This Adventurous Age

Adventures travelling and working around Australia.

Category Archives: 2003 Travels


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2003 Travels April 13

SUNDAY 13 APRIL     CANBERRA

Slept in, somewhat. Decided to have a fairly quiet day and a break from driving around.

It looked like there would be rain, but only a few showers eventuated.

John played computer games for much of the morning. I read the weekend papers.

After lunch, decided to head out, after all. But not far – just to Gold Creek, which we had never visited on previous trips here. The main feature at this tourist complex  was a miniature village, which did not really interest us. Our purpose was to browse the shops there. We had a look through several, and some galleries. All were, of course, tourist oriented and mostly rather predictable.

The Aarwun Gallery was somewhat different – crammed with a great variety of art, and very interesting.

We looked at some brilliant glass art, and the gallery owner got talking to us about this, which was work by a Tina Cooper. Some was done with an aboriginal artist as a reconciliation exercise in 2000. The results were most unique but, at around $2000 a piece, definitely beyond our reach! However, we decided to buy a small piece of hers, one of only two similar items, and almost $400. It went on lay-by until we would be home again in October, by putting down a deposit of $150 on it. I really would have liked its “mate” too, but felt that was too extravagant!

The piece we bought was like a round vase, on a short stem base. It glowed orange/gold under light and had little blobs of yellow and green scattered around the opening at the top. These were representative of wattle – though I saw them more as scrambled eggs! It was whimsical, very “Australian” and would look great displayed at home.

The gallery owner told John to bring him samples of wood boxes he was going to make, and If they were good enough, he would show them. That was encouraging.

This was a most rewarding outing – for me, the highlight of the Canberra visit, to date.


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2003 Travels April 12

SATURDAY 12 APRIL     CANBERRA

Since we were, unexpectedly, still in Canberra, John arranged to visit his daughter and grandson again this morning. This time, we did get there at 10am, and spent an agreeable couple of hours there.

Went on to the shops at Dixon, and then Manuka. Bought the weekend papers. Had a rather indulgent lunch at Manuka – John had pie and pasty and I had a spinach and fetta pastry. I should have known better and suffered indigestion for much of the afternoon!

At the food markets at Fyshwyck, bought fish – barra, flathead tails and sand whiting, for three meals, two of which I would freeze for later.

Went to the National Gallery, where I wanted to have a good browse in their Australian art section. That occupied another couple of hours,  which was quite enough. I had tired legs and feet, and John’s feet were really tired.

Back to the van, where I cooked one lot of fish, with fries, for tea.

The nights were distinctly chilly here.


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2003 Travels April 11

FRIDAY 11 APRIL     CANBERRA

After breakfast, decided we would drive out to Bungendore, a township some 40kms east of Canberra, to visit the well regarded woodwork gallery there. Somehow, we hadn’t managed to see this at all, on previous visits, despite recommendations from John’s wood working friends. It had won many tourism awards over the years.

We took the Federal Highway, towards Goulburn, then turned south just beyond Sutton and had a pretty drive down to Bungendore. This was a quaint little village, very geared to tourism. It reminded me of some places in Tasmania.

The gallery kept us engrossed for more than three hours. It contained high quality work which John found very inspirational. Items ranged from smaller – and more affordable – things that might, in particular attract overseas tourists, like wooden rulers, small boxes, to very large furniture pieces. There were the things one would expect in a gallery featuring woodwork – bowls, platters, lamp bases – and creations more from left field.  So much of the furniture was exquisite and intricate. Very humbling in some ways. The gallery was large, with multiple rooms, so there was scope to display items to their full advantage.

After that we moved on, briefly, to a nearby specialist leather works shop, which was a contrast to the wood gallery. It was crammed full, with a mix of quality and kitch, but with the wonderful, pervading smell of leather.

Then it was back to Woden shopping complex, for a late lunch, which was far too costly for what we got: $17 for two toasted filled rolls and two coffees.

Whilst there, I had a watch place check out my malfunctioning watch. He found the battery was alright, but said it probably needed a good clean. I didn’t think that had been done since it was new, some fifteen years before. I did not have enough time in Canberra for that to be done, so bought a new, cheap watch, for $30 – really needed to have one for where I was going. Hoped the new one would last the season!

