MONDAY 5 JANUARY   HOME TO BALLARAT   175kms

We got up about 7.30am. John had to finish packing up stuff in his shed. He wanted to make sure that most of his tools were locked away for the duration. I finalized the caravan packing – just oddments now. We’d aimed to leave about 9.

Unfortunately, we had problems getting the van and Truck  hitched up to each other. It was only the second time we’d done it. Because John had some remnants of sand and gravel heaps beside the drive, in front of where the van was parked, the Truck and van lined up at slightly different angles, and the steel securing bolt would only go part-way through the coupling. Attempts to straighten it by wiggling the van, putting on the tension bars, jacking it up, all failed. There was much human tension! Then, in attempting to even it up, there was too  much weight on the jockey wheel and K stripped the thread on its bolt, trying to get it off.

Eventually, with much trepidation, we very slowly towed the partly secured rig out onto the road, straightened it all up, and got the bolt properly fitted. Whew!

Then the bikes went on their carry rack. It all seemed very heavy on the Truck. We started talking about maybe having to do a trip back from Ballarat – which was to be our first stop – to bring stuff back and lessen the load on Truck.

We finally pulled away from home at 12.15pm! Only 3 hours later than intended…. I think K and P had started to worry that we wouldn’t get away at all.

As we got going, I felt there was quite a forward rocking motion – it was the first time I’d been in the rig with the weight distribution hitch on. I thought it would take a bit of getting used to.

We now had to go to Hardings Caravan Repairs place in Bayswater for a new jockey wheel bolt. The men there all had a look at the rig and the boss said we should have heavier torsion bars than Hayman Reece had supplied. He also said we should have the ball weight measured, so I asked him to do it. This was simpler and quicker to do than John had anticipated, but we came in at 300kg ball weight. That seems too heavy to me, but no one commented on it.  Boss rang Hayman Reece, then fitted the heavier torsion bars; it was a straight swap with no extra charge. All we finished up paying for, after all that, was the new screw bolt for the jockey wheel. $8. Great service. I felt a bit happier that the caravan people had checked things out. So, K’s damage really did us a favour. Hardings made putting the van back on Truck look easy, too. Maybe we will be able to do it properly, next time.

We will have to have a rethink about what we are carrying, I am certain.

So it was even later by the time we really got going. Almost immediately, John said it felt better to tow, and I thought the pitching motion had gone.

By this time it was nearly 2pm and John was starving. We stopped briefly in Mitcham for some KFC for him. I don’t eat take away chicken, as a rule, so I didn’t have anything. I thought I was starting a head cold, so felt rather off colour, and sneezy/sniffly.

We travelled via Springvale Road, Eastern & Tullamarine Freeways, Sydenham, Melton, then Western Freeway to Ballarat, reaching there at about 3.45pm. The drive was quite pleasant, once clear of the city, although the roadsides looked very dry. The amount of urban development in the Sydenham and Melton areas surprised us, compared to when we were last through that way.

After all the dramas at the outset, it was a smooth enough run, even through the Carlton traffic. I was tense, though, hoping all would be ok – first time towing a caravan, and all that.

John was in a great deal of pain from his hip, as we drove, especially with all the gear work, and the stiff clutch, through the metropolitan area, and so Ballarat really was quite far enough.

We chose Lake Wendouree Caravan Park in Gillies Street, because it is close to that lake, for walks and rides. We will probably stay here a week or more, so John can rest up, we can sightsee the area, and will take some surplus weight  back home.

The park costs $17 a night, with the seventh night free. So that comes in at $102 for the week – just about our budget. It is a Top Tourist Park – we may join their group, like we have Big 4.

We already have a list of forgotten items! John’s caravan keys (essential) the bendy bed pillows, and my sleeper earrings, both of which we could manage without.

It took us a while to set up the van. Initially we asked for a drive through site, to save John from backing. Then discovered this was basically a laneway, so back to the office and got a nice grassy site, which John backed onto quite easily. I did most of the setting up and unpacking because of John’s pain. It all went well and quite calmly.

After a coffee break, we put up the annexe roof. Another first, and we had to work from the printed instructions. It was late by the time we had done it all and we were both tired, so John went out and bought fish and chips. They were nice, too.

Then there was much TV antenna adjustment to get a picture that was just ok. The antenna goes in a bracket on the van’s A frame and it extends to go up quite high. The lead plugs into a socket on the side of the van.

There is a phone box on site, so after tea I phoned son to let him know we had arrived safely – and to thank him for the damage that sent us to Hardings!

Have not really had a chance yet to have a good look round, but the park looks fine; I do know the showers are great! Tomorrow we will begin to focus “out” a little.

It was nearly midnight on a slightly chilly night when we retired to bed.