Autumn 2016 - Melbourne / Riverina

Sunday 14 February 2016 (Black Head to Pheasants Nest)

We had decided to go though Sydney overnight so departed just after 9pm and headed South along the Pacific Highway, that still had a bit of traffic on it. There was a thunder storm just to the west of us as we passed Kurarah, but we only got a few spots of rain. On to the M1 Pacific Motorway and there were lots of trucks heading to Sydney, but thankfully Pennant Hills Road was quiet. Roadworks at the entry to the M2 made following the single lane interesting as it meandered around the roadworks. The motorways were quiet as it was well after midnight and as we entered the M5 we saw that they had finished the upgrade and we had an array of lanes from which to choose.

When we arrived at the Pheasants Nest service centre we filled up after a four and a half hour trip. Around the back of the service centre is a truck stop and a free camping area. We pulled up in the grassy area, and after figuring out how to get the fridge started on gas (without distrubing the others who had stopped there), we headed off for a few hours sleep at around 2.30am. Now we had Sydney out of the road and could settle into the trip.

Tuesday 16 February 2016 (At Canberra)

We woke up this morning to some water on the floor. Our initial thoughts was that the header tank on the toilet was leaking, but eventually located a leak in a pipe from the hot water service. We drove into Canberra to a caravan place to pick up some parts before heading off to the National Archives to have a look at their display. Di has spent much time on their website.

Friday 19 February 2016 (at Cooma)

We drove into Cooma (1km) to do some supermarket shopping, but spent more time at Rivers buying shorts and shirts. Eventually got back to the caravan in time for lunch. After lunch we headed off for Adaminaby and Old Adaminaby that is on (and in) Lake Eucumbene. Water was quite low. Decided it was a bit windy to do any paddling, so headed back to the park.

Got a phone call from Di's sister to say that her mum, who had been in a nursing home for the last year, had lost consciousness and only had a few hours left to live. At around 10.30pm Di got a call to say that she had passed away.

We now had to change our plans and also make some decisions as to how we should get to Melbourne. The first thing we needed to do quickly was to get out of the Snowy Mountains and get to Albury, after which we could easily react once we knew the dates. There were three road options.

1. The shortest route crossed the mountains via Thredbo, then down to Corryong and Tallangatta and then on to Albury. (steep and tight)
2. The longest route was retracing our steps to Canberra and then picking up the M31 at Yass to Albury. (long, but easiest)
3. Cross the mountains and come down into Tumut and then pick up the M31 to Albury. (steep, long and slow)

We decided to sleep on it and talk to some people in the morning.

Saturday 20 February 2016 (Cooma to Tallangatta)

While we were packing up and nearly ready to leave, we had a chat with Steve, a permanent resident, about the best route to take to Albury. He suggested it would be OK to go via Thredbo. We were still unsure, but went into town to fill up with diesel and then decided to try Thredbo as it would save 200km over taking the main road.

The road was good to Jindabyne and then narrowed as we neared Thredbo. I showed my National Parks Pass at the entry and was invited to carry on. The road steepened and narrowed, but it was in good order so not too bad. We passed a road sign that said it was 70km to Khondoban and 2 hours. Says something about the road! It was very narrow and very steep up and down. Thankfully there were not many cars on it.

Soon we were heading through Corryong on the way to Tallangatta for our overnight stop at the Lakeside Caravan Park. Unfortunately because of the low water level in the lake the park was not really "lakeside", more "river view".

Sunday 21 February 2016 (Tallangatta to Mulwala)

After some more communication with family in Melbourne, we realised that we didn't need to be in Melbourne for a few days, so we drove to Wodonga where the GPS decided to take us on a sightseeing tour of the city. From there it was through Rutherglen and on to Yarrawonga and up to Mulwala, where we had planned to free camp, but with the high temperatures we decided to stay at "DC on the Lake" - a new caravan park in great condition. Bloody hot, but the A/C in the caravan kept the temperature down in the mid 20s. Thank you A/C! In the evening took a paddle around the local bay and islands. Cooked a bbq down by the water.

Monday 22 February 2016 (At Mulwala)

Spending the day at Mulwala, so went into Yarrawonga for a look around. Found Target and looked for some clothes for the funeral and then had coffee in the main street. Back at the park I took the kayak out for a run to get cool and then in the afternoon paddled around the point and back. Got xcsoar working for traces. Very hot afternoon. In the evening Di and I paddled around the bay and had a swim in the lake.

Tuesday 23 February 2016 (At Mulwala)

Going to be a very hot day at 41c and also very windy, as it tends to be in this part of the world. Took down the privacy screen because of the wind and kept a close watch on the awning. Tightened up various bolts on the towbar.

Thursday 25 February 2016 (At Seville)

We drove across to Chirnside Shopping Centre to buy some clothes for the funeral, and while I had got what I needed in half an hour, the girls took another hour and I settled for a coffee. During the afternoon, the rest of our family arrived from interstate.

That evening we all got together for dinner in Lilydale. First time the whole family got together in a long time, now with some of the next generation.

Friday 26 February 2016 (At Seville)

Preparations continued for the funeral and we arrived there early. There was a good roll up and we caught up with many relations we had not seen for years. A good crowd returned to the house and we eventually got to bed after midnight.

Saturday 27 February 2016 (At Seville)

Went for a walk along the bike path, with Cara the dog. Had a quiet afternoon and then had dinner at our niece's with all our family. Late night!

