V - Arrived that evening at the oasis of Lauriston, near Condobolin, where Glynn and Trynnie live. Real beds, television, hot food – very 5 star! Though we had only camped for 2 days I knew I had to make the most of these comforts while I had the chance. The cherry on top for me was cable television with ALL the channels! Joy! For Darren it was the prospect of hunting and fossicking with another like minded provider.
Within 24 hours of arriving, Darren had killed a duck, a rabbit, 2 goats and caught 12 yabbies with Glynn. Good grief!
I had managed to catch up on tv and eat fabulous food while being entertained by the sunniest nearly-two-year-old I have ever met - Nell.
Happy, happy campers!
Went to a ram sale, which made me feel I was having the 'bush' experience. Bloody 'ell they go for a price, one sold for $5000! (and i thought handbags were expensive!). Darren blended in like a lizard in the dust. The only thing that gave him away was his work boots, which had enormous gaping holes in them, which were looked down upon by the gentleman farmers of Condo (rightly). Then a few drins in the local pub toasting Glynn's new pair of rams, with the publican. Nell played behind the bar - you gotta get them started early, after all.
Darren helped out Glynn for a couple of days with some fencing work, so we stayed rather longer than the couple of days, 5 nights in the end. Glynn was so grateful he presented Darren with a new pair of boots when we left - THANK YOU, GLYNN! AND filled us up with Diesel - too bloody generous. Trynnie didn't let me help in the kitchen at all, AND presented us with one of her banana and chocolate cakes when we left. This is the way to travel.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Day three, Parkes and 'The Disk'
On the way to Condobolin I insisted we stop at the CSIRO Dish near Parkes. Darren not particularly enthusiastic at the prospect, in fact we nearly turned back. As we approached it he revealed he had never seen, nor even heard of the film, 'The Dish'. I was amazed and scandalised. An Aussie classic, everyone should see it, you know, Sam Neil...the part the Australians played...Mans first landing on the moon...? (Hmmm, perhaps a little over patriotic sentiment, methinks?)
The dish itself is enormous, and can be seen for miles. It sticks out of the farming landscape as a monument to man’s progress. I think it extraordinary. The intracacies of its architecture and diagonals in the structure remind me, strangely, of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Now, I was not expecting that.
We arrived 15 minutes before the visitor’s centre closed, and spent ½ the time gazing at its enormity and craftsmanship, and ½ rootling around in the extensive gift shop. Could not decide between ‘The Dish’ pencil sharpener, and ‘The Dish’ tea towel. At last chose the last and only postcard they had of ‘The Dish’.
Don’t think D was blown away by the experience; he insisted on calling it ‘The Disk’ for the rest of the day.
Grrr.
The dish itself is enormous, and can be seen for miles. It sticks out of the farming landscape as a monument to man’s progress. I think it extraordinary. The intracacies of its architecture and diagonals in the structure remind me, strangely, of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Now, I was not expecting that.
We arrived 15 minutes before the visitor’s centre closed, and spent ½ the time gazing at its enormity and craftsmanship, and ½ rootling around in the extensive gift shop. Could not decide between ‘The Dish’ pencil sharpener, and ‘The Dish’ tea towel. At last chose the last and only postcard they had of ‘The Dish’.
Don’t think D was blown away by the experience; he insisted on calling it ‘The Disk’ for the rest of the day.
Grrr.
Day 1 and 2
Day ONE
Left Manly Vale feeling slightly strange and surreal. So many people had asked us if we were excited to be going, but because the house had been such an enormous task to get ready for renting, there had been no time to be excited, and then suddenly we were AWAY. Very odd.
Made it to Bathurst, where unfortunately the gun shop had just closed, where D had hoped to buy his arrows for hunting. We decided to camp not far from Bathurst, so that we could pick them up on Monday (and secretly thought that Robin Hood probably didn’t have this sort of trouble).
To our camp spot near near Mundora, down a 5 Km dirt track, by a large bubbling stream – beautiful, and free! Total fire ban at all times on the reserve, but luckily we had the stove in the caravan. Err, no gas. Remembering how Shils and I had laughed with such merriment that morning at the idea that Darren would not check the bottle, the joke was on me. Mr ‘We can never be too prepared’, hmmmm?
Cold beans, with a bit of cheese for dinner.
Exhausted…slept 12 hours under 2 duvets and a blanket – freezing!
Day TWO 13 09 09 Nature Reserve
Sleep….ZZzzzzzzzzz
Only interrupted when I heard Darren calling me urgently by the river, to come immediately with my camera. Got up convinced I would find him fallen in the river. I found him watching a beautiful ….., which blended in amazingly with the rushes and dry grasses of the area. Our 1st bit of wild life – very exciting!
