This Adventurous Age

Adventures travelling and working around Australia.

Monthly Archives: October 2016


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1998 Travels March 7

SATURDAY 7 MARCH   ALBURY TO QUEANBEYAN   371kms

We were out of the park by 10am, with no dramas.

Had to fuel up in Albury – 74 cpl.

Continued up the Hume Highway. It is many years since I have travelled on this, in NSW. The country was very dry, but with rolling hills and regular little towns, maintained interest. So did regular sections of road improvement works. There are plentiful passing lanes, which is very reassuring for the novice caravanner mixing it with the big trucks.

John wanted to get to today’s destination, rather than stop places and look around, so for me there are a few “another time” places noted.

John found a place in Gundagai where he could park the rig and I walked from there to a bakery a couple of blocks away and bought rolls and an apple cake each, for lunch. We ate these sitting in Truck.

Turned off the Hume Highway at Yass, onto the last stretch for Canberra. That section is very pretty, with the distant mountains, but it was all so dry. The change from broader farmland to more intensive farming and hobby type farms as we got closer to Canberra, was interesting.

I was not looking forward to navigating us through Canberra – on my past couple of visits have had a tendency to get confused by the many roundabouts. But all went ok – we travelled through the centre until I managed to get us onto Constitution Avenue and then the road to Queanbeyan. Of course, there are always roadworks in Canberra, just to confuse directions!

Going to Queanbeyan took us out of the ACT and back into NSW – it is right on the border of the two.

03-07-1998 Albury to queanbeyan.JPG

I saw a Tourist Information sign as we made our way through the main street of Queanbeyan, with a space just made for us at the front, so John was able to pull over – on short notice! I went in and quickly got some basic information material and bought a little map of Canberra and environs, for $2.

Our chosen caravan park in Queanbeyan was up quite a steady hill. The name  Crestview Caravan Park should have been a give away! With the Top Tourist discount, our powered site here cost $76 for a week. This is nicely under the budgeted amount, so pleasing. Our site was a gravel surface, rather than grass, not a very big site, but adequate. The amenities were clean and modern. I was disappointed in one respect, though. Had been looking forward to having the park  pool to cool off in, if the weather turns really hot again. But the pool was closed – apparently a major outbreak of gastro has caused all pools in the region to be shut. Damn. The pool was the main reason I chose this park.

We found that, up on the hill as we were, it was quite windy today.

We set up for an extended stay, had a cup of tea, then went to a local supermarket to stock up on some groceries. John has done very well with all the driving he has done for the past two days. His leg is somewhat sore, but bearable. So there has been significant improvement over the past couple of months.

Went for a walk around the park – it seems to be a mix of tourists and permanents, with the latter being towards the back of the park, whereas we are at the front.

Tea was tinned ham and salads.

As night fell, it got really chilly and I needed to get out the little fan heater from under the bed.

I discovered that the walk to the amenities at night time is quite magic – with wide views across to other suburbs on distant hills. Lots and lots of lights twinkling away. Wonderful.


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1998 Travels March 6

FRIDAY 6 MARCH   HEALESVILLE TO ALBURY   328kms

Rain set in during the night and the grey morning, plus the night before, probably explained why we didn’t get up until 9am!

Final packing up and hitching up went well – although wet – and we left the park at 10.20am.

A few days ago, John had been looking at maps and talking of heading north via the road through Toolangi. I was against this idea because of the nature of that route through the range! I was pleased that, in the end, he took the sensible route: Healesville to Yarra Glen, thence to Yea. That was fine by me. Truck pulled the van up the winding section from Dixons Creek to the top of the range, quite easily, and John took it carefully down the other side.

But then, at Merton, he decided on the spur of the moment to take the road to Euroa, assuring me that he’d been that way before and it was much better than the way I’d planned, through Maindample to Benalla. It wasn’t! It was winding and hilly and seemed to take ages to do that 30kms. John is not quite satisfied with the van brakes – they do not seem to act to slow the van as much as he would like.

We stopped in Euroa so I could buy rolls for lunch. John decided he wanted some chips to be going on with. Had a coffee break a bit north of Euroa, at a roadside stop beside the Hume Highway. Our lunch break was then at a rest area north of Benalla, overlooking Lake Mokoan.

The rain had stopped by now, but it was still quite a grey day.

Followed the highway through Wodonga and crossed the series of bridges that span the Murray River and associated backwaters. Finally, we have reached NSW!

It was mid afternoon when we got to Albury. Navigated our way to the Albury Motor Village, on the Wagga Road – lots of turns and traffic to negotiate through Wodonga and Albury. Our powered site cost $14.40, after Big 4 discount.

After we’d done the minimal set up for an overnight stay, John washed down the van and Truck, which had come off second best through a long stretch of muddy roadworks on the Hume Highway.

03-06-1998 healesville to albury .JPG

We took the bikes off the van and took ourselves off for a ride through streets on the outskirts of Albury. It was a bit too windy for really pleasant riding, but it was exercise after the drive. It has been too long since we were on the bikes, but we managed 12.5kms.  Most of the time in Healesville, it had been too hot – and there is a discouragingly long uphill section between the park and the town!

