Shepperton to Sydney - January 2002

Rained off, work was cancelled, the locals had been praying for rain and finally got it. Things were so dry, their dams were low and cracking. When the rain came, it came in sheets for five minutes then drizzled for ten, then repeated itself.

Because of the rain, there wasn't much we could do. We had planed to go to Glenbawn Dam, we had a job to do, five piers. But the main event was a weekend fishing and drinking. Peter phoned a pub in Glenbawn and was told that it was raining there as well. The dirt roads would be bogged, so we couldn't take the caravan.

The day was filled with nothing, a hair cut and shopping etc. Well apart from when Carla, Peters next door neighbour asked us to help with the delivery of thirty thousand day old chickens.

PM: Julie and Peter invited a few people for dinner and drinks. Julie cooked a great Thai meal, Debbie and her daughter Ashley were there, John and Joy, two dentists were there with their kids. The drinking started slow, as usual, then things got moving.

Saturday 2nd February 2002

As the Glenbawn Dam trip was off, we decided to go to Wollombi, a small village nestled in the Watagan foot hills. We organised dinner at the Wollombi Tavern, home of Dr Jurd's Jungle Juice. Wollombi was the setting for young Einstein, his house still stands at the side of the road.

The Tavern, situated at the end of the main street, was a hive of activity, a regular haunt for wealthy Sydney siders at the weekend. We camped down the back of the Tavern, nice and close so we didn't have far to go after consuming silly amounts of Dr Jurds Jungle Juice.

Tuesday 5th February 2002

The rain still hammered down, there wasn't a lot we could do except sit and watch the water as it cascaded through the property. Peter and Julie were ecstatic, they had been hoping for rain. We people from the northern hemisphere don't appreciate how good we have it when it comes to water. The property here is run totally from rain water tanks. There were three such tanks, one of them holds twenty thousand gallon and the other two about two thousand each. As the rain slipped into a rest period, Peter and I donned the welly boots and rolled another fifteen thousand gallon tank into place, the big tank was now over flowing and we didn't want to loose the precious water..

PM: I was taken along to the first official Rotary meeting of the year. Ken, Ted, Neil, Colin, John, Walter, Phil and myself. After a lamb cutlet dinner and a few glasses of beer or wine. Ken the President rang a bell for us all to pay attention while he read out some of the mail that had been received. There followed a discussion about projects for the coming year, mostly relating to social events for the members and their wives. Then to my surprise I was introduced a the guest speaker.... Quite surprised, I got up and waffled on about my trip for about half an hour, then was presented with a small token of appreciation, a Porcelain Rotary cup.

Wednesday 6th February 2002

Nothing was planned for the day, I hoped to just work on my journal. At ten thirty Peter asked me if I wanted to go to Carlas place for a coffee, I said yes. That was the end of the day. Carla was a bit bored and after two cups of coffee and a scone, she suggested going to the pub for 'a' game of pool.

Following a bit of haranguing, Peter, myself, Carla, her friend Pat and her daughter Emma, went to the Chelmsford (Chelly) hotel. Like a lot of country the pubs, at eleven in the morning it was full of drawn and frail looking regulars, sipping on beer - we were just as bad, we were joining them.

The game of pool started after Carla popped the cork on a very cheap (AU$9) bottle of Champagne, well thats what she liked to believe it was. Pete stuck to his guns and stayed for two games of pool and one drink, he had work to do. At twelve, Pat and Emma went to the bakers for lunch, Carla and I had more to drink and went to the bar for a game of darts,, a long game, we made more holes in the wall than in the board.

AT three thirty, it was time for Pat to pick up her kids from school, Carla and I stayed drinking beer and plonk. At about eight o'clock, we went back to Carlas for tea. By ten o'clock I was in bed giving it big Zzzz.

Thursday 7th February 2002

Last night the rain continued it's down poured, it was now into its seventh day. The ground was soggy and there was no hope of being able to do any work, that's now seven days without pay. I'm now thinking that the next leg of this trip will have to be put off for about six or twelve months. At this rate it's going to take that long to get the money together.

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Saturday 10th February 2002

What, no work again! What the heck am I doing getting up at this hour. It was 430am, the sun had just sunk behind the trees, or so it seemed. We were all heading to 'Glenbawn'. We packed the caravan and the boat last night, all we had to do was have a cuppa and we were off. That was the plan, however as you know, plans are made and changed, then made and changed again.

