We are off to Canberra to collect a new laptop from CASA and spend a day at the 'office'. But importantly to attend Peter Cromarty's BBQ at Royalla on Saturday. Figure on 5 hours for the 450km and plan to stay at the CP at EPIC (Exibition Park In Canberra) the show grounds... We finally find it! Then find the office! Nothing flash so we have a powered site near the ablutions and down the road from the cattle pens... $28 It's quiet at least.
Friday 9th
Up and at-em to get the right spot in th 'CASA' carpark. It's herringbone parking so one end of each row has a bay that the bus can hang over the end and one side - without annoying anyone ( especially the parking dudes...). We get the end of the row closest to Aviation House at 0730. All good.
After breakfast at Anthony's 'In House' cafe, Maz is off to the movies and I get admitted to the building with a day pass and RFID access card.
At the end of the day we moved the bus to the public carpark across from the Hellenic Club, park right in the middle of the 100m square, a 50 m walk from the club. Shout ourselves to dinner at the Ginseng Restaurant.
We finally tired of the watching the Christmas Party participants and adjourned to the accommodation... the carpark was full at 9:30. We watered the dog, closed the curtains and retired! Didn't here the cars leaving...
Saturday 10th
but by the morning there war only a few cars (probably wisely) left behind. We decide that a MacDonald's treat was the go this morning, so after a shower we wandered over to Woden Maccas for Maz's bacon and egg muffin and my hash brown. What unbelievably slow service. The staff had no clue and the clientele were typically "Canberra"...
In a while it is off to Anna's and Jerrabomberah to check out the new place and pick up Anna and Holly. Can't park out side so we are at the bottom of the cul de sac. When its time to leave I try pulling up out side Anna's so she doesn't have far to walk with her broken foot/ankle/leg... handbrake can't hold on the very steep slope, so a jerky broke/clutch/ throttle job to get going - tricky.
We are off to Royalla. We park up the slope to Peter's shed - the most level place. And it's beer o'clock... Long story short, we started too early and by late afternoon Maz and I had had it, and were forced to retired defeated.
Sunday 11th
Sunday started with rain in the early hours and by daybreak the drive and the slope were very slippery clay; and the bus need to be reversed down the slope and around a curve with a big sloppy drain on the edge. Once moving, it was committed. No brakes just guide it sliding backwards - very exciting. Did a careful three-point backwards turn and parked facing out on the drive at the highest solidest point... Had Breakfast with Peter C and his friends from Newcastle.
Then its off home. Were tempted to head for Pete and Wendy at Millingandi (back of the Merimbula Lake) but there is something amiss with the fronted of the bus... so caution prevails. The steering is odd and there is a sort of rattle on the right side... By the time we get home the front right tyre is wrecked - worn to the cable! The left side is fine???
POST SCRIPT: A few days later when the wheels are off the problem is obvious... the right main spring leaf is broken just behind the axle. The axle is only located by the half leaf to the front role bar... bugger.
