This Adventurous Age

Adventures travelling and working around Australia.

Category Archives: 1999 Travels


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1999 Travels April 15

THURSDAY 15 APRIL     MILDURA

We slept in until 10.30am. We must be exhausted from all that socializing we have been doing!

Got up to clear blue skies and a temperature of about 20 degrees.

After our late breakfast, drove to the main part of town, some 5kms away. I was aiming for the Information Centre and some shops, but John wanted to first check out the bowls club. There, he discovered that there was a mixed triples this afternoon, as well as singles on Saturday. He entered us in both! Ho hum – here we go again…..

We rushed back to the caravan park. While John got ready I made him a quick lunch, then I got ready, but had no time to eat anything.

The Mildura Bowls Club is quite a large one, at the eastern edge of town, not far from the river. John played skip, did quite well and enjoyed himself. My game was not very good; I played lead in a game of fours, organized because of surplus numbers. So I only had two bowls per end to worry about! The people were friendly enough, which is one of my main criteria for judging a club.

We were back at the van by 5.30pm. We had some beer and almonds, and then John only wanted soup for tea, so soup we had. I was quite hungry, not having really eaten all day, but couldn’t think of anything to make for just me. We have not had a chance yet to replenish our fruit and vegetable matter.

At bowls, John picked up an entry form and details for a big bowls tournament being held here in late April/early May. We may stay on here so he can play in it. I suggested he phone his brother in law to see if he was interested in coming up for it.

After tea, I started on writing a letter to our Caramut friends – by hand. I went to bed fairly early. The night was cold – it got down to 9 degrees! John played computer games till 3am.


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1999 Travels April 14

WEDNESDAY 14 APRIL   KERANG TO MILDURA   301kms

I had a very restless night, for some reason. Maybe there is something subconscious about heading off into the unknown again.

However, we woke to a great morning – crisp and sunny.

We got away well. Stopped to buy a newspaper in Kerang. John was not hassled by driving around the streets there, with the van on.

It was a very pleasant drive along the Murray valley, towards Mildura.

We refuelled in Swan Hill – 78cpl. That is a huge jump from what we paid at home!

At Boundary Bend, we found an area where we could park and eat lunch, overlooking the river. Saw a white plumed honeyeater.

Stopped at the Information Centre in Robinvale, mainly because it was easy to access, as we were passing. Bought almonds there – the area is a major almond producing one. There was a notice that was a job advertisement for casual harvest process workers, so we asked about it. It involves packing pistachio nuts, for $11 an hour. It would be standing all day and monotonous work it would be. They want females only for that. They also need a fork lift driver, which would be right up John’s alley – if only he had a fork lift licence! We decided not to apply.

We have discussed doing some emergency teacher work in another couple of years, in order to get the $3000-$4000 for the new computer that John wants. In the course of discussing work with the staff person at the Info Centre, were told that they are short of emergency teachers around here, and also need sessional teachers at the TAFE to teach basic computing. All is food for thought. But now that we have begun moving again, I really do not want to prop again for the length of time that something like that would involve.

In the meantime, we pushed on for Mildura, crossing the Murray at Robinvale, into NSW, and going through Euston.

Just out of Euston, we were pulled over at a mobile fruit fly inspection point. We had not given any thought to quarantine zones, and had not seen any signs about same on the back roads we had travelled. They took our new apples! And – brought from home – our kiwi fruit, lemons and figs. We hope we will not be fined – the inspector left that up in the air! It was not a nice feeling. I actually forgot we also had cumquats and guavas from home, tucked away, so they were not taken – whoops!

We were quite subdued as we continued on.

We booked into a very pleasant caravan park, on the northern edge of Mildura – a river front one – the Big 4 Golden River Caravan Park. It is not cheap, though. This week is holiday time, so we pay holiday rate – $109.80. And that is after the discount, and with the seventh night free. If we stay longer, subsequent weeks will cost $14.40 a night, with the seventh night free – that is better.

We had a calm, late afternoon set up, on a pleasantly shaded site.

This is an “organized” caravan park, with holiday activities and the like. We decided not to go to the organized wine tasting happy hour this afternoon. We would probably only have bought wines we can’t afford!

