Day One and Two

We left home at 4.20am Saturday, pretty close to the planned time. As I couldn't sleep a 3am get up allowed for a shower, a load of washing to be hung out, the dishes washed (sorry, Em, not put away), garbage out, thermos filled, pat for the cat etc. etc.

With the Nissan reaching 100km regularly all was going as planned. We were across the West Gate by 7am after fuelling up and feeding up at Officer. "Where's that water coming from?" queried Will. I'd wondered the same as my lower windscreen was becoming damp and his wasn't. "Any green in it?" he asked.  "Yer, there is actually," I answered. On went the blinker quick smart, a four letter word may have been dropped and we were off to the side. Due to the recent works on the engine and the radiator being disconnected it seems we'd acquired an airlock. The reserve tank was overflowing and the radiator was a little low - nothing major, a top up of coolant and the removal of a line to the reserve tank and all was good. Back on track!

We had lunch at Sea Lake, a town I'd never heard of until we'd watched Landline the week before - a slowly dying little town except it has an exceptional Salt Lake which is becoming famous amongst Asian tourists for its amazing photo opportunities - Lake Tyrell - it's on our to do list on the way home.

With daylight still bountiful and a slightly aching body from sitting still so long I suggested we stop in at Big Lizzie, the biggest tractor for her day that now lives on display in a park at Redcliff. After a wander and a few photos we were off to our much looked forward to visit with Vina and Trev in Renmark. "Only 45k's to go," I said to Will, who then looked at his odometer. "Oh shit, we've already done 360kms, we don't have much fuel left," he said. "It's ok, 10ks to fuel," I reassured. "Too late," he replied "we've already started to coast". On the major Sturt highway with B-doubles whizzing past - oh dear, I thought. 

"There's a dirt side road just up there, any chance of cruising into that?" I CALMLY asked. "Let's see," was the response. Yep, we could. A call to the RACV - cos we've paid the membership - said help would be to us within the hour. 30 minutes later when Mildura RACV man had been unable to hand ball us to Renmark RAA man he assured me he was leaving right now and would see us in just under an hour and a half. "Leave it with me," I said.  I rang Vina and Trev and they were, once again, coming to our rescue with a jerry can full of diesel. Fifty minutes later, after refuelling the Patrol, our empty (to be filled tomorrow) jerry can and their jerry can we were comfortably seated around their kitchen table catching up on news and enjoying each others company.

After the best sleep in 2 weeks we had the locals show us around Renmark - almond groves, avocado plantations, grapevines, grapevines, more grapevines, citrus trees and river boats - beautiful.

At 11am we headed off, stopped for lunch at Burra -Cookaburra Cafe to be exact and then headed to Port Augusta via Crystal Brooke and Port Pirie. We pulled into the Big 4 caravan park - oh bugger, this is the one Vina said not to go to - it's right on the highway, you'll hear trucks all night. Too late, payment paid!

We pulled into the campsite to be greeted by very 'helpful' neighbours, "No you're in the wrong spot, see, you've pulled in over number 59, the power pole says 59, your key says 59 but really you should be pulled up here in 58 - weirdest park we've ever been too!"  ,Really, go figure'- I thought as I was knocked backwards by their alcoholic breath. "That's ok, I'll just get some clarification from the office,"I said sweetly, as I discretely picked up our keys from the floor of the patrol. After explaining our friendly neighbours to the receptionist we were moved to a new site, right beside the freeway. I thought this might be a problem too, but as I returned to the van to see Will standing on a tree stump to check out all the road trains I realised all was well in our world.

Facts and Figures: Day 1 - 842km day, dearest fuel $1.349 Renmark,  Day 2 - 299km day, dearest fuel Kulgera $1.659

 

Not long now

With only a few days to go until we leave for fun, friends and sunshine the excitement is building.  Something feels very different about our planning this time - last year I think we needed to go, this year we want to go.
Twelve months ago we didn't know what holidaying together would really be like so excitement was mixed with nervous anticipation.  We both needed a holiday but we weren't really sure how it would go. This year we know what holidaying together is like - lots of bakery lunches, a bit of four wheel driving, lots of truck admiring, a bit of time exploring the land, lazy lie ins in the morning,  laughs around the camp fire and a bit of blogging here and there - yep, all stuff we want. It makes me smile just thinking of all these things.
Last time our preparations and planning were based around what part of the country we would see, this time preparations are about which friends we will see. Stop 1 - Renmark - Vina & Trev, in Alice Springs - Pete & Di as well as Graeme & Vonda will be waiting and who knows who else. Then hopefully a visit with Liz and Frank on the way home.  And hopefully, by then, we'll have added new names to the Alice friendship list.
So while we have learnt a lot about holidaying together from last year no doubt more adventures, learnings and experiences await us - and isn't that wonderful!

27 days to go!

 

I sit warming by the winter bonfire, lush green paddocks surrounding me, grey sky overhead and the cool winter evening air setting in.  My eye drifts to the caravan and my mind wanders over our preparations for our next trip north.  The checklists are made, the marking off has begun and the two of us are excited and somewhat impatient for the trek to begin. 

For a while it didn’t seem like it was going to happen – there just didn’t seem to be the build-up of last time which made me nervous thinking it was just an illusion.  Will assured me that was only because second time round was much easier; we know much more about what is ahead of us so less planning is needed.  When I saw the Nissan being pulled down, rebuilt, taken in for a new muffler and given a test drive I knew my worries had been for nought.  This year it’s Will’s turn to get the preparations under way and that he has! 

Last trip there was hardly a comment before we began our trek from Will, no one would have suspected we were about to head off on an adventure, but this time there is no mistaking it.  He mentions our trip to any who will listen and casually completes a job or two each week to make sure we’re ready to head off.  He’s even been heard to say it’s a damn shame we can’t just get up and leave now – that comment comes at the end of another cold wet day trudging through mud at work.  We’ve also started chatting about our holidays for 2017 and possibly 2018 (Cape York maybe) – who knew one successful holiday could bring about such changes – OK, yes that’s what I was hoping for but hey, there were no guarantees!!

So, with 27 days to go before we spend our first night away with two of the wonderful friends we made last year, Trev and Vina in Renmark, it’s hard to keep focused on the here and now.  But hey, while mindfulness is important so is enjoying the anticipation of wonderful times ahead.