The joys of caravan camping in Australia ("Life in a Daze")
Posted: 04 Dec 2019 17:27
The Wonderful World of the Camper van
The campervan was just sitting in my yard taking up space. I advertised it but only had one serious taker. She thought that it was a 2012 model, diesel automatic and she could get it for $10,000. Sad!!!
I decided that I would clean up the van and go for a trip. Spent many hours with aluminium angle replacing the light stuff that surrounded the floor and made a single bunk on one side instead of having to put the bed down every night. Things went well as far as my world went. Just used up about three months of instructive language to get things in order.
Went to start the van. Great, flat battery! Who wants a lumpy battery anyway? The chap that came around to start the van determined that a cell had gone so he installed a new battery. Fine now but the interior lights and the fridge did not go. Drove into town and had a new interior battery fitted. It was then discovered that the motor was not charging the interior battery so off to the auto electricians to see if it could be fixed. Two hours later all was working.
Drove home to pack the van for the trip. I have plastic boxes in which I store all the things for the van. At this point I realised that everything that could be taken out of the van had been, so that I could clean it. Replaced almost everything and put in the van packs. Great, now to set off on the great trip. Had to top up with fuel so into the petrol station and joined the queue. Eventually I was on my way. Well, after about an hour I discovered that I was on my way but there were things that were just NOT on the way. Never mind, I could buy the food things that I had not packed.
Arriving at the camp I was checked in and shown to my site. It is in the middle of a paddock. Not another human being to be seen as far as the eye could see. The toilet block is a desert trek away. By the time I walk there I have forgotten what I went there for.
Right. Now for afternoon tea. Put on the jug, brought the table into the van only to find that I had left the pole that supports the table top. Struggled with ideas about how to handle the situation, maybe get the flies to hold it up? There are almost three million flies here – per cubic meter!!
One of the camp workers came past on a golf cart – electric thing. I asked him if he had a piece of pipe that I could use. We measured the required space and he went away to return shortly afterwards with a nice piece of plastic pipe. Unfortunately it was just too big in diameter. He went to get another piece but that was no good either. Never mind, I assured him that I could make it fit. I heated the end over my gas ring and as it got soft I pushed it into the hole in the flange of the table. Did the same with the other end and now I have a very wobbly table but it stands.
Now for dinner tonight. Oh dear, most of the bits are here but the essential bits are still on my kitchen bench at home.
Everything falls or disappears. I put something down and turn away and without any help from me it crashes to the ground. Not to be out done it either breaks into a myriad of pieces or crawls into a totally inaccessible place. At least I know where that has gone – or do I? The next thing that is ALWAYS with me. If I touch something it disappears, usually into the future. It is nowhere to be found until I need something else and then there it is, right in the way.
The wind has dropped, the flies have been relieved of their duty – mozzies have taken over the night shift. I thought that I may try singing to them but they came in close and set up a high soprano descant.
Now it is nearly bed time for me. Just wonder how things will go overnight; bed knobs and broomsticks. Here’s hoping.
Here endeth the first day.
Regards, Dennis.
The campervan was just sitting in my yard taking up space. I advertised it but only had one serious taker. She thought that it was a 2012 model, diesel automatic and she could get it for $10,000. Sad!!!
I decided that I would clean up the van and go for a trip. Spent many hours with aluminium angle replacing the light stuff that surrounded the floor and made a single bunk on one side instead of having to put the bed down every night. Things went well as far as my world went. Just used up about three months of instructive language to get things in order.
Went to start the van. Great, flat battery! Who wants a lumpy battery anyway? The chap that came around to start the van determined that a cell had gone so he installed a new battery. Fine now but the interior lights and the fridge did not go. Drove into town and had a new interior battery fitted. It was then discovered that the motor was not charging the interior battery so off to the auto electricians to see if it could be fixed. Two hours later all was working.
Drove home to pack the van for the trip. I have plastic boxes in which I store all the things for the van. At this point I realised that everything that could be taken out of the van had been, so that I could clean it. Replaced almost everything and put in the van packs. Great, now to set off on the great trip. Had to top up with fuel so into the petrol station and joined the queue. Eventually I was on my way. Well, after about an hour I discovered that I was on my way but there were things that were just NOT on the way. Never mind, I could buy the food things that I had not packed.
Arriving at the camp I was checked in and shown to my site. It is in the middle of a paddock. Not another human being to be seen as far as the eye could see. The toilet block is a desert trek away. By the time I walk there I have forgotten what I went there for.
Van parked on Campsite
Van parked opposite Toilet Block
Right. Now for afternoon tea. Put on the jug, brought the table into the van only to find that I had left the pole that supports the table top. Struggled with ideas about how to handle the situation, maybe get the flies to hold it up? There are almost three million flies here – per cubic meter!!
One of the camp workers came past on a golf cart – electric thing. I asked him if he had a piece of pipe that I could use. We measured the required space and he went away to return shortly afterwards with a nice piece of plastic pipe. Unfortunately it was just too big in diameter. He went to get another piece but that was no good either. Never mind, I assured him that I could make it fit. I heated the end over my gas ring and as it got soft I pushed it into the hole in the flange of the table. Did the same with the other end and now I have a very wobbly table but it stands.
Now for dinner tonight. Oh dear, most of the bits are here but the essential bits are still on my kitchen bench at home.
Everything falls or disappears. I put something down and turn away and without any help from me it crashes to the ground. Not to be out done it either breaks into a myriad of pieces or crawls into a totally inaccessible place. At least I know where that has gone – or do I? The next thing that is ALWAYS with me. If I touch something it disappears, usually into the future. It is nowhere to be found until I need something else and then there it is, right in the way.
The wind has dropped, the flies have been relieved of their duty – mozzies have taken over the night shift. I thought that I may try singing to them but they came in close and set up a high soprano descant.
Now it is nearly bed time for me. Just wonder how things will go overnight; bed knobs and broomsticks. Here’s hoping.
Here endeth the first day.
Regards, Dennis.