Updated:

Ended up a good sleep and enjoyable 4AM wake up. Only the first hints of light in theº sky the last few minutes.

B next door invited into a space a nice couple of kids but their car is close to my door and I don’t want to wake them going to the toilet.

Saw possums in this last night thru tge window and took a photo on night shot to check.

A bit later some colours:

It doesn’t show the whole park but every spot is taken:

From a quick walk yesterday:

Left 8.45AM to loveliest huge wave from S and J.

Arrived Moruya 9.15 AM nervous as hell about the linkages tomorrow and not looking forward to Waldrens tonight.

Can’t say I’m thrilled to be here. Feeling the loss of a home acutely.

12 noon. Batemans Bay after dropping off storage. and new cheap shorts and post box to pick up my crash hat. It’s good.

Doing a windows update if it works to save time tomorrow.

Extremely tired..Thought a n extra trip in might clear the head as Moruya is bland.

At the rest area I reconfigured the burner so it’s smaller.

Waldrens Youth Problem

Dead quiet just me and another vehicle until after dark. Then sure enough in belt the young tourists. Again, the girls were the worst, although some kids in a camper arriving at 10PM, music blaring, made all sorts of noise, clapping shouting, the guys the worst. I yelled out the window we were trying to sleep thanked them for keeping it down, and to their credit and my amazement they did.

But the damage was done and I had been wakened and couldn’t get back to sleep. Then it rained during the night cutting off air.

But it could have been a lot worse.

Seems to be a few of them. Today’s appointment was very laid back. A couple of months and then some of glucose readings and he didn’t give a shit.

2.25 PM

Back at Bodalla SF. Same spot up a level, but facing open to a bigger van with no windows and a bloke without a sense of humour.

(Lizard goes past, and he follows it along, very interested. “That your lunch, mate?” Got a “not interested in you” nod. Suits me as long as he stays quiet.

Met a very lovely couple, S and J. Rather, got to know them better after yesterday’s hello and a wave at Scrubby’s. Folk like these make meeting people worthwhile.

Thunderstorm brewing. Had to pack these away. Quite enjoying painting in this spot but still very tired.

Did get the imposing vehicle last night, about 10. Not having a bar of it. Was lucky it was a young guy and I directed him to a spot on the flats where he or they would be happier in their tent.

Won’t get blocked in where I am, I mostly expect.

Changed the location of Bega. Blue hill/mtn behind is a bit smaller.

Discovered in Narooma Pool that it’ll be closed all of February except maybe Sundays due to various swim carnivals. Lucky it was open today.

8.20 AM

Can hardly believe it’s that late. Lost all sense of time, and deathly tired.

Woke at around midnight and been awake mostly since.

I knew I was in trouble at 8PM when I couldn’t keep my eyes open. Asleep by 8.20 instantly.

Very quiet under the bridge. Bega itself seemed asleep.

Too tired to read the NYT much or listen to the radio – the sound would surely have travelled in the quiet.

Added engine oil and by the river. Breakfast late, oats cooked but hot and no insulin yet.

Eyes are very watery. Been heavy overcast but sun maybe soon to come.

I just want to be in a nlce safe undisturbable place somewhere and sleep.

9.22 AM

Had breakfast, one last look at Bega River, then toilet again, petrol, and shower at the gravel spot north of town.

10.02 AM

Leaving over the bridge now.

11.17 AM

Pulled into Narooma aquatic centre. Had a tailgater Quaama to Cobargo. Pulled over and gave them the bird. A couple saw it. “Terrible. Dangerous,” I explained.

Bodalla State Forest

Arrived about 12.40 PM. Groceries and shower in Narooma.. Booked doctors appointment fortunately for tomorrow and shot out here to see if I could get a spot. Only one single one left. If the caravannrts adjacent are noisy I’m fucked. Real close.

If not, I’m laughing. Been in this spot before, it’s very good.

But because it’s so full so early, tonight will be a shitfight. Staying only because of the appointment tomorrow. Coveted stay, Bodalla SF.

Want to paint, but seriously tired.

Lovely couple waved and came nearby to say hello, “with me” at Scrubby’s.

3 PM

A bit of a tickle on. Unsteady on my feet so tired. Good to move them along a little.

5.50 PM

Had dinner. Endless influx having a break, no doubt more and the worst to come. Worried about a prick blocking me in, crowding me . There’s no actual space but a prick doesn’t care.

And a generator going. They always do it when everyone else is trying to relax. Never 11 AM.

This could be a shit night.

7 34 AM

On the news I regularly hear witnesses to shootings describing the sound, “I thought it was fireworks “

Same thing last night: I thought it was fireworks, of the big booming explosive variety.

What makes me think instead these were gunshots is:

• The time. About 11 45.
• Close by.
• In the middle of nowhere.
• Couldn’t see fireworks in the sky.
• Nondescript day

And: It could more validly have been a) personal fireworks very close on a property, b) home from the oub or pissed up on the verandah and shooting at things.

It could also have come from a car that had stopped.

Whether it was intended for me in some way, frightening, a warning, having fun,, or it was known I was there, I’ll never know.

Anyway, I managed the drive in to Bega with circumstances not fully conducive to seeing, safely, and got some sleep at tge hospital.

Woke about 5AM in the sark with puffy and watery eyes. Now NYTing, coffee, and ready for oats.

1.45 PM

Bega Daytime

Absolutely nothing to do culturally in Bega, everything closed, and stumbled across the laundromat I’d researched. Looked good. Empty machines. So with rain coming it’s perfect. All sheets shirts towels etc. washing right now. Fabulous.

4.20 PM

Been under the bridge for about an hour. Topped out the jot clean washing and sorted it. Clean sheets. Neat others.

Cars drove right up as I was making the bed, one with a horse float. I ignored them beside me. First time I wasn’t apologetic in manner.

A car again right now as I write. Been a pony club day I saw earlier this morning.

This car can see my cooking on the case on the grass.

So that’s it. Hopefully no one tells me to move on. There was some spitting rain during wash time, which is my excuse and reason for being under the bridge.

And hopefully the hoons don’t come out on a Sunday. Part of my plan for being here today.

4.33 PM.

Horses thumping in the float as they shut the gate. Driving away. No idea why the float went in earlier and out now but they didn’t say anything to me.