TUESDAY 1 DECEMBER 2020

Cherrie and I set off at 9am, in our rented van which we picked up in Sydney yesterday, and packed to the gunnels (if that’s a word). Bolly is heading off with us, on her first road trip. Not so relaxed at first but she soon got into the swing of it.

Up Woodhill Mountain Rd we went, and as we turned left into Wattamolla Road, our dear friends (and past neighbours) were waiting for us. Begging us not to go….

But we are not deterred, and eventually Mary gives up and Bryan takes the award winning shot of the day

Up the mountain we go, all the way to Exeter before our first coffee break. We’ve been driving for an hour after all. There we meet up with Di and Garry, and their dog and Bolly’s best friend, Sam.

Moving on, Cherrie and I take a detour at Goulburn, to choose the colour of our swimming pool, which will be installed in our grand design next year.

We meet up with the Macca’s at Jugiong, where we all enjoy a light lunch. On we move, Di and Garry straight to our final stop for the day in Junee, Cherrie and I via Harden, just for a look see. We drive through a huge dust storm, as do they, but without incident. The Maccas arrive at Junee before we do, and they do a little shopping at Woolies. This results in the only incident of the day…..when Garry drives his van under something a little too low, and that little too low meets the awning on their van. But no major damage. Cherrie and I go straight to the caravan park, where we four meet up, and we check in. As the tour manager, I developed a draft itinerary and suggested where we might stay. Of course, they had to be dog friendly parks. It has already become clear that two in our party have not read the itinerary or done any research of their own. But they are happy to criticise, as are all followers. ”Why Junee?” they ask. They have, after all, spent 30 minutes in town and we haven’t. I explained that I went to school with a girl from Junee. I actually don’t remember the girl. Or the school. But it was a familiar name, and 4 1/2 hours from home, so seemed sensible to me.

It is an extemely hot night. Salad for dinner, sitting under what shade we could. We are by the Murrumidgee River and life is pretty good. We see a fish jump out of the water, Garry thinks it probably was a carp. But he sets up his fishing rod and throws it over the attractive, 6’ high cyclone fence around the section of river we are by, but the attractive barbed wire fence gets in the way and he gives up. We are visited by a duck and her babies

Bolly proves that she is not a fluffy toy by going for all the ducks. They are not impressed. Neither are we. The naughty corner for Bolls for the rest of the night.

Last time, Cherrie and I had been upgraded to an over large van which cost a fortune in fuel. It was long and high (two storey) and really too big for us. This time, we got what we asked for. Perhaps what we deserved. No bloody room. We had made the bed up before we left home. You know the drill – cushions become a mattress, a couple of bits of ply become the bed base. And a certain level of agility is required to climb across the bed to reach the pillow. A level of agility I no longer possess. I‘ll get used to this. I have to.

WEDNESDAY 2 DECEMBER 2020

After a restless night, I eventually climb out of bed like an over weight praying mantis and head off to the park’s abolition block for a shower. It wasn’t until I got out of the shower that I learned I had bought the dog towel with me, rather than my own., I was sniffed by dogs for the rest of the day.

We head off to Balranald, stopping for morning tea at the delightful town of Narrandera. Decent coffee and Mr Haveachat who took a liking to Bolly.

We drive through very fertile country, irrigated by the MIA. Many of the properties are owned by OptiFarm. Google tells me that this is a Dutch company who have bought up lots and lots of land in this area, nearly a billion dollars worth. They grow prunes

That’s a lot of prunes folks. Keep you busy for a while.

They also grow cotton, although we saw no evidence of this today. Perhaps it’s already been harvested. And they grow rice, we did see the paddy fields. And they grow wheat. Boy, do they grow wheat. This has been a bumper year for grain and we knew that storage is a problem.

Problem solved. We saw lots of these piles of wheat, not all belonging to OptiFarm. Bumper year all right.

A lovely picnic lunch by the river in the shade. Ah, this is the life.

On to Balranald, we pass some emus, always in couples. Then, we pass an emu with 4 chicks. Gorgeous. The chicks were about a metre tall!

We had planned to free camp in Balranald and were advised that the Visitor Information Centre had a list of suggestions. The woman there was very helpful and pointed us in the direction of the bitumen parking area at the rear of the building. Hot water, showers, a cafe which opens early, no shade, in direct hearing of every car and truck which drives through the town and the most popular free camp around.

We find a nice caravan park, which has two spots available, side by side, by the river. Still within hearing of the trucks, but no bitumen in site. I sleep better tonight. Getting used to this. And, I’ve made a personal best. Two nights in a van.

WEDNESDAY 3 DECEMBER

Di and Garry have bought a folding table, a smart one, not like that which we got with our van which is a standard, small, folding trestle, which does the job. But the Maccas table folds to a very smart cube. It’s called the Rubik Table, for very good reason. It’s a bit of a challenge to fold up after breakfast.

A bit of female logic helps.

Today is our longest drive. 5 hours. Balranald to Wellington in SA, via Victoria. We are reminded not to take fruit into Victoria

And so we get rid of it

In Victoria, we drive through pistachio country, babies recently planted

We stop for morning tea in Ouyen. We had to ask three people how this town is pronounced. Oh-Yen. We’ve passed several signs for Prime Mallee Lamb, so we buy some for a bbq dinner tonight. We discover that Swan Hill is alarmingly close but we are all determined to take any turn but the one to Swan Hill. Some memories are best left behind.

Tonight we are staying in Wellington, SA. Breakfast in NSW, morning tea in Victoria and lunch in Pinaroo, in SA. But before that, we pass two illuminated signs which advise us that a permit is required for entry into SA. Immediately, I envisage us turning around and heading back into NSW. Typical holiday with Garry and Di. I make everything go wrong. With considerable trepidation we approach Border Control, the Maccas first.

Yes, we need a permit. No, we can’t get in without one. Yes, you can apply on line here and now. “Wait, aren’t you Garry McDonald? Oh, I love your work. I’ll help you with the forms. Yes, I’ll help your friends too”. After a stop of only about 10 minutes, during which iPads and iPhones are deployed, and a female cop enters our van to search for illicit fruit. She doesn’t find any, as she fails to use her gastroscope.

The team were very nice and very helpful, ad armed with our permits, we continue on our way. We drive through the Coorong and take the vehicle ferry across the mighty Murray to Wellington. Into the Caravan Park, a dinner of barbecued prime Malley lamb (yum) and another early night. Tomorrow, Adelaide