This Adventurous Age

Adventures travelling and working around Australia.

Category Archives: 2000 Travels


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2000 Travels April 29

SATURDAY 29 APRIL   BOURKE TO CHARLEVILLE   482kms

The day was hotter – more so than yesterday. The morning though, was balmy and pleasant.

We slept last night with the doona off for most of the night – it had been a long time since we had done that!

Today’s intended destination was Cunnamulla – which would see us over the border and into Qld – three days after leaving Melbourne.

After hitching up, we departed the caravan park and drove to the Information Centre, where we picked up some good materials on parts north.

Then I went to the newsagent for newspapers and postcards. While I was in there, John started a conversation with a nearby clothing shop owner, which soon got onto the difficulties of trying to run a business in the town. The man said he’d had three break ins, in two weeks, and he’d had to reinforce his brick side wall with steel mesh and steel sheets. That was why shops have so few windows, and most have steel mesh shuttering. The man said that the town no longer had a football team as its members just wanted to fight all the time, so no other teams would play them. I guess that all of that commentary reinforced our impressions, given all the damage we’d seen.

We did a limited fresh produce shop at a small supermarket – there was not much choice.

Refuelled Truck – 92cpl.

It was 11am before we left Bourke. Apart from the hamlet of Enngonia, there was little sign of settlement. It all felt rather “outback”.

We had lunch at a roadside stop near the border, and then it was on, into Qld. Again!

The route north of Bourke was still interesting and lush, with much grass and the occasional very fat cattle. Clearly, the area had received quite a lot of rain over summer and autumn. I suspect the country around here is not normally this well watered? It is certainly mostly very flat.

When we reached a servo on the outskirts of Cunnamulla, John decided to keep going to Charleville.

Refuelling in Cunnamulla was not much cheaper than in NSW – 90cpl.

While John was filling Truck, I phoned the caravan park of choice in Charleville and secured us a site.

The last couple of hours of driving was quite hot and I for one was glad when we rounded a sweeping curve and saw the outskirts of Charleville coming up. We’d been running parallel to a railway since Cunnamulla; didn’t see any trains on it, but the crossing signs on the side roads made it appear the route was still used. We crossed that line just before the central part of the town and yes, it definitely was still in use. Good to see!

Booked into the Bailey Bar Caravan Park – $12.60 a night, after discount. We’d decided on the way that, if the park looked alright, we’d stay a couple of nights and look around the town and have a break from driving.

It was a very nice little caravan park. We were parked on good grass. There were plenty of shade trees. It was a little different in that there did not appear to be formally marked out sites in the main section – the owner directed us into the place he wanted us to park. The vans were at all sorts of angles to each other, apparently designed to maximise use of the space – but without crowding them too close together. It was probably a good thing that we did not intend to put on the awning roof – we may have taken up too much space!

The amenities were fairly modern, quite adequate, and clean.

By the later afternoon, there appeared to be few vacancies, so I was glad I’d phoned ahead for a place. Lots of “snowbirders” are heading north it seems.

Another bonus of this pleasant place was that the town water was drinkable – not always the case in more remote places.

The air was lovely and warm and there was a real “tropical” feel. The park’s trees attracted many birds too, so we would have those to watch.

Tea was lamb chops and salad.

We were very tired from the several days of travel, and had an early night, though I managed to write some postcards while John watched a bit of TV. The TV options were not great – basically just our old Central Australian friend Imparja! At least we could watch the news – sort of.

The night was warm, again, so we did not need the doona – sheet was sufficient.

I was happy!

04-29-2000 to charleville


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2000 Travels April 28

FRIDAY 28 APRIL   HAY TO BOURKE   622kms

Refuelled at South Hay, after a reasonably early start. 87cpl.

I posted K’s birthday card and cheque in Hay.

The weather was getting warmer as we went north.

We travelled NE to Goolgowi, then north to Hillston. My road atlas showed that the route north from there, through Cobar to Bourke, was not sealed, but we decided to try that way as being the most direct for where we were aiming. We were pleasantly surprised to find that the newly named Kidman Way was also fairly newly sealed – all the way. It was a very good road, with very little traffic. So much better than battling with truck traffic on the Newell Highway.

We had a lunch stop by the Lachlan River, just north of Hillston.

After the flat Hay Plains, the country north of Hillston became more wooded and interesting to drive through. It was quite green, with much grass and surface water lying about.

We did not stop to explore Cobar, being focussed on getting to Qld. It was obviously a mining town but seemed to be rather languishing, from the little we saw as we drove through and stopped briefly for fuel – 93cpl.

After Cobar we were in mulga scrub country.

In Bourke, checked into the Bourke Caravan Park, taking an ensuite site, for $18. We did a basic set up. The site was quite adequate.

We had not been very impressed by Bourke as we’d driven through to the caravan park. There were numbers of indigenous people wandering about, battered and graffitied  houses, with boarded up window spaces. I was shocked to see how many businesses had bars over their windows.