I also bought a book on share trading. Just a little light reading!

Time then to head back to the van, after a really pleasant day.

Given the “modern” layout of Canberra suburbs, John did not want to try to go out and find a fish and chip shop, so we had a light soup tea.


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2003 Travels April 10

THURSDAY 10 APRIL     CANBERRA

Although we’d been up at a reasonable hour, we were late arriving at S’s place. John had not realized how far the caravan park was from S’s place, and so we did not leave early enough.

Thus, he was tense as we drove, and I do not find navigating Canberra easy at the best of times – that combination was not a great mix!

We got there about 10.30am. The baby – just over two weeks old now – was awake and being “social”. But clearly, like all new parents, his mother was looking very tired.

We left just before midday – did not want to overstay our welcome.

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John meeting his first grandchild

On son-in-law’s recommendation, we drove to a big shoe shop in Queanbeyan and bought John two new pairs of shoes. This was a remarkable event: normally, persuading him into one pair is a big deal. It is very hard to find even one pair that suit his totally flat feet. He hates spending money on footwear and is prone to buying cheap and nasty stuff. We bought a pair of Rivers shoes, and a pair of Rossi air cushioned boots. I was really pleased that he agreed to buy some good quality footwear.

Whilst in Queanbeyan, which we know quite well, we did some supermarket shopping. Refuelled – 95cpl.

Then drove to Woden, to the Land Rover dealer there. We’d noticed some liquid seeping down the shaft of the clutch pedal and John wanted to get this checked out. They said it needed a new master cylinder. So, we had a dilemma – the clutch might last a while longer, or it might not – no way of knowing.

John decided to try to get it replaced as we passed through Dubbo, tomorrow, as the Canberra dealer couldn’t fit it in until Monday next. We really needed to get it fixed, somehow, not wanting to take the risk of going as remote as we would be, without it being repaired. The further away from major centres one gets, the harder it becomes to get work done on Landrovers, so there was that to consider, too.

All this was really infuriating because this vehicle was supposed to have been thoroughly checked over and made ready for remote area travel, by the Doncaster Land Rover service centre, only a couple of weeks ago.

Back at the van – where we’d left the mobile phone – there was a message to phone Adels Grove, which I did. The boss said she did not want us there, now, until 29 April. As there had been late rains this season and late road closures, they were expecting a very quiet Easter holiday period and did not need us.

So – our dilemma was solved. We could stay longer here, get Truck fixed, and also dawdle a little on our way north. Almost three weeks to fill in – lovely. John phoned and booked Truck in.


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2003 Travels April 9

WEDNESDAY 9 APRIL   YEA TO CANBERRA     590kms

It was a really cold morning. I could see my breath condensing – inside the van!

We were back on the road, without any glitches, by 8.30am. Breakfasted, and with lunches packed, and thermos of hot water prepared for our coffee breaks.

It was a somewhat tedious trip to Canberra. The route, most on the Hume Highway,  was not new to us. Though the remaining Victorian section, at least the towns – or turn offs to them – were relatively close together, to break up the farming country. But in NSW they became more spaced out, and it was mostly just low, rolling hills, and grazing country – mostly sheep.

We stopped for morning coffee break at Lake Mokoan rest stop, then for lunch at Holbrook.

I then drove the section from Holbrook, to Gundagai.

In Canberra, John wanted to stay on the Yass side of town – to avoid the morning city traffic when we left again. So we fetched up at the Canberra Carotel Caravan Park, at Watson  – a decidedly grotty caravan facility behind a big motel.  It was very basic, but they charged $19 a night!

There were about half a dozen more or less permanent dwellers, living in big buses, clustered in one section of the park.

Other tourists had packed into the line of powered sites furthest from “bus central”, occupying every site, but there were some empty sites closer to the buses, and we took one of those. In this place, it was a case of pay your money and find your own site!

We did not set up the awning, as it was to be a short stay.

John phoned daughter and arranged to go visit at 10am tomorrow. I phoned my daughter, to let her know we were away, at last.

It was a cold night again, but not as much as last night – rather surprisingly, as I always expect Canberra to be colder than other places, once summer is over.

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2003 Travels April 8

TUESDAY 8 APRIL     HOME TO YEA     80kms.

