If you thought that we had a quiet day yesterday, then today will sound positively sedentary. So lazy were we, I’ve left myself with an extremely tough task this evening, being that I have nothing of substance to write about. Instead, I will just waffle and ramble along, hopefully stringing together enough words to create a blog post of satisfactory length. So a word of warning, don’t expect any nuggety gems of wisdom tonight, nor any recommendations of fantastic things to do in Derby. There will be none. I can’t even pad it out with photos, as the camera stayed resolutely in my pocket, especially when we went out, for reasons that will soon become all too obvious to one and all.

Our day started with a sleep in for all of us as we enjoyed the luxury of having nothing to do for the second day in a row. Although today, there were not even any plans to take in any further tourist attractions. Not that there are many attractions and features left, after we viewed the majority of them yesterday.

A walk about the park with the dogs was on the cards, but no sooner had we stepped out of the van, Bethany saw another couple of dogs being walked. While they paid her scant attention, Bethany decided to start barking and straining at her leash, which in turn got Alvin going as well. Before I knew it, I had two dogs trying their best to break from their tether. As I had warned them both that bad behavior would not be tolerated, I turned them on their heel and we returned forthwith to the van, where they skulked up onto the bed and began to sulk. Some people might think of dogs as dumb, but I truly believe that these two knew exactly what they had done wrong, and that it had cost them the chance of a walk.

We did get them up and head out shortly later though, for a visit to the local veterinarian clinic with Bethany. Not for anything serious thankfully, and the exact reason is bound to gross you out, so I will leave it at that. In any case she has been a little quiet over the last few weeks or so, but having had a little readjustment, she seems to be back to her usual self once more. Oh, okay then, if you really must know, her anal glands needed expressing, and that is one job I am more than happy to pay some other poor sucker for the privilege of carrying out.

I think it was more good luck than good judgment, that we were back at the van a mere 20 minutes after we had left. Given that the vet clinic is only open a couple of days a week, staffed by locums who travel up from the Broome Veterinarian Hospital, they don’t take appointments. Instead, you just turn up and wait your turn. We didn’t have to wait at all, and almost literally slid across the waiting room floor, into the consulting room, and with an expert grasp of what had to be done, Scott the vet had us in and out before we could blink.

That then, was the sole extent of our outing today, as we decided to beat a hasty retreat from the again extreme heat outside by cocooning ourselves inside to watch movies for the remainder of the afternoon.

Between watching a movie and leafing through the large pile of tourist brochures we have for the southern parts of Western Australia, where we will be touring about before we even know it, that was our day. The dogs were happy for the company, while we were just pleased to have the time to sit about and relax again.

Bec was on dinner duty tonight, as I reclined in front of the television again. With a tweak of the antenna to make sure I had a decent picture, I cracked a tinnie or two as Queensland tromped home over New South Wales in a must win rugby league state of origin decider. It was a heart stopping, breathless last few minutes as the blues threatened to make a comeback, but in what was a perfect end to the day and a perfect conclusion to the game, the maroons brought it home for an eighth straight year. Go Queensland.

As the broadcast went to the full time interviews, I grabbed my towel and headed for the showers. I should have guessed, and maybe waited for a while, but there was a cavalcade of blokes all making a bee line for the showers, all who had most likely been waiting like me, for the game to draw to an end. With a spring in my step, I managed to snag a stall and enjoyed a shower to the noise of all the latecomers turning away in dismay.

Lastly, another reminder today, that the Kilometre Challenge is up and running, with entry open to one and all. You can read the rules here: ‘Kilometre Challenge Rules (The Small Print)‘, or find them in the menu at the top of our home page, under ‘Kilometre Challenge’. And don’t forget you can submit a new entry every single day between now and the day we get home. So the sooner you begin sending me your entries, the more chances you’ll have of winning the grand, although yet to be determined prize.

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