WEDNESDAY 22 JULY     WEIPA

In the morning, I did the washing, including the sheets and towels. Two loads, at $3 a load. Everything is getting more expensive.

I walked to the shops and checked at the PO, in optimism – no mail. I got the paper – Australian. Bought some groceries.

After lunch, we went for a drive around to the wharf area. We watched some guys trying to load a barge. The barge landing is not sealed and its loading ramp just drops down onto the sand. A semi with trailer being backed on, got bogged. So they backed up a front end loader to try to tow the truck out. That didn’t work, so they attached a truck to the front end loader. The antics, with much head scratching, examining of vehicles, were hilarious. When we left, the semi was still stuck and we wondered what would be attached next? We only left because we figured that amused spectators were probably not really welcome!

In the afternoon, it got really windy.

From the “security” of our tent verandah, we took part in the campground’s afternoon entertainment – watching newcomers hunt for a power outlet they can reach! Yesterday, it was us.

I made soup, veggie and barley, and some salads. It is good to have salad materials again.

Tea was soup and salads, and I had some sliced ham and stras sausage; John had frankfurts.

After dark, a guy came across to ask us about the Defender. In talking, he turned out to be the man who used to run the Hamilton Swimming Pool, when I lived there. He recognized me, not the other way round. Then he went and fetched his wife and we talked for a while. They left Hamilton in 1980 and now live on the Sunshine Coast. They have been up to the Top and are now on their way back. They have a tinnie, and fish. They camped at Vrilya Point, but said the aborigines came and camped there and they were made uncomfortable and felt they really should not be there. We told them about Silver Plains.