Robinvale to Coonabarrabran
Weeks 57 - 60+
Hello world. We are back. Forgive us for we have been lax , lazy and late, putting off wjhat can be done today till ‘manyana”. Thus more than three weeks have flown without us sharing our travels and travails.
You are lucky memory fades with age so we will be succinct . Since our last blog, we have meandered , gone with the flow, the lay of the land, in a general direction and without direction. Leaving Berri we fond ourselves in Robinvale, still following the Murray, crossing between states as we crossed the muddy waters, not nearly as attractive as our earlier experiences. This part of the river has not benefited from the flow from the Darling River and is much narrower and muddier.
We found Swan Hill far less enticing than Swan Reach where we had spent those idyllic days soaking in the colour changes on the riverside cliffs. From Swan Hill through to Bendigo, we feel we have already seen the best. We are starting to feel the cold and long for sunny days to get at least an impression of warmth.
Bendigo was a surprise stop. There are big city moments with parks and statues, towers to climb and history to discover. Steeples and historic buildings needle the skyline. The Bendigo pottery has lots of product to tempt a few dollars to fly from your pocket amidst the huge kilns from yesteryear, many still in use.
Still feeling the cold, why oh why are we traveling further south? We of course need to see Eric and his lovely lady Jacqui. It is a few years since we have seen Eccles in person, so it was great to take in the Wee Willy Winky hat and his contented smile. As a Mum it is a relief to see one of your children content with life. See you in July Eric and Jacqui.
Melbourne is full of surprises on the street. We missed out on the Tutenkhamun exhibition, booked out during our time there, but we still got to explore the museum and wander the streets and markets, reminding us of earlier visits. Eric lives not far from Brunswick Street, streaming with life and colour day and night. While he went to work we enjoyed a pleasant evening with Jacqui at a local vegetarian restaurant so popular there was a half hour wait for a table. Well worth the wait was the popular opinion of all. The train and bus journeys from Rockbank, our “Bedrock” caravan park was a bit of an education for naive northerners, but we survived and are still smiling. A visit to the big city is always an adventure.
Now we are in a phase of travel where the destination has become more important than the journey, a distinct deviation from our prior attitudes. Just past Glenrowan, we stop for a free camp at Oxley, a very pleasant, but cold, night by the river. We are passing through history, promising ourselves a return when we have more time to linger and savour.
We find ourselves finally heading in the right direction - home, but the Easter traffic defeats us and we pull in to Holbrook on the Hume Highway. The traffic is unbelievable, and the bakery in the main street has a line up out the door and into infinity. The local businesses are smiling, but everyone else just wants it to go away. We find a lovely blackwood table her circa 1910 just right for our small space at home for a very reasonable $850. The problem was to get it home was going to cost $700, so it is just a memory, left behind.
Of course when we reach Gundagai, we have to stop awhile to see the famous dog, festooned in the autumnal colours so foreign to North Queelnslanders who do not experience autumn.
Through the southern stares we have encountered a multitude of vintage, kit and pre-loved cars that have been restored to states of splendour. Perhaps it is the season to motor and show off.
Deja vue comes into play as we arrive in Canberra. Last time we stayed in a five star unit and this time in a third world park. Last time we road around the Lake on bikes and this time we watched hobbiests sailing boats and fishermen catching carp for no other reason than the pleasure of catching them and lugging more gear than a family would need for a camping weekend. Very strange.
Last time we visited Questicon and we did again. Brian is very keen to introduce his grandson to the mysteries of science as soon as he and his unborn cousin are old enough. We meandered around the National Portrait Gallery which was a history lesson in itself and some great portraits to boot. The National Gallery is another matter. It represents art through history and much of it needs an imagination to figure why anyone would buy it in the first place.
I waited while he went hight into the telstra tower and satisfied his quest for knowledge. I would rather keep my feet firmly planted. We did learn in Canberra that caravan fridges are wider than the doorway ( and the windows) so repairing them is easier said than done, especially if the repairman wants you to bring the repair to him. The one we convinced to come to us we later found lived in a warren of tunnel roads wide enough for a smart car, studded with roundabouts like diamonds in an eternity ring - Canberra likes circular roads and roundabouts. When you arrive, there is no space for parking, even driveways are from “Honey I shrank the kids”. Long story cut short and the wallet lightened we still have a nonworking fridge, but lucky to have a back-up Trailblazer in the car.
Heading on we continue through more history. We find ourselves in Cowra, enjoying a very pleasant, but slightly wet game of Monday golf and finding out about the Japanese prison break in WW2. It was incredible just how many POW’s there were here in those times.
Interspersing caravan parks with free camping we wend our way further north, taking time to stop outside Parkes at the famous Dish. Brian delights in these investigations. Part of the display are some 3D movies, so the main thing I learnt was that a 3D TV is not on my wish list.
Been there, done that we arrive at Coonabarrabran. As we drive toward it we see the Warrumbungles, the Breadknife especially where years ago I stood transfixed, unable to move in any direction I was so afraid. Part of me is happy we are just passing through, but I am sure we would have lots to do if we lingered a few more days. We did visit the rock shop and I got another ‘memory necklace’ to add to my collection.
The highway has been busy - trucks zoom day and night so we do our best to make sure they aren’t held up. Believe it or not, today we passed a car. Now that my friends is a rare event indeed.
We are looking forward to our homecoming, having friends swanning in for a chat and a cuppa - bring it on. Just a few weeks around Brisbane now catching up and we are really on our way - home at last.
Cheers
The languishing Nomads
