What a difference a great nights rest makes. Well, I’m sure it would have done had we been able to have a decent nights sleep. The stifling heat refused to exit the van and by 11:00PM we were straddled across the bed, all four of us, fighting for a breath of fresh air as the little fan we have on board stirred the hot stagnant air about the inside of our sunburnt little tin can. Bethany was suffering the worst, and an almost continual drizzle of water from a spray bottle was required to try and cool her down, as her rate of breathing increased to a frightening rapidity.
As a result, she was eventually permitted to sleep on the bed with us, taking prime position in front of the spinning blades of the fan. Alvin meanwhile took himself off to bed, sleeping in his usual position on the couch. Feeling the heat also, he found it hard to settle, and every time he fossicked about for a more comfortable position, he would knock the power cable for the fan out of the socket, meaning I would have to get up and plug it back in again. Bec drifted off into an uneasy slumber, concerned about Bethany, while my mind wandered off to wonder if our caravan battery would have sufficient power to keep the fan running overnight.
I have no idea what time it was when the temperature inside the van equalized with that outside the van, but I felt it, as I struggled to slip beneath the duvet, now trying to get warm again, the fan still whirring unerringly in the corner. As it turned out, it did run quite successfully all night. It was utter madness though, to think that we would be comfortable free camping on a day when the temperature reached a high of nearly 40oC.
At least we were in no rush to get moving this morning, so the setting of an alarm wasn’t needed. Of course, the sunlight, early morning warmth and unholy din created by others getting ready to make tracks saw that we were up at an hour much earlier than I had hoped for. Despite my opening comments, I had in fact had a reasonable nights kip, most probably ameliorated substantially by the considerably sized goblet of red wine I had consumed with dinner last night.
Even taking our time to prepare ourselves for the quick 180KM jaunt down the road to Derby, we were left with nothing to do by 9:30AM, so off we went. A whole half an hour earlier than planned. You do of course know what that means? We will be seeing you a half an hour earlier on the 11th of October. As it stands, we are now due home at 6:55PM. That also means that after 3 months on the road, we are running only a paltry 55 minutes behind schedule!!!
Our nearly 200KM of driving today was un-noteworthy. Gone were the soaring cliffs and the expansive postcard perfect vistas, as the surrounding scrub encroached on the road, making visibility past the first layer of bush impossible. The scenery today was more suited to the mood of yesterday, as we powered down the road and into Derby.
The most photogenic thing we saw all day.
While Shazza didn’t agree with the local signage on how best to approach the caravan park, we did finally find the entrance. It was only 11:30AM by this stage, and for a change I was concerned about our early arrival. We had rang ahead and booked a site, and I was worried that should our site not yet be vacant that we would be turned away, surly told to return at a more reasonable time. This was thankfully not the case, as I was checked in by a chirpy fellow who must go down as one of the best caravan park staff members I have yet encountered. Not only had he located us on a generous sized site, but he helpfully explained the best way from which to approach the site to make reversing the van onto it a simple task that even Bec and I ought to be able to manage. Although, he hadn’t bore witness to our amateur hour antics last night now had he?
We hit our groove this morning though, sliding the van onto the gravel pitch like the seasoned professionals we are. The caravanning Gods are either on holiday, or are feeling a little sorry for putting us through such tribulations of our ‘hump’ day yesterday.
It still took us a while to set up, the sun beaming down with a renewed vigor. The heat was not a concern today however, as I toiled outside to set up the awning and other accouterments that go with preparing for an extended stay. Mainly because I could toil away, safe in the knowledge that should I start to wilt, Bec had the air conditioner maxed out and sending cool waves of air throughout the van. Well, it at least felt cold after being outdoors, even though the unit struggled to effectively decrease the temperature. The inside thermostat was still reading 28oC, and yet it felt like stepping into a walk in cool room. It was bliss after the afternoon we had endured yesterday. I hate to harp on about it, but have I mentioned that yesterday wasn’t our best day?
With everything set up outside, it was time to make sure that we have a television signal, in preparedness for the rugby league state of origin decider on Wednesday night. Naturally, not everything could go right, as I swung the antenna about in an effort to tune something in. Every sign I was getting indicated that we should be seeing crystal clear pictures dancing across the screen, but this was not the case. Over an hour later, dripping with sweat and having changed every cable I could, retuned the TV several times, and even ventured into the concealed wiring behind the wall plate, I looked up at the antenna outside only to find it was aimed directly at the middle of a thick trunked, fully foliaged tree. Of course we weren’t going to get a great picture with a 50 year old lump of hardwood in our way, so I made do with what I could manage, and will cross my fingers that the caravanning gods stay away until after the game on Wednesday night.
A trip in to town was next on the agenda, for the requisite visit to the information centre, where little information was gained, and a grocery shopping expedition. It’s been a while since we’ve had access to a decent supermarket, so it was time to stock up on food stuffs to refill the fridge, freezer and pantry. $150.00 later we were heading back to the van with our fresh supplies.
A quiet night was ahead of us, during which we partook in a meal more redolent of a half way point banquet, as the last dregs of red wine amply lubricated my throat and loosened my mind.
Until next time, stay safe, have fun and don’t forget to write.
Our Aussie Adventures 
Plenty more where that bottle of red came from. I finished my bottle in 1 continuous sitting, apparently it goes off in the cold weather, or at least that is what I told Heather, so the warmth yourbottle was in, was OK,glad you enjoyed it. 😥 😥 😥 😥
Hmm, David, I am not too sure about your alcohol climate control information, but…
…oh bugger it, you’re probably right, I’m just glad leaving a few dregs in the lower half of my bottle didn’t cause it to turn to rot gut overnight! It was as delicious the second night round as it was the first.