Roadside assistance

Source: Courier Mail

A woman was sobbing because she had discovered that she had locked her keys inside the car.


A gentleman offered to assist her and proceeded to remove his trousers, roll them up in a ball and rubs the against the car door.


Magically it opens. "That’s so clever," gushed the woman.


"How did you do it?"

He modestly replied "Easy, these are my Khaki trousers."

Free camping in Australia

Australia has free camping in many places. Sure, free accommodation might help offset other costs such as fuel and food.

Free Camping at Macrossan

Great benefits but at a price

Cost saving is great, however there are other benefits too. We have only recently been ‘introduced’ to free camping, initially because there were such huge distances to cover in WA that we absolutely needed to pull over and have a rest between destination points.

Drop your expectations

Conditions can vary greatly and you must drop your expectations. It is not as though you can complain to the management that your site is not level or that there is gravel underneath instead of a concrete pad. Even such things as a clean toilet is not guaranteed and showers if available might only be offered from cold creek water. These sort of reasons partially explain why free camping is not for everyone. Free camping rarely exists in towns and cities. Even some areas don’t have much available. There is pressure in many high tourist areas to close free camps. However some are in wonderful areas scattered all around Australia. Free camps offer people to stretch their holiday budget whether it allows them to stay longer, offset fuel expenses or splurge on tourist attractions they may otherwise not be able to afford.

How do I find the free camps?

So, you might ask yourself just how do I go about adding some free camping to my agenda? How can I plan for stopping at places nearby to where I want to go? Well there are free camp guides available. Most states offer you free travel maps of their state.

Some will have the rest areas listed often with facilities available listed on the map. Queensland’s Dept of Transport and Main Roads offers one called “Guide to Queensland Roads” It is freely available at any of the registered tourist information centres scattered in just about every town.
 
Personally we use an excellent guide called Camps Australia Wide. (Current version is 6 which came out in early 2012 ). We also bought the application to upload it directly onto our GPS. By the way, not every camp listed in the book is free, there are some listed that they consider budget sites where a small fee is charged. Though it is considered expensive (about $60 -80) , it pays for itself with just 2 or 3 nights free camping.

What should you expect at a free camp?

A guide book helps you plan and you’ll know beforehand, what facilities are available and if you feel it will be suitable for your camping style, ability and interests. Take note that many have limited hours, often between 1-3 days with some available for longer stays. Some areas are rest areas only for day time use – no overnight camping allowed. Campers causing problems by ignoring limits and other rules sometimes are the cause of free sites being closed, so it pays to be respectful.

Toilets: As mentioned above the facilities vary and you will need to take this into consideration. Some won’t even have a toilet, so unless you have a toilet with you, you’ll need a shovel and your own toilet paper to do your business. (It is a very good idea to always approach each toilet with your own toilet paper and many run out (or have them stolen) and you certainly don’t want to be caught without when you need it.

Here lies the grave of the last person caught stealing toilet paper

Sleeping: You also need to consider your sleeping accommodation. It could be a tent, camper trailer, caravan, 5th wheeler, motorhome and anything in between.

Washing: What about personal cleanliness? In our experience the vast majority of free camps do not offer shower facilities and if you are lucky then it will most likely be a cold shower. Sometimes you’ll strike it lucky but you might be charged for a hot shower. So you will need to have anything from a bucket wash, solar shower bag or have a shower inside your vehicle of choice. 

Water supply: Don’t forget you can’t depend on even a clean water source either at each free campsite. It’s always wise to carry your own water especially drinking water. 

Cooking & cooking fires: Australia is the driest continent in the world and as such there are frequent fire bans so relying on a fire for cooking or warmth may be out of the question at times. Also if are visiting a state or national area you are not allowed to collect firewood and will need to bring your own. Having a gas cook top on standby is a great idea. The butane gas type are cheap and very portable. 

Rubbish disposal: Mostly there are no rubbish collection services at many free camp sites mainly due remote areas being more expensive to service or a very limited service which is quickly over full before the next service. Be respectful and take your rubbish with you, it is not as though you are paying for the service. It is easy to take it with you and deposit it in the next town you come across on your journey. Excess rubbish being left around campsites has prompted the closure of many sites around Australia. 

Mobile reception & safety: There may be little or no phone or Internet reception at your campsite. Make sure that someone knows roughly where you are likely to be and what the duration and direction you are likely to take. If you truly have no friends or family, then let the local police know, just in case. Australia is not a violent country but things can happen anywhere from car breakdowns, sudden floods and fire outbreaks etc. Someone needs to know to be concerned if you don’t turn up somewhere. 

