Day 77 Monday 24/7/2023 Mulambin, 12.5 degrees in Rocky, soggy 13 – 17 here

It rained lightly overnight and now it’s quite cool. Though, as we’ve now acclimatised one could say it’s freezing. We farewell R & S as they head slowly south.

With a miserable forecast for the day, we may as well drive into Rocky to buy yet another fan heater. This is only the 3rd or is it 4^th? And as always it costs us less than $30. “What about the diesel heater?” I hear you say. When parked in a caravan park powered site the vans a closer and we’d rather not upset the neighbours. Rockhampton is wet and ridiculously cold considering that it is situated on the Tropic of Capricorn.

We scurry back to Mulambin and the little heater works a treat and with toasted sandwiches, we’re also toasty while the rain continues.

Happy Hour is abandoned due to the weather, so we hunker down for the evening, cook a chicken, vegetable, and Risoni tray bake in the oven, and proceed to turn the caravan into a sauna.

The wind is now fierce enough to blow your wig off* and the van is rocking with each gust.

Accom: $49.52

“Enough to blow your wig off” is attributed to my late aunt, who always made a statement with her one leg and acrylic ginger hair that sparkled brightly in the sun.

Day 78 Tuesday 25/7/2023 Mulambin, strong winds gusting to 60kms, 17 – 21

The rain has stopped but the wind continues to buffet us (as in blowy, not a smorgasbord, a light meal, or a piece of furniture…my Mum used to keep the Crème de Menthe in the buffet). Woody takes a few short walks but no further than the horse paddock with carrots in his pockets. I venture to the beach, but windswept is an understatement as foam flurries fly. Practicing with watercolour seems a much more sensible way to spend the afternoon.

Elle is on cloud nine as the inside sun blinds that she ordered online have arrived. Made to order they fit her motorhome perfectly and give her insulation from the heat that seeps through the windscreen and privacy. This means that she can now use the additional space in the front at night by turning the driving seats around. This gives her two very comfortable armchairs and the ability to host 8 for dinner! That being she hosts Happy Hour. Double or Nuthin’ & Shirley tell us about their lunch at the historic Criterion Hotel on the riverfront at Rockhampton and we wonder who will foot the bill for our unlucky neighbours who’ve had a palm frond crash through their roof hatch. We finally make the decision to take the Kidman Way for the drive home. You can’t rush these things. Now we must plan our overnight stops and you know how our plans never go to plan.

Dinner is chicken Risoni revisited.

Accom: $49.52