Didn’t sleep too well again, both nights start off hot, then got a bit colder, then colder still so we both wake up to change the doona.
Woke up at 0730 because I’d forgotten to turn off my alarm, then a few minutes later heard a crunch and a shout, someone had backed their van into another, so I’m not the only one who can’t drive these things.
Shower, then time to do the van maintenance – fill up the fresh water, empty the waste water from the sink, and empty the toilet cartridge.
When we picked up the van we were shown how to do this stuff but she went through it really fast and a lot of it went in one ear and out the other.
Also everything was new and it turned out they didn’t have the proper tap fitting for the hose, they’d provided a clip on one but the taps at the site were screw ones. I headed over to the reception to see they had one when I saw the tap on the site next door had the connector, the previous people had left it behind. Stroke of luck.
Filled up the fresh water then attached the waste water hose and turned the release lever and the hose leaked.
I had to ask a guy nearby if this was normal, he had a look, then got a screwdriver and tightened it up but it still leaked and he said it looked faulty.
Managed to empty it out then had the pleasant task of emptying the toilet. They make it easy by using a plastic cartridge that slots in under the toilet, it contains a pellet of some chemical, and every camp site has an aptly named dumping station where you empty them.
Still, at the end of the day it’s still a toilet.
Cartridge unplugged ok, quite full (yuk), the thing comes with wheels and a handle so you don’t have to carry it as it sloshes around (yuk).
I’d watched a YouTube video about it, so knew the principle but wasn’t prepared for the reality.
You basically open the cap and pour the contents into a pipe and wash the cartridge out with a hose.
I unscrewed the cap and WOAH THAT’S BAD.
5 minutes later the job is done, back to the van to plug it in again.
Tidied up the van, turned on the AC for the cat and walked 15 minutes to the nearest metro station (North Ryde). The station was impressive, used to be a train station but was changed to a Metro in 2019. Very deep, spacious and clean. The trains are driverless as well. Visitors can buy a ticket on a credit card, none of the messing about with Myki.
Only about 20 minutes into the city, as we approached I was looking out for the Harbour Bridge only to find that we were going over it, no wonder I couldn’t see it. Got off just before Town Hall, went looking for something to eat. Wandered around for a bit, marvelling at some of the old buildings. We haven’t been here for 10 years, not sure why, just never really thought about it. There is a lot of construction going on, lots of new apartments going up, some with amazing harbour views.
Found a food court and I had a beef thing with chips, the description on the menu sounded better than it tasted, Song had rice paper rolls and a Banh-Mi.
On the way in it was a bit overcast and there was some very light rain, but in the city it was sunny and quite hot. Walked down to Circular Quay, and around to the Opera House, taking pictures of the bridge.
The area around the Opera House looks quite new, a lot of restaurants and shops.
I realised I’d never really been close to the Opera House, just walked past it and for some reason never went up the steps, so did that now and realised what a spectacular building it is, not sure if anyone else is aware.
Took more photos, then walked back through the city to the Queen Victoria building, sat and had a coffee and wandered around the inside, popping into the odd shop to have a look.
Getting pretty tired now, decided to head to Coles to get some flat bread for some sausages that we’d brought from Melbourne to barbecue, so did that and also some salad.
Ten minutes later, on the way back to the van Song remembered that the sausages were frozen so that was out. We’d brought some soup and other stuff so just had that.
The cat was happy to see us back.
We’d left the bed set up, so had to undo it and set up the table (another first).
It’s a real pain. Lift the sheet, lift the mattress protector, put them away,lift the cushions, remove 2 planks of wood that act as supports and stow them, get the table and pole from a cupboard, fix the pole, lock the tabletop into the pole and finally replace the cushions. Then when it’s time for bed, reverse that to get the bed set up.
Had a well-deserved beer, ate my soup and watched the Formula 1, first race of the season, while Song read, then went to sleep.