This Adventurous Age

Adventures travelling and working around Australia.

Monthly Archives: March 2017


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1999 Travels May 3

MONDAY 3 MAY     LOXTON

It was a lovely sunny day, much warmer than it had been at Mildura.

John decided this morning that he really did not want to worry about the state of the tyres any longer. They are the original Michelins that Truck came with, and are getting quite worn. They have covered 63,000kms – some of this towing, and some on the poor roads and tracks of Cape York, so we are happy with the performance. Back in Melbourne, we had thought they would last until we got to Alice Springs, but given the route there that we are planning, it is prudent to have them replaced now. We think a different type of tyre might now be in order for the desert and outback work we plan. I had done research in 4WD magazines, in 1997, before we started travelling, and from that we selected a tyre that reviews said performed very well on all surfaces except snow and ice – and we did not anticipate needing that! We’d had those tyres fitted to the van wheels when it was built – Olympic Overlanders.

John had gotten a quote for these when we were in Melbourne, but decided against changing over then. He went down the street here and got a local quote. This was better than the one in Lilydale! With a trade-in allowance, he could get five new tyres fitted, balanced and the like, for $790. So the change over was arranged for 8am tomorrow.

We drove to Berri, where there is a Coles and did a big fruit and veg stock up. As well, I bought some nibbly items, for our drinks session this afternoon – dips, olives.

We had a quick drive around Berri, to get an idea of what it is like.

After lunch back at the van, John went to the river to try to catch some yabbies. The yabbies had other ideas.

I cleaned up the van and organized our roast lamb dinner, ready to cook.

J and B arrived about 5.30. J is still teaching, and B has a casual job making wine storage tanks at a local winery.

We had to sit outside with our drinks and nibbles, after they had inspected the rig. They stayed a couple of hours – it eventually got a bit chilly, sitting out there.

Our roast lamb dinner was a late one – it was nearly 8pm when we sat down to eat it.

Another very pleasant day.


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1999 Travels May 2

SUNDAY 2 MAY   MILDURA TO LOXTON   182kms

We were up in reasonable time, and the packing up and departure were routine. There was no great sense of urgency because we were not going that far. I made us a packed lunch of avocado sandwiches, to use up the last of that.

It was a very pleasant day for driving.

All the new fruit and vine developments to the west of Mildura were interesting to see – the whole irrigation area seems to be fast expanding.

We stopped and had a final fruit eat-up, just before the border. The inspector at the Yamba check point was very pleasant. I asked him if I could take garlic into SA – and had to hand it over! He checked inside the van – but only a visual check over what he could see, and inside the fridge. I’d hoped they would not want to go through every storage area, because we carry all the loose stuff, including the TV, on the bed when we travel – and moving all of that off to access the big storage area under the bed would have been a real pest!

While we were stopped at the checkpoint, another traveller came up to ask John about the Trakmaster, as he is considering buying one. They are still very much an unusual van to see out and about, with still less than a hundred having been made, to date.

We did not go as far as Renmark, but turned off the highway, onto a road that runs direct to Loxton.

We reached Loxton about lunch time. Booked into the Riverfront Caravan Park – $13.50 a night. The caravan park has, as the name suggests, a frontage to the Murray River, but with a public camping area next to it, so it is a bit open and “public”. But the sites are nice and grassy. We were told not to drink the local water – there are rainwater tanks for drinking water.

We did not put up the awning roof, as we are only staying a couple of nights, and the weather forecast is for fine weather.

We drove to J and B’s about 4.30pm. We’d changed time zones at the border, so it felt a bit later, to us.

We enjoyed an excellent meal with them, and a really good catching up session, as it is years since I have seen them. J is still really fit and active – though she is no longer teaching Phys Ed. B is on long service leave but will not return to teaching. They suggested we look up other former colleagues – J and U – who live at Hawker. Apparently, they are very involved in the life of the town and also do lots of outback travel – and play bowls! So that sounds like a good idea.

We made arrangements for J and B to come round tomorrow afternoon and see the rig.

A most pleasant evening – it is good to meet up with old friends again.

05-02-1999 mildura to loxton 2


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1999 Travels May 1

SATURDAY 1 MAY      MILDURA

I went to the shops for the papers while John had some sleep in time.

Today was a day of organizing travel stuff.

John changed a wheel on Truck. The tyre on it was quite worn, so he switched it with the spare. He did assorted other Truck things. He was very pleased that he was able to fix the dead switches on the back spotlight we have mounted there, and on the air compressor. He painted up some of the black bits too.

I did some oddments of washing, including the most recently used bowls gear.

Read the papers for a while. Cooked up a vegie soup and stewed apple and rhubarb, to use up the remaining stocks, since we will go through the quarantine check point tomorrow.

We did a final short walk along the river at dusk and admired the sunset colours on the water.

