Travelling with a dog in a Ford Transit campervan, Rye to Sydney and Toowoomba

Jac

 Well my beloved travel companion - Jac, has headed off to wherever good dogs go to when they die.  But I now have Banjo, he of the little legs who joined our family 15 months ago, has watched the decline and eventual demise of Jac and is now my sole travelling companion.

This time we are travelling in a campervan, otherwise known as Betty Van White, the Pelican.  A Ford Transit.  It is a lot easier than trying to find pet friendly accommodation as there are so many campgrounds and caravan parks that are pet friendly. Bought it secondhand already fitted out and with a number of small trips have identified its quirks and issues and mostly had them fixed.

Farewell cake with van and Banjo made by board member of Rye Community House - thank you to Cliff

Have also now retired so am footloose and fancy free.  So this is a meandering trip - timelines are Milton in NSW for 19th June for a Writers Festival and Sydney by July 5th for the John Curtin oration with Albo.

So, little planning.  Did book first three nights at Paradise Valley neat Glenmaggie in Gippsland and Paradise it was!  One of those campgrounds with no bins - take out what you bring, but has a few powered sites and quite comfortable and clean facilities like toilets and showers and a very rudimentary camp kitchen which is in the process of being rebuilt.  All the campsites are along a very impressive river, with lots of deep swimming holes so have to return in summer.  This time contented ourselves with lots of walks along the river, climbing the hill and just chilling.  No mobile or internet coverage, so perfect way to start by turning off.  Sheep roam around, wallabies on other side of river and we met a very feisty fox, who was not at all flummoxed by our presence or banjo barking.

Lovely bunch of Filipinos staying nearby, all registered nurses working in aged care or hospitals.  Where would we be without immigration.  Also a lovely young couple who were camping for the 3rd time - impressive set up, sleeping tent and eating gazebo with walls joined by an overhead canopy and a lovely rug in between.  Had a heater, induction cooktop, shelves, a blow up Queen sized bed, all the comforts.  

One of the things  have indulged in is a compositing toilet.  Perfect for late night and first morning pee so don't have to get dressed and slog to the facilities. When I bought the van (already kitted out) it had a chemical toilet which, firstly, was so complicated and then, I hated the idea of using chemicals.  Found this one on line - Joolca Gotta Go and one of the short trip stays was at an organic farm where she was using them as the campsite toilets.  They are perfect!

I've been reading two books on my travels, Chris Hammer's The River about his journey tot he Murray Darling Basin and the complexities of river systems that lie behind it.  Has encouraged me to visit Bourke on my return trip.  The other is End of Morning by Chairman Clift, both give interesting perspectives on Australia and the bush.  

Spent a night in Marlo, beautiful place but didn't like the Ocean Shores camping and caravan park, although I chose to stay in the front part where there are many permanent set ups, do love the creativity, the different ways people have incorporated caravans into cabin styles and roofs which allow for storage of kayaks and other equipment.

Now writing I this sitting in front of the camp kitchen fire at Bemm River, where I have been absolutely taken by the friendliness and helpfulness of this tiny community (population around 90).  The caravan park where the owner (on lease from the Council) spent 30 minutes fixing my blocked drainage from my sink, the Bait shop people who helped me understand how to rig my fishing line and gave me fresh venison meat for Banjo and an elastic doovylacker to hold my air fryer in place without charge because 'I had it anyway love'.

Steve and Kimme who foraged for wood for this fire and are so happy to share it.  Not to mention the heavenly waterways with pelicans galore.  Had a try at fishing today, thanks to the Bait shop owner, but was foiled at the first stop by Banjo who decided he would leap off the wharf, so had to guide him back through the swamp to a place where the walkway was low enough that I could li him up.  But when I returned ot the wharf after locking him in the car, I was rewarded with a bemused posse of pelicans close by and another lot off a bit further.  I neve realised what noise pelicans made when they landed in the water.  

Campfire stories - one about a kelpie who jumped into a river in NT and almost got eaten by a crocodile.  After Banjo's little escapade I think I would be very nervous abut him around water in the NT.

Last night had dinner at the pub on the verandah because I had Banjo but with a heater, travelling in June does mean it's rather cold and the days are short.  We've had mornings of only 2 degrees.Tonight when I called in for a pre dinner drink they allowed Banjo inside in the warmth.