Updated:

Spellbinding. Spent hours here, walked first upstream towards distant Lanyon, then down through the nudist section to the rock pools and mini rapids.

What a presence the mountains, and the river, each have.

An absolute treat, spiritual magic.

5 PM

6.19 PM

6.36 PM

7.35 PM

Bit scary actually. Constant stream of cars both going in and out. Sitting duck here. And difficult to get out. Have to turn around and go back down. Too thin and rutted going up, i did a recce thankfully.

Shots to now:

9.13 PM

At Mawson. Just arrived.

Had an horrific experience. Two cars drove by and turned off their lights. Very suspicious, possibly. One did so on the track to me, so I waited for someone to turn up in the faintly moonlit dark. Terrible. No way to spend the night. I turned the car around and drove down the track and there he was, blocking the path.

I went down in full control mode, in my headlights. Surprisingly the shady poor bloke apologised and said he was going.

Then I drove away having difficulty seeing. Haven’t driven in a city for a while. Modern lights blinding me. Some prick got right up my arse and we had a horn abuse session, he didn’t escalate but it was on.

Then I must have missed a turn off and ended up on a freeway, unable to see, and FUCK YOU A.C.T unable to read STUPID signs. They’re bad in daylight. Multiple words, arrows that don’t make sense, crumpled, unlit so you can’t read them, absolutely a FAILURE.

I ended up on the way to Gungahlin when I could finally read one.

I’m extremely tired, normally asleep at this time, and stressed. An accident from bad signs and bad road identification- couldn’t make out what was road and what wasn’t- angry aggressive fast drivers, a complete fucking nightmare.

Straight into mighttime roadworks unfucking clear.

Got into town, when I only wanted to go down the street from Kambah to Mawson, on familiar road out to the Mawson carpark. Tried tge one near the service station but it had a loud prick in it. Went to the tennis courts, Sunday night, in the dark.

10.23 PM

Fucking Action Man has turned up at the tennis courts and turned on the lights.

You have to be fucking JOKING.

10.27 PM He’s hitting tennis balls. There’s something wrong with this bastard.

Now I’ll never get to sleep with the hitting fucking noise.

UN FUCKING BELIEVABLE.

Icy windows. Waking at 10 PM, 12.27, 2.30 AM, all to cars, the latter to idling engine and boof boof. Thankfully the sax stopped about 9.

Then couldn’t get back to sleep. Typical mind assault. Finally woke around 7.

At 8 04 the sun has just topped a building and enrered the van. I moved to another Mawson carpark for oats. Might be pushing my luck already with the locals, but thankful to have gotten away with it so far.

Saved a lot of fuel and money by not going far, although would save more on the coast. I just don’t want to get in the same procedure again for now

Idiot Entrance

Shower at Tuggeranong Aquatic Centre but there’s no sign to say it is.

It’s either a Hazchem industrial building or a street library. The shower was nearly three times the price of civic. Definitely a place that hasn’t got it together.

3.27 PM

From the “centre” I finally found the road to Kambah Pools and spent the day there walking. Photos next post.

Currently overlooking the Brindabellas, met a lovely guy walking hus dog, from Kambah, told me about the hoons who tear up the road and kill wombats , the suicide at the grove of trees up the road to which he always says a prayer, that pkentyvof people stay overnight here, and his sweet rescue dog.

Think I’ll be staying too, so ling as I can handle possible hoons.

Cold Canberra. Cold south, really. I survived, quite enjoyed, the cocooned sleep at the city spot, snuck away to discover closed toilets. Second coffee instead.

Fingers are cold. Been a while for that.

7.20 AM

Sunshine. May it bring warmth and cheer! And a good catch-up sleep.

The sun came out but the air and wind was cold.

Shower at civic was brilliant. Then to Mawson Woolies to be the subject of a nasty geriatric. Couldn’t handle me asking if someone else was being served. Truly vicious extremely old bastard.

Then to Lanyon Homestead. Paid for a tour, most uninteresting. But lovely surrounds and a boyhood connection then later with Tommy.

Typical tour guide feels she couldn’t know less than the public, on anything, and blocked to listening, abrasive. Pleased to have left, was there a while.

Then to Tharwa, then explored a little in quick time. Found back routes to the Cotter.

Lots of looks at the Murrumbidgee today. Total treat.

Now 4.25 PM back at Mawson carpark cooking dinner.

8.13 PM

Everything was going so well. I was about to fall asleep, very comfortable and unbothered in the Mawson carpark, then a high pitch sax fucked me over. Started about 8. Can’t believe it. Possibly a busker at the shops, or some night venue.

I could have fallen asleep in five minutes, now I’m stressed to the eyeballs. I don’t know where to go, if I have to leave, and too tired to drive. This is the nightmare of homelessness.

How could I have foreseen high pitched loud saxophone?!!!

My skull hurts constantly as well, which is aggravated by my sudden dark mood.

Woke at 12.26 to very strange repetitive music and a giggling girl nearby. Then again at 3.37 to cold wet southerly. Wind howling whispering screaming whistling jarring the van.

Having a coffee. Very snug, sealed off.

That’s light from the carpark lights.

8.06 AM

What an appalling morning. Dark wet raining overcast. Been awake since 3.30 or something. Went out into the weather at Mawson but the toilets were closed, 7AM.

Drove to the hospital for the toilet but staff were walking to it from the carpark without umbrellas in the rain and I couldn’t give mine to all of them, nor be the one with one.

So I drove to the Canberra Avenue spot by the lake. Idiot had his lights shining at me, both parked, I blocked it with unshield. I banged my head which hurts. Others next door leaving engine running. I feel trapped and heavily encumbered and weighed down.

9.01 AM

Lying on the bed, eyes tired, head hurt, claustrophobic, rain now spitting What the hell do I do? Where do I go? Where will I sleep tonight?

Freezing

12.55 PM

Parked at the city spot not far from Ainslie Infants (was). On the bed the other way round. It’s very cold and cutting and I may have already caught a cold.

Had a shower at civic. Warm but late. Struggled at the lake spot, possibly napping.

Going to stay here the night if I can get away with it.

The southerly sometimes howls through the van, easily penetrating.

I don’t feel well.

4.05 PM

Got dressed in vest and coat being everything I could and went under the blankets. Definitely slept. Disoriented when awake. Went for a walk at civic, head hurting, very windy blustery wet underfoot but not raining. Fresh.

Back in the van cooking dinner per usual.

Not sure hoe I’ll go tonight since I had the sleep. People turn up to their units here – I’m in their spot. But it’s a mongrel atmosphere so I may not get bothered.