Sunday 28 February 2016 (At Seville)

Our kids were heading off, so we drove across to the unit they hired at Croydon. Once they left we drove to Ferntree Gully to have a look at our old house in Lynn Drive. Twenty eight years since we lived there. Spent the afternoon looking at and sorting the photographs. Will have to scan in some of them.

Monday 29 February 2016 (At Seville)

Thought we should have a quiet day so spent the morning scanning in photos and negatives and after lunch spent some time cleaning up scans. Had a quiet dinner and chatted with family over the evening.

Tuesday 1 March 2016 (Seville to Moama)

Planned to leave early, but ended up going for a coffee with some old friends at the Carriage Cafe on the Lilydale to Warbuton bike track that runs along the old railway line. Got back to the van around midday and got packed up quickly and managed to manoeuver the van out of Bev's garden and on to the track. Finally left just after 1pm. We retraced our steps back northward up through Yarra Glen and Yea, stopping for lunch in Seymour. From here we went to Murcheson to drop off some stuff, and as no one was there we placed it in the mailbox. Headed for Echuca via Mournopna, crossed the bridge back into NSW and located the Moama Waters Holiday park, only just getting in before the office closed. Nice park with new amenities and green grass, although the river is low. Hot.

Thursday 3 March 2016 (At Moama)

We have had a run of very hot days, several around 40c, so as the hot weather is expected to last another week we had a quiet day, going to Bunnings for some bits and pieces (always something needing done to a caravan) and getting our fix of hardware stores. We went for a couple of swims in the great pool at the park, with a snooze in between in the much cooler caravan.

Sunday 6 March 2016 (At Swan Hill)

Pleasant morning but again a 40+c day and more forecast for the next week. We couldn't do much, so ended up being a quiet day because of the heat. Actually watched some TV car racing.

Monday 7 March 2016 (Swan Hill to Hay)

Surprised to find out it was going to be another 40+c day. Got packed up and ready for the road by 9.30am. Took the back, but more direct, road to Hay via Moulamein. This was a very quiet road and only came across a few cars on the 60km drive to the town. Moulamein looked like a nice little town on the river. The next 55km up to the main Sturt Highway was rather different as we entered the Hay Plains, miles of flat country with no trees and the highway was gravel for about 10km until we entered the Hay Council area were it was sealed. The final 50km into Hay was uneventful, but me thinks the trucks turn off their 100km limiters out here. Stayed at the Big4 Caravan Park in town. Don't normally stay at Big4, but the reviews on Wiki Camps were good, and we were not disappointed.

Next was the old railway station, although closed there are a couple of carriages used to tell the story of the European POW's that were wrongly sent there and imprisoned there during the war for a couple of years before they were released. Many stayed in the area after the war. Went to the library to print out some tax stuff and then had a look at the free camping area in town. If the weather was a bit cooler we would have stayed there.

Quiet afternoon planning our next few days.

Wednesday 9 March 2016 (Hay to Temora)

Only got down to 29c last night, so we made an early start to packing up and left the park around 9.15am. We headed off towards Griffith by heading towards West Wylong for 100km, mainly across the Hay Plains. We arrived in Griffith around 11.30am and parked at the top of the very long main street. We had to do basic shopping and walked the whole length of the street, about a kilometre, in the 35c heat.

We drove the 75km to Ardlethan and had a look at the park offered by the council. Next we looked at Ariah Park and were surprised to see an old town and a reasonable caravan park. When we arrived at Temora we drove round to the airport to see the vastly improved caravan park. Green grass not like last time I was there a few years ago. Finally settled on the other council park and had a long chat with a grey nomad who used to live in town. Had a good Chinese takeaway for tea (and probably tomorrow night as well!). Thankfully it was a few degrees cooler.

From Grenfell we drove through to Cowra and booked into the holiday park. After lunch we drove into the visitor centre and watched the holograph show about the Japanese POW breakout. A very nice overcast evening.

Sunday 13 March 2016 (Cowra to Wellington)

This was planned to be an easy day as we drove north to Molong and then through Cumnock and Yeovil to Wellington. However, on the road to Yeovil the left wheel came off and did lots of damage to the van, enough that it was written off. Lucky we got it off the road without incident. Still cannot figure out why it came off as everything was checked that morning (see more below). Di contacted AAMI and they soon had the situation under control with a tow truck on its way. Many locals stopped to offer help and Mark, from the RFS gave me his number and to call him if we needed anything. Jack Christie, the local mechanic stopped and said he would try to help us limp into town, but, as a tow truck was on its way there was no need. He came back an hour later with a couple of bottles of cold drink. Very thoughtful.

The truck duly arrived and winched the van on. Very sad to see the van that way as we followed it into Wellington. We had some KFC as we had not had any lunch, but there was not any heart in eating. From there we drove another hour and a half to Coolah.

Epilogue

Over the next few days we traveled to Dubbo to empty out all our stuff from the van. This was very depressing experience. After that we returned home without towing anything. We really liked this van and were very saddened when a few weeks later it was written off by the insurance company. May I say that AAMI were very helpful.

Hindsight

When we purchased the van we were told that the previous owner (a rather elderly chap) had had an "incident" with the van and that was the reason there was a bit of damage under the door. The owner had decided that after that "incident" he should give up touring, and put the van up for sale with all contents. After we had purchased it and driven it a while I noticed that the left tyre was showing lots of wear compared to the right.

As I had checked the wheels and tyres the morning we left Cowra and all were still fine, I can only assume that the "incident" was something like the van falling off the jack with the wheel still partially on, bending some of the hub studs. These might have been "straightened out" by doing up the wheel nuts, causing stress which eventually caused their failure.

As in the words of Ned Kelly "Such is life."