Know yourself: The key is understanding your own requirements and expectations and then finding the best fit from what is available in your chosen route. 

Conclusion: 

Free campsites are a wonderful privilege and one that we want to keep going. Sadly the stresses, misuse or abuse of available facilities have caused many closures in recent years. We ask that you do not abuse the available services. Be respectful of the surroundings and other campers, stay tidy and clean and leave your campsite as you found it or even better, make the place a tad better than you found it. 

Additional hints: 

• Always arrive in daylight as it is much easier to assess your site options in the daytime. 
• Stop by mid afternoon if you like the security of other campers. I find that once someone stops, then others generally will too. However if you haven’t any company by about 5pm then you usually still have enough light to get to the next place which will most likely have some campers there for safety in numbers. 
• If a donation is requested then please make such in the honesty boxes provided or cheap campgrounds will close. 
• Some free camps are nothing more than a strip of bitumen or even bare dirt adjacent to the highway. This might be disappointing if you expected more facilities. 
• Consider arriving early as some have such great facilities or are in the best locations and may have the sites all taken up by 10am. It also pays to stop and ask if anyone was planning on leaving as there are a few people like my hubby who insist that his holiday includes a decent sleep in and frequently don’t leave until 10 or 11 am. 
• The rubbish and or toilet facilities in some areas are disgusting. Certainly don’t add to it. Maybe you could do your bit and clean up a little after other inconsiderate people and take it to the next town!

Free Camping at Dululu, Weruma Dam & Claude Warton Weir and Ban Ban Springs

Although the campsites between Rockhampton and Bundaberg were not that far apart from each other, we were keen to see them and try our hand at catching some Red claw (freshwater) lobster.

Camped at Dululu

On the way we stopped to attend the Lighthouse Baptist Church in Rockhampton, which had an excellent sermon on Love – take the charitable look on life. We will always have a gap between our expectations and reality no matter which earthly relationship we look at. We need to make a conscious decision to trust and choose the positive aspect. One can never say in a few words all that is said in a well presented sermon. Apparently they live stream their services and a decent archive section here so you can listen to it anytime. We’ll get online in future when we can’t make it to a church!

A sculpture at Monto

After fueling up and restocking the fridge, we move on through Mt Morgan’s mining town onto Dululu (pronounced Do Loo Loo!) The campsite is OK but we don’t think it warrants a tick as given by the Camps Australia people. It was here that we made good friends with Vic and Barb who come from outside of Toowoomba whom we have been invited to stop by when we get that far south.

Camping by Weruma Dam

Next stop was at Weruma Dam, just south of Monto. We had been told we should be able to net some Red Claw here. We parked alongside the lake even though the ground was sloping to the lake quite considerably just about everywhere. Many people dug holes for the wheels to fit in and bring it closer to level. We took advantage of a hole left by previous campers. It didn’t level it completely but we were happy enough with it.

Sunset at Weruma Dam

We enjoyed watching the bird life. Feeding, Happy Jacks, Kookaburras and Australian Mynahs were common place as was watching the ducks foraging in the muddy banks of the lake. On our last morning we noticed about 8 or so tiny little ducklings that we think had only hatched in the day or two before. We had no luck with the Red Claw nor had anyone else we spoke to – some blamed the temperature of the water.

Hand feeding Australian Myna birds

Once again we made new friends, 2 sets of friends from the nearby Gin Gin area Toby & Pat, and Dave & Di. Once again we were invited to come past and stay with them after our stay in Bundaberg. Other friends were easily made too, though of a transient nature, even one couple from our home town, Graham & Nicole. This is one of the reasons we absolutely love free camping. Even in a friendly caravan park, you would not find such easy friendships and get together for happy hour or whatever excuse for a chat.

Feeding a Magpie on the fly

The next 2 stops were over-nighters being only granted 20 or 24 hours stay at each place. One being a small site at Claude Wharton Weir which is literally on a weir and adjacent to the boat ramp and the other is Ban Ban Springs which is at the head of the aforementioned head of the springs. I didn’t get to see much of the area at either sites. I was tied up with booking return flights to home but for some reason I had a lot of trouble with the booking site and became stressed out and tied to the caravan trying to sort it all out and at Ban Ban a sudden electrical storm had us trapped inside the van for the afternoon after a pleasant lazy morning in the warm sun watching the ducks in the creek that is fed by the spring. We should have gone for the walk in the morning. Oh well such is life sometimes.