We have never been known for early starts on the first day of a trip, but today had to set a record that, hopefully, will never be beaten!

Left home at 5pm.

It was a surprise that we got away at all, this day.

Yesterday, John completed most of his building work on the cot and change table. I’d worked on Sunday and yesterday, thoroughly rubbing linseed oil into them, and then applying a coat of sealer over that. The finishing touches were completed about 11am this morning! The cot and change table would be picked up and shipped by professional removalists, to Canberra – which daughter was arranging. (Later, because her work involved moving her belongings overseas, she had the items valued. We were amazed that the cot alone was valued at over $2000! An endorsement of John’s work)

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John then cleaned up his shed, located and packed the camping gear, his extra tools and the like. The packing of Truck came together really quickly. Room was made and my Barina car was moved up through the backyard and into the shed.

John took truck to fill up at the local servo – 97cpl. He also filled the 23 litre jerry can of spare fuel that we carry.

I’d done the van packing well in advance, whilst John was woodworking, and yesterday cooked chicken maryland pieces to go in the fridge for tea, our first night on the road.

I think we needed to feel that we were actually on the move, before something else intervened. 80kms was better than none!

We travelled our usual route north over the Great Dividing Range, to Yea, arriving there just as dusk was falling. We took an overnight site at the Yea Family Caravan Park, that allowed us to stay hitched up. $18.

We ate the pre-cooked chicken I’d made yesterday, with some coleslaw – also pre-prepared.

The night turned really cold. Winter had come early to Victoria.

I thought our house sitter – L – was really surprised that we actually managed to leave today. She had been back at uni for weeks by now, and living in the back part of the house, sharing the kitchen – an arrangement that worked well. She’d watched the recent rather frantic activity with some bemusement. She said she would – kind-of – miss us, as she had enjoyed having people to come home to, and would be a bit lonely again, at first.

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L checking out the finished cot

I hoped the two cats would still be alive when we got home again – they were getting so old.

After all our original lovely plans, we now had about a week to get to to Adels Grove, in time to work over Easter. Via Canberra, so John could meet his first grandchild.

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2003 Travels March-April

BEFORE THIS YEAR’S TRIP……

We had been asked to return to work at Adels Grove, where we worked for several weeks in 2002. But this year, we intended to see out the full tourist season there. I had been adamant that I did not want to cook, again, but was happy to take on the other roles assigned to the women. John would rotate over the various men’s tasks.

We were to be there a few days before Easter, which was mid April this year. Our original plan was to leave home as soon as the bowls season finished, in March, and travel a round-about route north, taking about a month to do some sightseeing along the way.

As usual, our plans were things made only for changing, or derailing!

The white patch of skin on an inner ankle, that had irritated me while we were at Doomadgee last year, turned into an open sore which was diagnosed as a varicose ulcer. As I didn’t even have varicose veins, this came as a considerable shock. According to the surgeon, her intervention was the only way to repair the area. Apparently the weakened vein valves causing the problem, were a legacy of my pregnancies, decades earlier.

So, instead of being up near Bendigo, in late February, helping daughter with her new born son, I was recuperating from surgery, at home. Daughter and newborn had to come and visit me! Infections hampered recovery time, and it was late March before I received the all clear to resume normal life, albeit wearing compression stockings for much of the time. That was not going to be fun in the tropical conditions at Adels Grove.

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Recuperating and meeting grandson

By the time I was ready to travel, John had been persuaded to make a very fancy blackwood cot and changing table for his first grandchild, due to be born in late March. The cot was to be a sleigh style, but able to be turned into a single bed when the child was ready for same. By the time the timber arrived from our favourite Tasmanian mill, the boy had been born and March was almost ended. John could have been spotted, slinking around stores that sold baby furniture. trying to surreptitiously take measurements and jot down design details, while I tried to distract staff by acting like I thought an intending shop lifter might.

We had Truck serviced and given a “really thorough overhaul” at a Land Rover dealer we’d begun to use as a closer option to the Frankston one where we’d bought Truck six years ago. John explained to them that we were going rather remote, and needed the vehicle to be reliable. These days, after our Kimberley problems in 2000, he insisted that the wheel bearings be serviced too!