It was 5:30 when Julie and Peter surfaced with the kids and as we pulled he caravan from its secure shed, and discovered we had a puncture. We didn't actually leave until after seven o'clock. Julie was driving the four wheel drive towing the caravan and I was in the truck with Peter towing the boat.

It took us till none o'clock to get to Glenbawn, . It didn't look much as we drove in the main entrance to the estate. Peter and I had to stop off at one of the park warden houses. They had three piers to be replaced. That's what they thought they would get away with, not so. by the time we had pulled out five piers and explained where the subsidence problems were coming from, they were talking about redoing a lot more work.

By eleven am we had dug and poured the five piers and were heading to catch up with Julie who w

as camped two or three km further along the road. Peter and I put the tinnie (boat) into the water, Julie organised lunch and by one o'clock we were in the boat casting our first line. Now, I'm not much of a fishing buff, but the wee boat glided across the huge dam effortlessly. The sun was bright and searing, we anchored the boat and sat bobbing up and down as we sat patiently for our catch (tea). It was along wait but in the end I caught two reasonable sized fish. Not enough to feed six people though.

Another early start, John and Peter were feeling a bit shaky. I didn't admit it but, I wasn't feeling at all sober myself. The fish were not biting, so after a couple of hours on the lake we made our way back to camp. Julie was organising dinner so we cracked the neck on a few more stubbies, the night had begun. Glenbawn is a huge dam about a kilometre across and about thirty or so long. Surrounded by rolling hills and bush land, it is very secluded. This is not to say that grown men can act like idiots. I can't say who was to blame for the start of the antics, but suffice to say, we were all involved. After finishing off Dr Jurds Jungle Juice and getting through a 2ltr cask of Port. We were running around like daft yins. It started when someone threw a small biscuit at Peter and ended with all food fighting with Julie's home made coleslaw. John changed his clothes twice. On the third change he said, "that's it, I don't have any more clean clothes". Just at that he sat in his camping chair which we had filled with ice cold water. And so it went till wee small hours.

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Saturday 16th February 2002

After last nights coleslaw fight and the large quantities of Port, Wine and Vodka, we didn't get started until about eight o'clock. John wanted to be in the water by six thirty. Myself peter and John were all a tad hungover, slowly drinking cups of coffee in an attempt to find the quick fix, it didn't work.

Peter jumped in to Johns boat while I took Peters. They were going 'spin fishing' , I was sticking with the bait, I had a bucket of wee yabbies. I had never driven a tinnie before, I thought it would be a piece of cake. It was a piece of cake until, at the far end of the dam, I was on my own and getting to grips with the machine. When all of a sudden, I was thrown out of the boat. Ordinarily and no doubt later on I will find the incident funny, however, funny was not a word that sprung to mind as I somersaulted over the side of the boat. Things were a blur, I saw bits of boat cargo flying with me, luckily nothing of any real value followed in my wake. It all happened so quick, one minute I was turning the boat calmly to head back to camp, the next, I was in the drink about fifteen feet away from the boat. Luckily, the boat stalled, I didn't fancy the idea of swimming after a runaway boat.

It wasn't until I pulled myself back into the boat that I felt the pain up my back, I slowly made my way back to camp, every bump in the water causing me discomfort and pain. I had told myself the other day, that I wouldn't take any risks, or involve myself in dangerous activities. Especially considering I can't get insurance cover for the trip. My assault in Adelaide had already cost me $500.

I didn't let on about my pain until later in the day when Peter asked if I wanted to go back out fishing. I said no, that I had a sore back. Peter asked what happened, I spun around for a bit, telling him that I slipped down the hill behind the caravan. He believed that but I felt I should tell everyone what really happened. That was the end of fun for the weekend, I spent the rest day lying on the ground.

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Monday 18th February 2002

With a sore back I climb into the 4*4 and Julie drove to Maitland station, Alina was arriving on the 9:50. She emerged from the carriage, big smile looking happy but feeling tired after a long journey. The day was spent chatting and being filled in on all the gossip from the Barossa.

Nothing overly exciting, mostly just work. Alina and I spent some time looking at the sites. Alina was visiting with the notion of come cycling with me for a few months. After some deliberation and planning, she decided it wasn't for her. Which I can understand, this is not a trip to be taken lightly. She stayed for a few weeks before heading back to Melbourne where she has now settled and having a ball.

Free Wheelin - February 2002