It was bright. Slept okay. Didn’t hear the two overnighters arrive, one setting up a rooftop tent. I delayed leaving due to having to warm the car engine (unlike the creep who wakes everyone at 5AM doing that).
Back pain is a constant problem.
Those photos above were taken in the one spot, from a chair in fact. I loved it. The sun had tipped and struck out variously. It was warm but the gentle breeze cooler. I wanted to see what I could see without moving around. Appreciated every thing I could.
Then had a shower undisturbed Went to the library to wash with hot water the Deep Heat that went into a very sore back.
Thought about walking but it would’ve made the pain worse.
Drove instead to Shelly’s Beach and took some shots.
Tough sleep. Back has gone out, painful, can’t bend. Lovely and moist atmosphere though.
Decided to come to Batemans Bay, oats, shower and later if it feels beneficial drop by a mechanic regarding linkages to order.
Sun coming out as I type.
UPDATE 3.45PM
Shower was better than normal as I got heat into my lower back. It’s still not good.
The mechanic gave the okay for linkages parts so I’ll order those this week.
Another long walk around Batemans Bay and filled up with petrol and water for van showers.
Waiting on reply from storage regarding correct account details, hopeless; hope I don’t suffer because of their incompetence.
Cool breeze from the north east but would be hot without it. Had a sleep just now and still tired. The whole idea of living in a van is making me tired, lately, but then I think about being in a place and would rather be doing this. Depends on the place, of course, and on who runs it.
Cool and persistent yet erratic southerly breeze. Have to take it day by day but Summer is looking like a living nightmare.
Today: so far, good. Now to work out where to shower. It’s still the long weekend and in the middle of school holidays.
Breakfast at Riverside Park, without drums. Seems a few overnighters. Don’t know how they do it.
UPDATE 6.18PM
The wind stopped and heavy clouds, not overly dark, hung low. I thought about painting but again was too tired. Expecting rain any minute I loaded up with a bumbag and walked. Fast pace south, slower around outskirts of town and down through ‘suicide forest’ which had a weird vibe moreso than usual, due to yesterday’s heat perhaps. It was drier than the lovely winter days.
Long day. But got nearly two hours exercise in. Caught up with a fellow vanner who’s not doing well. I’m definitely engaging with a hardcore sector being homeless. We seem to recognise each other.
Not one of the others I see bothers themselves with showering. It’s the day’s first main task, and only task if it takes that long (which it doesn’t).
Just me and the creep in the rest area this afternoon, I hot here early, about 2PM in rain and slept, although a biker ate under the cover near the creep.
Mostly, today, I’m very thankful for the fooler weather, long walk exercise, and sleep to ward off incessant tiredness.
Cool rainy night. Very much looking forward to it, and being alone with it.
Coffee sitting on a cut stump. Good sleep, two overnighters plus the creep who no doubt woke them up at 5AM as he does with every single person in the place. All day in his car gets to me, when I’m trying to discover positives and value each day. Just such a horrible energy.
Showered in the rest area confident a ranger wouldn’t come on a Sunday morning early, of a long weekend, and no overnighters to upset.
Left eye is irritated and weeping wet.
Thinking about painting today. Certainly have to do something constructive, even if it’s a long hike.
UPDATE 3.07PM
Shit day. Stopped at Riverside Park to sleep again, that tired, but the angry attitude homeless there were banging loud drums – again. They should be stopped. I had to leave straight away.
Went upstream to the spot, alone there. It was already too hot but I got a little bit of shade. Slept lightly. But quickly got packed out.
I really needed the rest area byt couldn’t with the creep there. Such a good place to paint, too, but for him I can’t.
I am considerate of others and civic minded, so the degree of selfishness from other homeless people really rankles. It seems they need the public in some way: getting attention, upsetting people, causing a stir as proof of existence, or something.
Back in town, still on Araluen side, I could hear the drums loudly. The whole township could hear. What were the police doing? They would have been able to hear it outside the station if not inside.
Then I remembered I needed gas; none in Woolies. Excuse to get out, get moving, get wind by my head, cooler, and go to Batemans Bay
At the Bay I discovered I’d lost my glasses. That’s two in two weeks. $45 lost.
Mongrel day. I don’t know how I’m going to go in summer heat and summer crowds. My double nightmare (noise and heat).
Very scared about my inability to handle it.
DAYLIGHT SAVING STARTED
And it’s oppressively hot.
UPDATE 7.40PM
Steamy hot temperature, bad news. But this is good:
