Oh no, yep, it's little old me, back again but this time with my Bi Monthly Update #8. This update covers May and June 2021.

You know the drill by now, grab a drink and sit back and read away.

May made an appearance on Saturday 1^st May, true, it did. And I was in Young NSW for that specialist appointment and had stayed overnight, remember? Well, I did.

However, return to Base Camp in Nth East VIC was a must as that was where the aluminium tent was and my own bed so I left Young and headed in a southerly direction, arriving back mid-afternoon. I also had work to get done on the aluminium tent in Shepparton during the week I got back. Covid is still lurking around so had to go On-line and apply for a permit to enter back into VIC, that was an easy process but on arrival into VIC seemed a waste of time as no one checks anything, I didn't even see any police let alone checking for permits.

Some of you might know I love Baseball and was involved for many years and my late son played. I miss the game and was listening to a local news update on the local radio station and they just happened to mention that the A Grade team from Benalla will be no longer but will run with the B grade team as their senior team. I didn't even know there was baseball in the area. So, me being me, thought, mmm, I wonder if there is a Wangaratta Team, you betcha. Big club too. So, some research took place and found myself on the first Sunday in May sitting watching the Wangaratta Rangers senior B grade team. Many great memories came flooding back and even got to see a young player expertly steal bases to finally score a run for her team. Yes, her team. The only female in the team. On that day anyway. She has National potential and I tell you that for free. Now all that might not be all that interesting to you but it was to me. I will definitely make it a habit attending more games. The main thing I must remember is to keep my mouth shut and not mention my involvement in Baseball and will say NO instead of Yes, all the time. So, if you are reading this Rangers? NO! I did make it back the following week to watch the A grade side get beat by Albury, bugga. No comment Craig!

The 4^th of May arrived (May the fourth be with you) and time to start packing up ready to go get that work done on the tent I mentioned so slowly packed up, hooked up and ready to leave at Sparrows on the 5th to get to Shepparton by start of work at 7.30am.

Drama! I noticed a Tyre needed a little air in so called into a servo to top up that and check others. Bugga! As I took pump off cap, sssssssssssss, lost all the air through the valve. Double bugga! I have total cover with RACV so rang them and they were great, arrived in 30 mins and all changed over in 15 mins. I headed off and arrived at caravan place 15 mins late but was no problem as they had just arrived anyway.

After filling in time and lunch with friends Bob and Deb in Shepparton and work done, I got a call saying all finished and ready for take-off. It was time to about face and head back to N E VIC and set everything up again. Bugga, packing up and setting up is the way of a Grey Nomad and has knobs on it.

The next morning, I rolled down awning hoping it would be all up and finished within the hour as the repairer proudly told me he had drilled the holes needed and fitted the brackets on van for the Traveller anti-flap kit. Yeh sure, the holes in the roller were 50mm lower than should have been. I think whoever drilled those missed his Specsavers appointment. Not only that but the roller has caps each end they were put on wrong and covered the track to thread the privacy screens or annex wall through. It took me 90mins to solve those problems with limited tools so that quick job turned into a major project.

Finally, all set up and ready to enjoy the new awning and the fridge even works on 240v now. Turns out that was a faulty junction box that caused corrosion of the wires in it. I was asked why I fitted this junction box anyway but produced proof it was done by the same repairer back in Feb 2015. No comment your honour!

Visitors, yep, I even had a GN visitor one day Neil (Oldbloke) arrived to say hi, he and his wife were staying in Benalla. It was good to finally meet Neil after many months. Thanks for calling in Neil. Travel safe my friend. Mid May I went to Albury to meet up with GN's Graham and his wife Claire Southern Cruizer) who were picking up their van from a repairer there. Again, I had not met them but we did that day, Craig (Craig1) ventured there as well to meet up and I hadn't met him either. Craig left as he had a medical appointment but Graham, Claire and myself enjoyed a lovely lunch in a local pub, Coke was the drink of the day though and Claire was trying to scare me about a medical procedure I had to have soon. We all then headed our own ways. Thanks Graham, Claire and Craig. I headed back to base camp after a lovely day.

