Weird sleeo. Usual unpleasant dreams, but sadly a cow nearby loudly bellowed what surely is a distress call. All night. I didn’t know what to do, and the owner must have heard.
Lovely mist.
7.40AM
Not sure what to do today. I’d like to eat up another day painting, then try my luck tomorrow at Bodalla SF. Concerned I might bother some residents here by staying, and that this place on a Friday night might be risky.
I could also head to Narooma Bodalla this morning, shower there, and try my luck.
I’ll let a bit more unfold, towards breakfast. See if something, or a thought, develops.
10.30AM
BODALLA SF
The drive from Quaama to Narooma was equally the most beautiful (up around Braidwood is also) yet thrilled me more than any. Stunning feeling of being alive, a half hour, that I’ve not felt in over thirty years.
Shower at Narooma after stocking up at Woolies, on to this place which is all but empty. Unbelievable.
12.50 PM
Chook. Sweet, but filthy. Where’s home? Here be snakes.
Great name. Slept pretty well, all through to 4AM. Not bothered. Showered in the rest area using the shower curtain. Again, not bothered, thankfully.
Received a response from Australia Post which was the most off point and irrelevant I’ve ever received from a company or organisation. I wrote back asking if it was AI (I didn’t know) and for the email address of a manager. Got a call quickly-it was the mention of the Ombudsman-which said the right things, on message bank.
Then got to painting. Terrific set up under cover. But a guy in a garage ran a compressor, same sound as a generator, for hours on end, much longer than a caravan. Then for most of the day he also ran a grinder. Tough noises nonstop. I got five minutes peace around lunchtime and it was lovely.
He knocked off around 2.30PM same as me. I’d painted straight through and was tired, also from the noise. Pleased with the results.
Went for a short walk along the river bed; can’t go far unless wading. Br good to see it in a flood.
Like yesterday, absolutely tormented by flies. Also nonstop. Everywhere, all over.
Cooler breeze now and all closed up, so a break from them!
Keen for a peaceful night. But a good day, because of the little paintings.
Quaama rest area. Arrived half an hour ago. Near a river, and nearer to the highway than any other. The road is ten feet away.
In the middle of nowhere a bloke on a ride on is noisy as hell, cutting public area grass.
It’s very spooky, full of parochial acts and thoughts, expectedly. Seems forgotten as people whizz past not interested and not looking.
I called in earlier to Bodalla SF but it was packed. Total dud now as Summer approaches. Might get lucky with a spot but it looked like a jump-in queue waiting for a space. 10.30AM.
I couldn’t be bothered waiting or going back: walked around Narooma Mill Bay instead, then decided to have a look at this place. Very nondescript, which for me is good.
Cool, almost mountain air. Sensational.
Mill Bay:
Coffee at Dalmeny after bouncing quickly out of Bodalla SF rest area. That place is status vibed and competitive.
Cobargo, near Quaalma, and similar river. Might be the same one. I’ll look it up.
4 PM
Quite comfortable here in Quaama. Good to do it. Busy little road into the hamlet, not unlike at Bungendore rest area. A few cars have dropped in, but haven’t stayed. Maybe tonight. A service bloke checked out the toilets and seating, no insignia on his car but a fair dinkum operator.
WATER on tap. The one thing I’d forgotten, for showering. Only thing is it’s right in view. Could drop by the river I guess.
Turned the car around, pointing outwards, in case I have to bolt tonight.
5.30PM
View from the bed.
7.10PM
So far, fantastic. Princes Hwy is quiet, only one tradie came in. No one else. We’ll see how that goes. Very comfortable.
And the very big thing, palpable, affecting is that there’s no dark, heavy horrible, perpetual weight of the creep. Such a physical and mental difference.
7.50PM
In the last 25 minutes three (so far) police cars absolutely hurtling north. Lights, one with siren. They’d be from Bega. It’s pretty serious. The first one shot north like a bullet, unreal, riveting. The other two rocketing along.
Woke 1AM, then 3AM, then 5. Fasting for the new doctor – missed that delicious first coffee. Had hours to pass, with only water intake. Took some shots down at South Head entrance. Very cold, lovely.
At 8AM on the dot I went into the blood test clinic thinking it’d be over with and found half a dozen waiting ahead of me; maybe I was told the wrong opening hour. Jittery by then. Gave blood and rest area urine and scooted for a service station cappuccino. Superb.
Breakfast of quick baked beans and sausage and a shower. Then up to paint quietly.
The rest area has several arrivals already. The creep is going to wake quite a few people tomorrow. The new permanent (probably) has ‘his spot’ taken, hope he doesn’t crowd me out.
Summer is going to be a nightmare so hopefully the car is all fixed, windscreen and linkages, and servicing, for me to get right away.
Have to be in Narooma next Thursday for tests follow up. But gotta get out of here before then, all creeped and new permanented out.
