Day 7 and onwards

We're here, in our own site, and happy.

The caravan park is very full. Apart from this being the season to travel north, there is a Veterans 3 day Golf event, finishing on Monday.
Our site has been cleaned up and looks very tidy (but less interesting.) This is all due to Lindy's parents, Marion and Richard. He works for the Shire and she runs the kiosk here. When the kiosk contract runs out in October, Marion and Richard will live beside our site until Richard retires. After Hannah died a year ago, her partner Bernie sold the van and annexe to Marion, bought a little campervan and took off around Australia.

Marion knows what beautiful bulbs are planted around our site and she wants to move them so that they can be looked after when we aren't here. Planted between our two sites, they will be a pleasure for both of us. I call this "our site" because we are the only people who have occupied it since the original long term occupant, Eric, died. It's on a large corner block and it's very difficult to back in, especially when someone occupies the little site in front, as they are now. Steve can manage it no trouble.


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Day 6

Friday May 15

450 kilometres ahead of us. We normally wouldn't travel that far in a day but Steve had the bit between his teeth. I reminded him that we would have to keep stopping to check the radiator and he reminded me that the truck gave no trouble at all on the last trip. Strangely, I had forgotten that.

I realised that I had been travelling fearfully, ever since the first hose blew.
It was good to relax and look around.

It was dark when we arrived in Moree. The welcoming committee was sitting outside reception, having drinks and we were greeted with cheers and jeers and lots of cuddles! They had decided for us that it would be too difficult to back in at night, so they had saved us a drive-through spot.

Day 4 and Day 5

Wednesday May 13

We drove from Narrandera to Peak Hill, WITHOUT INCIDENT.
We didn't trust the truck to behave so we carried lots of water, drove fairly slowly and stopped quite often to check the motor, (which meant tipping the cab, remember!)

Before we left, I had anticipated climbing in and out of that truck no more than twice a day.
By the time we reached Peak Hill, my back was in a horrible spasm. Can't imagine why!!!!! :-)

It was a pleasure to reach "friendly surroundings". Leighton and Pauline were as hospitable as usual and we appreciated the scones, jam and cream. They had a new scheme for their wireless internet -- $5 for 24 hours, so we made good use of this. They found a massage person for me and I made plans to see her the next day. In the interim, Steve gave me an excellent massage, using the vibrating machine and I felt a different person by next morning.
Steve woke up with a hacking cough. He would have pressed on but I felt that we both needed a rest, so we stayed there for another night.
During that rest day, I took a tour of Peak Hill on the gopher. Alone. Independence!!! This little town has amazingly friendly people. As I wandered along, many locals greeted me, gave me information and offered ideas of what I might like to see. Many of the shops have the original pressed tin verandas. Although there are many unoccupied buildings, the essentials are there --- little supermarket, cafes, butcher, hotel, solicitor, library, a beautiful little hospital, primary and Catholic schools and an incredible array of craft and antiques. One day I will take the tour of the old gold mine.

Peak Hill is situated between Parkes and Dubbo.

View Larger Map

Day 3

Tuesday May 12

My optimism was slightly dented but we set off and had almost 100kms of worry free travel.
Then BANG.
A different radiator hose this time. Once again, Steve patched it with duct tape, filled up the radiator and we wandered slowly into Narrandera. Here he was able to buy the correct hose. This one wasn't easy to fit because the thermostat housing had to come off first and the thermostat broke. Ditch that bit ---- I was sick of watching that dial go higher anyway!

Old bit with duct tape, beside new hose.

We had just got through the town when the truck boiled again and Steve found that there was a leak in the housing gasket. I think that it was at this point that he decided that returning home was a good option!! Instead, we returned to my least favourite caravan park for the night.
During the evening, he made a new gasket (on my lovely laminated bench!).
















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Day 2

Monday 11th May


Off to a good start!

We travelled comfortably for about 2 hours, then heard a bang. We stopped
and waited for the steam to clear.

As the motor is underneath the cab, there's nothing so simple as lifting
the bonnet for a look at the motor. First the bull bar must come off,
then the cab is released and tipped forward. Naturally, the
people can't stay inside while this is happening. Well, I suppose you
could if you fancied plastering yourself to the windscreen.

Steve investigated and found a blown radiator hose, which is what we expected.
He wrapped it in duct tape, bucketed water for the radiator from a
nearby channel and off we set for the 15km trip into Deniliquin.

The duct tape held and we managed to limp into town.

Deniliquin is quite a large town with a lot of through traffic and we expected
to have no trouble getting a new radiator hose, especially as there were
at least 7 businesses that provided such goodies. Silly, optimistic
fools!!!! After 4 hours, Steve combined the talents of two tradesmen,
who were willing to make something to his specifications. One welded
together the inner curved piece while another supplied the straight rubber
hoses for each end and the hose clamps. And they both charged like
wounded bulls!!

Tipped cab















Note blue duct tape
















New radiator hose

With constant checking, (climb down, tip cab, refill with water, climb back)
we finally managed to get to Jerilderie before dark and ate toasted sandwiches before collapsing into bed.
Eight hours for the trip that usually takes three!!!!!

Day 1

Sunday May 10th.

Dom called in to wish me happy Mothers's Day, just after we returned home
following the first "incident." (He had just had his head shaved for
charity.) He gave me a lovely Darryl Lee bag of all sorts of chocolates
and other lollies. How handy that was during the next few days!!!!

He was in time to see the damage done to the caravan 5
minutes after we set out from home the first time!

As we turned out of our driveway, Steve asked, "Have you got your stick?"
I was noncommital, as I had seen him with it. He turned into
a clear paddock, less than ½ mile from home, to go back for the stick.
As he made the turn, there was a sickening crunch. The van had
hit the tool box at the front of the truck.
The air turned blue!
(I hummed a little tune inside my head!) We then spent quite a long time
unloading the tools into various crates and boxes, (which then obstructed
our movements inside the van for the rest of the trip.)
It was so disappointing. A simple miscalculation.
We decided to stay at home for the night and leave the next day.
Oh, by the way, Steve had himself put the stick into a holder on the Gopher, so it was with us all the time!