Author: Rob

Sun pushing through at Brooks Bungendore. Overcast early, eight drops of rain.

Strange night due to my serious car worries but ai slept through. Only time will make the worries go away. I really didn’t need the extra.

No idea what to do today. Just try to enjoy the country morning.

4 PM

Shower in Queanbeyan, car went brilliantly. Checked out camping, electronic equipment and faffed around fyshwick and Canberra Centre, loaded up with water and drove back at 2.15PM. Seems a thunderstorm missed Brooks Hill and back to sun and flies.

Car went perfectly fine. Good news but next few days are all about the car. Otherwise I’d go out to Braidwood.

7.55 PM

No rain. Hot. A couple of visits but shortly before dark it’s only me and the permanent old bloke.

No young disruptive kids last night that I know of, see how it goes tonight. I might stay in the one spot tomorrow. We’ll see.

Morning eastwards at Braidwood.

Actually that was before sunrise, still dark. Since occurred and discovered to be overcast.

This is an absolutely beautiful morning at the grounds. Peaceful, respectful, quiet. Sparse. Thoroughly enjoying it, and a fabulous surprise.

3 PM

Bungendore & Worries

Happy day didn’t last long. Great shower at Braidwood then hit the road. Filled up with water because I decided to return to Braidwood. Picked up the linkages parts in fyshwick then to Queanbeyan Toyota but after a month the part there still hadn’t come in. Timing and pick-up could now be problematic.

Then just after leaving my car made a terrible noise. Sounded like a hard stick or metal up against something rotating. I instantly pulled over and stopped the engine. Noise stopped. I started the engine and the noise started.

I moved everything and opened the seats to the engine. Couldn’t see anything at a glance. Started the engine to better locate the noise but no noise.

Returned the seats and drove away, still no noise. All just fine.

Got groceries, water for drinking and petrol around Queanbeyan and no noise. Drove here to Bungendore rest area and no noise.

Hopefully it was just a passing intrusion such as a stick and I never hear it again. But it migjt not be. It was terrible, and my car, my home, me, in real trouble if it comes back.

Friday, too. Typical worst case timing.

So I’m at Bungendore and not Braidwood at least tonight.

1 PM

Just arrived. The Shoalhaven camping grounds are run down and overgrown. Looks like some permanents are back and they’re not pretty. Could be a tough night from generators.

And the flies are atrocious. 

Windy, shown in these stunning clouds westward. 

Earlier

Left Waldren’s about 6.30AM, so about two hours after final waking. Into the Bay for breakfast, oil and windscreen concentrate, and unshowered decided to get Australia Post over and done with.

Been dreading it since Samantha. Stressed as heck in line. But I got my parcel without a problem from anyone and was pleased to get away. That’s a load off so far. Terribly run that place.

Shower, and groceries and left about 11.39AM. Awful wind on the road; took it easy.

Even if there are generators it’ll be good to have a break from the coast. The personalities make it unpleasant after a while. Last night no tent bloke so it was a pleasant morning too.

7 PM

I heard from Australia Post. Just ignore anything they want. No sense of accountability whatsoever. I sent a reply asking yet again for actual answers.

After dinner I heard a crunching noise. Right there outside my open door, a fox. Old, I think, and rheumy sadly.

All but the top are taken through the van’s dirty glass.

No generators! The ground is beautifully peaceful.

Big hit on the credit card but necessary. Apparently Ray has etched the inners back and painted, before sealing the windscreen into place with a new rubber. Hope it’s enough under there. The cloth is the blanket from Vinnies that ai cut and sewed for this. Took forever. 

The old one was the original one. The markings are in the corner.

Waldren’s was full last night, and no tent bloke. Fabulous atmosphere, everyone quiet and respectful, not like that obnoxious nuisance. Makes such a difference when there are no selfish arseholes.

The creep seems to be permanently in Moruya now, which is a huge bonus. But at least he’s quiet.

All spots but maybe one at the bottom taken. I think it might’ve been the storm late afternoon that brought them in.

Off to the tablelands tomorrow.