More cold beans for dinner….
Left Manly Vale feeling slightly strange and surreal. So many people had asked us if we were excited to be going, but because the house had been such an enormous task to get ready for renting, there had been no time to be excited, and then suddenly we were AWAY. Very odd.
Made it to Bathurst, where unfortunately the gun shop had just closed, where D had hoped to buy his arrows for hunting. We decided to camp not far from Bathurst, so that we could pick them up on Monday (and secretly thought that Robin Hood probably didn’t have this sort of trouble).
To our camp spot near near Mundora, down a 5 Km dirt track, by a large bubbling stream – beautiful, and free! Total fire ban at all times on the reserve, but luckily we had the stove in the caravan. Err, no gas. Remembering how Shils and I had laughed with such merriment that morning at the idea that Darren would not check the bottle, the joke was on me. Mr ‘We can never be too prepared’, hmmmm?
Cold beans, with a bit of cheese for dinner.
Exhausted…slept 12 hours under 2 duvets and a blanket – freezing!
Day TWO 13 09 09 Nature Reserve
Sleep….ZZzzzzzzzzz
Only interrupted when I heard Darren calling me urgently by the river, to come immediately with my camera. Got up convinced I would find him fallen in the river. I found him watching a beautiful ….., which blended in amazingly with the rushes and dry grasses of the area. Our 1st bit of wild life – very exciting!
More cold beans for dinner….
First Morning of the Trip 12/09/09 – Shileen and Jason’s house
The 1st morning of THE TRIP started at 6 am., with Darren leaping out of bed to go to get the last of the rubbish from outside our house, which was to be rented that day, and to put it in bins around Manly. It had been previously arranged that Shileen would drive Darren in her car to do it, but Darren was up NOW, it was 6, and there were doings to be done…
Darren decided he could easily collect the rubbish, and distribute it around the public bins of Manly in our car WITH the caravan towing behind it – it would be SIMPLE. He also needed to take some money, which Shileen had, to Ralph’s house.
This made him pause. Shileen was in bed, like any normal human on a Saturday morning.
Both she and I could hear him pacing like a caged lion, outside our bedrooms, wondering what to do. Eventually he decided to disturb Shileen, get the money and make his escape.
I heard the car starting, and then urgent movement in the house as Shils ran out to stop Darren going in ‘the rig’. Dressing gown half on, hair askew –
“Darren… Darren…DARREN!”
(‘Welcome to my world’ I thought, and closed my eyes tighter under the duvet.)
Later…
Darren and Shileen returned from surreptitiously putting the rubbish in bins in her surreptitious new Holden V8 – much better than towing the caravan.
A small gathering came to see us off. Johnno and Sophie arrived first, then Neil, without Lynsey, whom we had destroyed the night before with red wine after her detox, Then Dickie and Becky with Fletch. We had champagne, the first sip at 8 am was rather painful, but we soldiered through it. Shileen and I watched Darren go over the caravan with Neil. Shileen hoped that he had checked the gas bottle. We laughed, how we laughed!
Then it was time to be going, 9 a.m., hugs and kisses and we were off!
Darren decided he could easily collect the rubbish, and distribute it around the public bins of Manly in our car WITH the caravan towing behind it – it would be SIMPLE. He also needed to take some money, which Shileen had, to Ralph’s house.
This made him pause. Shileen was in bed, like any normal human on a Saturday morning.
Both she and I could hear him pacing like a caged lion, outside our bedrooms, wondering what to do. Eventually he decided to disturb Shileen, get the money and make his escape.
I heard the car starting, and then urgent movement in the house as Shils ran out to stop Darren going in ‘the rig’. Dressing gown half on, hair askew –
“Darren… Darren…DARREN!”
(‘Welcome to my world’ I thought, and closed my eyes tighter under the duvet.)
Later…
Darren and Shileen returned from surreptitiously putting the rubbish in bins in her surreptitious new Holden V8 – much better than towing the caravan.
A small gathering came to see us off. Johnno and Sophie arrived first, then Neil, without Lynsey, whom we had destroyed the night before with red wine after her detox, Then Dickie and Becky with Fletch. We had champagne, the first sip at 8 am was rather painful, but we soldiered through it. Shileen and I watched Darren go over the caravan with Neil. Shileen hoped that he had checked the gas bottle. We laughed, how we laughed!
Then it was time to be going, 9 a.m., hugs and kisses and we were off!
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