Author: Rob

Cold windy Canberra. Good sleep. Woke refreshed at midnight, but drifted off with terrible radio going. Woke again at 5.15 AM and jumped straight into action. Didn’t want to get hassled or fined.

Drove to the jetty for the coffee I’d made while packing up, then to Kings Park where, again for a morning I am still.

Flags fluttering at Kings.

8.38 AM

Well, what the hell to do. I feel like I’m burning up my options in Canberra. Can’t concoct more bullshit legitimate excuses to shower and to sleep.

Don’t want to go to the coast yet. Don’t want to travel either and burn up expensive petrol.

Being a fugitive is horrible.

Where now too?

1.43 PM

Before a shower I had a 9.25AM coffee at Piallago watching planes land. Saw one taxi, in photo, for takeoff and another land. Enjoyed it. Didn’t take a shot directly overhead because I wanted to see it

Had a shower at Queanbeyan. Then tried to find Molonglo Gorge. Didn’t risk driving in further but I found out later according to the map that it’s in there. Again, atrocious Canberra signage and lack.

Wandered around Kmart.

Now at Brooks Hill because I’m too tired and don’t want to have to drive away at 5am one more time in a row.

7.30 PM

Very cold. No clouds. Shot these from the side of tge van.

Steep track, I wish I knew about it earlier. Didn’t have the courage to leave the car unattended to go the final distance to the summit where I could look east. But I wouldn’t have gained much other than height looking west, which are all these photos.

Shower earlier at Queanbeyan, and bought a new frying pan at Fyshwick outlets as my other one is no more nonstick and doesn’t fully clean.

Where I parked on Sulwood Dr.

And various shots south, west, north.

Unfortunately I can’t see the Murrumbidgee River in these but it’s there in front of the first mountain range, from way upstream at the south the big notable mountain at Tharwa, to Lanyon, to the crossing, Pine Island, then Kambah rock pool and beach, then north to the cotter area. All of these I’ve visited.

Some of the shots are panorama setting I tried.

4.01 PM At Mawson shops where I uploaded these now I’ll drive to the Athlon side carpark and see if I can sleep another night, after cooking in the new pan.

4.35 PM

Not good. About 15 minutes ag two young, twenties, drunk louts went by next to the van. Said to themselves I was camping the night. Very suspect. No way I can stay here.

They caught a bus, but I don’t know if they’re coming or going. If they’re coming back, I could be in real trouble.

It’s windy and cold and I don’t know where to go. I could try the hospital but I’d have to leave early. Or the lake. Not sure if the roads are open though.

5.07 PM

At the lake. Tried the bush spot but wind could drop a branch, now on the concrete paving park. See what happens. It’s late for dinner but it’s finishing cooking now, as I had to interrupt it.

The roads were open to here. A lot of people about although it’s cold and windy and overcast.

School holidays plus I think they had a marathon today. Just my luck there’ll be a function at the sail place over the road and I’ll have to go, like last time.

It’s really fucking horrible being homeless, sometimes .

6.10 AM Finally stopped, found a toilet and having a coffee – after leaving Mawson at 4.30 AM.

I did the right thing, within the context of my circumstances. Hit Yamba Drive and then on the way towards the parliamentary circle and suddenly there are road blocks and works.

Went forever, hard to make out what’s going on. Some prick fires in up my arse and I can’t turn left. Now I’m going over tge fucking bridge if I don’t get off, can’t, because more road blocks.

Over the bridge there are road blocks to road blocks. You get forced into a detour and then another road block. You cannot go from civic anywhere except back over that bridge or out to Fyshwick.

It’s like a nightmare. An apocalypse. Orange flashing lights by the thousands and thousands. Unbelievably bad and thoughtless.

So I go to Queanbeyan, fuck it. Canberra the cunt.

In Queanbeyan there’s a public toilet open. I go in, needing.

The door’s lock design doesn’t work.

Did nothing. Slept well, woke full of energy ready to go and it was 9.30PM. Woke again twice and been awake since 3.45.

Shit at Kings Park. Then to Queanbeyan Aquatic for a shower. Then Fyshwick, ventolin and floaties for the wallet when kayaking.

Then to Mawson to check a noise under my feet. Very disconcerting. Couldn’t see a problem.

Out to Phillip, cheap backpack at Vinnies and more walnut loaf. Been at the Athlon carpark since about 3PM.

It’s now 6 30 PM. Expecting a cold night. Hopefully no trouble.