6th October
Ok, so since dad had left and I was sleeping in the van I had tended to sleep pretty lightly, taking a while to get to sleep and waking a couple of times. But after a 12.30 bedtime didn’t think that would be too much of an issue. So when I woke to the sound of rain at 5.30 in the morning, not only was I not happy about the rain but I was also wondering how I was going to survive a day of driving by myself on only 5 hours sleep! However, I also knew I wasn’t likely to get any more, and with hail expected I decided to make like a shepherd (and get the flock outa here) so with it still dark I got up, organised and drove out of the caravan park at 7 minutes to 7. Plugged in Millie... 997kms and 11 hours to Erin’s place in Homebush – not going to make that today! First hour was good, although busier than normal with other people having similar ideas. I hit peak
hour traffic just before 8 which added an extra 45 minutes to the expected arrival time by the time I was on the other side of it. Got petrol, hot chocolate and a free donut - mmmmm, donuts – about 40 kms out of Melbourne – just as the tacko turned over to read 200 001. By the end of the day I would have clocked up over 7 500kms in 7 weeks. There were bikes galore passing me, but all very well behaved. Made various stops, and a 15 minute power nap in a rest bay, but otherwise it was a straight drive along the Hume Highway. Feeling pretty good 3 hrs out of Sydney, and with the bonus of daylight savings, I figured I could dive a bit longer, get into Sydney out of peak hour traffic and sleep in a house with a hot shower... so I charged on. Was diverted around a rather nasty accident, which was lit up with about 15 emergency services vehicles before pulling into Homebush just on 8.30pm. Awesome. Up to Erin (Kel’s cousin) and Razor’s apartment, where Kel and Karlee had been for the past few nights. Caught up on the goss and set ourselves up for a big day of shopping at Westfield Parramatta. Keeping up with Kel and Karlee was going to be a challenge!!!
Ok, so since dad had left and I was sleeping in the van I had tended to sleep pretty lightly, taking a while to get to sleep and waking a couple of times. But after a 12.30 bedtime didn’t think that would be too much of an issue. So when I woke to the sound of rain at 5.30 in the morning, not only was I not happy about the rain but I was also wondering how I was going to survive a day of driving by myself on only 5 hours sleep! However, I also knew I wasn’t likely to get any more, and with hail expected I decided to make like a shepherd (and get the flock outa here) so with it still dark I got up, organised and drove out of the caravan park at 7 minutes to 7. Plugged in Millie... 997kms and 11 hours to Erin’s place in Homebush – not going to make that today! First hour was good, although busier than normal with other people having similar ideas. I hit peak
hour traffic just before 8 which added an extra 45 minutes to the expected arrival time by the time I was on the other side of it. Got petrol, hot chocolate and a free donut - mmmmm, donuts – about 40 kms out of Melbourne – just as the tacko turned over to read 200 001. By the end of the day I would have clocked up over 7 500kms in 7 weeks. There were bikes galore passing me, but all very well behaved. Made various stops, and a 15 minute power nap in a rest bay, but otherwise it was a straight drive along the Hume Highway. Feeling pretty good 3 hrs out of Sydney, and with the bonus of daylight savings, I figured I could dive a bit longer, get into Sydney out of peak hour traffic and sleep in a house with a hot shower... so I charged on. Was diverted around a rather nasty accident, which was lit up with about 15 emergency services vehicles before pulling into Homebush just on 8.30pm. Awesome. Up to Erin (Kel’s cousin) and Razor’s apartment, where Kel and Karlee had been for the past few nights. Caught up on the goss and set ourselves up for a big day of shopping at Westfield Parramatta. Keeping up with Kel and Karlee was going to be a challenge!!!7th October
Sleep in before the girls and I headed to Westfield Parramatta – and OH MY GOD!!! 5 floors of shops, there was no way we were going to make it through every level!!! Parking with the van can be rather difficult, due to George’s height, so we drove around for a bit before finding 2 hr parking. That would give me an excuse to leave the shops and go for a walk when it expired. We started with a coffee around 11 before beginning on the first floor and working our way up. 2 hours was up before we’d even left the firsts floor. Walked back to George (with the accumulated purchases) and moved him to the park at the end of the street, still 2 hour parking, but at least it was free. Back for lunch at the food court before hitting the shops again. 2 hours later, I took off back to the van (with more bags) while the girls continued to shop. Made a quick phone call to Bathurst, as I’d heard some rather unsavoury stories in the past week about the top of the mountain and thought it might pay to check if we were going to be safe in McPhillamy Park. Apparently there wasn’t anywhere else for us to go, but there was a good police presence, and last year had been a bit more tame. OK. Found the girls again, more shopping until near closing – 6 ½ hours of shopping, over $1000 worth of purchases (although my portion was only $110, including lunch!) and I was totally exhausted. Headed back to the house, whilst trying to find some cheap fuel (I had seen a 16 cent difference within 10kms the day before) and a supermarket. Millie wasn’t much help, so eventually we found some fuel and I checked the street directory and asked for the locals help in finding the nearest Woolies. Getting the food and shopping up to Erin’s apartment was a mission, but we managed in one trip. Kel cooked up a storm for dinner, while I tried to organise George a bit before having a quiet night watching tv and playing on the net.
Sleep in before the girls and I headed to Westfield Parramatta – and OH MY GOD!!! 5 floors of shops, there was no way we were going to make it through every level!!! Parking with the van can be rather difficult, due to George’s height, so we drove around for a bit before finding 2 hr parking. That would give me an excuse to leave the shops and go for a walk when it expired. We started with a coffee around 11 before beginning on the first floor and working our way up. 2 hours was up before we’d even left the firsts floor. Walked back to George (with the accumulated purchases) and moved him to the park at the end of the street, still 2 hour parking, but at least it was free. Back for lunch at the food court before hitting the shops again. 2 hours later, I took off back to the van (with more bags) while the girls continued to shop. Made a quick phone call to Bathurst, as I’d heard some rather unsavoury stories in the past week about the top of the mountain and thought it might pay to check if we were going to be safe in McPhillamy Park. Apparently there wasn’t anywhere else for us to go, but there was a good police presence, and last year had been a bit more tame. OK. Found the girls again, more shopping until near closing – 6 ½ hours of shopping, over $1000 worth of purchases (although my portion was only $110, including lunch!) and I was totally exhausted. Headed back to the house, whilst trying to find some cheap fuel (I had seen a 16 cent difference within 10kms the day before) and a supermarket. Millie wasn’t much help, so eventually we found some fuel and I checked the street directory and asked for the locals help in finding the nearest Woolies. Getting the food and shopping up to Erin’s apartment was a mission, but we managed in one trip. Kel cooked up a storm for dinner, while I tried to organise George a bit before having a quiet night watching tv and playing on the net.
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