Tea was vegetables left over from last night, and sausages.

Phoned K to report our whereabouts.

I started up my computer. It says the printer is not installed!! What printer? It does not want to proceed further. While we were in Melbourne, John insisted on changing many of my computer programs to “bring them up to date” – even though I wanted them left as they were. Now, I don’t know what I’m doing, and it appears the computer does not, either. John gets very impatient if I ask him for help with such things. I feel un-empowered!

The night was cool. Maybe it is the effect of the nearby river?

I am pleased to be in Mildura, with time to look around. We have passed through several times previously, but never did more than overnight here.

04-14-1999 kerang to mildura.JPG


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1999 Travels April 13

TUESDAY 13 APRIL   HOME TO KERANG   337kms

We got away well, at 10.30am. P and K watched us hitch up the van and were amazed at how easy it was – this time! Sad goodbyes were said to all pets. P and K were probably happy to see us go – they are in charge again!

P had asked to borrow all my photos of their wedding, with negatives, and also the ones that R had given us – so she and her mother could get copies of the ones they like. So I left all that with her, and with instructions that, when they were done with them, to put the lot on the bed in our room. In the event, I never did get any back, and so ended up with no photos of son’s wedding, apart from one that was on the tail end of the previous roll of film.

We travelled through the city and out the Calder Freeway. It was a relatively easy run.

At Harcourt John pulled over at a roadside stall and bought $10 worth of apples. It reminds him of “old times” when he used to live in the area and regularly bought Harcourt apples.

Once we got out of Melbourne, it began to feel warmer, and it was a great day, north of Bendigo.

We stopped at Serpentine and ate our packed lunch.

It is back into caravan parks again! We booked into the Kerang Caravan Park, for $13. We were able to stay hitched up. It was clean and on the edge of the Loddon River.

We spotted  new birds  near the river, at the caravan park – a mulga parrot, and a Red rumped parrot.

There is a decent looking bowls club at Kerang. They have big Easter and spring bowls carnivals – which John noted for future reference!

For tea I made an Asian style vegetable stir fry, with rice.

It is excellent to be on the move again

04-13-1999-home-to-kerang


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1999 Travels April 12

MONDAY 12 APRIL     HOME

I took Butch to the vet at 8.30am. She was not a happy dog and tried to bite the man!

We worked around the house, and packed up the van. John fixed a broken fence rail and veranda post. He took Truck to refuel – 67cpl.

We gave the flat tenant a bottle of champagne, with thanks for looking after the unit so well. He admitted that our cats spent quite a bit of time in there!

I feel sad and guilty all over again that we are leaving the pets once more. They have gotten a bit used to having us back.

04-04-1999 Butch & Fox ready for supper.jpg

I picked up Butch at 6pm. She was much brighter and stronger than I expected. Ate her tea with no problems. That is a relief. But I do wish that she did not have to put up with P’s little dog, who annoys her quite a bit.

Our tea was tinned tomato soup and frittata that R brought for us on Saturday.

Now that we know dog is fine, we have decided to head off tomorrow, and go to Kerang. I am all “socialled” out – and not in the mood for seeing or visiting anyone else!


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1999 Travels April 11

SUNDAY 11 APRIL     HOME

Today, we went to P parents’ place, out beyond Lilydale, for a BBQ lunch, family gathering and opening of the wedding presents. It was quite a large gathering. Unfortunately, the misbehaviour of the totally revolting, feral children of one of their friends rather spoiled the present opening.

They received some very nice presents.

We watched the videos they took in the USA. A segment, taken at Williams, of P seeing snow fall for the first time ever, was brilliant, and so funny.

We went back to the van for an early night. All this socializing is bloody exhausting!


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1999 Travels April 10

SATURDAY 10 APRIL     HOME

In the morning, I took Butch dog and the two cats to the vet, for their annual checks and injections. The cats are fine. Butch needs a tooth removed – I arranged that for Monday. It will cost about $200. Poor dog! But that is a lot more than I have ever paid to have one of MY teeth extracted!

