Home Sweet Home

1st June 2024

Distance: 382.6 Km

I had intended to leave early but in the event didn’t get going until about 7.30am, it was a cold, damp morning so I had a long hot shower before breakfast. I made a coffee to have in the car as I drove.

When I set off from Cowra it was very foggy but the fog suddenly disappeared almost instantly as I left the town.

In spite of the forecast it didn’t actually rain on my way home though it remained grey and overcast the whole time. An easy drive, most of it being on the Hume Highway and being a Saturday morning there was little traffic. I arrived home about midday.

Jobs

Got stuck straight into the task of emptying the car and camper of bedding, clothes etc that needed washing which will probably get done on Monday when a sunny day is predicted. Will empty the car of equipment on Sunday.

There are few minor jobs that need doing on the camper and I have a few ideas for improvements. I have ordered an awning for the side of the car even though I did enjoy the cover provided by my gazebo. The battery in the camper is suspect, I might replace it with an AGM battery – the one in the car is still going strong after 8 years of use.

The car is way overdue for a service!

I suspect that is probably the last long trip I undertake, in future will look at shorter trips of perhaps a few days or a maximum of a week to ten days. I like southern Queensland and there is a lot to explore in Victoria.

Trip Statistics

Distance travelled: 12,400 km

Fuel used: 1330 litres

Total accommodation: $1441

Total fuel: $2910

Average fuel price: $2.21/l

Fuel economy: 10.9 litres per 100km

Suddenly it’s Cold and Wet!

31st May 2024

Distance: 486 Km

Fuel: 57 L

Was woken at something like 3.30am by the sound of rain on the roof of the camper. Quickly got up and put my chair in the back of the car and closed the glass part of the outer door, once back inside the camper turned on the fans that drag air in from the kitchen part of the camper before going back to sleep.

In the morning it was still raining though not very heavily so went for my shower and slowly got ready to leave. A relatively long drive as I hoped to make Cowra by early/mid afternoon. Because of the rain I did look at making a beeline to home but it really was too far especially in such bad weather. Pulled up the plastic sheeting I keep under the mattress to protect against water getting past the door seals.

I don’t think it stopped raining entirely all day and the sky remained grey the whole time.

A couple of creeks/rivers that I crossed looked as if they were nearly at flood level but I didn’t actually encounter any flash floods at all.

Topped up with fuel at Nyngan where it was a surprising $1.91 a litre.

The caravan park, about 3 or 4 km outside Cowra, was very soggy but I suppose it doesn’t matter any more I should be home tomorrow. To be fair when I went to get fuel later there was a slight touch of blue sky in the distance (the forecast said that it won’t last – more rain tomorrow).

Back to NSW

30th May 2024

Distance: 457 Km

Fuel: 56 L

Was up at my usual 6am for a shower, breakfast etc. Slowly packed up my stuff, as always there was no rush and I ended up setting off just before 9am.

Pretty typical drive until Cunnamulla, as I was leaving the township I noticed the sign…

Did a quick mental calculation and realised that I would be cutting it a bit fine as I had already done about 300 km on this tank full. Did a quick U turn and drove back into the town to fill up with fuel.

The next landmark was leaving Queensland and entering NSW again.

Stopped again in Bourke for fuel (gave the Outback Centre etc a miss this time).

Funny thing was that for the first time on this trip actually felt tired while driving even though this was not an exceptionally long drive so stopped in a rest area and walked around for a bit to wake myself up.

Finally arrived at the small town of Byrock where the local pub has a caravan park in its back yard so booked a site for the night. Very much a bush setting with power points!

Looks like rain over the next couple of days, I must remember to check my waterproofing in the camper in the morning as BOM reckons it could be heavy.