After a teary farewell to my best mate Dusk, we were on the road again. Next stop was Mildura for a week, staying across the Murray NSW side at Buronga. It was to be an exciting week as we said farewell to one van and part of our trip, then to get another van and start the next leg of this adventure.
The drive from Adelaide to Mildura seemed to take forever, as most big car days do. We stopped half way in Renmark and had our pies under the shade of a tree. Was so funny as we met another couple just starting their 12 month trip around Oz, and guess where they were from? You got it, Shepparton!!! We didn't know them but at the same time it was so funny to be sitting there talking to them seeing they were from Shepparton. They had only just started so they still looked fresh and keen, with the early stresses evident when first starting out as we had. Anyway, we continued on and finally rocked up at Buronga caravan park late arvo. We had stayed here last year in March before we started our trip up north so we knew the park was great. The price was a bit more than last time at $38 pn but it was peak season and it was still a hell of a lot cheaper than anywhere else around here.
It was a stifling 43oC when we arrived and it was so bloody hot setting up the van. If only that's all we had to do that would have been ok, but we had to put the tent up as well. We had decided that we would unload everything out of the van into the tent so that all our belongings weren't spread out everywhere for everyone to see. After setting them both up Marty and l sat and had a wine/beer and then took the girls for a swim. Boo was a great help setting the tent with me, she's getting to be such camper these days! It was such a hot nights sleep, but it didn't annoy us as usual as we knew it was only for another two nights, then we would have our new van with air con!!!!
The next day we started to unload the van and clean. Everything fit into the tent quite easily seeing we were culling as we went. Boo and Meg were awesome helping me clean the van and unloading our things. It saved my back and made things get done quicker. Love my girls!! So the hole day was spent cleaning and sorting which was longer than the 2.5 hours Marty said it would take!! Men, they really have no clue do they??! Lol... Thankfully it took less than expected when l borrowed a vacuum cleaner from the cleaning ladies, otherwise l would still be there getting the dirt put!!! It was thirsty work as it was another 40+oC day and the girls were so patient. When we had finished l took the girls for a well deserved swim.
On Monday the 7th of January we farewelled our Jayco Flamingo Outback van, to the bloke from Shepparton. We were a little anxious that the sale might fall they but we were greeted with a bloke who was in love with our van. The sale went thru easily and he hooked the van up and was gone by 11:00am. As soon as he was driving out he drive way were off in the Patrol to go pick our van up from Tunundra. Felt a little surreal driving off looking at our site with only a tent pitched and no Flamingo. It was a 3.5 hour drive back they Renmark to Tunundra in the Barossa Valley. We got there in good time, Marty refusing to stop for lunch so we had that in the car. He was so excited to be getting this van, l was too l suppose, but he was very very excited. Like most blokes l suppose with new toys are!! Lol... Anyway, we arrived and got out of the car and immediantly started sweating, another 40+oC day!! Yay. We took one last look at the van then handed the cheque over. Debbie, the owner, was so nice and she ran up to her house and got the girls an icy pole each. Such nice people. I suppose l should let you know a bit about the new van. Well it's a 2008 Golden Eagle "Escape" 24 foot caravan that has bunks, queen inner spring bed, separate toilet and shower, air con and even an oven. We couldn't have wished for anything better, it was like the Taig Mahal compared to the Jayco. Best thing is we can just open the door and walk in, no need to wind up the roof anymore. The girls were so excited to see the new van and immediantly started picking their beds out. We had to contain our excitement as we had to hook up and get going to travel the 3.5 hours again back to Buronga. It felt like the longest day, 7 hours of driving and all the emotion of fate welling the Jayco and picking our new van up. We were all drained by the the we got back, thank god the girls were good in the car, but having said that, they did watch back to back movies the whole time. We pulled up and had Macca's for dinner in Mildura and finally pulled in at Buronga by 8pm!! What a day! Set up was easy though and the first thing that went on was the air conditioner, no sweating for us tonight!! We made the beds and settled the girls for the night, took a little as they were so excited. Was so nice to be in a proper bed and Marty and l ended the night with a well deserved cup of tea!! Lol.
The following two days were lost with packing the van, again the girls were fantastic and saved my old knees! Marty spent his time outside mostly making all the modifications such as putting on an Anderson plug, pole holders, LED lights and getting a plebe out to do the double gas bayonet. By the time we had finished and the tent was empty, the can started to feel like home.
On our last day we mostly got those last minute things done and tweaked the stuff on the van. But bloody everything we touched was breaking. First, the bed handle broke off on our bed, then the sink tap leaked and lastly the fan on the range hood stopped working! I started to think that maybe we brought a lemon! Marty fixes what he could and mended things till we could properly fix them. I had finally settled down when Boo decided to flood the walkway whilst having a shower. I flipped my lid then. By the time l had cleaned everything up the girls got to bed by 9:30pm, l had hoped that they would get in a little earlier......
After a week, it was time to hook up and head off again. A lot had happened on a week. It's like we left our life in the old van and have started a new one in the new one. Marty and l seemed to be getting along a bit better, which after he last few months, is fantastic. Life in the new van seems a hell of a lot more comfortable too, less like roughing it that we had become sick and tired of. Unfortunately in the week we had been so busy with the swapping of vans that we didn't get to enjoy the park as much as we would have liked. We did have a swim in the river which the girls thought was so cool. Boo and Meg fed the ducks a few times which they enjoyed and we sat by the river a few times having a break and watched the houseboats and paddle steamers go by. Know the girls understand, and they love the new van, so don't feel too bad that we've hardly seen them....
Pack up was amazing! No heavy lifting of boxes and fitting them all in like a jigsaw puzzle. No pushing beds in oratory having to sit on the roof so we can latch the van up. So good!!
We were off, new van and hopefully new start.....

Bell Xxx