Well after sweltering during the heat of summer, it has now started to get cooler. During the days are ok so far, around 23' in the mid north today. It's the nights I am not looking forward to.
But then nothing compares to Les, our two girls and me driving to NSW to pick up a lovely 20ft caravan. We got there in the afternoon, and it was dark before we left after hitching it up. along the way Les was tired so we thought we would stop at a parking bay the sign said next turn, so that what Les did, we ended up on a dirt road in the rain, we came to a dead end...there was nothing but a fence. So while Les is trying to back up the van, I am outside with a torch guiding him on the road so he doesn't go off into the soft muddy edges. How he did it I don't know but he did, we got back on the main highway.
Traveling some more down the road, with the heaters on as its so cold, we find a camping spot, so we drive in. It was very nice...well what we could see with a torch, as there were no lights. We all decided to go to the toilet and get in the van to sleep for the night. The toilet was a hole in the ground with a seat above it... our youngest daughter refused to go as she was afraid of falling in... the rest of us went, I went over to wash my hands in the sink and the dripping tap has frozen with ice coming out of it and frozen to the sink. I said it was cold.
My youngest daughter thought going behind a tree was better than using the toilet. Then we went back into the van, we had no electricity, as we didn't want to drain the car battery, so three of us slept in the queen bed, our eldest daughter slept on the lounge. We were so cold our breath was freezing, none of us could sleep as we were so cold it kept us awake, we tried until about 3am, when we decided to get back in the car and just keep driving until we got to a CP to sleep. Les was no longer tired, I wonder why? When we got onto the highway, Les asked a truckie what the temp. was he said its -4' we get -3' here, but at least I can stay inside in front of the heater.
This was the main reason for alternative power sources, as a must have in our van.
Karajini NP in WA - so cold and dark at night, we had to have our showers at 3pm and eat almost straight away, in bed by 7pm - we were in a camper trailer - had every blanket, even spare towels on the bed, flanny pj's, hot water bottles and even beanies. Up in the morning, water was frozen in the billy, left out on the stove! I lived in Victoria, but had never been as cold as at Karajini!!!!!!!! Even had ice on the canvas.
__________________
jules "Love is good for the human being!!" (Ben, aged 10)
We had a bush camp in the New England Nat. Park near Ebor and when we woke in the morning we were snowed in with very cold conditions. Glad we had a gas heater which was working and by the time the billy was boiled the van had some warmth in it. We had brecky then started out of the Nat Park but was stopped due to ice on the road. Ended up staying until afternoon before we were able to negotiate the road out. The thermometer registered -7 when we woke. BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.
__________________
I was tired yesterday and I'm tired today betcha I'm retired tomorrow. he he.
is it really that bad, (just asking)...........were in Mackay last year for the winter and got down to 5 quite a few times in the morning, though it does warm up quite quickly.
our youngest daughter refused to go as she was afraid of falling in... 
