Here We Go Again - Chapter 49 - Mary Kathleen Day 2

The chirping went on again last night. It didn’t make sense. According to the gauges we had full power. At least the chirping didn’t start until 6.00am meaning we got a decent nights sleep before the alarm went off. It is clear we are going to need to do something about the issues we have with power consumption.

First thing, having been woken by the chirping alarm, I walk and gather sticks for the fire. My travels take me up a small hill where stock abounds. I take up several large carryable logs and head back to Kevin and Colleen’s van. They are yet to stir and my stack does not seem significant, so I return to the stockpile, a fallen tree, and collect some more. Forbsy and Kevin will need to get their chainsaws out and reduce the logs into billets of wood for the firepit tonight.

We are losing Forbsy shortly, he is returning home for a family wedding where he is giving away the bride. Robyn thinks we need to have a special “final” dinner of the trio.

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There are options for the power issue, but most of them requires a trip to Mt Isa or Moun Tisa as Kevin suggests the locals pronounce it. 

It is felt a extra separate solar panel might be in order to add to the three on the roof, maintained in the sun regardless of what might happen to the van and the roof. Robyn would like some water walking shoes, having left hers at home. Both these can be obtained from BCF.

But there is more to be done here in Mt Isa. Things of a personal nature which both Robyn and Kevin need to deal with. Coupling the trip to BCF with the personal things makes the trip just that little bit easier.

Into Mt Isa, BCF is adjacent to the police station. Its a large store with lots of options in the solar panel stakes. We settle on a collapsable panel, 2 door option which we can mount on the ground beside the Cruiser and plug into either the grey Anderson plug at the front of it or directly into the ancillary battery which runs the fridge in the car (and can run the fridge in the van)

To the supermarket to grab something for the final dinner. Shall we do pork, lamb or beef. Pork becomes the choice. A large enough one to cover everyone. There should be enough potatoes to cover everyone. We will look to cook in several barbeques to make the feast happen.

Back at camp, the personal things took up much of the day, its time to start on feast preparations. Before we do, lets get this extra solar panel set up and working. Robyn goes to the complaining campers and tells them we are going to restart the generator because I need to have power for the Cpap machine. 

Their displeasure manifests itself in them packing up and moving. Good luck finding a spot where you wont be able to hear a generator as there are several going in earshot. They pick a spot across the dry creek, then another and another. Difficult to satisfy obviously.

There are issues with the setup of the solar panel. We don’t seem to be able to get it to green light what we are trying to do when using the input grey Anderson plug. It can be made to “work” attached directly to the battery but not the plug.

Why don’t things simply work? The in-built requirement for knowledge of things technical is mind boggling at times and this is no different. There are no instructions of note and the BCF staff suggested it should be a plug and play outcome. The generator seems to be doing its thing, the batteries seem to be coming up all ok.

Dinner is well on the way. The pork is simmering away in our Webber. The potatoes and other vegetables will be spread around the others. There is also dessert but that is a surprise for later.

Lets start with some cheese and bikkies. Not too many – don’t want to spoil our dinner do we? While we sit there a camel comes down from the farm area and wanders past us along with the local cattle population. The camel seeks out its favourite tree and begins to relieve it of some tasty morsels. The cattle simply wander and eat, and of course defecate. 

Dinner is ready. Robyn has made up some apple sauce but there is no gravy today. The crackle is not brilliant but acceptably crisp. We gather, we marvel at the feast and then dig in.

To top it off cake comes out for dessert and as stories are told of the day and of memories, the scene closes on Forbsy’s last day with a tinge of unhappiness. He is about to face the frozen wastelands of the southern states gripped in winter and impending lockdowns. A day of ups and downs comes to an end.