Still Bumpy

 

Thursday 8 June 2023 – Munnurru to Drysdale

A bit longer to pack up this morning and 3 nights worth of stuff to put away again.  Funny how quickly you get out of the routine of the morning pack up after a couple of days.

We asked Shaun to go first across the water crossing so he could film us coming across and then we parted ways at the intersection so that he could go deal with his toilet cassette.  We bumped our way down the road which was slightly worse than when we came up it three days ago.  A short stop at the driveway into Doongan station to let the suspension etc cool down and just as well we did as one of our Anderson plugs connecting power between the car and van had come out and was trailing in the dirt.  We think only since the last fairly deep water crossing so not too damaged at least.  Taped it up to be repaired later today.

We made it back to Drysdale without further incident and after refuelling the  car and rewatering the van found a nice shady spot towards the back of the campground with a large enough area to fit the 3 vans. 

Headed straight over to the washing machines which were unused at this time of the day and got a load on whilst we set up and the Anderson plug was fixed.  We hung that load out and, as there were still no other demand for the machines, decided to put on a second load of towels and all our bedding which is pretty smoky after the last few nights of big, roaring fires.

We walked over to the pub to book for dinner and a brief moment of panic when the bartender said he would have to check with the chef whether they could manage a table for 7 as they have two tour buses coming in tonight.  Chef was in an accommodating mood fortunately so we celebrated that good news with another of their yummy beef burgers for lunch – this time with bread rather than a bun as the bun order has yet to arrive for the day.  Still good though and we at our half so quickly (L and J sharing one) that it didn’t have time to disintegrate!

While the second load was on and as the ablution block was also quiet, Jen took the opportunity for a shower and to wash her hair which always feels like such a luxury after a few days of ‘top and tail’ showers in the van.

Chores done and feeling clean and neat we wandered up to the pub again at about 5pm and sat drinking beers/cider and playing Uno with the kids.  Right on 6pm our pre-ordered steaks with garlic butter arrived, served with chips and salad (the same little bucket of chips with every meal makes me wonder how many frozen bags of chips they get through every day?!) Very yummy but very filling and L&J were glad they had agreed to share dessert of apple and blueberry crumble as our empty corners were pretty small!

As it is our last night together Amanda arranged for a chocolate brownie with a birthday candle for Shaun as it is his birthday in a few days and we all sang Happy Birthday fairly raucously.  The Adamson’s gift to Shaun was a pair of crocodile g-string budgie smugglers which Shaun refused to put on despite Amanda’s encouragement.  Amanda also gave us a card thanking us for our help and company over the past 2 weeks and with addresses for us to stay at when we are in their part of the world on our big lap.  We will definitely take them up on the offer and look forward to keeping in touch with them and seeing how they enjoy the rest of their holiday and then settle back into ‘normal’ life.  We feel they have become our friends as well as Shaun’s after all we have shared.

Back to the vans for a night cap but however much we wanted to stay up and prolong our time together our eyelids defeated us and it was off to bed we went.  The campground at Drysdale is the quietest we have ever seen it so nothing to disturb our slumber.