Our Australia trip

We had a late start at the Copeton Dam camping. A real shower with real warm water is actually quite nice and also we tried out the kayak which we carry on the trailer that we tow everywhere during our trip. We tied Nossi to a tree as he keeps trying to chase kangaroos and within a minute from leaving him there he chewed through the rope and was standing next to us. Ah well.
Marjo had the first go on the water and Nossi didn’t like it at all, he tried to follow, first with advances in the stone cold water but, being a bit of a wuss, that didn’t succeed. Then he tried to follow along the shore until a kangaroo got his attention. Well Marjo seems to have a lower priority than a kangaroo. Loyalty only goes so far.

We finally packed up and were on the road by midday. First we wanted to go higher up inland, but reading the weather forecast we didn’t want a freezing night (forecast -2). So we decided to go towards Grafton and camp on the only dog friendly bush camping in Boundary Creek Falls.
On the way there we passed Inverell and did shopping, ate a burger with fries :p and stocked up on diesel and water. Water is something scarce; most places we go to have tank water which is darker brown then my white socks after 3 days wearing and not something we want to fill the water tank of the bus with. So when we were taking on diesel at a petrol station where people looked quite healthy and it seemed they were connected to the power grid and the sewer, we trusted that the tap water would be of consumable quality. So I asked the attendant (at small places like Inverell they actually put the nozzle in your tank for you…..unexpected service!) if I could have some water. I’m sure he expected something like “a litre” when he asked “how much”, and I underestimated and said 40 liters or so. He uhm’d and ahhh’d and said: “sorry, the truck is in the way” and I said: “we’ll wait till it goes” and then he tried “also the utes are parked in front” and I countered with: “our hose is long enough”, then his final attempt was “I don’t have the key for the tap” and luckily he got overruled by his colleague who said “just ask for the key when you pay for the fuel”. So we got our water. All 80 liters.

Then we continued on our way to Boundary Creek Falls, almost in free fall, from 1,000 meter elevation down winding roads, some bends so sharp that we could only go 20kph to the dismay of the cars behind us. Luckily there are many rest areas where we could veer of the road to let the cars past.

When we arrived at the turn off for Boundary Creek Falls, again in the dark, we followed the dirt road and were surprised by the sign that we were entering the Boundary National Park. Hmmmm, National Park = no dogs…..the camping guide was pretty clear that this was the only camping on the way to Grafton where dogs were allowed. Continuing on the dirt road we came to the camping ground, pitch dark, no one there, and again pretty clear that it is National Park. Closer inspection of the Camping guide revealed that it is from 2003 and the National Park signs didn’t look much older than a few years……After some discussion, Marjo in the warm bus with the dogs, Axel in the just above freezing cold outside, we decided not to take the risk to camp with dogs in a National park. The same dude that told us to carry lots of firewood also said that getting caught with dogs in a National Park could cost us up to $20,000.

The next option was an overnight stay on a roadside stop and we both decided not to go for that since the road is used mainly by trucks and from the roadside stop we could hear, feel and almost touch trucks coming past.

Then there was Mann River Camping in Jackadgery. A paid camping with shower (yumm again) and power. The nice part of it is the luxury, the downside is that the sites are pretty close to each other and that the dogs can’t walk freely around. The risk was though that it would be closed and the mobile phone had no reception. At 6.05 pm the mobile sounded a message, from Niki….reception! So, soon Marjo was talking to the caretaker who was not too happy with the call. He was in the process of locking up. With all her charms and her sweetest voice she convinced him to stay another half hour. The rest of the trip down the hills was an adventure of tight turns, analyzing every stump on the side of the road as being a stump and luckily not a kangaroo and with a minute to spare we arrived at the camping.

Now we are parked on the Mann River Camping in Jackadgery. Just finished Dutch Kerrie soup with rice and a sandwich and are calling family over VoIP. I got lucky again (with food of course, what were you thinking) and we had Griesmeel as desert (for the non dutch: semolina custard).

Tomorrow the coast!

Yesterday, Marjo and I went for the trial. Just in the normal car, to get around Sydney to visit 5 trailer places. A trip from 9.30 am (after peak hour traffic) till 3.30 pm (before peak hour traffic). Goal: to find a trailer light enough to tow for a year and convenient enough to take our stuff. We agree on what we need although we got tempted a couple of times (one 4 grand aluminium trailer with all options thinkable) and settled for an affordable trailer that was returned and had a buy-it now price we couldn’t resist (sensibility prevails)

Only have to think how to take the kayak on this…..

What we found is that:
– need to be specific about the purpose of going in a funky clothes shop. The purpose of looking is very different from the purpose of buying……..
– map reading is an art, thank god for navigator apps
– don’t come near schools at around 2.30 pm
– a trip is a trip, no side tracking unless pre-announced at the start of the trip
– no multi-tasking. In the post work period focus on one thing is good. No driving and sorting out payments at the same time.

All in all a successful trial.

Whohooooo…….after five stressful weeks of decluttering, cleaning, blowing leaves, fixing small things, progress discussions and anxious waiting we reached a milestone.

Now we are not only unemployed but also homeless, well in 3 months. A delayed settlement which will give us ample time to get organized, help Joran get his paving sorted and on our way.

All steps are progressing according to plan sofar. Our next planned item is to pack, prepare and get on the road.

As part of our journey we are trying to get the least amount of baggage. That means getting rid of stuff like the house and its contents. So the house is for sale (link) and we hope to be able to sell, pack up and be on the road end of May or beginning of June.

As part of the sales process you have open houses (Wednesday and Saturday) which means that it needs to look at its best with no leaves, no personal effects, no dogs. Today we had one of those days where we cleaned inside and out. Luckily it is a nice and sunny day which helps people to see the house and gardens in the best possible way.

In the afternoon Marjo sold our 50 year old sewing machine and did yoga while Axel went to meet up with some ex-colleagues to say goodbye. Perfect day for it.

Day 2 being unemployed and still enjoying it.

Today Axel’s first official unemployment day. A strange but happy feeling. Still a sense of having to accomplish something, so after making breakfast (Marjo toast, the dogs Nos and Dotti dry food wetted with fish and Axel muesli), with the bus and Nos to the mechanic for a checkup. Nos and Axel walked back home through nice sunny weather.

There Marjo was busy cleaning up the house for yet another inspection. Marjo the inside of the house, Axel the outside, blowing leaves, skimming the pool.
The inspection went well, followed by a visit of the realtor and an intermezzo of a bread roll and a fruit salad.
In the afternoon some checking of parts for the bus, some car mechanic work with the neighbour and picking up the bus again from the mechanic.

A satisfying day 🙂