What’s top of my mind: The Ligas will be here in a week!
Yes, I have one short week to get my shit together for the Crazy Road Trip, which astonishes me. This trip was in the future for so long – how could it suddenly be almost in the present?
I’m finishing off a quilt for Liga’s daughter, then I have to pack, buy provisions and work out how to bring as many library books as I can for the third leg of my holiday. I’ll talk about this more below, but anyone who has travelled in the outback and Queensland and outer NSW – I’ll be interested in any tips you may have.
I’ve decided to do a BIG road trip.
Where I’m going: to the ‘back o’ Bourke!’
Younger and overseas readers may not know the expression ‘back o’ Bourke.’ Bourke is a town in far western New South Wales which used to stand on the edge of nothingness. If you went to the back of Bourke – there’s nothing there.
I’ve decided that I’ll stay there for 2 nights on my individual crazy road trip. Apparently times have changed and there’s a lot to do and see there now.
Where I’ve been: the VW dealership.
Two weeks ago, my trusty little Golf’s air conditioning packed up. It was blowing hot air on the driver and cold air everywhere else. NOT ideal for a road trip to Uluru in November!
That’s now fixed. I had her serviced and vacuumed as well. She’s ready for the drive of her life!
What I’m reading:
The Housemaid I enjoyed this one.
I really loved ‘Slow Horses’ on AppleTV, so I’ve ordered the series of books by Mick Herron and I’m working my way through them. I’m still waiting for the first one to get to the library, but I have books 2 and 3 here, so I polished off Dead Lions a couple of days ago. I’m excited that there are 8 in the series – they’re very well-written.
What I’m watching:
River Cottage Australia and Last Week Tonight on Binge.
Ru Paul’s Drag Race Down Under and True Detective on Stan.
The Block on channel 9. Auction day on Sunday, just before I leave. Woo hoo!
What I’m listening to: The Zombies list on Spotify.
I found another good list to bop along to!
What I’m eating: Anything that’s in the house.
Once I’m gone, Georgia will have full access, so I’m eating and drinking the good stuff before I go. Is that wrong?
What I’m planning: Here’s the itinerary for the next 3 weeks…
November 12 – 20: Melbourne; Healesville Sanctuary: Mornington Peninsula; Great Ocean Road; The Grampians; Adelaide; Port Augusta; Coober Pedy and Uluru.
This is with Liga and Liga. It’s an action-packed itinerary and I don’t think they have any idea about just how much ground we’ll be travelling.
Once I drop them off at Uluru, I stay a night with them, then I’ll be heading off. Here’s what I’m thinking at the moment. Anyone who has done this trip before – I’d love your thoughts!
November 21: Uluru to the Devil’s Marbles Hotel. (850 km and 9 hours drive.)
I’ll probably be too tired to go and see the Devil’s Marbles when I get there, but I’ll definitely start the morning off with a viewing!
November 22: Devils Marbles Hotel to Barkley Homestead. (500 km and 5 hours drive.)
(After 2 really long driving days, – Coober Pedy to Uluru is an 8 hour drive – I thought I should have a couple of shorter days.)
November 23: Barkley Homestead to Mt Isa. (450 km and 4.5 hours drive.)
November 24: Mt Isa to Winton. (470 km and 5 hours drive.)
In the morning I thought I could do a mine tour at Mt Isa. After all, when am I ever likely to be in a mine again?
November 25: Winton to Charleville (700 km and 7.5 hours drive.)
November 26: Charleville to Bourke (453 km and 5 hours drive.)
November 27: Bourke.
There’s a paddle Steamer on the Darling River, Fred Hollows’ grave, a historical homestead and lots of bushwalks. Two nights here sounds great.
November 28: Maybe Griffith???? (524 km and 5.5 hours drive.)
It’s halfway between Bourke and Lake Crackenback Resort, which is where I need to end up. I don’t know that there’s much to see at Griffith though. Still, I could probably catch up on blog posts or start one of those books I’ll be taking.
November 29: Griffith??? to Lake Crackenback. (454 km and 6 hours drive.)
I have a week booked here from my timeshare. I have an inkling that I’ll be pretty tired from all of the racing around, so I plan to read lots of books and do pretty mundane things while I’m here. I’m going to take the chairlift to the top of Mt Kosciuszko, which is Australia’s tallest mountain.
Plenty of naps will also be happening as well.
So what do you think? Is my solo drive doable? Is there anything that is a “must-see” along the way?
Who deserves a thumbs-up: Scout.
She’s gradually getting used to being an only dog. I’m still not sure how she’ll take the long absence, but it’s something she has to get used to. Next year I’ve booked 16 weeks away…
What has made me smile: the girl who bought Jeffrey’s Cardisure tablets.
I had 9 packets of Jeff’s heart tablets left after he died. I bought them from an online animal pharmacy company because they are miles cheaper than buying them from the vet. I knocked even more from the price I paid and put them on Marketplace, thinking that someone would come across them and know that they have an absolute BARGAIN on their hands.
This happened this morning. A young girl turned up to buy them, overcome with how much money she was going to save. Her vet makes her pay for a blood test every 6 months for a 15.5-year-old dog, PUS paying $90 for a phone call afterwards to discuss the results.
Yikes!
I had a magnet on my fridge with the details of my vet on it. I gave it to her, telling her that switching from her vet to mine would be worth the drive.
Dad Joke of the Day: