WEDNESDAY 3 FEBRUARY     EVANS HEAD

When I got up, at 8am, the sky was blue, with lots of fluffy clouds. So much for my theory about a rainbow ringed moon! There was quite a bit of sunshine through the day, but it was also windy, and there were some sun showers.

John went fishing from the break wall, with the incoming tide. He lost a lot of his pippi bait, but did not catch anything. The locals are catching flathead in the area, and bream in the river, he was told.

John went to bowls in the afternoon – no shortage of games here.

I walked on the beach for an hour, then went to the Library. Now that both my original books have been returned, I can borrow more at once, so I took out several. Back at the van, I read.

John won at bowls – not well enough to bring home a prize, but he was happy not to lose.

I made curried carrot soup and we had some for tea, followed by a vegie stir fry.

John discovered there were some messages on the phone – we are still getting used to this gadget, it seems. One was from R with the news we already know. One was from a former colleague of John’s, just to say hi. One was from John’s brother C, anxious to know where we are. He knows we are heading south again and I suspect he is worried that we might pass him by! I think he really used to enjoy the calls we made to him on the HF Radio, before we bought the mobile phone. Took him back to the old days.

SATURDAY 30 JANUARY     EVANS HEAD

After breakfast, we walked on the beach for about an hour. Then we walked to the local library, which is not far from the park. We were told that, as we are Council tenants, we can borrow from this. I took two books. After this initial loan is returned, I will be entitled to five at a time. This is soooo good! Reading orgy coming up!

Whilst I was browsing for books, John used the internet at the Library to do some research on solar panels. We are both very aware that, once this initial foray up and down the east coast is completed – when we return to Melbourne for K’s wedding – then our further travels will be much more flexible with solar power for the van. So, knowledge about same is becoming important.

After lunch, I read the Weekend Australian. There was no bowls on today, so John watched tennis and cricket on TV.

During the afternoon, there was a massive cloud build-up. Then we had huge thunder, lightning, heavy rain for an hour or so, followed by steady rain through the night. We seem to be in a sheltered spot, though, and were not much affected by the wind. It was all quite elemental and dramatic.

Some spectating entertainment was provided through the day by some family groups that had obviously been set up here for the duration of the holidays. They were moving out today. Some had huge establishments that required two vehicles, with trailers, to move: floorboards. fridges, freezers, washing machines and all. I think they may be families from the region, rather than travellers as such. A bit like the family camps that set up for summer at places like the Mornington Peninsula camp areas.

Tea was a chicken and water chestnut stir fry, which was excellent.

FRIDAY 29 JANUARY     EVANS HEAD

We woke up to some blue sky and balmy breezes. There are still some clouds, but it may be fine for much of the day.

After breakfast, we went for a short walk along the beach. To get to it, we just have to walk down the road past our site, then past the Surf Lifesaving Club and we are on the beach. There is an excellent expanse of non-stop sand, stretching away for kms into the distance to the north. 4WD vehicles are allowed to drive on the beach, north of the town’s edge – so the sand is fairly firm.

In the other direction, the beach only goes for a short way, before it ends against a breakwall that is one of two at the entrance to the Evans River. I presume they are there to stop sand washing in and blocking the river mouth. They don’t go out all that far – maybe fifty metres? It is all very pleasant.

As we walked back to the van, noticed that there is a sort of dish drain that runs through the park and sort of cuts it in half. We crossed it on a little bridge yesterday, but it didn’t really register then. It is a scooped out hollow – grass covered now – that I guess could carry quite a bit of water in heavy rain.

After lunch, John went to bowls. He is actually able to walk there!

I went exploring around the shops to see what is there. Answer – not many, but the basics are covered. Then I did a proper long walk along the beach, for a couple of hours. There were enough people around, at different points, for me to feel quite secure doing this.

John was happy enough with his bowling, even though he played in a losing team. It is a big club.

Tea was soup – from a tin. John had reheated steak and kidney. I had some veggies and salad.

Phoned K to let him know all was well. John phoned daughter R. She is waiting to hear if she got into the course at Melbourne Uni that she wants to do. There is much demand for it, and time is running out.

TUESDAY 26 JANUARY      STANTHORPE

Today, it is a year since John’s official resignation from the Education Department. He slept till about 10am. So good not to have to get up early, and to alarms!

After a late breakfast, we went to practice bowls. This dragged on much longer than I wanted, until 2pm, by which time it was too late for a proper lunch, or to do anything much with the rest of the day. My plan had been to go back to Girraween or Bald Rock, for a walk!

John watched cricket on TV.

I went for a walk around the streets.

Tea was soup, omelette with ham, cheese and onion.