Here We Go Again - Chapter 2 - Smiths Lake to Coffs Harbour

The time finally arrives and the first day alone gives us frustrations, meet ups with family and old friends, a super moon and a lunar eclipse just to name a few and it’s only day 1. 

Firstly the frustration. This has been borne out of falling into an ideal situation but with unseen consequences. Getting closer to the date we had been keeping the purchase of food (with the potential of leftovers, to a minimum. 2 days shy of departure we have, little or no food in the fridge for a major meal so we headed to the local Club for dinner. Something we had not done since Covid hit some 18 months ago. 

At the Club, and doing the same thing we were (on a leftovers/not since Covid basis) some old friends, direct relations of our old neighbours. During the catch up one of them noted she was waiting for a job to commence in a couple of months and she would be more than happy to house sit for us for a while. We hadn’t even contemplated a house sitter, there are enough neighbours to keep an eye on things, but the more we thought of it the more it made sense.

Enter the frustration. Now rather than simply walking out and leaving the house reasonably clean, it (in Robyn’s mind) ready for a tenant. This meant a much higher standard of cleanliness. Pitching in with the vacuum (I am quite adept with the green snake) and loading peripherals into the van – frozens and toiletries etc, I had left Robyn to the final “clean”, not noticing the lengths the house-proud one was going to present. 

Lists are one thing but having them grow out of proportion is another. When we finally said its time to go we were well past the planned time, but in the general scheme of things it didn’t matter although frustrations did boil over at one stage. Our friends Sue & John from 2 doors down came to see us off and we exchanged another set of keys with them as a back up, started the Cruiser after one final check and pointed towards the Lakes Way and Coffs Harbour our first stop. 

Foot on the brake as we head down the hill to the main road and silence. The brake alarm decided it was not going to annoy the driver right from the start and the driver was very happy. I had thought more about conversations with the auto electrician, the service staff at Taree Toyota and wondered if it was as much as a loose connection as anything. The Missing Link (a retired electrician) had suggested a full cleanse of the connection points with boiling water to subdue any corrosion that may have formed and spraying them all with WD40 (an action that brought a frown to the faces of the Taree Toyota service staff). As well as the cleaning of the points, I checked the emergency brake release connection, which may have come loose. Perhaps this was the source of the issues. For now there was success and we rejoiced. 

Driving along with the play list running for the first time I remembered travels from long ago and our daughter telling one of her friends we brought with us for a weekend at Smiths that singing

along to the music was a Banks “tradition”. Not that we remembered here singing along but there certainly were times when a driver “may” have been known to effectively “sing along with Mitch Miller”. Now there is a catch cry even older Baby Boomers may not even remember. Growing up in the rural South West Slopes of New South Wales, the local radio station 2LF and when we travelled to Condobolin, 2PK (the voice of the Golden West) both would play tracks from Mitch Miller, Herb Albert and the Tijuana Brass and have shows Meatpro Regional Digest and the Andrea show. But I digress. 

Let’s annoy those we can. Let’s call and wave to the Missing link as we pass their place at Darawank, Let’s also annoy our friend Ros at Port Macquarie, calling suggesting we are waving in her general direction as we pass that turn off. Keeping to 98kph (much like CW McCall in Convoy crushing the gate doing 98 and saying “let them truckers roll, ten four)” a speed that seems to keep the fuel consumption at a much better flow than any speed higher, and being able to stay in the left hand lane of the dual carriage way north without annoying anyone. As trucks overtook, I flashed them as they cleared the van to which everyone of them as they merged back to the left lane acknowledged the gesture. 

Although we were on the UHF none of them commented, just kept on their way working, moving freight around Australia. 

Coming into Coff Harbour brings frustration as the brake alarm comes on. All through the main part of town, every time I apply the brakes the alarm goes off until I am turning slightly left and the alarm goes, and stays off for quite some time. It does restart a little later but now I believe I have an inclination to cause which may be a loose connection at the release point. 

The Reflections Caravan Park is on the “wrong” side of the road requiring a “blockie”. The brake alarm manages to start again, then stops again. What is going on??? 

Into the caravan park which is right by the show ground and we are almost immediately accosted by a grey rabbit. Animals and Coffs Harbour are quite a thing as we are about to find out, but first set up. 

The sites are very tight here especially for a van like ours. I eventually have to drive over several sites (thankfully empty) to get the best line up. In place, getting the van level and Robyn is attaching the power cable but it falls straight back out of the housing. Because the plastic has aged it snapped and the pins have been forced back into the housing. You brute Robyn 

We get in and contact a local van repair service and they can come first thing in the morning but it means we are effectively free camping for the night. Immediately we go into preserve mode. I dig out the 12V inverter plug for the CPAP machine but cannot make it work. We will have to trust there is enough battery power with the inverter on for the night. 

One easy fix is not to be here for any length of time and we do have people to see. Robyn has an aunt here and we are wanting to catch up with her. Her house, which is part of a family unit

where 4 generations reside, is only “up the hill”. With the vagaries of the van left in the caravan park we venture to the home. They are over the moon to see us and Robyn and her aunt talk for hours over numerous cups of tea, cheese and bikkies and the like while I talk with the man of the house about gardens etc. Especially there is talk of snakes, all types from tree snakes invading the house to magnificent Diamond Pythons and Blank and Lethal Brown Snakes. Talks of calling W.I.R.E.S. the animal rescue organisation and have them pick up a tree snake from the house and literally simply put it back in the tree. 

One of the younger generation has an epelptic type affliction and although cute as a button and keeps eye contact very well, lapses into convulsions at “the drop of a hat”. She remains the attention of her grandfather for most of the time as he attentively looks after her before her grandmother then mother arrives home, having done his day already. 

We bid farewell to them to meet up with some old friends of mine. Jeff and Carolyn allowed me to stay with them back when a marriage separation saw me homeless for a little while. This was a huge thing for them as they were about to get married at the time. I am very appreciative of what they did. 

Jeff decided Sydney was all too hard and moved himself and Carolyn to Coffs Harbour, found a great job and stayed, along with Carolyne’s father Cormac. Cormac has since died but this couple live here and look like they are never leaving. They do not have kids unless you count Barnes, their pet dog. They used to have a similar dog named Archie (but that name was stolen by that almost Royal Couple) but on his departure form this mortal world they decided to head only one letter down the alphabet. 

Drinks at the Coast Hotel then back to their place for pizza we talk well into the night. Too many bourbons or scotches (I don’t remember which) Robyn drives the Cruiser back to the van park and we retire for the evening. Sleep is an easy effort. It has been a long day and evening but the joy of the fellowship with our friends made it a very memorable first day on the road.