Warn out!

Howdy and welcome to my October update, sit back with a cuppa or something stronger and read away.

October started with a move of camp. Garry and Roxanne were back from there trip overseas and had a great time. After chatting with them it was decided I would stay and catch up and continue enjoying the Young NSW area but I would move my aluminium tent away from the house where it has been set up. You see, the aluminium tent was near the back door of the house and Collie next to the A.T. and took up a fair amount of valuable real estate so due to being a small farm there is heaps of space all around. After checking three different spots suggested by Garry two were ruled out very quickly due to the severe slope in the land however, option three down near the front of the property in what Garry and Roxanne call the creek paddock there were about three different spots that would make a nice spot to set up camp so I chose one I thought would be good. It was too, if only the creek I was next to had water though. There is a small pond of water just near me and I have frogs and at least one turtle as neighbours. As long as its not snakes all will be good. They will be there watching, I'm sure.

The aluminium tent was hooked up to the Collie and off I went down to the new spot. Garry and I had run some pollie pipe from a bore water supply and fitted a tap to the other end near the aluminium tent and from there run a hose to the aluminium tent, running water hooked up going through a twin water filter at the tap then a B.E.S.T. filter prior to entering aluminium tent. I had jumped on the ride on mower earlier and cleared a spot in readiness. After a short time, I was all set up and in full swing leaving heaps of space up near the house for visitors etc. I go up to the house around 5.00pm and join in happy hour and take my meal with me and have dinner with Garry and Roxanne so no real difference, just a different spot to sleep etc. I get sun on the solar panels and charging away around 9.00am daylight saving time and then around 4.00pm the aluminium tent is in shade with both batteries fully charged for the night. Garry reckons he is going to put a letter box near the gate I come in so he can send me a bill. Mmmm.  

The 19th arrived and I decided to head to Tumut NSW around a two-hour drive south east so hooked up the aluminium tent and off I headed, arriving at my destination around 11.30am. Got my spot sorted next to and about three metres from the Tumut river then set up for a 7 night stay.

What can I say about this little town, well, its really nice and has everything needed to even live there so a week was no problem at all. I did the usual sight seeing and driving around, finding interesting places like the old Gold Mill Ruins at Adelong, about a 15-minute drive west of Tumut on the Snowy Mountains Highway. There are ruins down along the creek as you view from the viewing platform, a very interesting place for sure and full of history.

Next day was spent driving too and checking out the Snowy Hydro Tumut 3 Power Station. Travelling along the Snowy Mountain Highway from Tumut you arrive at this little town of Talbingo about 30 minutes east from Tumut and is situated next to the Talbingo Pondage and at the base of the Talbingo Reservoir, a massive area of water indeed is held at bay by a massive dam wall. Did I say it was massive? Sure was.

From there I started to move back toward Tumut and checked out the Blowering Reservoir only about 15 minutes east of Tumut. The Blowering Power Station is situated next to the massive dam wall, yep, another massive wall, with a lovely park at the base with BBQs, tables, toilets and water. The Tumut river seems to be fed by this reservoir and is so clear every where you stop along its length. A lovely river in a lovely area.

When I first arrived at Tumut and checked in the manager of where I was staying told me to keep an eye out as I walk around as Brown snakes had been seen every day for about two weeks and five that morning. I did just what he said to do and kept my eyes peeled. I never saw any snakes at all during my stay UNTIL the last night. I was chatting to my neighbour when I notice about two metres behind him a wriggly. Nope not a Brown snake but a Tiger snake. It was not a big one and about one metre long but not very thick, probably not as thick as some. Now I have seen greyish looking Tiger snakes plenty of times but never one that was actually the colour of a Tiger. It looked really nice HOWEVER being a snake and me not being too keen on these beasts I kept clear and I tell you that for free. Even though it wasn't that big it had a head and could still bite. Before we could say snake it slithered down the bank and disappeared along the water edge. Phew! I reported it to the office as they want you to do that and she said it was the first Tiger sighting so far this season.

The next morning, I hooked up the Collie and headed back to Young NSW and arrived at a rest area not that far away from Young when I noticed what looked like water coming out from under Collie. Bugga! When I got closer I could smell diesel. Double bugga! Turned out to be a split fuel line from the Fuel Manager Pre-Filter I had fitted mid-2017 in Townsville. The mechanic that fitted it didn't route the hose properly and it was rubbing against another part and split under pressure.

A call to the RACV who in turn put a call through to the NMRA and 3 hours later the Collie arrived at Young Holden to get sorted. The Aluminium Tent was towed back to Garry and Roxanne's place thanks to Garry who came and rescued the A.T. and me. We called into Holden on way back to his place just as the towy arrived so was able to speak to the mechanics at Holden who got onto the job immediately. Two hours later the Collie was back with me all sorted. I will get the hoses replaced as they just did a join to get me out of trouble. My appreciation and thanks go to Young Holden NSW and Garry for all their help. I must say though, I was pretty stressed out by the end of the day and I don't mind telling you that for free. Still, Saturday was another day and things could have been a lot worse leaving me stranded up in the Kosciusko National Park.

During the month a few things were showing signs of being Warn out, no, not me, although sometimes I do feel warn out, things like hose and tap fittings, nothing serious but needed replacing, including a small section of hose that had split due to being exposed to the weather a lot. A trip to the Big Green Shed took place and bits and bobs purchased. Brass if you don't mind, even. That'll learn em. I spent some time one day taking off old warn out fittings and replaced with shiny new brass ones. I also checked the full length of hose to make sure it was OK. All good and job finished. Is it happy hour yet?

I have also made some minor changes to under my awning when in use. Instead of tying the privacy screens down with thin rope I now have proper rubber like awing privacy screen bungy straps. I have also changed to using Landscape screws instead of pegs, works better and much easier to set up too. Another little job done and dusted. Also, and as well even I got a shorter side privacy screen that would go half way along the awning roller then wrap around the corner about half a metre to create a private corner, it can be used either end. Works well too. That happy hour must be close? 

I made a last-minute decision to take a drive down to Melbourne from Young to visit my daughter and her family so arranged accommodation for two nights. I headed off last Friday and arrived in Melbourne, checked in then filled in Friday night. Up early Saturday and a trip to Frankston for the big visit. That all went well although young Max who is now three was not a happy little Vegemite all day but Flynn, now 15 months was his usual happy self so all still worth it. That all done I headed off to fill in Saturday night and up early Sunday to head back to Young.

On the journey back, I stopped at Tarcutta to take a peak at the Truckie Memorial that has been build in memory of all the truck drivers and in some cases passengers that had lost their lives on the Aussie roads. What a sad but nice place that was. Hundreds of names and some very young indeed. I noticed a three-year-old on the wall as well. Not a truckie obviously but with dad or mum at the time I spose. I have seen the sign on the Hume highway many times while travelling by but never stopped so another thing I have done while spending time away from Townsville this year. Although I am well and truly back now anyway.

Another good trip and sites seen.

Weather, yep had that too but things have improved in some ways but not others. The temps have been still under 10c overnight all month but high to mid-teens to high 30c during the days with some wind around and some strong but the part that didn't improve, well for the farmers anyway, is NO rain at all. In fact, its as dry as a dead dingo's, tail. What did ya think I was going to say? :)

Just quickly before I go, I have joined two 20i Honda Generators together to see how that works while running the aircon in the Aluminium Tent on very hot days. I set it all up and tested it. Works much better and either genny is now not working hard at all. One belongs to Garry and the other is mine. At least I know it all works. Special parallel leads are needed though but easily got. I had some stashed away for a rainy day, well, hot day anyway.

Well, that's enough for this month and my goings on for October so until next month, have a safe and enjoyable November every one, I know I will. Where ever that is?

DOUG