Dinner one night was Tucson Meatballs

St Lawrence

St  Lawrence  (Camps 6: 89) is situated in a recreational reserve alongside a Pony Club. (Camps 6: 89) Though the grounds were very dry and dusty, the facilities are very clean. It is a free campsite. There are also coin operated hot water showers at just $1 for 3 minutes.

General Store at St Lawrence

We were within a short walking distance of the town, to which we took a leisurely stroll having a hamburger and chips at the general store there and a big long yarn with the proprietor’s partner and a few of the other campers that call in too. There are some interesting painted poles. There’s very quaint railway station, a part time library that was closed at the time of our walk and not much else there. Still it was a pleasant couple of hours we filled in.

There was to be a Team Penning held at the grounds that weekend. I bet most of you are like me and have no idea what it is. It has to do with using a horse to separate single cows and be able manipulate them into a pen. Riders are judged on their skill and control. They need to anticipate animal reactions and interfere with their natural inclination to herd.

Team Pennings at St Lawrence

"You have to know how to read the cow, to get it to do what you want it to do," is a quote from one of the cowgirls I met. "Team cattle penning is the fastest growing horse sport."

Anticipating the cow's next movement

So instead of leaving in the morning as first planned, we just had to stop and watch the first few hours for a while before moving on after lunch.

St Lawrence is one fre campsite, I would very willingly come back to again and again.

We have a date with my sister in Bundaberg next weekend, but first there a few more campsites to visit on the way.

Hope you all have a chance to sloooow down and relax!

Religious Studies

A teenager asked his father for a car “Not until you start studying the Bible and get your hair cut,” his father said.

A month later the son approached his father again.

“I have seen that you have been studying the Bible a lot lately but your hair is still long.” the dad commented

“Dad, I have been thinking about that," the son said. “All the prophets had long hair!”

"Yes. That is true,” the father commented. “And they walked everywhere they went.”

Ball Bay Campground

After a lovely few days resting in the caravan at Bowen, we went off to discover more of the Whitsunday’s mainland. First off we stopped by Airlie Beach. This is the main tourist centre of the Whitsundays and as such it is very touristy, very much like a mini Gold Coast, which is great if you like the cafe culture, boutique shopping & resort lifestyle. Personally I like a more subdued setting but we couldn’t be this close and not pop in for a look around. We had a marvelous picnic lunch in the park by the boat harbour and had a go at the outdoor gym along the way. We are so unfit. Note to self: I really must get out and resume my daily walks at least.

Outdoor gym in the park at Airlie Beach

From here we went through Proserpine and then continued towards Mackay, camping at Ball Bay adjacent to a lovely quiet beach. (Camps 6:89). 

Ball Bay's beach

Camping at Ball Bay

You had to drive some 15km off the highway to get there and then half way along, you come to a road sign that says not suitable for caravans. We persisted with caution and we discovered that whatever the original reason for the sign was, it was no longer relevant. For an unpowered site it is relatively expensive however it has other redeemable features. It is a lovely, soft, thick, green grassy area. The park is adjacent to a lovely calm beach with short walking tracks access through some trees. The park also has very clean toilets with a cold water beach shower outside. The covered BBQ and picnic table that is well lit up at night and it also has hot water in the sink and electricity. You are not allowed to run an extension cord to your van or campsite but you can make use of the electricity at no extra charge. We took advantage of this and ran the turbo oven and had a baked lamb and vegetables for dinner. There was hardly anyone else there and the one and only camper left early the next day so we had the BBQ area to ourselves.

Feeding the ducks at Ball Beach

There are 7 whistling ducks, 2 Burdekin ducks and 2 shy curlews that are ‘residents’ of the park. We both enjoyed feeding the birds especially hand feeding the whistling ducks several times over the 2 days of our stay.

 Star fish that we found at low tide on Ball Bay's Beach

Below are 3 of the unusual shells we found on the picturesque Ball Bay beach

 

Salmon & Pea Frittata

Salmon and pea frittata

I just love it when I can find an easy to cook and tasty dinner any time. The fact that this one comes almost out of the pantry with no ingredients needing refrigeration is a bonus. I actually invented this recipe. Believe me this is not a frequent occurrence at all. I might tweak a recipe but this one was tweaked so much I think I can actually claim it is an original.
I nearly forgot to take a photo of the frittata, that's why half of it is gone already! Yummy!

