Welcome and a big howdy. How things have changed since I started doing this update back at the beginning of March and we last spoke, many changes have been made and had to sharpen the pencil many times. Read on, if you dare.

If you read my updates you will know I spent summer in Nth East VIC so after many moons it was time to leave there and I headed to Young NSW about 2 hours Nth East of Wagga Wagga, for house sitting duties again. Not that I look at them as duties but more like a pleasurable experience.

So, welcome to my new Bi Monthly Update, #1. I have now changed and gone away from the Claytons Update. Not because I'm Bi or anything like that but I reckon I can cope with 2 months in an update in case my activities are a bit slow. This update covers March and April 2020. Wow! Did they change rapidly. I had to even change what I was talking about a few times and re-word a few things here and there. Sit back and read away. More than likely an English Teacher would find many Grammar and Punctuation errors through out but hey, I'm retired and besides, English wasn't on my priority list back in my school days. That's my excuse anyway and I'm stick'n with it. Sometimes I do miss things though during the cut and paste process due to doing this during the months in a Word document. Again, my excuse.

The 2^nd March arrived and the weather forecast wasn't looking all that flash in Nth East VIC or over the NSW border where I was heading that week so decided to pack up on the 2^nd and leave early on the 3^rd arriving at my first destination of Holbrook NSW before the bad weather hit. That way I was packed up and gone with no driving in bad weather. I did it that way for safety and because I could I spose. It worked too.

Off I headed early on the 3^rd. I stopped up the road in the big parking area out back of the Barnawartha BP Logic Centre, 15km south of Albury/Wodonga and in north east VIC, it's just a BIG service centre with heaps of big rig parking out back. I spoke about the place in detail in my Claytons Update #1. I stopped there to have breaky. While there, I rang Garry in Young to fill him in on my plan for the week and ETA of Friday 7^th. I was going to spend a few days meandering along, staying a night here and a night there etc. We discussed the weather forecast and it was predicted not as bad in Young and much less rain so the decision was made, I make a run for it and go there that day to try and get away from the bad weather on it's way. I might add here that this is beginning of March I am talking about and the Corona Virus wasn't as big a problem then. Well maybe the Corona beer might have been during many happy hours.

I left Barnawartha, slowly moving along and after a few stops to stretch the getting older bones in this little black duck and rest Collie due to the heating problem while towing and one stop for lunch, I arrived in Young mid-afternoon. A slow trip up but worked, as the light rain started that night. On my arrival at Garry and Roxannes I unhooked the aluminium tent but didn't actually set it up properly just then, as I had the Collie booked in to get the rising temp looked at on the 9^th. I did roll out the awning the next day though and let the rain hopefully soften all the dirt and bird poo (well what else do I call it? It's poo.) The poor old aluminium tent hadn't had a wash for many moons or suns for that matter due to where I stayed at were on tank water that were actually buying in by the tanker load and didn't want to use that water just to wash CV or Collie. I was set up next to and got afternoon shade from a lovely big tree that was great on all the hot days however, heaps of birds called the tree home so they needed to do things that are messy. Back in Young and after the rain stopped for a short time Garry helped me, well, mainly him really, clean the roof and Solar Panels including cleaning the top of the awning as best we could without packing it up again. Thanks heaps Garry. I can't get on ladders anymore so have to rely on others to help me in that department. I didn't put any shade/privacy screens up and might not, time will tell. You see, I wanted to hook up the aluminium tent after Holden finished checking it and take for a drive to see how things went after the fixerupereres had it.

Phew! This packing up and setting up thing is getting harder as time goes on and I tell you that for free.

The 9^th March arrived and off to the car doctor with the Collie. I received a phone call later that day saying the Collie tested up OK and temp was within Holdens listed range. I asked if they took things apart as discussed and checked their work done a few months back when they changed the timing belt and put a new radiator in? Nope! Why, I asked? That is what you were supposed to be doing. Result, the Collie had a sleep over. The next day was spent, so they say, pulling things apart and checking everything done previously. Again, nothing found. They hooked up a tandem trailer and took for a drive. Nothing found wrong. My comment to that was I tow 2,720kg and that is not a tandem trailer weight I got a blank look then.

So, the problem still existed and was booked in again for the 23^rd March due to other things happening with them and me. The Collie was running like an old tractor when I got it back and was told not to take too far or drive it too hard. Mmmm. They said they wanted to check the exhaust system. Why I had no idea but went along with it.

During this short time at Young we got heaps of rain for a couple of days and I had water around me, not a lot but some. I was thinking I might need pontoons or floaties on the aluminium tent. That all cleared after a couple of days and not much rain seen during my stay.

The Corona Virus started to get worse and all sorts of changes happening rapidly.

The 23^rd arrived and the Collie was taken to Holden yet again, it was also nearly due for a service and due to the virus etc I thought I better get them to service the Collie while there. After two days I got the Collie back. Oh! It wasn't the exhaust they wanted to check, they had to adjust the timing belt. No comment!

During the time they had the Collie this time I had to make some major decisions due to the Corona Virus getting much worse and now being declared a Pandemic, so called an urgent committee meeting. It was decided to not head to Townsville as planned due to the NSW/QLD border closing to non-essential services or travellers, I wasn't classed as essential. I thought it would be better to head back to VIC, my home state and set up there somewhere so a phone call made and a place found.

I would like to thank Garry and Roxanne at this stage for all there help and hospitality during my stay and trusting me to look after their property and animals for another house sit.

