Big 4 in Hay caravan park are lovely and I would recommend anyone to stay here. Its only a little walk to town (not that I walked as it was raining so thoroughly).  Amenities are clean and tidy and the sites are lovely. They were going to put us on a site we would have had to unhitch but then took pity on me (I must have looked soppy eyed or maybe tired eyed as it was late in the afternoon and getting dark – we’d driven all day and I hadn’t had a shower although had been rained on several times and was bereft of even a little makeup. Yep not a pretty day) and gave us a site we didn’t have to unhitch. God bless them as it was still raining and unhitching in the almost dark in the rain is unpleasant. (this is where having a full van and not having to assemble anything is a bonus!) All we had was a little leveling to do and running the power cord into their plug and we were home and hosed. Greg decided to use the water we have on board the van so didn’t worry about attaching the water hose. We need to get rid of what we have on board as Greg has to drain the tanks when we get home.

We were in, inside out caravan, and heater (reverse cycle air conditioner on) within 15 minutes.

All we had to do then was pour drinks, turn on the hot water for a well earned hot shower, charge computers and discuss what to do next – whilst listening to the rain. Thankful that we are no longer on the road and hoping the rain will be subsiding tomorrow.

I texted the house sitter to tell her we were coming home early and she was

mortified. Said something about cleaning the house and having uni assignments due and so forth.

Normally we would do a healthy vegetarian meal on Mondays but in celebration or commiseration that out holiday on the road is coming to an end I am spoiling my husband with Nachos – his favorite dinner. Not that healthy by my standards – all home cooked though - but I can make the healthy dinners up at home. Especially with broccoli at $3 per kilo what a bargain!

Tomorrow is home. A week early. Still coming to terms with that.

I go into mourning when we come back from a big trip. You start out and you think you have ALL this lovely TIME! And its gone so quick its almost like you have only been away for a long weekend. Still Oodnadatta, Flinders Rangers and Clare Valley have been ticked off the list. The Oodnadatta track travelled from one end to the other with the mecca of 4WD destinations, Mount Dare and Dalhousie springs thrown in for good measure.

Some 5000 km travelled and the good Lady Cruiser didn’t miss a beat. Mister Gibson is up for minor repairs and a water tank overhaul but that’s the beauty of travelling and getting more experience – you learn a lot about what works and what doesn’t.

During our last night in rainy Hay whilst playing scrabble on the IPad (which isn’t as much fun as the tiled board game as it won’t let you cheat) we did discuss the next adventure – as when one adventure ends another one has to be on the drawing board or life will just become dull – how about the Birdsville races. How about the Birdsville races and we make it an official Canberra Caravan and Camping Hash journey…now theres a idea.

Stay tuned.

The end bit. We arrived home in rain and the threat of a massive thunderstorm. We unhitched in drizzle and unpacked the van as quickly as we could for the basic things leaving the rest for the next day. I discovered that the little hatch thing over the shower had blown off on the way home (it had hung on from Coober Pedy, all through the corrugated roads on the Oodnadatta track and up to the NT border and all that time and blew off in the last few kilometers of the trip – there must be caravan angels looking after us) and there was now a window to the world where it was. I hastened Greg to find a tarp and rope and cover the hole so the weather would not blow in which he fixed in a jiffy. Another part to buy! 

Home is nice when you have been away even if you don’t want to go home. Cynthia the housesitter left the house in such a pristine state its ready for a house inspection from the Govenor General. She did hide some of my things in cupboards that don’t usually live there. Obviously doesn’t like clutter and it was interesting finding where she put them which was a much better idea than leaving them where I usually leave them.

Next day was washing day as the weather had cleared. Our washing line was so full you could hardly fit another sock on. Sheets, towels, clothes all for a wash. The van got a good scrub to get rid of the red dirt on the outside and underneath and the insides were washed until pristine again and all surfaces wiped clean. Red dirt continues to be discovered everywhere like the souvenier that doesn’t go away. I don’t care – I’m proud of the red dirt and the fact we earned the ‘red dirt in every nook and cranny’ badge.

So what did we do with out last days? Other than be extremely organized for the coming week with all our washing and ironing done, house and van pristine grass and garden up to date – we called my parents and asked if we could spend a few days with them. They were delighted so we packed our golf clubs and headed down the coast to see the folks. I couldn’t wait I hadn’t seem my parents for months!

It was still cold but Mum and Dad have a lovely combustion fire. We played some golf and went for coffee in local coffee shops and shopping and had a lovely time. Even got most of this blog up to date by sitting in the Tura Beach Country club making use of their free wi fi. It was nice not driving. The view from the club’s wonderful floor to ceiling panoramic windows over the ocean and the 9^th hole is so relaxing and entertaining  - watching the golfers play their shots.

Even made a start on the flier to go out to the hash clubs about our Birdsville races event!

So exciting!! Who is up for the next adventure!