So here it is

Salmon and pea frittata

Ingredients
1 small onion - chopped finely
1 Tablespoon margarine or butter
100g tinned capsicum - drained
200g tinned peas and corn - drained
180g tinned Pink Salmon - drained
4 eggs
200g long life (UHT) cream
1 teaspoon mustard (I used Australian Mustard)
1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese (the shelf packet type - not the fresh one)

Method
Gently fry the onion in the margarine in a cast iron frypan.
Add the capsicum and peas/corn as soon as the onion is soft
Stir well and then add the salmon.
Disperse the ingredients over the base of the cast iron frypan as evenly as possible.
Whilst gently frying, whisk the eggs, cream and mustard and then pour over the salmon.
Gently fry the frittata on medium heat with a lid on until the bottom starts to brown. - I don't have a lid so I invert a plate over the pan.
When the top is just about set, then flip the frittata by placing a large plate upside down over the pan. Turn it over, plate and all and the slip the frittata back into the frypan, so that the cooked side it facing up and the uncooked side gets heated up. Cook another 2 minutes.
Occasionally it may break up, but don't let that spoil your appetite. It is still yummy!
Serve with fresh salad ingredients if you have any.

Winging it

Photo Source: LJ Mathews

As a mother of a pilot, I tend to notice when  airline articles come up whether it be in magazines, newspapers or whatever. Here is an email I received some time back. I have no idea whether it is true, I doubt it, but it makes for a chuckle or two.

Ground crew: after every flight, Qantas pilots fill out a form, called a "gripe sheet," which tells mechanics about problems with the aircraft. The mechanics correct the problems, document their repairs on the form, then the pilots review the gripe sheets right before the next flight. Never let it be said that ground crews lack a sense of humor. Here are some of the actual maintenance complaints submitted by the Qantas' pilots (as marked with a P) and the solutions recorded (as marked with an S) by the maintenance engineers. By the way, it is relevant to note that Qantas is the only major airline in the world that has never, ever, had an accident!



Problem: left inside main tyre almost needs replacement.
Solution: Almost replaced it

Problem: Something loose in the cockpit
Solution:  Something tightened in the cockpit

Problem: DME unbelievably loud
Solution: DME volume set to a more believable level

Problem: Evidence of a leak in main landing gear
Solution:  Evidence removed

Problem: Test flight OK, except auto-land very rough
Solution: Auto-land not installed on this aircraft

Problem: Dead bugs on windshield
Solution: Live bugs on back order

Problem: Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces a 200 feet per minute descent
Solution: Cannot reproduce problem on ground

Problem: Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick
Solution: That's what friction locks are for

Problem: Suspected crack in windshield.
Solution: Suspect you're right.

Problem: IFF inoperative in OFF mode
Solution: IFF always inoperative in OFF mode

Problem: Aircraft handles funny
Solution: Aircraft warned to straighten up, fly right and be serious

Problem: Hearing noise like a midget with a hammer
Solution: Took hammer off midget

Welcome to the great Whitsundays - Bowen

A whole world of water sports awaits anyone visiting the marvellous Whitsundays.

Rose Bay at Bowen

We started our stay in this region at Bowen. We had just intended to pop our head in for a sticky beak on the way to Proserpine. But we soon saw all the lovely beaches here and what we thought was a market going on near a beach, only to discover it was the grand opening of the brand new Water Park. It seems that water parks are the new “in” thing especially up here on the tropical coast of Queensland. This one is also marvellous, being a smaller version of the one in Townsville with water cannons, mushroom, slides and the tipping bucket.

Fun at the water park at Bowen

We visited the nearby Information centre which advised us of a coral reef that is accessible from the beach & on top of that there is a caravan park right on the door step of this beach. We were hooked! We hadn’t the opportunity to snorkel at all on this trip without spending a small fortune hiring a boat to get us out to a reef.

Horseshoe Bay

We booked into the Horseshoe Bay Resort Caravan Park right on Horseshoe Bay and quickly went down to the beach. Unfortunately the wind had picked up and the water was too choppy. Bob had some problems with his snorkel in the water and ended up being washed repeated onto the rocks sustaining several minor gashes to his legs. We soon gave up after some 45 minutes in the water. We stopped by the cafe on the beach & spent some time there recuperating.

Do you think it might get a tad windy here?