I got the Collie back after two days so hooked up and started heading south. I only got 30 mins out of Young and BANG! Under the hood. After checking what that was, I found the Turbo hose had come off. When I loosened the nut on the hose clamp, I found it was not tight so it hadn't been fitted back properly. I did the best I could with that and headed off again only to get about two KM down the road and BANG! Again. It was off a second time.

I rang Holden and after keeping my cool somehow and a long discussion, they sent out their roadside assist mechanic. He got me going and off I headed again after he had explained Holden have had this problem many times and have now got a revised fitting and to arrange that when settled in VIC. I headed off but after about 3 km the same thing happened. I rang them again and once again trying to keep cool, I decided I would contact Garry to see if he could tow aluminium tent back to the farm and I would go to Holden. You see this problem with the Turbo Hose was only under pressure of towing. Garry got the tent back OK and I got to Holden OK. They had already ordered the new revised fitting and hose and it was to arrive the next day from Sydney.

The next Day arrived and got a call saying to bring Collie in. I had the aluminium tent ready to go so off I headed with Collie only. I waited for it and could say some pretty nasty things about the situation but this is not the place or time so will leave it. I got Collie back around 11.00am so back to farm, hooked up and gone by 12.00pm. Cautiously, I headed south keeping an eye on temp and for any BANGS! After six slow long hours made it to my destination successfully in North East VIC. The outside temp wasnt as hot as last time towing when I noticed the heating problem so not really a good judge if things have been fixed. The temp was showing slightly higher than before all this drama though so I have doubts its fixed.

My aim was to get across the NSW/VIC border before any closures and I did. Even a week later and now the end of April, the border still hasn't been closed even though all other borders around OZ are.

So, I set up and who knows how long I will be in this location of Nth East VIC? Time will tell. I do love this area though so no complaints.

Easter arrived and apart from my three sites away neighbour who I rarely see due to them off w..g (nope, still cant say that word) and the only other van here way over the back who is also a wer and the three cabins, also w.rs, I don't see anyone. I only see the owners from 1.5mts away when I go to them once a week. Yep, I am socially isolated for sure and I tell you that for free. No drama really because when you travel on your own you only get to speak to people around you anyway and sometimes in the roadside stops or freedom camps I stay at, not many people around sometimes anyway. The only thing I really miss I spose is the daily drive checking places and things out (Sightseeing). I also miss going out for a lunch in a Bistro or similar. Oh well. What will it be like in six months if this virus thing keeps us grounded that long? Probably need to book into a special hospital maybe. My Uncle Al who I'm sure at times resides in my mind but gets up before me some days might have got up and not gone back. Time will tell I spose as with many other people.

Thank goodness I have my own toilet and shower etc because the amenities block is closed as are the camp kitchen and pool. All due to the CV19.

Visitors, yep, had heaps throughout the last two months.....but then I woke up.

None, is the actual figure. Normally, I am visiting people or they visiting me.

I have been lucky though and received many phone calls from friends and family checking up on me I spose and I have made many as well, also and as well even, emails and texts etc have been flying back and forth, so really, don't feel as if I am on my own. Thank goodness for good friends, both GN and personal, and I thank each and every one of them.  

Next to arrive was Anzac Day and well, that was a big difference to previous years as we were not allowed to go to any Dawn Services etc. All marches cancelled as well. I fly the OZ flag as much as I can at the front of the aluminium tent so stood under that with a torch lighting it up for my own private little moment of remembering. I also had the phone set with a radio station broadcasting from the Melbourne limited service.

Schools finished for the term and went back, well sort of anyway. Some students attended school class rooms but most were at home being home schooled. New computer systems were put in place by Government and schools but as expected problems of failures and systems crashing on the first days and maybe still having the odd problem here and there. I know the owners two teenagers here are getting under each others hair and the home-schooling thing not as successful as it could be.  

Weather? Yep, had all sorts, sunny days, overcast days, light winds with some stronger but so far, no damaging winds and a lot of rain, a lot, some being good soaking rain and only a day or two at a time. Temps have ranged from 2c to mid-teens overnight and 12c to 22c during the day. That all said, the last 48 hours has seen torrential rain and mostly non stop with very strong winds but luckily still no damage.  

As this update goes to print there is talk of how and when rules etc might be relaxed a little but no rushing into it is the order of the day/week and maybe even months. For here in VIC anyway.  

Well, its time to bring this new style of bi monthly update to a close so until next time,

Keep Safe out there everyone.

Due to no travelling around I have included some pics of a few things not all that far away.

 DOUG

 G'Day Doug,

Another really great read,we had to do a quick dash from Rockhampton (Sons Birthday) back to 

Vic. Left Monday morning got home Wednesday afternoon. Whew. Hope that the Collie gets over its problems

so you can travel more easily.

Stay Safe. 

As always, thoroughly enjoyed your blog. I'm please to read that you are safe & have a place to stay during these uncertain times. You really need to go out & buy a Ford! :)

Great Blog again Dougwe.  All I can says is

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BANG!

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Great read Doug, just caught up with it I certainly missed the monthly reports from yesteryear but nothing stays the same.

As for the Collie, I am very cynical of dealers, my experience is they can cost a lot of money while doing very little, if you can do some research and find a good indie who is a real mechanic, I have one and he has a good staff of knowledgeable mechanics unlike the dealers I have dealt with who seem to employ "Technicians".  A good diagnostician should be able to find your problem.

Cheers

Richard