We drove to get the night’s fish and chip tea, having been advised to do so by the caravan park lady, rather than walk the relatively short distance. Given what we’d seen already, we certainly did not feel like walking for exercise, here.

The fish and chips were alright.

Later in the evening, there were two green frogs on the partition outside the van. I thought they may have come out of the hollow upright poles, and were feeding on insects attracted by the nearby bright light. Very cute – I love frogs!

J phoned K. The tenant had found the tools. K would bundle them up and parcel post them to Rubyvale.

So, here we were at the legendary Bourke. I would have to say it was a let down, because of the obvious issues of the place.

04-28-2000 to bourke


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2000 Travels April 27

THURSDAY 27 APRIL   HEALESVILLE TO HAY   476kms

We managed an efficient pack up and departure.

It was a pleasant day for driving.

We travelled via Yarra Glen, Yea, Seymour, Tatura, Echuca, to Hay. In accordance with our general concept of leaving the exploration of parts closer to home until later years, the aim for the next few days was to get a reasonable distance northwards.

Truck was still blowing fuses! We stopped at an auto electrician in a little hamlet near Tatura. They were able to work on it immediately. John was impressed with their work, as he watched. It only took about an hour and cost us $29, with new globes too. The problem had been a rubbed wire shorting something. Pity Landrover missed that.

We took in some interestingly varied country today. From the forested ranges between Yarra Glen and Yea, through the dairying and crop country of the Goulburn Valley, to the extremely flat and somewhat boring areas north of Echuca.

We had a few stops to make coffee and to have our packed lunch.

Reached Hay late in the afternoon, feeling that was quite enough for one day.

At the Hay Plains Holiday Park, we were able to stay hitched up – for $13.50 for the night.

As dusk approached, we went for a walk across the Murrumbidgee River and around the town. That was enjoyable for an hour or so.

Tea was cold meats and a coleslaw that I’d made yesterday – it was alright to carry that through today’s quarantine areas.

John suddenly realized that, yesterday. he’d left some tools outside the unit, after doing the work in there, so he phoned K and left a message to retrieve same.

It was so good to be on the move again!

04-27-2000 to hay


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2000 Travels April 26

WEDNESDAY 26 APRIL     HEALESVILLE

This was a day for final odds  and ends.

We drove to R’s to collect some mouse mats he forgot to give us the other day.

Then, at Nunawading, bought computer software – I bought games: Mahjong and Dragons. John bought a Star Wars game.

At Ringwood RACV bought a new caravan park guide.

At Chirnside, did banking, did Medicare claims. Bought a weed spray for K to use on the blackberries, at Bunnings. Had to go to a bank in Lilydale.

Drove home to leave the weed spray, collect the stored tent and its floor carpet pieces, which we’d left before going to Tasmania. John fixed light globes for the tenant.

Said final farewells to the dog, yet again. The cats rather ignored us.

Bought some groceries at Healesville. Had our prescriptions filled – $317. Ouch!

Refuelled – 83cpl.

Then we packed away the awning and outside furniture. John replaced the fuses, yet again.

It was another very tiring day. We needed to get back on the road for a rest!

Tea was cold meats and salads.


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2000 Travels April 25

TUESDAY 25 APRIL     HEALESVILLE

Today was Anzac Day, added to Easter it made an extra day’s holiday for the masses!

P and K came about 11am. We BBQ’d steak, sausages and onions for lunch and had a very pleasant meal.

John told them we would be finishing this trip in November 2001. His decision, not mine!

They had to leave just after lunch, to go help P’s father move some cattle.

After they had gone, we did a good repack of Truck.

Tea was leftovers from lunch.

The caravan park emptied out considerably today.


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2000 Travels April 24

MONDAY 24 APRIL     HEALESVILLE

Another fairly early start, and back down the highway to Lilydale, where John was bowling again. Just had to drive without indicators, and hope!

I went on to Chirnside Park shops. Bought some nice sneakers – two pair, on a special deal. Later found that the ones intended for John did not fit him, so I ended up with both pairs.

Then to the doctor. My blood pressure was still as high, which shocked me. Still, we have been racing around, compared to our usual life, these days. I promised to get it checked again in Qld, when life has settled down a bit.

I drove to my brother’s, at Ivanhoe and had a lovely lunch – soup, bread, salad roll makings. He was interested in my Tasmanian photos, especially the ones with big skies, clouds and lighting effects – the subjects of his current print making. I lent him some of the negatives. We talked about my family research.

I stayed there longer than I should have. John phoned whilst I was driving back to Lilydale, wanting to know where I was, as he had finished bowls and was waiting. So, he wasn’t very happy – but I’d had a good time finally catching up with brother.

Drove 138kms today – it was certainly easy to mount up the kms when we were here!


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2000 Travels April 23

SUNDAY 23 APRIL     HEALESVILLE

We rather pottered about in the morning, after a late start. I had to wash some bowls clothes for John.

