Our first night on the Road
The days where we grabbed a two men tent and a single gas bottle and took off around Australia, are definitely gone!
We have now advanced from a pop-up trailer camper to a 5-star version, or how we call it in Oz, “the real mccoy”!.
Life in Freshwater has not been the same since the new caravan arrived. Traffic in our street has come to a halt for 30 minutes at a time, while Austin tries to back the 4-wheeler into our "tiny” driveway. There has been a constant flow of delivery vans dropping off all kinds of extra parts, tools and generators etc, all highly necessary for our survival according to our caravan-savvy neighbour. And last not least, the preparation to actually get going, has kept Austin busy for the last few weeks.
I am sure, there will come a time during the next few months when I will actually be grateful for Austin's thoroughness, but at present I feel a little overwhelmed.
Oh, yes! And there is the new car which had to be purchased to tow our rolling motel. Its a Ford Ranger, a mixture between truck and tradesmen’s work car. You climb up suspended on a handle for that purpose, and slide out, hoping you land gracefully on your outstretched toes - definitely not “female-friendly".
Unfortunately, while Austin's shoulder was in a sling after surgery, I had to do all the driving of, what I call, “The Beast". Gradually I learned to negotiate tight corners in car parks and backing into parking spaces while Austin feigned heart attacks and bystanders were holding their breath.
Finally, we are all packed up and Austin’s shoulder is fit enough to take over the wheel. So off we go on our trip to the far North and the Red Centre!