I've been on the road now for 2 weeks. The day before I left I made $75 at eagle farm markets. That will pay for 3/4 of a night in a motel. Coffs Harbour was the first stop, rainy and windy here and roadworks along the way. 40 km speed limits a lot of the way but I found a bottle shop and bought 6 bottles of red to take to hosts as presents. One bottle had to be tested of course.
More roadworks followed me to Newcastle but the skies cleared and lovely blue sky to see hang gliders in Charlestown, even if it the temp felt sub zero because of the wind!
I got to see the 3 sisters up at Katoomba in the blue mountains on another clear day.
Once I set off from Sydney the weather got really foul. The rain and fog got very bad just north of Wollongong. The reason I couldn't find the fog lights in the hire car was there weren't any! Everyone was putting on their hazard lights. That was ok until cars changed lanes. Both indicators flashing and they just moved over. I stayed behind a truck that had a bright yellow tail gate. I was sorry when that turned off. You get quite fond of a truck or car that has been with you for 200km. I waved to the car that turned off to Sydney when I turned off to Newcastle. I'm not sure if they waved back.
From Merimbula I hit more rain and decided there was no point in stopping and sitting in a motel room in the rain, so I kept going for 600km and got to Melbourne at 6pm. The Melbourne traffic is frightening. When you are in 5 lanes of traffic with trucks either side of you and facing traffic lights with 5 or 6 ways to go you just hope that you don't get squashed. Add the rain and spray to that and it's like driving in a washing machine. If anyone has driven in a washing machine, they'll know the feeling!
It was nice to stop for 2 nights with Janet and Ross Everitt in Eaglehawk, 100 miles west of Melbourne. A walk past two lakes and a beautiful park with lots of bird life to get into the town, about 20 mins walk away. I bought a long sleeved nightdress to keep me warm in New Zealand. This goes well with my pink sheep skin slippers that I bought in the blue mountains. Very colourful! The sheep weren't really pink and the mountains aren't blue! I also bought a fleece today. It cost $1.50 at a charity shop. A half price sale! I gave them $2.00. I may need it before I get to NZ. Definitely when I go to see the penguins at Phillip Island as they come out at sunset.
Tomorrow I have to face the Melbourne washing machine again but the weather should be fine, so probably more like a tumble dryer.
In Sydney I went through at least one toll and had to set up an e pass so my credit card picks up the toll. That was only $1.50 to set up, plus the toll, (about $5.00) but in Melbourne it costs $5.50 to set up. To Phillip Island for one night tomorrow via toll roads. To avoid them the next day I can get a car ferry across the peninsula. It's about 50km shorter to take the ferry but $59 and takes slightly longer. The ferry trip sounds preferable.
No pestilence, but lots of flies in places. I really need one of those hats with corks on!