04-25-1999 03 Murray R sunset Mildura.jpg

Sunset light, Murray River

Tea was smoked fish, salads and fruit.


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1999 Travels April 30

FRIDAY 30 APRIL     MILDURA

More bowls. We went through the same morning transport routine.

Today was triples games.

I planned the meals for a month and then went and bought much of the requirements for same – all except the fresh produce that can’t be taken over the border. I spent $230! Packed it all away and now have the little freezebox full of meats.

I bought a Keno ticket for a month.

I filled Truck – 68cpl.

Collected John from bowls. He came home happy because they won the Triples! He collected another $30. He is not going to play any more – has actually had enough of bowling for the time being! I didn’t think it could happen!

Tea was fish and chips.


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1999 Travels April 29

THURSDAY 29 APRIL     MILDURA

More bowls. We went through the same morning transport routine.

Today they were playing more Pairs.

I went and picked up my photos, and mailed them home, along with a poster we’d gotten from the bowls club that had a good photo of the place. We want that kept at home for us for a keepsake.

Had my hair cut. Checked at the Post Office in case there was mail – nothing. Bought a new battery for my watch. Bought a few food items.

We have decided on our next moves from here, so I phoned Wilpena Pound, in the Flinders Ranges, and booked us into their camping ground for a week.

Read for a couple of hours. Made soup.

Collected John from bowls. He had a better day – they won two of the three games, but did not make the finals. So, he is happier, but is getting tired.

Tea: vegie and barley soup, sausages and gravy and mashed potato.


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1999 Travels April 28

WEDNESDAY 28 APRIL     MILDURA

John had to be at bowls at 8.30 again, and I took him and kept Truck.

Today was the Pairs event.

I did some final thinking about shares, then phoned my broker, sold some Telstra shares that I thought were a really high price, and bought some in four other companies. I do not want to have all my shares in one basket, so to speak! I retained a respectable number of Telstra ones.

Went to Spotlight to buy some knitting wool to last me for this year’s travels. Got a couple more books from the library. Put film into the shop so I could get copies of the photos of us with the Smith Cup, to send to the offspring.

I went to the Post Office and paid the phone bill.

Collected John from bowls. He was really down. He did not play well and they lost both games.

Tea was pizza from Pizza Hut – they have a special deal going.

I phoned friend J who lives in Loxton. She seemed really thrilled to hear from me. She wanted us to stay there! But we do prefer our independence, and we arranged instead to have tea there on Sunday.


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1999 Travels April 27

TUESDAY 27 APRIL     MILDURA

John went off to bowls again, in the morning. He took Truck today.

Despite the blue skies, it is windcheater and long trouser weather.

I read and sewed, and went for a walk along the river track.

04-25-1999 02 Murray R Mildura.jpg

The Murray River at Mildura

Booked us in here for four more nights.

John’s team came third in the finals of the 4’s and he won $30.

Tea was soft burritos with spinach and ricotta filling – very yummy.

I phoned home and had a chat with P. K was out shooting with her father and brother. She tells me they are giving up smoking! Hope they can manage it, but I will be surprised.


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1999 Travels April 26

MONDAY 26 APRIL     MILDURA

Today was the first day of the big bowls tournament.

John had to be at bowls by 8.30am. I drove him there and kept Truck.

I did the washing, cleaned the van, went to the shops for a few things, and read.

In the afternoon, big clouds came across and there was dust around. There was no rain, though I wondered for a while if we were in for a big storm.

At 5pm I drove back to the Bowls Club to collect John. Had to wait almost an hour for him; I’d taken a book, for such a thing, and sat in Truck and read.

The 4’s team John was playing second for, have gotten into tomorrow’s finals, so he was happy.

Tea was soup, lamb chops and vegies.


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1999 Travels April 25

 SUNDAY 25 APRIL     MILDURA

We intended today to be a quiet one, before a very busy week ahead for John.

Drove over the bridge into NSW and east a short way, to Gol Gol, where there was a roadside stall where we bought grapefruit and grapes.

Back on the Victorian side, we paid a brief visit to Kings Billabong, on Mildura’s southern edge, by the old pumping station at Psyche Bend. This was not the bird-plentiful wetland that I’d hoped to see, and was rather a let down. But we did see a square tailed kite.

04-25-1999 01 Murray R billabong by old pump station.jpg

Wetland by old Psyche Bend Pumping Station

Back at the caravan park, we went for a walk along the track beside the river for an hour or so. The changing light on the river was interesting.

Tea was cold corned beef and hot vegies.

 


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1999 Travels April 24

SATURDAY 24 APRIL     MILDURA

I drove to shops to get the papers and read those through much of the morning.

John went to bowls after lunch. He enjoyed the afternoon.

I read and sewed and enjoyed my afternoon, too.

For tea I cooked a piece of corned silverside and served it with boiled vegetables.