We went for a drive upto Flagstaff Hill. It is plublized as an interpretive centre (???... it’s just a lookout!). However it is still worth the drive. It has a ‘secret’ lookout on top of the 360o Cafe. I say secret because though there are regular lookouts around the top of the hill, the lookout above the cafe is not advertised and many a visitor to this place would miss this opportunity to get an even better view of the waters and countryside.

Some of the islands off Bowen

Boat harbour at Bowen

Ayr and Funny Dunny

Heading back to the coast we stopped by Ayr. It is a lovely town and much bigger than either of us thought. Large supermarkets such as Woolworths, large branded businesses such as Bunnings, Target, Macdonalds, and many other such shops are there.

We stopped for some groceries and parked right outside the Anglican Church which ended up being where we had a lunch on a bench seat under the shade of some huge trees in their yard. Had we gone a little way south on the main road out, we would have come across 2 other lovely parks which would have been terrific for a picnic lunch.

We had an overnight stop at Funny Dunny, (Camps 6: 49) which we chose purely because the name appealed to our sense of humour and that it was on a beach. The campsite is some 15km along a well graded dirt/gravel road that goes over a lot of flat flood prone land. The site is extremely basic, though it does have a well maintained drop toilet and it was clean and well stocked with toilet paper.

Though it appears to be a popular destination especially for those few have set up camp for months on end, it was relatively quiet and the night we were there with only about 4 long term campers and another 3 overnighters like ourselves. The beach is nothing much and the sand flies (or midges) are very proliferate here. Both Rob & I were bitten numerous times. We learnt just before we left that there are dingos roaming around the bush, we didn't see or hear them but that is not unusual with dingos. We did meet fellow travellers who like us were lured here on the name. John & Jackie from Coffs Harbour we easy to talk to and we had a wonderful time chatting with them and later playing Five Hundred after dinner with them.

The cost of the place is by donation and $5 was recommended per family to cover water and toilet maintenance.

EDITED:
I don’t recommend stopping here at Funny Dunny but we have since met others that love it. Take a chance and find out for yourselves is probably the best way to go!

Charters Towers

Out west from Townsville is the historic gold mining town of Charters Towers.

Columbia Poppet Head near Charters Tower

We chose to stay at the free camp site nearby at Macrossan (Camps 6: 283) just 20km out of town. The camp site is just over a bridge adjacent to a sandy shallow river. It is a large area with quite basic facilities including a cold water showers inside the amenities block. The area is safe being far enough off the road to be out of sight of  any yahoos, people who may decide to come in a make a nuisance of themselves. It is also a quiet location with little road traffic noise though there is a train line running over nearby  bridge but it only runs about 4 times a day. The site also has limited mobile reception. There is a little bit of fishing that can be done there and we saw a fisherman with a catch, but it is not a big fishing river, more as something to do. We thought we would set up our virgin yabby pots and give them a go using dry food in perforated pill bottle and a quarter of an apple  each pot as had been recommended to us previously. Sadly, it was no go after many hours submersion. We’ll try again in another time & place.

The Robbiebago caravan (far right) at the Macrossan free camp

We wanted to just unwind a bit and quickly made friends with neighbouring campers. Happy hour came and we met some more neighbours. The second day saw me with a really bad case of fatigue. Bob fiddled around with fitting new strip LED lights to the back of the Land Cruiser.  I more or less didn’t get out of the caravan much until well into the afternoon.  One of the neighbours baked a chocolate cake and gave us about 1/3rd of it. That finally got me out to say thank you and to talk to them. Sometimes making the first step out of bed is the hardest! Though I tired easily after an hour, it was good to be up and about.  Bob cooked dinner and we took to playing cards to pass the evening.

Post showing flood levels in the area at Macrossan

Near the top of the same post. 2009 is 20.75m - 1946 was around 30cm higher again

The next day I was back to normal and we decided to venture into Charters Towers and see what the town has to offer. First off we went to the Visitor Information Centre to ensure we didn’t miss anything we might be interested in. We were advised that there was a couple of tours, one starting in just minutes covering a video presentation of the history and then an interactive presentation next door of the Gold Stock Exchange. We happened to be parked just outside one of the many painted murals that are scattered around the town. 

One of the painted murals at Charters Towers

From here we went to the Towers Hill lookout that also has quite a bit war history as well as the gold history tied into it especially the multiple sites of ammunition bunkers scattered around the hill. There is a nightly movie on the history in the amphitheatre there, but being profoundly deaf, there wasn’t much point in me attending.

