SATURDAY 14 FEBRUARY     TORQUAY

It was a mostly sunny day, about 21 degrees, so just nicely warm.

We drove into Geelong where we visited All Tools and Mitre 10. John wanted to check out props to go under the van’s A frame and take the weight off the jockey wheel, when we are parked. He didn’t buy anything, though – decided he had to do a measure and check first.

At a shopping complex, we got papers, bread rolls, then some steak and a leg of lamb at a butchers – the meat was pleasingly cheap, compared to the prices we’ve paid over the past few weeks. Bought some wine.

I went to get a lotto ticket. The shop checked our Keno ticket – and we had a $500 prize! Yippee. Bought a couple of lotto tickets to see if we can keep the run going.

After that, it was back to the centre of Geelong, to RetraVision. Spent $500 on a VCR machine – John bargained a discount for cash.

Back at camp, John tuned the new VCR. He calculated that, with the wins since we left home, plus his bowls sale, we have enough “extra” money to be able to buy a new and better TV aerial, as he is not happy with the TV reception he is getting now. It seems that in every caravan park we have been in, to date, the main topic of conversation amongst male travellers is TV aerials! There is much comparison and advice given.

After lunch, rode the bikes around the foreshore, as far as the surf beach, and back through the streets. There were lots of people and cars about, so much concentration was needed. The ride was 13kms.

Tea was roast lamb (in the electric frypan, outside), vegies, followed by strawberries.

Used the park’s phone box to call home. Butch dog has had bad gastro and there is a vet bill of $130, that we will have to cover. At least, she is slowly getting better. It seems she has been fretting and may be run down – oh dear! I feel so guilty, and sad. Recently, a small bushfire started down the hill from home; K was at work and P got ready to flee, with the cats in their cage, and the dogs – but didn’t need to. Everywhere in Victoria is so dry.

We watched some of our “Grey Nomads” tape on the new VCR – it seems appropriate that this is the first program we see on it. That TV program really inspired us, when we first saw it, last year. It follows the travels of a cross section of older people, as they commence their adventures, and for a while as they go. I loved it.