The 19^th arrived and it was time to head to Wangaratta Hospital for that day procedure to take place. It was a long day and the Anesthesia had its usual after effect and tired me out for the next 24 hours but after that all good. It was all worth it as all was sorted with success. OH! It was nothing like Claire made out it to be, naughty, Claire. This was all made possible thanks to Grey Nomad friend Bob who lives in Shepparton and came across with his van and set up next to me to help me out. I had to be taken and picked up by someone over 18 and I think he just made that and that person stay with me overnight in case of any bad side effects. Bob didn't actually stay with me but in his van next to me so just a yell or phone call away if needed. Bob even supplied a lovely meal that night as well. Thankyou so much Bob, it saved having the work cancelled at the last minute due to the hospital bed being needed by someone with a much bigger problem than me.

As a follow up, I had to make an appointment to see my GP for two weeks time but when I rang to do that was told he had left the practice, bugga! Maybe a good chance to change to a local Clinic as I was travelling 90mins to see my GP in Kyabram, Nth Central VIC. Due to deciding to get the Covid Jab, I checked where in Wangaratta that could be done and found a GP Clinic that I was able to get an appointment to have that done, not only that, the second jab was also booked in. It was a very easy process on-line and I tell you that for free. No, I haven't forgot what I was talking about above! I had to fill out on-line documents for the Medical Clinic to be a new patient so will check if that is OK to see a GP there when needed. A 15-minute drive to see a GP sounds much better than that 90-minute drive.

I had a phone follow up consultation with the specialist that performed the procedure two weeks later so that GP follow up was not necessary really so didn't bother. I arranged for the Specialist to send me a copy of his findings so I could pass onto the new GP. That new GP was arranged two weeks later as needed new prescriptions of regular meds.

As a Grey Nomad and moving around in the playground, things like this take place but as you have read, can be sorted out with success.   

The 26^th arrived and it was time to head off to get The Jab and hopefully all go well and no major side effects, time will tell. Time did tell and a week later I became very tired and no energy. As it turned out it was a minor side effect from the jab but cleared after two days. It that's all that happened then I'm a happy camper.

BUGGA!

The end of May arrived with many new Covid cases in Melbourne and moving very quickly indeed. All of Victoria was slammed into a 7-day snap lockdown for the fourth time to try and stop the spread. Sadly, 12 hours notice was given finding many people hooking up caravans etc and making a run for the borders. They could get a long way away from Victoria in 12 hours and the risk of some or many of those people taking the Covid with them to share with other States. The rules said that where you were at midnight that night is where you stayed for the 7 days and could only move around in a 5km radius. If you did get Interstate you had to follow the Victorian Covid rules. Im sure that took place, not.

Weather for May was varied with temps ranging from -3c to 18c and varied wind strengths and directions with rain here and there but not a lot.

The Month of June arrived with Victoria still in that 7-day lockdown and continued through the first two weeks. Regional VIC came out of lockdown after the first week though but with some rules still, like, masks to be worn in doors and when not safe outside, we had to scan QR Codes to enter, well, everywhere basically, some places were slack on that rule but others had someone on the door making sure you scanned and some even had security. We were still not allowed to enter other states but pressure was applied by various groups and after 3 days the NSW/VIC border bubble came into effect again, meaning anyone in the bubble could travel anywhere within the bubble. Visiting other people etc was still very limited though.

I woke up one morning after the bubble opened and headed to Albury for a quick shop to get a few things I couldn't get locally. I couldn't get everything I wanted but no drama. Due to the visiting rule, it was just a quick go there do what I needed and get back to base camp. Still, better than nothing. The difference a river makes, one side, the VIC side had to wear masks everywhere but only a matter of metres away no masks at all worn in Albury and it was nearly like nothing had happened there. The main thing I noticed was the number of empty shops or similar in Albury so Covid did affect there and knowing Albury from many visits and staying there over many years it was sad to see. Wodonga was no different either, although I just went to one shop there so didn't see much.

