Updated:

Night sky right now.

4.25 PM

Terrible day. Skull been very sore. Into Bega for Betadine, no relief. Piercing pain.

Took shots of Bega River at Bega. Heatwave dead still. Me in a painful stupor. Drove around aimlessly.

Back at Hilltop Quaama at 2.30PM, some wind, panadol and a sleep.

Cooler now. Not a good day. Still sore.

8.15 PM

Sun down behind hills and gold sky to pink further away. A caravan and young couple up near the seats, could send someone close to me if they’re looking for a spot.

Highway been extremely busy but starting to quieten now.

Tge wind has stopped a couple of hoursvago and it’s sweltering hot and airless now. Part of the 5 day heatwave.

One more night tomorrow and the coats is, people say, going to have fewer travellers. Getting close to getting through this. It’s been a struggle. Having no one here at hilltop Quaama has been a godesnd when that’s happened. Lucky to have found it.

My head has eased up but I’m bound to have trouble again on the pillow. Got panadol if I need it.

Through the curtains:

Without night shot feature turned on. Fantastic sleep, from before 9PM. No disturbances. Country air.

At 6.31 AM. Through the window.

7.50 AM

A lovely bonus this time has been cattle in the adjacent paddock. Charming, on dusk last night. Munching noisily just yards away now.

10 AM

Finished comnentary at NYT and boiling a couple of kettles for a shower. (Fire restrictions outside no doubt.)

The flies are worse than last time!

They don’t come so much in the car, thankfully, but still do, and I think I might go to Bermagui and get away from them.

11.30 AM

Coffee in the van on Bermagui headland in luscious cool wind off the sea, wondering what I’m doing. Wonderful trip in. Spectacular Tom Roberts colours and streams with a bit of water in them, grasses fresh from recent heavy rains, nothing bone dry but sun drenched and in a week could be. Escaped the heat and flies of Quaama.

Be good to find a spot to stay around here somewhere. Save petrol and wear going back to Quaama.

What to do before then? Feeling too tired to paint.

4.40 PM

Had a low glucose problem around 2.30pm and still shaky. Not feeling well. Bumped my skull for the sixth time and it’s permanently sore again headache.

Got to Quaama hilltop about 3PM and might’ve slept. Before thrn, a look to the southern gold cliffs of Bermagui then up to Wallaga Lake, all of it near Gullaga there is astounding.

Hot. Uncomfortable. It’ll be better when the sun goes down.

In the shots also: Blue Pools, the swimming spot.

Around 7 to 7.30 PM had some fun with the low sun and the S24Ultra. Shots from inside the van on the bed. What a view.

8.30 PM

Fox!

Also shot from the van’s window.

At Narooma. Had lunch in the library carpark. Wild Fin, ex Coffs, has come back in from Montague.

What to do now? Getting hot, very tired from the rat/marsupial night visitor waking me and keeping me awake. Absolute nuisance. Otherwise the rest area was decent and quiet.

It’s going to be very hot in exposed Quaama. But there are far too many people crawling everywhere that I can’t hang about here much longer.

3.10 PM

Boiled the kettle at Quaama. Stopped for four buckets of water at Dry Creek down the hill.

Here. With the flies.

The highway is Pitt St so I’ll be lucky to get away with this escape attempt. Glad I’m not at Waldrens.

7.20 PM

Dead quiet rest area but still busy highway. Actually cool to chilly which I relish. Very alone here, which I also relish. Life and everyone passing me by. Seems apt.

Set the cheese bait on the step in case the intruder is still in the van. Hope not. Interrupted sleep, badly, with that thing.

Last thing I thought I’d have to contend with.

Going to enjoy the cool, isolation, aloneness, and hope no one comes in behind me noisy or close.

Woke before 4 AM. Lovely warm (ish: T-shirt comfort) morning that turned out to be heavily overcast and at 6.40 AM still is. Quite dark actually.

7.30 AM

Stunning morning at the quarry.

Fresh eggs this morning courtesy of MH yesterday, and bacon, in a wrap.

10 AM

Fixed the loose plastic latch fitting on the rear hatch. Pretty crude but strong so it’s pleasing.

Long weekend coming up. Definitely has to be last night at Waldrens or it’ll be unbearable. So what to do until 12th February, three weeks away? (Linkages appointment. )

I could go to Quaama for a few days and see the mad silly weekend over. Then up to Nimmitabel and around the top.

Or on down to Scrubby Creek again, but that could be crowded and there’s little else there.

Probably best bet is to decide at Quaama.

Rudderless. If I were confident I could make a good time of the three weeks.

Time for a shower and see if I’m painting or doing something else today.

5.05 PM

Fuck. Heatwave forecast through until Thursday.

At Waldrens, food cooking, only me here – for now. Bit worried the Pests Of Waldrens Swamp might turn up today. They’ll definitely be here, disturbing people, on the long weekend but I’m going south. Can’t dodge the heatwave though.