NZ stay extended

Shortly after arriving back in NZ Brandt almost fully ruptured his archilles tendon. We were still in Auckland staying with Donna and Richard in Titirangi which is a hilly suburb. My niece was coming to visit and couldn't locate the driveway so Brandt rushed up the steep drive to show her the entrance. Part way up he felt a sharp pain in his ankle. After a couple of weeks he went to A&E and was given some anti inflammatories. When they were about to run out and there being no improvement we went back. This time a more experienced doctor ordered a scan which showed the severity of the problem. So it was into plaster for him for 8 weeks followed by the wearing of an orthotic shoe plus physiotherapy. We were told that it could take up to 18 months to be fully healed. With this in mind we decided the most sensible thing to do was to postpone our return to Oz.

Early in the year I had a couple of biopsies taken from my leg. For some reason an insect bite (while in the Kimberley region) turned into a wart like lump. This happened while I was working at Halls Creek in the 1970s and again last year at Broome. Both at the same place on my leg. The biopsies gave a clear result.

Donna couldn't resist compiling a composite photo of us






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The final few weeks....

While staying at Gisborne we helped with the renovation of a rental property. Brandt painted the interior walls. I helped a little in the gardens.
One weekend we met up with Grey nomad friends at St Kilda beach. We used the garmin (GPS) to direct us. One problem was that it was difficult to know which turn off to take at a spaghetti junction. I know that on the way home we took a wrong turn, but got there in the end.
It was the first fine day for a while and lots of people seemed to have decided to visit the beach too.


We made another day trip to Greens Lake and said our good byes to the nomads there.


Then on Thursday 28th November we flew back to NZ


We will be here in NZ until sometime in April, when we will return to Melbourne ready for another 6 or 7 months of travelling around.
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Some birds at Gisborne

The bird life round here is amazing. Our hosts buy "wild bird seed mix" and feed some to, in particular, the king parrots. I have learnt their chirp when they come and ask for feed. In fact they are fairly tame. I have a video of one on David's arm and trying to eat the seed mix directly out of the container.


The crimson Rosella also likes the bird mix and often appears on the back porch rails too.





One day Brandt and I were here on our own. I heard the king parrot asking for food, so gave it some.


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Greens Lake revisited

After 7 weeks in Port Augusta we were finally able to get on the road again. We now had a new motor under the bonnet and the automatic transmission had been serviced.
First night we stayed in a small caravan park in Morgan, second night in Euston. Both are on the banks of the Murray River.
Monday 4th November we arrived to free camp at Greens Lake. The lake is fuller this year than it was last year. The grass has been mown regularly. So the place looked lovely.


Now we know that some of us live as cheaply as we can, but going through the rubbish??


Tuesday was Melbourne Cup day. So of course the ladies had to wear beautiful creations on their head.


We were planning to leave on Wednesday, but one grey nomad said, "you can't leave yet. We haven't had our pav or the rest of your menu"
We obliged, staying another night. I made a pav and Brandt made a camp oven casserole and a trifle.
Once again it was a good gathering at Greens Lake.


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Another week or two in Port Augusta

We have joined in to some of the activities in the Anglican hall.
Last Tuesday (and again this Tuesday) I played table tennis. I suffered with my knee aching for almost 24 hours last week, but no such after effects this week.
On Wednesday afternoon I enjoyed playing beetles, a game I hadn't played for years. Brandt busied himself clearing around the church grounds.


As we have travelled round we have noticed many many people have their pets with them. There have been birds and cats but mostly dogs. A week or so ago a couple came into the caravan park and they had two teacup poodles. These dogs are 14 years old and both are slightly deaf. The owners have set up a dog flap (in the wall of the slide-out), a ramp covered with artificial turf and a safe enclosure under the front of the fifth wheeler. They can go away knowing the dogs are contained and that they are safe.





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Filling in time

While in Port Augusta we were visited by three members of The Grey Nomads forum.
Brandt regularly made date scones and pikelets, which were shared amongst fellow campers. We even bought a can of instant whipped cream, made by Tatua dairy co-op Morrinsville NZ. We bought it specifically to go on the pikelets. Trouble was, the flies thought the jam knife was just for them.


Just like when you bring out the fly swat, the flies disappeared when I brought out the camera.

Brian and Cheryl paid us a second visit, having changed their minds as to the route they would take from the Flinders ranges to Broken Hill. This time we remembered to play Mexican Trains with them. Sadly I didn't win a game (sob, sob), but it was still fun.
A couple of days after they left for Broken Hill, we received this from Molly

Greyhound Races

Neither Brandt nor I had ever been to a greyhound race meet. The walk to the shops takes us past one such venue. The date of the next meet was September 28. As we were still here we decided we should go along and take a look (free admission also encouraged us).


While waiting for the second race (we missed the first one), I took photos of the starting cages from the front


and the back


The dogs are put into their allotted starting cage


And the "fox" is ready to be chased


And here they come








We found it an interesting exercise, staying to watch three races before going on to do a small amount of shopping
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