Had a walk around. 3 or 4 other vehicles here, which means it’s empty. Staying near the entrance.
Changed a lot. Neater. Still pretty rough but that’s good. Longer in than I remembered, until I remembered.
Food for two days. Might just chill. Places to paint.
That’s actually the highway. A touch farther away from it where I am, but I get the passersby lingering, probably. It’ll be interesting to see how busy it gets.
7.30 PM
It’s filled up, the bottom road is spaceless. I think I’ve made a mistake.,There was a flat space that couldn’t get crowded out, but I was worried a shabby van nearby would be too noisy. I chose instead to go on a corner. At first I parked to the bush edge, but fearing some idiot coming in adjacent I moved to the middle. But an idiot can park right in thecway of everyone and right up next to me. So my mistake I threw the dice and it could come up a horror. It could also be good, but I think it’s going to fill more and I’m fucked.
Birdsong as the very late sun burns through the trees is magical. It’s cool, and even looks wintry.
Woke to extreme winds. Safe here under the bridge. Incredibly lucky.
That’s a shot taken in the dead of night. The wind battered yhe van even though it was sheltered.
7 AM
Cold, actually. Woke about 5.15 AM and had a coffee before moving on. Have to work out what I’m doing today.
Bega – Tathra – Eden
Happened just before lunch. Took a bit to get organised to leave. Couldn’t shower, council around. Groceries. Tank water 5 buckets. Petrol. Lunch just before the Merimbula turnoff, some park. Toilets there. Through Merimbula and shower at Pambula Aquatic.
Onto Eden and smacked in the head by this fucker:
That’s it through the windscreen. No passengers, in for repair.
It’s very pleasant. I think I got enough sleep due to the extra hours this morning, cool and dim overcast, waking very late at around 7.
Hanging on the bed by the pond, doing NYT, and enjoying the peace.
I soak peace in through the skin. It’s painful absorbing noise.
Probably should shower. The best place is under the bridge where I have twice before, but I don’t want to draw too much attention firstly of me and secondly to the spot itself. I want it quietly to myself tonight.
12.25 PM
Back beside the river in a spot where the solar can see the sky. But overcast and drizzling. Sparse cars. Spectacular at the river itself.
Had a hot shower under the bridge and, on soft fresh grass, loved it. Feel fabulous.
Been an achievement. Got through Christmas and New Year. Now through the last hectic week of the holidays, final fling weekend, and an 8-day heatwave.
That’s actually the worst part of a given year gone. One more sleep!
I managed to find some wonderful experiences in a bad time, and achieved very well in my need for quiet and solitude, swarming time of year considering.
Interesting tree on a street walk around town.
8 PM
Dinner earlier under the trees by the green fields, then here under the bridge. Chilly. Southerly colder than I expected. Fabulous. Shakes the van occasionally.
Fingers crossed for a good sleep. Although had too much chocolate and feel unwell.
Hot night, had a sheet only and it didn’t cool off in need of more. Slept straight through, waking around 6. Rare thing. Woke to hint of morning fog.
Went looking for the shower as told but they’re locked. Getting warm quickly so I headed for the swom spot I discovered yesterday fearing it’d be full. No cars and no one.
So I swam (14″ deep) in Bega River. Exquisite.
Coffee now amongst big trees and cicadas, looking at and living in a majestic painting.
2.10 PM
Everywhere I’ve gone today the carparks have been almost empty. Nothing along tbe way here where I painted, or under the bridge, no cars. I get some canvas boards and two T-shirts and have a quick look around the river area, and decide since it’s hot and I’m lethargic to stop under the bridge.
I’m here about 30 seconds and a ute storms in and has been idling loudly for over 15 minutes now.
Tucking unreal. There’s empty shade everywhere the eye can see. Bang. In beside me, car running, obviously noisy.
I’m cranky because I discovered public toilets at Woolies carpark, but they’re newfangled electrical AND THE STUPIDEST FUCKING THING I’VE EVER FUCKING SEEN.
It has a sign saying press to open the door. You go in, totally visible to patrons, and there’s no sign to say close the door. So you press lock the door. Nothing happens. Press anything in any order and the doors don’t close. You can see the toilet ,you are in the toilet, which makes you want to go even more.
Five times I’ve tried. I got it to work once and dont know what I did. I didn’t go because I was scared the door would open and Id be arrested being in full biew.
Whomever approved this stupidity in Bega Council is A COMPLETE FUCKING IDIOT.
Basic toilet function. Door opens Door closes. This COMPLETE FUCKING IDIOT couldn’t achieve that.
Bega Series Stages 1 & 2
Stage 1 and some 2 in two works above; Stage 2 in all below.
Lots of Sienna to come.
Leaving When?
Besides, I’m just starting to work out Bega on terms of homeless living.
7.05 PM
Had a shower about 5. Straight cold water from the tank but ut wasn’t so cold, a but alarming, and turned out fabulous. Got hot again quickly.
Been spots of rain, wind, then calm, sunshine swapping with thick muggy overcast. Quite troubled, uncertain and obnoxious weather. Clueless, yet still too hot.
Saturday night. Hopefully as uneventful as last night.
I feel terrific because I’m not affected by the Quaama creep stalker, nor the jostling impositions of Moruya and Bodalla SF. Got to know Bega, too.
By the way, one for history, a big day at NYT today.
7.40 PM
This minute:
Thunderstorm grumbling. Under the bridge zi should be able to keep some windows open if it rains. Pillow view:
To Worst Night Since The Start
Humming vibrating music, intermittently. Unmufflered big engines. Asleep around 11.30 jolted awake at 12.40. Young kids under the bridge. Too many, not good. I left. Rain and nasty thunderstorm. Fog, couldn’t see. My eyes not woken, couldn’t see. No place to go. Not good by the river To the hospital. Blocked windows. Woke at 2.50. Checked BOM map. More thunderstorms at 4.30. So at 3.12 AM I’m back in bed under the bridge, set up again re fly screen etc, in rain so I feel safe.
