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Published: February 10th 2008
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(Small italics are comments added when this was retyped in June 2005. Original was on computer paper and typed using my old Royal typewriter) Trip started in Goulburn NSW where we had been living for the last 18 months. I don’t think any of us were sad to see the back of Goulburn. None of us had been particularly happy there, except maybe the Suze who was happy pretty much anywhere she was.
The decision was made. We were going to take a trip down the Murray River (or as close as we could get to it by car). When we got to Mildura we would decide whether we were going to get a job in Broken Hill, or head to Perth. There are frantic chasing around doing things like sorting out the electricity, gas, telephone, making sure the car was ok with all its spares. Putting unnecessary things in storage. Load the trailer. Several trips back and forth to the storage people with the extra that wouldn’t fit. Even so, we ended up with far too much. The trailer ended up being called our humpy. Overfull, it still pulled well, and we eventually got it reasonably well stowed,
with a minimum of stuff in the car. The car had to be re-sorted out every few days, what with rubbish plus souvenirs picked up along the way. But we were off.
Thursday 8 January 1987
Dog trouble. We had three goes at actually leaving Goulburn. Shadow our young Weimaraner decided he wanted to sit in the back seat with the kids not in the back of the wagon. The kids decided they did not want the dog in the back seat with them.
We tried a piece of plywood and he jumped right through it.
The next thing we tried was a large piece of timber. This worked, it kept the dog where he belonged, but cut off the driver’s vision completely.
Our next stop was at the vets for some sleeping tablets for his nibs and were told that some dogs got frantic when they started to feel the effects, and that we could have more problems than we did right now. Just what we needed.
So we decided to wait, go to Crookwell, have lunch with Liz, give him his tablet while we were there and by the time we
left he should be good and dozy. Stopped to say goodbye to a friend. Finally we were off. Spent most of the 30 minute trip to Crookwell fighting off the dog, although he did finally settle a bit.
Liz was pleased to see us and I feel she is what a good friend should be. You arrive on her doorstep at lunchtime and ask what is for lunch and she tells you. Collected some more bits and pieces from Liz’s house. Stuff the kids had left there when they stayed. Just a bit more junk to fill up the car.
Shadow really looked funny as the sleeping tablets started to work. His back end wouldn’t go the way he wanted it to. Back in the car. Periodic trouble with dog trying to get through and not having the energy.
We had a bit of trouble with the turns and the road to Orange, with the trailer pulling us down the hills and the engine trying to pull us up the hills. Luckily it was a pretty strong car, and as we got used to pulling the trailer all was well.
Arrived in Orange having travelled all
of 214 km (133 miles) on our first day. The girls were in Brisbane with their father, so we took Marion to the local Chinese restaurant for dinner. Really nice. Just around the corner from them on Summer Street. Very tired but glad to have at least started, even though we didn’t get very far.
Friday 9 January 1987
Up half the night with a toothache that had been bothering me for some time off and on. We decided to stay in Orange another day and get it fixed. At least in Orange we had some contacts and if I didn’t get it attended to then, it would have to wait until at least Monday, and I didn’t think it would wait that long. Finally got in, and he just took the damn thing out.
By this time a large part of the day had gone so we decided to stay in Orange overnight and get an early start the next day for Bellingen. Glad we stayed put as even out tooth hurt like the dickens. Didn’t sleep well again that night either. Just had a lazy day. We had seen what there was to see
The Creek in Bellingen
At the back of the place we were staying. Shadow learned to swim here. in Orange on previous visits. Chas bought 2 new tarps for the trailer as the silver one we got in Goulburn was torn already. Few other bits and pieces of tidying up, and that was Friday.
Saturday 10 January 1987
We were very slow off the mark in the a.m. and did not get going until almost lunch time. Drugged the dog. Marion was having a garage sale that morning and the people coming were wondering what was wrong with the puppy. Drove through Wellington, had a stop in Dubbo. Very hot. Were going to try and see the Western Plains zoo, but couldn’t work out what to do with the critters. Was much too hot to leave them in the car. (at this stage, we had mice, guinea pigs and Shadow. No cats. Nuggett, Sirius and Scamp had died in Goulburn).
We eventually worked out how to deal with the animals and learned to take turns watching them and visiting the sights. Because it was summer and a very hot one at that, we couldn't leave animals in the car.
Decided to give the zoo a miss this trip much to my son's disgust. Drove to Gunnedah where we spent the night. Good caravan park. Owner had a young German shepherd, and Shadow wanted to play with him, but was much too drowsy to do too much. Gradually wore off and then they were off. 414 km (257 miles) travelled today.
Sunday 11 January 1987
Still slow in repacking the trailer. Would be worse if we had to repack tent and lilos as well as everything else. 263 km (163 miles) travelled today. Had lunch in a lovely park in Armidale . Must be about 4th time through Armidale but never stopped before.
I left the others in the park while I went to buy some groceries, and get some petrol. Everything shut up tight, not even a milk bar open. Finally found a petrol station, and across the road was a corner store. Gee, they charge like a wounded bull, must try and be organised so I can shop at the supermarkets instead of corner stores.
Arrived in Bellingen safely. Got slightly misplaced as I couldn’t remember the name of the town we came through when we were there on the last trip. Got to Bellingen and rang them to get directions. Lovely area. Very green and cool looking. The position of their house is superb. We went for a swim in their creek. There were a number of other people staying there as well, and they came in much later drunk so we sat up till all hours talking. Jenny and Ian are great. Pitched the tent and didn’t do too bad a job on it. Luckily Mark is sleeping in his tent (we had bought Mark a small single tent for the trip.), as with the three of us in it is quite full enough.
(This appears to be all I’ve typed up on the Royal. Don’t know what happened after that. I now go to my 1987 diary. Initially, just very brief notes, and then a bit more detail Mainly facts. Don’t think there are many impressions. Shame really cause I can’t find the photos we took.)
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Karen
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Sirius
I fell in love with the picture of your little dog Sirius!! He was sooooooooooooo cute!! I love those sorts of dogs. I don't know the people in your story but it is fun following it. I love things like this, stories about people's lives and memories...........Karen