With so many rules and border restrictions etc in place I didn't see one police car or police officers anywhere I went let alone stopping people and checking where they came from or border passes etc. Not one. Any wonder people that don't care get away with doing the wrong thing. The best thing I do is just keep to myself as much as possible and keep my distance where possible. My hands see more alcohol than by stomach these days. Still, things could be worse in my world, I could be in Melbourne. The poor buggers there are not getting a good run at all.

June kept on keeping on and progressed through the days with not a lot happening really. I did manage to slip across to Beechworth and the Bridge Road Brewery, my favorite Craft Brewery that I have found so far and came back to base camp armed with their famous Roast Duck Pizza and a six pack of their award-winning Pale Ale. The Pizza was heated up in my Baby Weber Q that night for dinner. OH! Accidentally I knocked the top of one of those bottles in the six pack as I was putting them away so had to partake in that so as not to waste it. Both were very nice indeedy.  

I decided to have one of those big days out that I like to do at the last minute so I headed across to Lake William Hovel, Chestnut South and sort of roughly halfway between Wangaratta and Mansfield. Up in them there hills and at the bottom of snow country, but not far from base camp the weather had a sudden turn for the worse and a storm hit pretty hard so I about faced and headed back to leave that day trip to another day hopefully in the not-too-distant future. Best to be safe when in those areas as the rivers can flood very quickly indeed.

The weather in June was wet and cold. A lot of rain through the area and flood warnings a few times as well but luckily nothing serious. Also, luckily there was very little wind so I was happy about that as I dont like wind. Temps ranged from -4c to 15c through the month. I am also starting to see some snow on them there hills in the distance.

The month of June came to and end and by chance so has this update so until next time, keep safe in this Covid world everyone.                       

Some pics below as usual.

Ooops, nearly forgot.

This came across my path, well, eyes really, so with permission I have included it in this update as I thought it was really good. The bed bit is very true, especially when you are solo.

Life in a van, full time. 

I'll just pack everything away so we can get it out again later.

I'll just pack the fridge like Tetris before we leave.

I'll just stash this in there, I'm sure I'll remember where it is?

I'll just open the overhead cupboards carefully so nothing falls...(out) ouch! 

I'll just move this to get to that and I'll just put this here so I can move to there. 

I'll just limber up to make the bed. 

I'll just stay in bed so you can get dressed.

I'll just move the bed cushions and clothes off the table so we can eat.

I'll just turn the shower on and then off so I can wash my hair.

I'll just wear the same clothes. (Shhhh)

I'll just do the washing, a few items at a time. 

I'll just put the awning and chairs out, oh it's raining, I'll just put them away.

We'll just eat toast for tea 'cause it's raining out there.

I'll just put the aerial up so we can watch tv, what, it's blowing a gale?  I guess I'll just put it down.

I'll just put this over here at the camp, remind me when we leave (yeah right, whoops) 

I'll just squeeze one more wee in the loo before the little red light glows (dreams). I'll just empty it! 

Ahhh, let's call it a day and just get in to bed. Bugga, I'll just get up and turn the lights out! 

Living in a van full time, you've JUST got to have patience.

Interesting reading ... But it just reinforces why we live in Sunny (mostly) Qld.

Brings back memories of your brief(ish) but very enjoyable visit to our place way back when.

Cupie wrote:

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Interesting reading ... But it just reinforces why we live in Sunny (mostly) Qld.

Brings back memories of your brief(ish) but very enjoyable visit to our place way back when.

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Thanks Graham. I also remember the day well. It was great to meet you and Carol.

This might be my last update for a while as not really doing much travelling due to hanging out in N E VIC keeping an eye on Covid

Hi Doug

In answer/comment to the above

We are all more or less, in the same boat as yourself

Even those of us who are in a State that is not locked down, are not travelling very far, or for lengthy periods of time

We never know if/when we are going to be isolated, and would prefer not to be too far away, from home base

You seem to have a way of writing, that makes things interesting

I for one look forward to any future updates