Last Updated: 09/12/2020

As it takes about 60 days for Gigi’s water tanks to run empty, I decided to make it a test run for all the new additions and fixes, performed since the beginning of September.. Being my first time on a motorhome in this country, I’m still learning or perhaps struggling with the concept that it doesn’t matter how well prepared you are, these roads will always find the weakest link in your preparation.. So far, every time I moved from one location to another, something has happened. Nothing major, but still enough to create a doubt in your mind..

I have (sorry, I had) a bottle of olive oil on the shelf above the kitchen.. It has been there since the beginning of time, and no once, it has ever moved while driving, until last Tuesday, when it decided to go for a walk first on the kitchen bench, then on the floor all the way to the bathroom door.. I’m just glad it was olive oil and nothing else.. Other than that, it was a pleasure to get to town at the water well..

Once parked near the well, I finally got to test the new “flat” hoses, and yes they do work and take much less room once stored away, to the point that I have on board 100 metres combined in difference length, to suit all possible situations.

It still took nearly half an hour to fill all the tanks but it wasn’t wasted time.. I managed to do the vacuuming and make myself a nice espresso.. Because of the uneven ground, I also couldn’t manage to get to 100% of the tank’s capacity. The best I could do was 91%..

As the day was coming to an end, I then decide to park for the night opposite side of the roadhouse and to treat myself to some nice spaghetti alla carbonara..

While having dinner I also got to test the new $30 Aldi TV aerial and.. Well it is a 30 dollars aerial and it shows… It did struggle a bit to get a clear signal but eventually I was able to find a sweet spot for it and even managed to watch the best game of the year..

The rest of the night was going quite well, until around midnight, when a beef bus truck parked for the night just next to me.. Oh, the joy of fresh cow dung followed by the very loud driver’s snoring next to my window..

You know what they say… “If you can’t fight them, join them” and so I did.. A couple of farts later and our now combined snoring, even kept the dog across the road awaken, scared and barking all night..

Funnily enough, at around 5am both myself and my new friend Geoff the truck driver from Mundubbera found each other outside for a number 1 simultaneously.. We both laugh at each other after I commented how loud his snoring was and to his reply about the pot calling the kettle black.. He then went across the road for breakfast and I went to start my engine..

With the bottle of oil now stored in a safer location I wanted to take Gigi on a corrugated dirt road to test my setup even further. I would prefer to find something wrong now while I still have a few days left to fix the problems, than finding out the hard way while on the road away from all the spare stuff I got left. I also wanted to get some mileage with the vehicle fully loaded to see how it handles and perhaps having breakfast in a nice place..

I headed East towards O’Sheas Crossing, using only those dirt and gravel back roads and finally everything went right. No broken things, nothing fell off, nothing.. Upon arriving there I did check all the bins and the Garage and yes, everything was still in the same place..

Before I forget, on the way there I did managed to pass this roadwork and I couldn’t help and took a picture.. Why? Well, that’s a new Mercedes C class and in all honesty I never seeing one parked on the side of the road next to a traffic controller.. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not judging.. But it is a nice view and definitely an improvement from what you normally see parked around witches hats 😀

Once at the gates, I decide to drive in as it was very early and still empty. But a quick look at the Brisbane river made me realise why the place was empty..

 

What river??? I have a picture somewhere of the 2011 flood where the water was actually only a few cm below the level of the road on the bridge, but never once in 30 years, I have seen the river completely dry.. Oh, well..

I went outside and pulled the BBQ out for my usual Atkins breakfast.. Eggs, bacon and normally mushroom but today I’m out of it..

I’m really enjoying this as for once I’m able to cook breakfast with a different view in a total relaxed environment. While cooking a large caravan pulled by an even larger new RAM truck find its way in and parks just in front of me.. A nice fellow comes out and after the usual greetings he mentions the fact that I must have serious trouble finding places to park such a large vehicle.. “Mate, I reply, your pickup with the caravan is only (maybe) half a metre shorter than my motorhome”. “The only real difference that I can see is that mine is a lot easier to reverse and more comfortable to live in while travelling”.. Ops.. I shouldn’t have said that because now I can see on his face that I have upset him a bit.. However, his next sentence makes me realise that he’s not here to make new friends..

“You do know that there are two BBQ just there…” while pointing with his finger at the BBQ next to the tree…

 

Now, with a million possible answers to such a pointless observation, I can only think of Miss Brown tested and proven answer… “That’s nice” (If you don’t know what that actually mean, you will need to watch the show)..

“Is this your first time here in this park?” he then asks.. “Yes.. This is the first time for both myself and my BBQ” I reply, with a large grin on my face.. He finishes his conversation with”well now you know for the next time”..

Again, I feel compel to reply with “That’s nice”

I don’t know what pushes people from always stating the most painfully obvious observation, but I’m sure that, and I’m not trying to make a stereotype, those are people that don’t really travel around Australia to enjoy the moment..

Back inside, I’m sitting down enjoying my breakfast, while watching through the window my new “Neighbour” pulling out his fishing gear.. Should I got out and let him know that there is no water in the river?? Nah.. He’s smart enough to figure it out..

IS now time to finish the test driving back to base on a dirt road again.. Not to worry..

After parking Gigi in the same spot, I find a new friend on my working table..

 

I got some seed from the chicken’s pen and give them to him in a container.. This bird is not scared of people and I’m sure someone, somewhere has an empty cage right now..