The view over Charters Towers

One of the many World War 2 bunkers on Towers Hill

We went into town for lunch at the local bakery, Bob’s pie was OK but I chose a pepper pie and there was so much pepper that I couldn’t eat more than 3 mouthfuls. I think they must have tipped the whole pepper pot into the meat – and I thought I loved pepper!

We managed to capture on camera one of the ghosts at the Venus Gold Battery

After lunch we went to the Venus Gold Battery and took the 75 minute in depth guided tour. It was a very interesting along with the resident ghosts which was cleverly presented. The guide had a personal tie to the town being a 4th generation local and he was genuinely passionate about the Gold Battery and its history and it came out in his presentations. Even though we have visited many gold places such as Lucknow, Kalgoorlie and Ballarat, we learnt a lot here.

Assay room at Venus Gold Battery

An extended weekend in Townsville

Car problems ensured that we stay in Townsville for more than the 2 nights we had originally planned. Just some 15km out of town on a Friday, the front axle/bearing really started to vibrate and make noises at a strength we had not encountered previously. It wasn’t going to make it to Bundaberg, where we had hoped to engage the assistance of my brother in law to pull the whole thing apart.

Our car has a mind of its own and has previously demonstrated that he didn’t like mechanics. As soon as one enters the car, he decides to purr like a baby, and the same goes on this day! As it was it took 3 trips around the town before it gave a hint of the troubles and then the mechanic believed us enough to schedule us for repairs but not until after the weekend.

One of the views from the craggy heights of Castle Hill

Sightseeing
We booked ourselves into the Coral Coast Caravan Park mainly because it was one of the closest to the mechanics. It is a lovely park and well shaded though it is tight for getting any van in, let alone our big Robbiebago. Though it is not on a highway, it is on a major back road through the industrial part of town and right next to the RAAF base and the airport. The resulting fumes from the airports were bad especially when there was no breeze to chase the fumes away. Since we were in town for 3 or 4 days, we decided to make use of the town’s shops and do some sightseeing as well over the weekend. The 360 degree panorama views from the dramatic craggy heights of Castle Hill Lookout are superb. How the locals can run (or walk) up the hill beats me. I don’t know whether to admire them or think they’re nuts.

Another view from the Castle

Water fun! Whoo Hoo!
You might recall that I think the Cairns Esplanade is great, well the Townsville’s one on The Strand leaves it for dead. There’s something like 2km of waterfront that has been extremely well planned, with park lands, seatings , BBQs and picnic areas all along the length.

The Strand beach

BBQs on The Strand

There are playgrounds scattered throughout and then the whole area culminating in this absolutely fantastic water park that has water cannons, fountains, slippery slides and then this gigantic bucket above the whole thing, filling up with something like 1,000 litres of water and then when it gets to a certain depth it tips over and pours the water over a specially designed roof that splayed the water in all directions at once. Ooh I wish I had my grandkids with me so that I had a good excuse to play in the water.

Water Park on The Strand

Such a friendly Church
On the Sunday, we ventured into the C3 church which is held in the Imax theatre right in the heart of town. It is a very welcoming church with an active Sunday School and a very gifted preacher. We were warmly welcomed several times before the service had began and then afterwards at coffee too. I love it when a church is welcoming to strangers. I believe that this is part of what Christ wanted for his people.

To market, to market
As we were driving back we discovered a great market running in town that we just had to stop and see what they have to offer. I am particularly interested in handcrafts and what others are making. I saw beautiful bead works. I just had to buy a fancy hair clip for myself. We also went past many children’s clothing and patchwork type of stalls. There was some beautiful slumped bottle work and wood works too. As always there are the various food stalls. I have always thought that if you were going to do a market stall purely for the money, then do a food stall, they are always popular.

A painted building on The Strand

Car fixed
Bright and early on Monday, Bob take the car to the mechanic and waits anxiously for the results half expecting it to take all day and cost a small fortune. The mechanic was experienced in 4WD vehicles and discovered that the hubs were dry and the right hand one was very severely restricted. We were told that we were very fortunate in that there was minimal damage. Both sides were cleaned and greased and see free for more travelling. So you can imagine our delight when we get a call to come and pick it up after just 3 ½ hours work and the resulting smaller repair costs too.

Yabba Dabba Doo. We decided to continue our journey first thing the next day.