Dennis and Ken are two long term campers, on the road full
time. For me, I would call this kind of living “homeless” but, each to their own! although they are not really homeless as they have their caravans. They
are harmless fellows; Ken bought up his smoker/kettle from his camp, to the shared fire near my camp and smoked chicken legs for dinner for the three of us. This
was repayment for Dennis and I sharing the cost of a weed sprayer, to use for
his shower. Was only $22.00 Dennis picked it up in Port Macquarie while he was
visiting family and having a hearing test.
Ken has a scary story to tell, he was
camping in the bush in the forest near this camp area a year or two ago. He had an almost empty gas
bottle and in trying to find out how much was left in it, he purged it, the
thing was, was when he did that, it was pointed toward his small camp fire. The
fire caught the gas and fire rebounded to him then to the other replacement gas
bottle, a big explosion, he and all his belongings were alight then the forest
was also alight. He says campers were just onlookers and didn’t help him; I met
the farmer/RFS person who saved him, he walks his two dogs each afternoon past
the camp ground. Ken nearly lost his sight that day; he says he was more
worried about his dog.
Dennis and Ken
Dennis worked in the food industry traveling overseas tasting
all sorts of delicious foods like live snake, spider and beetles to name a
few. He also told me he had his
superannuation managed by an American company, you can guess what happened! No
more supper. Denis left his book on “his
thoughts” for me to read. Seems he has been writing since around 1998. He lost
his wife to cancer a few years back. Told
him he is a sole man after reading some sad stuff.
One early evening sitting by the fire, in rides Jude and
Astrid, two female push bikers laden with gear, traveling from Melbourne to
Darwin then yachting to Scotland. Unemployed Paramedics with a blog called
‘foons on bikes’. With an invitation to share
the camp fire for a chat and to cook their meal we heard their story so far, from leaving Melbourne in April. They had all the best gear for their long trip,
light weight tent, utensils made for two different purposes, four saddle bags
for each bike. Their main concern sounded like it would be traveling across the
desert as they haven’t so far, carried much water.
Jude and Astrid Setting off again
Surprise, surprise… today, a van that had been parked down
under the trees for 2 nights now stops by my van on the way out and asks is my
name Helen? To explain, on ‘The Grey Nomad’ forum I learnt of a fellow
traveling around NSW going by the name of Solo Steve. I got onto his blog and
have been following his travels on which I’ve left comments occasionally. Well, Steve, while resting up on his
returning home was trying to figure if it was me in the little caravan, as my
avatar on forum is a different colour he wasn’t too sure. I made him a coffee
and we sat for a bit and talked (he talked) about his past, present and
future. He lives in Nelson Bay amazingly;
in his past life was a chemist, not sure but maybe the CSIRO type chemist. He has a few problems he is working out. I
was happy to meet Solo Steve on the road.
Solo Steve
The lovely couple from Cundletown, Taree. He had made a choofer for himself which I
liked very much and tried to convince him to make me one for a good price of
course. And their shower setup was a weed sprayer from bunnings with a good
shower head to boot. The fellow also showed me the de flappers on his awning;
I’ll buy a set at Nabiac caravan shop on the way home.
A German couple traveling in their home made caravan showed
me how to make a quick shower from a 2ltr juice bottle and a plastic tub. It works a treat, great for hair washing, all
though they use it for their full shower to save water.
The German couple holding hands on their hike
Another lovely couple from far north Queensland, now
traveling home, had their home leveled last summer by a hurricane that swept
through their town. Their home, until theirs is rebuilt is a well set up off
road caravan.
Two couples from Newcastle, Jock and his wife, Maree and Bill
had a fantastic table and stools setting, that becomes separate after opening.
The extra stools would make for places to put water containers and other stuff
to save bending down all the time, so going to buy one at the next Caravan and
Camping show.
Don and Fran and their ‘over the top’ motorhome called
Applause. When it drove in I thought it
was a school bus. They’ve been full time on the road for 2 ½ years, been across
the Nullabor to the west and this time have traveled from Melbourne, planning
to stay here for a week depending on the weather then continuing on to warmer
parts up north.
Mornings getting chilly
And what about the Townsville couple on their return home, his
wife was ill, her colour yellow, with MRSA in her toe and he played his
didgeridoo and spent two days rapped in a towel? What was that about?
