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Published: March 12th 2013
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Eden
A safe haven for many a sailer. Have you ever wondered what the Garden of Eden looked like? According to the sign on the holiday park we have used we are right there. As RV parks go it is excellent, both in appearance and cleanliness. We are parked under some kind of fig tree. Tried out a couple of leaves but they were the wrong colour. (and size)
We have heard of Eden for many years as a refuge for damaged yachts in the Sydney Hobart yacht race. We knew little else of this southern corner of NSW.
As we had another sunny day, getting washing and servicing done on the motorhome was first priority, followed by a visit to the whaling museum.
Some ask 'what kinds of things need servicing and doing each week?" There are many, inside and outside the vehicle. Marg has a weekly spring clean, polish etc. This care of those things we have been blessed with has subtle but important value. Late this afternoon, two ladies who travel together wanted to have a look at our M.H. Not because it was for sale, but because it is the type of vehicle they are looking for, and will be in Ballina
Tom
The false killer whale 'Sheep Dog' who rounded up the humpbacks. When he died, his skeleton was preserved. (Where ours was built) in a week or so. They asked how old our van is and how far we have travelled. Theycommented that it still looked brand new.
Other servicing is preventative maintenance. Every month I go around and tighten cupboard hinges to make sure they are firmly nipped up. It only takes 10 minutes. But if hinges are loose and shaken on our bumpy roads, its not long before the holes a flogged out and need major repair.
Tyres are an important part of good maintenance. David found that he had been running his tyres way below the correct pressure on the caravan. This may well account for some of the turning difficulty he has experienced when reversing. A friend looked at my tyres some time back (40 yrs as a truch mechanic) and he advised based on measurements lifting my pressures by an additional 5 PSI. Keeping these correct gives more stable ride, better tyre life and improved fuel efficiency.
None of these jobs are hard, take a little time, but keep us safe and well.
After lunch the four of us went down to the Eden Whale Museum. This is an excellent
display of both historical whaling plus general maritime history of the area.
The photos we have taken today of the coast show a pretty calm harbour, but that is not a constant. This coast is rugged, prone to immense gales, and is dotted with many nsaty reefs. There is quite a list of shipwrecks in this immediate vacinity. Marg was checking them out and found that the ship sharing names was lost at sea right here.
Sister Mary MacKillop's mother was lost in one such accident on this coast. Australia's first maritime loss at war also took place here in the first world war. In addition to shipping, many fisherman lost their lives on this coast. An attractive memorial wall has been built to remember them. This is located about 1 K from the museum.
The museum has a semi working lighthouse. I got talking to the curator and found that the light was from one old lighthouse, the spiral stairs from another, the turntable from another, and the clockwork mechanisim from yet another. So this is Bitsa Lighthouse.
Another of the staff was an ex naval morse operator and was tapping out the call identifier
Boyd
A visionary Scott who played had politics, started his own town, and disappeared to California in the gold rush, not to be seen again. that would be used to advise ships of their location, weather, tides etc.
Having grown up with relatives having sheep dogs that knew how to run a farm, I was intrigued with the story of Tom, the false killer whale who rounded up passing humpbacks and then alerted the whalers to come and get them. In return Tom got a special treat - whale tongues!
Time hasn't permitted us to venture far in this area. There are many natural highlights worthy of a longer visit.
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lee wilson
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Great photos
Darryl leaves tomorrow to drive to Melbourne and should arrive friday. Iam on Jury duty and will fly down on friday if not on a trial. He is going to travell on the Newell. Qe are attending a 63 birthday of a friend from our teens. He has lung cancer and is having a last hurrah. Sad but should be a good time of reminising. Then on Sunday we are hitting the road. No real plans but thought we might go along the Great Ocean road to Adelaide and then back up through mildura and onto Canberra to go to the Tlouse Latrec exhibition at the National Gallery and home by Maunday Thursday. If you are going our way we might try to catchup for a coffee