When we got back to the van, found that the hose had come off the van while we were away and created quite a flooded area. The man from the next van had eventually turned off the tap. John can’t have quite clicked it back into place after washing the rig, and the water pressure is actually very strong here. Whoops!

Went and bought fish and chips for tea.


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1998 Travels March 5

THURSDAY 5 MARCH     HEALESVILLE

Still cool.

I did a final wash.

In the morning, John changed the wheel on the van – he was not happy with the way the valve was sitting on one of those on the van.

In the afternoon, John went to bowls. He got diesel in Healesville  – 70 cpl.

I did some packing away inside the van.

We left in time to be at the farewell function venue, at Mt Burnett, beyond Cockatoo, by 5.30pm. It was an excellent occasion. John was really happy with it. I am glad we stayed on, to enable this to happen, because it has provided a positive conclusion to his career, rather than the anti-climax it earlier seemed. John was presented with the farewell gift of a set of Pentax binoculars, the same as mine. I’d earlier suggested this, when asked for ideas about what he would like. His younger daughter R was there and gave a good speech and a present of a tiny clock for the van.

I was to drive back to camp, so John did not have to count his celebratory drinks through the evening. I drove quite cautiously for the 50 or so kms, that was mostly through bushland. Did not want to have any unplanned encounters with wildlife, in the dark! It was after midnight when we got back.

A great way to finish up the Melbourne time.


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1998 Travels March 4

WEDNESDAY 4 MARCH     HEALESVILLE

A cooler day.

Drove home with the last of the things we are not taking with us. Then had a bistro counter lunch at the York on Lilydale, with my work friend. More news of the place, from a different perspective.

Went to H and R’s to pick up a mouse for John’s computer, and mouse pad.

Back at camp, packed away the annexe that we’d put up for S’s visit, took down the awning, packed the back of Truck which had been unpacked to sort the things we wanted to leave at home.


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1998 Travels March 3

TUESDAY 3 MARCH     HEALESVILLE

Another hot day.

I drove to the shops to get supplies for morning tea, from a bakery. It cost me $13.50, for special cakes as two of John’s former colleagues were coming to a late morning tea. They stayed a couple of hours. It was quite a sinfully indulgent spread – and there were leftovers, too! John caught up on all the news from his old school.

In the afternoon, we visited the nearby Healesville Sanctuary. We had been hearing the dingoes howling in the late afternoons, and it was years since either of us had been here. Cost $20.80 for entry.

The Healesville Sanctuary was set up in the 1930’s, through the work of Melbourne doctor, Sir Colin Mackenzie, to research and conserve Australian animals. Although the land was a grant from the State government, he put a lot of his own money into it. In the 1970’s, it became a branch of the Melbourne Zoo. It is now an extensive establishment, in natural bushland, with the Badger Creek meandering through.

It was great to wander the Sanctuary, just the two of us. It is so well done, and worth every cent of the admission. We particularly enjoyed all the bird displays – given our new interest in bird spotting. I was quite taken by the bush thick knee, or bush curlew, that was standing frozen in some grass, pretending we couldn’t see it. The display said that they were rare in the wild and we were most unlikely ever to see one outside of the Sanctuary.

03-03-1998 02 bush thicknee hiding Healesville Sanctuary.jpg

Bush thick knee, pretending it isn’t there

Went to the raptor display, which showed several birds of prey in flight and gave interesting details about them. That was excellent.

The platypus display was the best, we thought. It was fascinating to watch this unique creature swimming about, hunting for food, surfacing for air. The glass wall of the display area allows a side-on view of a creek and under the water, so one can view the animals submerged. We watched that for ages. Also watched the dingoes for a while – beautiful creatures.

Back at camp, John replaced the tyres on my bike.

Tea was salads – still full after morning tea! But we squeezed in some of the sinful leftovers


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1998 Travels March 2

MONDAY 2 MARCH     HEALESVILLE

Weather hot again.

Today was a driving day, going around to clear up a lot of oddments. It was also a spending day!

Had to visit our bank to arrange some investment details. We went to Knox Hospital so John could have yet another blood test – this one would be a final check so that his “donated” hip could go to the bone bank. Rather a gory thought.

After that, going to the Miners Den shop was a pleasant experience for him, because he bought himself a new metal detector – much improved on the one he bought back in 1993. What did I say earlier about having all the gadgets? John plans to use the detector to look for gold, when we are in those sorts of areas, but also has thoughts of maybe finding coins on beaches, in camp areas, and the like. He thinks he will have more success with this one.

At the RACV Shop, I bought some maps and a book about Tasmania; only $6.50 for the lot. Office Works yielded some computer programs for John. From a camera shop he bought a carry case for the new digital camera. Bought new tyres for my bike.