Bill, his son Chris are Carpenters with Julie the girlfriend
and two Labrador dogs. Traveling for one
year and working on the way around Australia. Their blog even has one page
specifically for the story of their beloved dogs. Bill is in his 70s and has battled cancer and
won, these two remind me of Steptoe and son, of course being Poms. His boy
Chris is doing a wonderful thing for his dad.
My camp site
My shopping trip back into Taree! Called the vet on the main
road into town the day before and asked if they would take Ruby for a few hours
while I went shopping. Yes, so first went to the Laundromat and left my
washing. Salvos next then Spotlight, WW, Bunnings was a short trip out of town. It was great shopping at Taree. I haven’t
needed to stock up on food as I took plenty and the freezer works really well.
A local farm
Frank and Heather’s idea of making their shower area using
the rope tracks and two poles and rope gives enough room to have a large en
suite. I’ve bought the material from Spotlight in Taree and am ready to make my
own. After a few days stay they are off to Elenborough falls or Swans crossing
to free camps for a few more weeks. Their two Maltese dogs were treated like
their children. I’ve learnt so much about where the best free camps are outside
of national parks.
There are a few motorbikes around, especially on the
weekends, but they don’t cause too much trouble and most slow down when passing
the camp area as they kick up so much dust when they speed by.
Second trip to Harrington and their IGA store, it’s the best IGA
store I’ve ever seen. I don’t mind leaving
money in the area after free camping for so long, it’s a good thing to do.
Harrington where to river meets the ocean
Croudy Head
I can see Port Stephens in the distance
Croudy Fishing village
Harrington
Up a very rough, dirt road for rock fishing at Croudy Head
Motorhome club came on Friday for the weekend, 8 motorhomes, others went to Swans Crossing but
eventually arrived at the right spot during Saturday.
Cass and Jeff were newer members of this club, I didn’t see
much of them at first but when I heard that their club rules don’t allow dogs around
at happy hour, I said to them that it was my fire that these people were
sitting around and his dog George was very welcome. The next afternoon Jeff give
us a treat, he played his Bagpipes. Fabulous sounds in the late afternoon, it made me think of my grandfather playing his Bagpipes for us when we were kids.
This
couple lives on Possum Brush road and are starting up an overnight stay area on
their property. The shower and toilet is in place and ready.
Harold, traveling alone as his partner wont camp, showed me
how to make bush pancakes and we all got to try them. His motor home, grey and
gold in colour and fitted out beautifully is named inspiration.
Harold in the flannie, organising for the pancake mix
Fabulous pancakes, lemon came from the local tree and a touch of sugar. Mmmm
Barry and Janice, he owned caravan building/repairs in
Newcastle, he is battling cancer and is on chemo, not a well man.
I put together some tucker for Dennis and Ken to put in the
jaffle iron, had all (at least 12) that were around the camp fire drooling,
offered the tucker to them, a few took up the offer, eventually some had their
jaffles out and it turned out to be a great night especially after my first try
at cooking damper, many people, many instructions, partially burnt damper
shared with all left around the camp fire. 3cups flour. ½ teaspoon salt, 1
teaspoon sugar. 1/3 cup butter. 180 mils Milk. Cook for ½.
Tasted more like a scone but anyway...
What a croud
Monday, most have gone on their way now with a few lingering
and just me and Ken around the camp fire as Dennis went to Port Macquarie for
another checkup. With the left over
damper dough I made Johnnie cakes on the hot plate and kebabs sticks with onion,
capsicum, can potatoes, pinapple, bacon and a small piece of steak. Lovely
tucker but Ken couldn’t wait and was eating them mostly raw.
Mmmmm
But what happenen to my second Damper cook........ah yes.... 1/2 hour not 1 hour...silly me
I’ve met and talked to at least 60 people while on this camp.
Learnt so much and loved the company. It’s amazing; I don’t see or talk to this
many people in my own neighborhood, although I will be happy to be home again
to my quiet peaceful place, I do miss my home and I’m so glad I listened to the
weather forecast and headed home when I did.
It was a lovely warm trip back down the highway.
Now planning to take off again, hopefully early August but next
time I’ll keep going to see what I can see on my next Eureka out and about
