There was absolutely no suggestion that we were going to have a second early morning in a row, so we turned off any and all of the contraptions that were capable of making a sound, battened down the curtains as best we could, and slumbered right through until 10:00AM. It was the incessant heat that eventually got us, disturbing our rest, despite Bec getting up at about 8:00AM to switch the air con on, as the morning sun beat down harshly against the side of the van.

By the time we got up, the mercury was already heading past 25^oC, on it’s way up to just a shade below 30. Not that I had too much time to enjoy it this morning. I was busy running back and forth still trying to identify any enduring problems with the fridge. I was able to locate a faulty automatic switch, that was preventing the fridge being fed with 12 volt power when plugged into the car. That means that for the entire time that we were on the road yesterday, it was essentially performing as an expensive, oversized esky. It’s no wonder we were seeing temperatures on the thermometer more akin to a sauna than a fridge when we pulled up last night. I am now running a test to see if it is working on mains voltage power. So far as I can see, the fridge is running, but seems to be working overtime, and still not providing the cooling efficiency that I would like to see. Stay tuned as there is still a good chance I might fashion a boat anchor out of it.

With a shopping list of parts I’d like to try and obtain and get the big esky working as a fridge again, we bundled the dogs into ‘The Beast’ and headed for town. We didn’t have any plans for today anyway, so decided to drive around, familiarizing ourselves with the Bundaberg township. It is a pretty town, with lots of lovely looking, old styled Queensland houses, standing tall on their stilted foundations. Originally designed to allow for a cooling flow of air beneath them, the strategy also helps during times of flood, such as earlier this year. It has only been a matter of months since horrendous flooding devastated much of Bundaberg, and there is still evidence of the deluge to be seen as you drive about town. A boarded up building here and there, or surrounded by chain link fences, some with debris still littered around the yard, with the scarily high, high water marks, indelible scarred in dirt on the upper reaches of the walls.

Our shopping expedition took us to a number of stores, but all was in vain when I couldn’t find the necessary gadgets to make the repairs to the van. A large town Bundaberg may be, but a sprawling city it’s not. Whilst every conceivable service is available, the stocks kept in store aren’t nearly as abundant as what I need.

With our shopping spree a bust, we headed for the local information center to check out what attractions are in the vicinity. I was disappointed to find that the Hinkler Hall of Aviation was one of the many victims of flood and is yet to re-open.

I had really been hoping to visit this museum, as it is dedicated to the exploits of the pioneering aviator Bert Hinkler. I am actually reading a book about Hinkler at the moment, and have to admit, that before reading the tome, I was unaware of him or his achievements. Why his isn’t a household name is astounding though. Born and raised in Bundaberg, he emigrated to England in the early 1900s to chase his dream of becoming an aviator. He earned his wings during World War 1, and continued flying in the post war years. He was an accomplished inventor, and extremely competent pilot, in 1928 becoming the first person to fly solo, in a small aircraft from England to Australia, taking a little over 16 days to realize the feat (at the time, also the shortest time to travel between England and Australia) and fulfilling a promise to fly home to see his mother.

Bert and I.

There are references to Hinkler wherever you look as you travel around Bundaberg, and I have to wonder how many casual visitors know the story. I was able to have my photo taken with a large bust of his likeness, drive down Hinkler Avenue, play hockey at Hinkler Park, stay at Hinkler Motor Inn and fly into Hinkler Airport among others. The crowning glory of these tributes to a great man though, is the Hinkler Hall of Aviation, located in the grounds of the Bundaberg Botanical Gardens, it houses an amazing array of artifacts and displays from the time of Hinkler. From his inventions to his aircraft, all is there to invigorate visitors. Alongside the museum is the house, ‘Mon Repos’, which Hinkler had built as a family home in England in 1925. Named after the beach near Bundaberg where Hinkler first took to the air in a home made glider, it was taken apart and painstakingly recreated here in 1983. This site was chosen to honour Hinkler, as it was the spot on which he landed following his historic flight of 1928.

Hinkler House, ‘Mon Repos’.

Unfortunately, like the hall of aviation, the house too is still closed to visitors following the floods, but we took a walk around the botanic gardens, and were able to view the house from outside.

Bundaberg Botanic Gardens.

Before I go this evening, just want to thank everyone who has been reading of our own exploits. I was buoyed yesterday by comments that my blog had become topic of water cooler conversation, and I can report that it has now been read as far and wide as Indonesia, Singapore, Canada, the United States, United Kingdom and The Philippines. So a big G’day (that’s Australian for hello) goes out to all of my international readers. And to everyone out there, if you have any thoughts on how we can make your reading experience better, drop me a line. I can’t warrant that I will introduce them all, but will certainly consider them. Although, before you ask, I can’t provide an exact time of publication each day, as it depends on our diet of evening television!

Until next time, stay safe, have fun and don’t forget to write.