Autumn in the Granite Belt

I knew it was Autumn and somewhere in my mind, I was expecting cool weather. My mind was okay with that. My body had forgotten what early mornings with fog and crisp breezes feel like. Neither of us wanted to get up with morning but my wretched alarm went off at 6.45, I had set it for Monday so we could say goodbye to Krista. I had no intention of being so early once we started travelling


We wandered around today, through Stanthorpe and Inglewood. This was all part of my stomping ground when I worked at the School Support Centre in Toowdoomba. These small towns don't change much. They are probably at their best in early Autumn when the trees are changing colour and frame the streets beautifully.

We arrived at Goondiwindi about 2pm and went straight to the information centre to get a map, not that a map is of much use to me. However, Cory is pretty good at giving directions and, on top of that, one of the maths sheets his teacher gave me is on map reading. It is good when what we are doing fits with the curriculum. We have also started our  Conversational German CDs today. I will have to repeat the first lesson as I am sure what we did today will have gone the way of the rest of my language knowledge.


We will batten down early tonight and make sure the van is warm before it gets too cold and dark.  We have plenty of books, board games, electronic games and DVDs. Hopefully we will sleep in a bit longer tomorrow. In the morning we will decide which direction to travel next.

Photos to come

Monday 20th April

We got away bright and early today. Unfortunately it was bright and early in the afternoon, like about 1.30pm.

Yesterday I skidded down the steps of the van, grabbed onto the newly installed insect screen and pulled it, out. I started today trying to get it fitted again. Unfortunately the rubber around the door had stretched and wouldn't hold the screen in. By the time the screen itself had been restitched and the rubber ordered (Mercedes Germany, of course!), it was after lunch. I decided that we can manage without the screen for a while. I was determined to be away today, 20th April.

Cory was great. He chattered away most of the trip and was very good company. When we got to Gatton and I mentioned coffee, he suggested McDonalds as a good place to stop. We had a stretch and a bit of a walk. I am wearing a fitbit pedometer and was conscious of racking up a few steps at each stop. (1600 over target. I may revise the target after a few days but for the moment, low is okay. You know how it is - aim low and over-achieve. Otherwise I would feel inadequate - and that does nothing for my ego.)

We took the scenic route, not deliberately, but it was worth it. Cory got quite carried away with his phone, lots of messages to his mother and lots of photos in rather overcast conditions.

Counting Down

Five days to go! Next Monday I plan to be on the road.

The last few days have been horrendous. I have raced around getting last minute work done on the van. The roof lining still hasn't arrived so I can see us going off with water stains overhead. Everything else is settling down. The service was done last week. The insect screens are made. I took the boys to Macca's while they were fitted but three hours was a bit of a stretch. Eventually we walked back to the workshop, making me aware of how unfit I am. The reversing camera just needed the connection to the mirror tightened. The drawer catch will be checked tomorrow.

Today I cut down a mattress to fit the single bed. Fortunately Umar was home and gave me a hand. Krista had left me a note suggesting I use a hacksaw to cut the foam. I wasn't very effective so Umar took over the hacksaw. I bought a king size quilt cover and experimented a bit, ending up with a fitted sheet with buttons along the side with the rest of it as a top sheet. It will be very easy to remove the whole kit and caboodle to wash.

Cory and Hudson are making the most of the last few days of the holidays. They are good mates and I know Hudson will really miss Cory while we are away. Cory has shot up about 4cm in the last couple of months so all his winter clothes had to be replaced.  He is still trying to decide what to take with him to keep him occupied in what I hope will be long lazy afternoons. I'll have to check his blog (coryss.blogspot.com) and see what he has decided on before I try to make everything fit.

Tomorrow I will have to be serious about packing. I know we are not heading off to the wilds of Africa but there could be some long stretches between shops. However, we will be right as long as we are fed and watered, cool during the day and warm at night. Anything else will be just an inconvenience, says me optimistically.

Scurrying Around

I picked up Angel today, still not quite ready but the repairer knew that I was impatient. While he is still waiting for the lining of the roof, I have her back for a few days. I got a quote this afternoon for insect screens to be made in the next week. so that I can leave everything open at night in hot weather. I have to replace the radio so I can follow my ABC programs and listen to my audio books. I've also got to get the reversing camera and mirror checked and I have booked a service for next Wednesday. With all that to be done in the next  ten days, I am relieved to have Angel back even for a few days. Apparently, there are only a couple of hours work to fit the new lining.

It seems that the next fortnight will be pretty hectic as the van has been held up for so long. I am determined to get away on April 20th. Sorting out my mess from the fortnight I had away will take a while. Then I have to make room for Cory's clothes and books and whatever else he decides to take with him. His teacher gave me some maths assessment sheets (damn!) that she wants completed. I've had a look and I think he will do them fairly quickly. I'll get them out of the way as soon as I can and get on to the real business of the trip - enjoyment! I am sure he will learn so much more than he ever would in a classroom and hopefully develop a real understanding of our beautiful country that will stay with him forever.  The music teacher also gave him his recorder to practise so he may add some discord to the harmony of the bush.

He will take some Lego and a stack of books, my iPad and some hand-crafty things. We'll also toss his scooter in. I was going to take one too but I had a practice today and just about ruined my knee replacements. I have decided to give that a miss so that I'll be able to finish the drive and not end up in hospital somewhere. Shame! I really saw myself as the groovy gran, scooting around car parks.

Any time Angel is in my driveway over the Easter school holidays, I will be getting organised. The summer clothes I put in for the last trip will have to be supplemented with some warmer wear. Having Cory with me means that I will have to prepare decent meals from time to time. Filling the mobile pantry with things both of us eat may be challenge. I guess he will be shopping with me as we go, and we will come to some acceptable decisions about food.

I can't say I am looking forward to shuffling Angel around for the next couple of weeks but on the 20th (note the date) it will all be fine as we head west, the Silver Gypsy and the Gypsy Lad.