Drove down to the shops for lunch foods. The bloody fuses blew again, which annoyed me mightily, after all the trouble I went to yesterday, plus the money spent.

When we got back from the shops, John’s daughter R had arrived.

We all had a pleasant lunch – the weather was fine for sitting out under the awning. Lunch was my usual cold meats, salads, bread, fruit, cheeses.

R stayed until 10pm, so I had to rather scrabble around for extra for tea. We ended up having skinless franks and the remnants of lunch.

One of R’s new bosses is a past student of mine.


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2000 Travels April 22

SATURDAY 22 APRIL     HEALESVILLE

Another early start, to go to Beaumaris for bowls. But it was not as early as it should have been, as John was not very organized and had to do a big hunt for the right bowls clothes. We had to rather hurry. Truck blew the fuses again, on the way. When we got to John’s sister’s place, the other men had already left for the club, so sister H offered to drive him there.

I phoned Landrover Assist and they arranged for me to take Truck to the dealer’s at Frankston. That drive of some 20kms In Saturday morning traffic, was a tense one, with no indicators!

The workshop replaced the left hand indicator light, in the front bullbar, which was rusted and corroded – and the blinkers then worked again. That cost $85!

I’d had to phone my brother to cancel today’s lunch and arrangements with him, due to Truck issue.

On the way back to Beaumaris, I stopped at a shopping centre at Chelsea, bought a roll for my lunch, and some food offerings for tea at H’s. I got back there about 2pm.

H took a phone call that said her husband had won a big Easter egg raffle, and that the prize would be delivered.

I walked to the bowls club and watched the last part of the third game. John’s team (him, brother, brother in law, and friend of brother from the MCC club) was unbeaten. There had to be a playoff with three other unbeaten sides. They won the first elimination round fairly easily, but the final was closer. However, they won! The crowd was supporting the other side – all local members. I heard one man describe our team as “mongrel” – I think he meant hybrid! As in made up of men from different clubs.

The guys were so thrilled. They received $200 each – not bad! They also won a souvenir glass each for having one end where all eight of their bowls were winning ones. That is fairly rare. So they were on a real high. It was a pity that the other wives had not seen the final.

Back to H’s for tea – roast rolled chicken. It was a pleasant evening.

04-22-2000 winners beaumaris.jpg

Victorious bowlers – and a big basket of Easter eggs

We got back to Healesville about 1am – long drive back. Drove 210kms altogether today.

It had been another long and tiring day, albeit for different reasons for each of us.


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2000 Travels April 21

FRIDAY 21 APRIL     HEALESVILLE

My daughter turned 28, this day.

We were up fairly early and drove to Lilydale, to be there by 9am, for bowls.  I left John there and went back to camp, where I pottered about for the rest of the morning.

Drove back to Lilydale and met friend T at the York on Lilydale hotel, for lunch. Much of the talk was about his future, post retirement,  housing options – build, rent, house, unit, retirement complex? And where? He was considering Brisbane or Hobart, and we discussed the pros and cons of each.

After lunch, we went and walked around the Lilydale Lake – something he had never done before.

I went to the bowls club and sat in Truck, waiting for John. I watched him bowl for a while. The man they had teamed him with was not very good, so clearly John was not having a great day.

It appeared, on my travels up and down the highway today, that Truck indicators had started to play up and were blowing fuses, which then affected the working of various gauges. John replaced the blown fuses when we got back to camp.

Tea was bought fish and chips.

Posted 126kms today, going back and forth.


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2000 Travels April 20

THURSDAY 20 APRIL     HEALESVILLE

After breakfast, we drove home and did some pruning and gardening. John took the rubbish thus produced to the tip. Refuelled Truck – 81cpl – much cheaper than Tasmania!

The dog enjoyed being around while we worked, and the tip trip – old times!

Had a phone call from friend R and arranged for him to come to tea at the van, after dropping son and friends at the Gilderoy scout camp. He would be bringing John’s new laptop.

Back at camp, I prepared steak, mushrooms, jacket potatoes, salad, fruit and cheeses.

Soon after arriving, R decided to go get H, too, so I added to the food and we ate late – about 7.30pm.

We had to sit outside, of course, and fortunately the temperature was tolerable – just. We had the electric fan heater going under the table.

It was a most enjoyable evening – they did not leave until 1am!

John received the new laptop, but there was only time for a brief demonstration of its operation. There was much software with it, too. John was happy.

The afternoon and evening saw much movement into the caravan park – for Easter. The claiming of territory was interesting to watch, especially as people rushed to set up chairs around the fireplaces, which were soon packed out.

We had decided, once we knew we were able to get a booking, to see out the Easter period at Healesville – especially after the delay with the wood. Better to be there, than battling it out on the roads with the holiday traffic. Also, John would then be able to play with his relatives in the annual Easter bowls tournament at Beaumaris!