John worked around the place all day. He took greenery and prunings to the tip – several loads. K helped a little. He seems rather grouchy – jet lag? He cleaned out the gutters. John did some too. They do not seem to have been done since we left. I cut the kiwi fruit vines back from the house and that debris went to the tip, too.

R came out to tea – in the van, with us. We had nibbles and dips, Greek style chicken breasts, potato and salad, with fresh fruit after. She brought us copies of some great wedding photos, to keep. We gave her a torch that was surplus, and my father’s old vacuum cleaner, for her flat. She brought out her computer screen, to go to our computer friend for repairs, which we will pay for. She visited with P and K too. It was a good evening.


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1999 Travels April 9

FRIDAY 9 APRIL     HOME

Saw our accountant in the morning and got some investment advice.

Did some shopping at Chirnside.

Back at home, moved our things from the house back out to the van. Cleaned up the house. Washed the bed linen we’d used and put it away when it was dry.

P and K arrived back after lunch. They’d had a great time in western USA, though they did not get to see the Grand Canyon, as planned, because it was snowing in the area!  It was P’s first overseas trip. I thought they were pretty chirpy after a 13 hour flight! They looked through my photos of the wedding.

John left to return the Disco to Frankston and collect Truck, which is ready. When he got back, he was not happy with the engine noise, though – thinks it has too much of a whistle. Tappet noise, maybe? We were not charged for this work, at all, which was great – thanks to the Service Manager of the dealership.

We all had fish and chips for tea, then P and K went out to see some friends.

We retired to bed in the van, again. This feels better!


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1999 Travels April 8

THURSDAY 8 APRIL     HOME

For some time now, John and I have been throwing around ideas for where we will spend next summer – the millennial one. As with the one just past, we do not want to be where it is too hot, cyclonic, or coastal crowded. We have settled on Tasmania. I joked that if the civilized world does grind to a halt, there are worse places to be at the time!

This morning, we visited Jetset Travel in Lilydale, booked our trip to Tasmania, and paid for it. We will sail on 22 October and return on 15 April, 2000. That will give us six months, more or less, over there, and avoid the peak season high fares. Given the high cost of taking Truck and van over on the ferry, we need a good long stay there, too, to get our money’s worth.

We booked a cabin for each leg. My first ferry trip to Tasmania was almost forty years ago, on the Princess of Tasmania, and my friend and I – impoverished students at the time – only booked the chairs. Lessons learned! Bass Strait can be extremely rough, at any time of the year. Being surrounded by sea sick fellow travellers is most unpleasant. Sharing communal bathrooms in those circumstances is even more dire. Since then, I have made several more crossings – but always book a cabin! These have their own bathroom.

We paid out $1400, which included travel insurance. We deemed it wise to take this out, since the trip is so far off.

Whilst walking back to our upmarket vehicle, encountered our accountant in the street, and arranged on the spot, to see him tomorrow about taxes and finances.

Back at home, I dried some more figs.

Tea was cold roast lamb and salads.


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1999 Travels April 7

WEDNESDAY 7 APRIL    HOME

We did house and garden work in the morning. There certainly has been a lot to do!

After an early lunch, drove in to Windsor, to see the surgeon who did John’s hip replacement, in 1996. It is the 12 month check up – somewhat late! He seemed quite pleased with the hip’s progress to date – but did not want to know about the other one! I suspect that is because of the complications of blood clotting, back then. This might mean that John will have to find another surgeon, when the time comes. We will worry about that one later.  Much later, I hope!

Back home for a quick tea because K’s friend R was coming over, to return a computer game that John lent him on Friday. We had a pleasant chat for a couple of hours.


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1999 Travels April 6

TUESDAY 6 APRIL     HOME

We occupied much of the day with gardening and house work.

Our rhubarb patch is fruiting well, so I picked and dehydrated it.

Our computer supplying friends came to dinner. I made my ham and mushroom pasta dish again, but it was a bit too runny this time, because I used thin cream in it. I served stewed fruits for dessert.

This was another good evening, with friends who have been doing some travel, in short bursts. We tried to talk them into tackling the Simpson Desert crossing with us, later in the year, but I don’t think they are quite ready to take on something of that magnitude.