After a really hot night and a very restless sleep, we sat in the
caravan hoping the heat would give up but it didn't.
The dogs were not having a great time, as they couldn't find anywhere to
keep cool.
The thought of packing up in the heat was stopping me from deciding to
leave but eventually around mid morning it became too much.
As quickly as possible we went through the routine we well knew and
finally headed out of Dartmoor towards Hamilton
just before midday, Queensland time.
Our heads were pointed towards Queensland and it really felt
good.
We had gone past half way and the holiday feeling was subsiding.
Home was looking good, even though we'd enjoyed the trip, mostly.
I was still looking forward to new areas on our way home, but in cooler
areas I hoped.
The breeze from the open window as we sped up - no air conditioning in
the Daihatsu Delta Van - was delicious, after enduring the heat.
We arrived in Hamilton and it was STILL hot. I was driving
with no shirt and it felt like I was holidaying in somewhere like
Hervey Bay.
We refuelled and bought some Service Station Takeaway Food and
kept going.
We passed the Grampians and kept going to Lake Bolac. I
expected a lake but found a small settlement. There was a lake, but we
would have had to drive out to it.
Instead, we called into a small shopping centre and bought Ice Creams
and COLDDDDD drinks. Ohhhhhhhh, so good!
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Just after an area called Pittong we pulled over to give the dogs
a walk and a pee. Us too!
The bitumen was so hot that it was sticky. The tyres were hot from
driving a good distance on the hot roads.
We drove off, next major town was Ballarat.
Our overnight stop was to be at Creswick Regional Park, a little
further north.
We passed through Linton and over a slight range and were going
down the other side when I felt a tremor in the steering.
As I was wondering what the tremor was, the Daihatsu started
pulling to the left.
A sedan was pushing me up the tail as I realized the front left tyre was
deflating and pulling me off the road, caravan and all.
A bridge appeared ahead and we were drifting dangerously towards the
left rails. It was taking all my strength to hold the Daihatsu
away from the bridge rails.
The idiot behind, passed me on the bridge, while I was trying to stop
the Daihatsu gently, because too much braking was causing it to
pull further to the left.
As the moron in the sedan sped off into the distance, we came off the
bridge with the tyre making horrible noises.
We finally came to a stop on the grass verge.
I got out and could smell burning rubber. The passenger side tyre was
totally wrecked. Just the rim left.
Then began the ordeal of getting the spare out from under the van,
jacking the vehicle up, removing the wrecked tyre and fitting the spare.
Sounds easy, but not when it's a Daihatsu Delta Van and not when
you are just off the road on the exit from a bridge, with cars zooming
past.
I managed with a lot of Judy's help. She also had to make sure the dogs
were ok and that no one ran into us as I was changing the tyre.
We passed through Scarsdale as the sun was low on the horizon. No
chance of looking at Ballarat as we had to get to Creswick
Regional Park and set up camp.
It was dark when we arrived in Creswick.
The Tom Tom pointed us straight
into a luxury resort.
Great!
Dark and no idea where we had to go, somehow I found the way into the
Park just outside of town and wound our way into where we were to stay.
All I could see were dim lights of campers as we followed a sandy track.
Down hills, around corners, over a small stream and up and down more and
more hills. Finally a set of buildings showed up.
Toilets. Yes!!
We had arrived.
That night we camped on the track next to the toilets. I doubted more
people would arrive that late.
I was correct.
Sleep was really welcome after the day we had been through.
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