Author: Rob

Scrubby’s it is, unless something goes wrong, for three more nights. Could be four.

Ended up being empty pretty much, last night. Had weird dreams. Good shower. Then into Eden for supplies. Just so happened the one street with drinking water was blocked off for council roadworks. Hard to find, anyway. But because council workers were there a young woman worker very helpfully showed me rap water, to fill up the tank. Wouldn’t have known otherwise. Was a blessing. That’s Eden now essentials sorted.

Back about lunchtime then painted.

If all goes well, the plan is to stay until Sunday then spend that night in Bega since it’s likely raining. I can stay put for three nights.

The beauty here is that I don’t have to drive the car. So good to have a break from it, and to rest the car:two days longer use.

• A bloke on a bike just pulled in.
• 5.03 Massive motorhome just arrived. Massive for the area that is. And pulling into the space next one up. Hope it’s not noisy. They always have little yappy dogs, like this older bloke. Cap on backwards. And a fat wife. Out comes the ground tarp and awning. Sit there facing me and talk loudly into the night? Already I’m thinking of leaving. We’ll see if I’m pushed out by arseholes.

Makes me sick living like this, vulnerable to selfish inconsiderates. No idea if these are, yet.

I’ve discovered that people hear about a place, such as this, and when they get here just do what they like because they’re finally here and it’s so good. (For them.)

Just remembered. There are north and south bound rest areas not far away, if I’ve got arseholes.

9 PM

The place is full but for really bad spots and jamming. The motorhome isn’t a problem. A young couple are having an extended dinner close by at a table, so I can’t enjoy watching videos. They’ve been there a couple of hours.

Met a fantastic bloke, slightly younger, riding a bicycle from Sydney to Melbourne. Wonderful spirit. Intrepid. He’s unsure about water supply for the next leg. Been a go getter. Also a driver for safaris in Ethiopia and thereabouts. Loner but friendly. On personal missions. Makes it all seem easy. We connected instantly. Pom originally Daughter in Melbourne. Stopping over in a tent.

Well it happened, sort of. I woke at 3AM to lights going past, down they went and jammed themselves into no space and surely pissed off everyone they woke around them.

Their reverse gear had a beep to ensure it.

Then up to the water tank they come, with torches, twelve feet away. And talk loudly and – why are girls the loudest – giggle. Fifteen minutes, as though it’s midday and you can laugh and yell.

Foreign language.

Sure enough, come daylight, two rooftoppers they disturbed got out if there. I felt disgusted for them. What had so wrongly hit them and they’re doing the right thing. And now, 9AM, the culprit arseholes are not making a peep – enjoying the quietude they disturbed.

…Chilly this morning. Like autumn or early winter. Loving that.

9.55 AM

Moved to the spot I should have taken yesterday. Bucket of water acclimatising, but it’ll need hot water. Sun’s out and warming up but it was cold. Car had a tiny bit of trouble starting. Cool wind now.

I think I’ll probably paint today. Just getting used to not having to “move on”.

A lot of psychological pitfalls in homeless living

Anyway, a day where I’m entitled to be here.

1.30 PM

Two Forestry utes serviced and left, then the last remaining vehicle. Only me left.

Painting, after a shower earlier which I got away with re gas burner.

And affixed a new sensor before a late lunch.

4.30 PM

Dinner cooking. A trailer camper arrived nearby, so far so good. Bega River paintings had a big session but a long way to go. Only just started, so no problems. Topped up the Bluetti that needed it. Sun still clear.

Arrived 3.45 PM.

Had a walk around. 3 or 4 other vehicles here, which means it’s empty. Staying near the entrance.

Changed a lot. Neater. Still pretty rough but that’s good. Longer in than I remembered, until I remembered.

Food for two days. Might just chill. Places to paint.

That’s actually the highway. A touch farther away from it where I am, but I get the passersby lingering, probably. It’ll be interesting to see how busy it gets.

7.30 PM

It’s filled up, the bottom road is spaceless. I think I’ve made a mistake.,There was a flat space that couldn’t get crowded out, but I was worried a shabby van nearby would be too noisy. I chose instead to go on a corner. At first I parked to the bush edge, but fearing some idiot coming in adjacent I moved to the middle. But an idiot can park right in thecway of everyone and right up next to me. So my mistake I threw the dice and it could come up a horror. It could also be good, but I think it’s going to fill more and I’m fucked.

Birdsong as the very late sun burns through the trees is magical. It’s cool, and even looks wintry.

Woke to extreme winds. Safe here under the bridge. Incredibly lucky.

That’s a shot taken in the dead of night. The wind battered yhe van even though it was sheltered.

7 AM

Cold, actually. Woke about 5.15 AM and had a coffee before moving on. Have to work out what I’m doing today.

Bega – Tathra – Eden

Happened just before lunch. Took a bit to get organised to leave. Couldn’t shower, council around. Groceries. Tank water 5 buckets. Petrol. Lunch just before the Merimbula turnoff, some park. Toilets there. Through Merimbula and shower at Pambula Aquatic.

Onto Eden and smacked in the head by this fucker:

That’s it through the windscreen. No passengers, in for repair.