We visited home.  Farewelled P and K, for the last time for a year. They are not able to come to John’s farewell dinner, as K is rostered to work. P already has her wedding dress, a whole year ahead. They have firmed up plans for a USA honeymoon. The pool has gone a pale tinge of green, but K assures us that this will be rectified soon – that his future father-in-law, who “knows about these things” has it all under control. Hmmmm. K has had plenty of instruction from John, over the years, so should be doing it himself. Anyway, out of our control, now.

We went back to the van, after driving 150kms doing all these chores.

Friends G and N came out to look at the van, as they are thinking ahead to retirement travels. They stayed for a couple of hours. I then phoned another friend, and arranged to have lunch with her on Wednesday.

Tea was left over risotto, and fruit.


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1998 Travels March 1

SUNDAY 1 MARCH     HEALESVILLE

A hot day again, for the start of autumn. In my original travel plans, did not envisage that we would STILL  be around Melbourne as the season changed, eight weeks after setting off! I  rather feel that we really have yet to get started “properly” on our travels. But – has been necessary. Although the medical appointments that brought us back here are now done, we will stay a few more days in order to attend a farewell function from John’s school. Because of his illness last year, he did not get back to work before the end of the school year, and now the staff and community want to say goodbye properly. He is pleased that they want to do this.

The time here makes for some fairly mundane diary entries, with very few photos to liven them up. But we will soon be properly on our way, and things will become more interesting.

Had to drive to the shops to get some supplies for tea and rolls for lunch.

Drove around to Badger Creek Weir Park and went for a very pleasant walk through the bush. It was just enough , in the heat.

John’s younger daughter came to tea, again. She was not in a happy mood, so the evening was not a comfortable one. She left fairly early. I made tomato and mushroom risotto for tea.


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1998 Travels February 28

SATURDAY 28 FEBRUARY     HEALESVILLE

A pleasantly warm day.

I drove to the shops quickly, after breakfast, to buy the paper and a few groceries.

Then John headed off to play pennant bowls, filling in for his usual team. He bought diesel on the way – 68cpl at a Fast Fuel place.

In the afternoon, friend T, from my old work, came to visit. I caught up on all the “goss”, so far this year. It all seems frightening familiar – the same old intrigues and personality clashes. I am interested to hear about the people – but definitely not interested in going back. It is already starting to seem a long time ago. My great fear that I would be bored, after the constant mental stimulation of work, has not eventuated, which surprises me a bit.

I thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon. As did John, who had played well and was happy.

Tea was pork chops with apple sauce, followed by fruit.


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1998 Travels February 27

FRIDAY 27 FEBRUARY     HEALESVILLE

Cooler today – last night’s storms have cooled things off.

Drove towards the city to drop S off at her mother’s place. S had to sit on the one remaining back seat,  which meant we had to unpack the stuff that usually travels on it and in the footwell.

John had an appointment to see his physician, at Knox Hospital. He does not have the vital test results yet. Bugger! However, he is happy with the way John seems to have recovered from the clots in his lungs, although the worst affected lung will never be quite normal, it seems. John is to phone in another two weeks for the test results. This could create some problems if he has to go back on Warfarin, but guess we will worry about that if it happens. John is convinced there is nothing wrong with his blood.

We called in at H and R’s place for John to collect his new laptop – a Twinhead, scanner and the digital camera he had coveted. Getting them through R was the most economic way, but they still cost over $4000. Still, it was money he had earned.  Now he has all the gadgets he wants – for the moment!

We went to the bowls club, so John could practice his bowls for an hour and a half. I sat in Truck and read.

Went home to drop off some more things we’d culled from what we started out with. Included in the cull has been the chainsaw that John thought we should take, and which he had stored in the front boot of the van. Now, he feels the extra weight is really not worth the slight chance we might need it. We are quite sure now that the ball weight of the van on Truck is substantially less than when we started out.

Saw the pets again. Not sure what dog makes of the coming and goings. I feel bad every time.

Back at the caravan park, I phoned our broker and put in orders for more shares that I’d decided were worth having – a mix of good dividend payers and ones I am speculating will rise in price so I can sell them and make a profit.

Tea was fish and chips, from a different shop this time, and not so greasy.


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1998 Travels February 26

THURSDAY 26 FEBRUARY     HEALESVILLE

It was a very hot and windy day. Bushfire weather in these parts.

John went to the skin specialist, who burnt keratoses off his hands, nose and forehead. He then collected his elder daughter, who had been staying at her mother’s place, and brought her back to Healesville.

While he was away, I made the necessary phone calls to arrange the purchase of some shares I wanted.

We looked at S’s photos and heard her stories about her recent overseas posting connected with her Foreign Affairs work. Sounded really “different” and a great experience for her.

We put up the full canvas annexe outside the van, for the first time, to make a “room” for S to sleep in. It all works! Moreover, it was pretty straightforward to put up. Her bed is the fold up banana lounge that John insisted we carry with us, for eventual lazing on a beach somewhere……..

I made a creamy chicken and mango salad for tea. It was delicious.

There was a massive lightning display, after dark, and then some rain – the culmination of this run of hot days, I think. It is this sort of thing that starts bushfires in these parts – and I certainly would not want to be here if there was a fire in the area.

At least we established that the annexe is waterproof!