Road Trip

Thursday

The alarm woke us at 4am. By the time we’d showered, drugged the animals, woken the children and gotten them dressed, packed the overnight things and put all in the car and bid farewell to Margaret, it was close to 5.30 when we left Kedron. I got the pick, I only had Morticia in the car; Michael had the girls and Gomez.

Going through Toowoomba, I showed my willingness to be a Country Girl, and listened to Toowoomba Country FM for 5 mins. Hmm, riveting lyrics at that station! Stopped at Captain’s Mount (between Toowoomba and Milmerran) and had breakfast and filled up with petrol.

It was hard going between Milmerran and Goondiwindi. I was soooo tired that my eyes were not focusing on the road properly. Had to stop at Goondiwindi and find a CD to play. Luckily just the act of getting out of the car was enough to wake me up a bit.

We stopped at a BP at somewhere over the border so Mim could have a pit stop and Michael bought us Red Bulls. OMG!!! How disgusting are they. Took a big swig and almost spat inside the car – it tastes like cherry cough mixture!!!!! Does the trick though, I spent the next hour and a half trying to get the taste out of my mouth!

We stopped at KFC Narrabri for lunch. Was only a 20min stop, then took the animals to a park across the river. Tish had no desire to do anything but get back into her cage so we drugged the animals again (half a tablet each) and continued on.

somewhere before Dubbo

Arrived at Dubbo and made our way to the Goode Times townhouse, which was pet friendly. Cat and dog were glad to be out of their cages. Took them outside, Gomez peed on anything that didn’t move but Tish just wanted to get back indoors. She raced upstairs and stalked into the bathroom. I found her madly scrabbling at the back of the shower recess before she turned around, squatted and peed. I swear the look on her face was sheer relief. She then crapped as well. I had to grab her because she was madly trying to cover the evidence with non existent dirt.

Friday

Left Dubbo about 8am. Only gave Tish half a tablet, didn’t give Gomez any as he seemed fine with travelling. Filled up with petrol before we left. Michael tells me that Mim requested Burn Burn Burn (Ring of Fire – Johnny Cash) and Jackson three times in a row. Glad I wasn’t in that car!! She can now sing Ring of Fire quite well (unfortunately).

We stopped for breakfast at Maccas, Forbes, or was it Parkes. Anyway, the girl in the Café section had to ask how to make a Mocha! They were very slow, and not because they had a lot of customers! Caitlin’s quote of the millennium:
“Dad, if you were falling from 10,000 metres up, would you die before you hit the ground”
“Yes, because you’d be falling at a rate in which you couldn’t breathe so you’d pass out and die of lack of oxygen first”
“But if you had a sheet, would that help you?”
“Yes, to wipe your ass after you shit yourself on the way down!!!”

We had a late lunch and petrol stop at Hay. I wanted to see the Stuart’s signed tree but we were on a time schedule. The drive between Hay and Balranald was beautiful. It was so flat! There was the occasional tree dotted on the horizon, but nothing else. Had to stop on the side of the road for Mim to take a leak. She took off her undies, thrust her pelvis forward, and after a bit of performance anxiety, let fly. She’d make any boy proud!! We managed to make up some time doing 140km/h along this stretch of road. Saw very little traffic, and you could literally see them coming miles off.

between Hay and Balranald

We crossed the border at Nyah. (Mim apparently started singing “Nyah believer” (I’m a believer), you know the Monkees song, or the Shrek song, depending what age you are). We’d also driven through Dooen (Dooen the Eagle Rock). The Wiggles have a lot to answer for!

about to cross the border

We took a photo of Mim’s face after we’d walked across the border. It was not impressed. She then burst into tears and wanted to go back home. Failing that, she wanted to go to Swan Lake (Swan Hill). So we drove into Swan Hill, detouring via Beverdere to drop the animals off at Scooby Doo Pet Resort. Lovely place.

Had dinner at a local pub and dessert at Jelarty (a gelati bar). The gelati was so creamy and delicious! It was like a Baskin Robbins of gelati with free tasting and many varieties.

Saturday

Left Swan Hill around 10, after I’d picked up the animals. Didn’t bother drugging either of them. Let Tish out of her cage, she curled up on the towels at the foot of the seat. Took our time driving as it was still raining (had started just after Goondiwindi and hadn’t really stopped since). Decided to overtake Michael but he wouldn’t let me.

Stopped for lunch in Horsham. It’s a nice town, about the size of Toowoomba, more or less. Filled up again and drove down to Hamilton. The Grampians are beautiful. Would have liked to taken a few more photos but Michael wouldn’t stop. Arrived at Stirring Pot Heights (our temp home for the next 2 weeks) about 4pm. Dropped the animals off at the vets at 5 and got Pinky’s Pizza for dinner. Went shopping at Coles for breakfast things (Coles is open 7am to 10pm 7days a week!)