We were sitting at the Queanbeyan showgrounds when I decided to text Hanny in WA with an update, unsure of whether they were home or still on hols in the state's south... 3 hours later I got a phone call from Ralph (her other half), just checking on us - as we were talking Hanny turned her phone on and got my text message!! In the words of William Shatner - "Weird, or what!?"
(We don't phone or text regularly, if that's what you cynics are thinking).
After the phone call we thought the rain had ease so I walked into town for a newspaper and some cash for the tyre shop the next day - I'd been walking no more than a couple of minutes before the rain came down - heavily! I pressed on into town, carrying on down to the river bank to see the new level.
By the time I got back I was in need of a dry towel, and a glass of red!!
On Friday we dropped the van off for the tyres and got the bus into town - we walked around and went back to the caravan park to stand in the same spot to take another photo of the river level - it had dropped from Thursday afternoon but is still high.
We spent 4 hours in Queanbeyan shopping district, and that was 3 and 1/2hours too long; then we went back to collect the van. We have 4 lovely Continental tyres BUT no new shock absorbers because anything other than original Fiat ones won't fit!! We were hoping to fit a more heavy duty variety.
The guys at the trye shop were really good and if you're in that area and need tyres or work, see Jax tyres in Urriara road, Queanbeyan.
(Coincidentally Continental have a $50 gift voucher offer in March, if you buy 4 tyres - we wouldn't have got that if we'd gone straight there on Wednesday!)
The rain returned on Saturday, just after lunch, as we drove from Queanbeyan up to Canberra.
The break in the rain had meant that the back roads were re opened after being closed due to flooding.
We were going to stay with friends from Perth - Penni and Nathan, and their two little boys - Spencer and Felix. We found their house really easily, their street is a nice quiet street with English Oak trees as the street trees. Our van seemed enormous in the street and especially so once we'd squeezed up their driveway - our van access for the next few days is via the driver's door!!
We were lucky to be invited on the Saturday because Penni and Nathan were having a 'curry night', Mmmmm lovely curries.
The next day we all piled into their Kluger and drove out to the Old Bus Depot Markets, different stalls every time we visit, this time a lot more food stalls and we bought some lovely olives, antipasto and bread.
Then we went for a drive around Canberra and decided to see how much water was around the place.
We drove out to Scrivener Dam, which is at the end of Lake Burley Griffin, which had flooded.
The dam was well and truly overflowing, there was a traffic jam to get to the carpark at the viewing area.
The water isn't brown due to soil erosion......
Spencer thought it looked like coffee
Then we went up Mt Ainslie for a look out over Canberra - we had a particularly good view down Anzac Parade (from the back of the War Museum up to Parliament House).
At the beginning of our trip out for the day the top of Mt Black was in the clouds, now, later in the day, from Mt Ainslie we could see the top, and the sun had come out.
The next day, Nathan was off to work, the boys were off to school, Penni dropped us in town to start 'doing' the museums. We did the Screen Sound Museum (new name is National Film and Sound Archive). We always find this museum interesting, this time its' special screening was politically incorrect movienews and advertisements from the 1930s - 1970s. Some funny, some cringemaking, some actually very interesting. They also have some of the costumes from the movie Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.
After lunch there we walked down to the National Museum - what a disappointment. Penni and Nathan had visited recently and referred to it as the 'not a museum', even its' own blurb says, "Best of all, general admission is free". We made enquiries about the Citroen 5CV that was the first car to drive around Australia; we know they have it because we know it's previous owner (son of the original driver).The discovery of the administration block and many questions later we found out where it is being stored at the moment. Feeling totally uninspired by the place, we phoned Penni to come and collect us.
That night we indulged in some Eastern States culture and all went to 'The Tradies' (previously the Canberra Tradesman's Union Club). It was $10 pasta night but we all opted for the "renowned' schnitzels - they were fantastic value and quality, there was really good live music too......
The next day and more museums - this time we started with the National Archives.
A really interesting collection, we particularly enjoyed the video snippets featuring government releases, music clips, adverts and film clips from the 1930s -1990s.
But had never heard of this board game - Pank-a Squith, from the suffragette days.
We also spent some time searching the archives for Michael's long lost aunt who migrated to Sydney in 1930s. We hit the jackpot - finding her and then went on to find more details. Something to do in Sydney - find 4 cousins!
After lunch at the Archives we walked around the corner to Old Parliament House. It was vacated in 1987 when the parliament moved into the new building up the road. We had about 15minutes to kill before a free guided tour started so we found a comfy seat.
The guided tour was supposed to take 45 minutes but an hour and twenty minutes later we were still going around. The guide was really enthusiastic and interesting.
The Prime Minister in office when they moved was Bob Hawke, his office is as he left it.
We then spent a pleasurable half hour checking out the political cartoons of 2011 exhibition. It was approaching 5pm so we rang Nathan, he works around the corner, and bummed a lift back with him.
Dinner that night was home delivered pizza and a couple of beers....Mmmmmm.
Another day and another museum, this time the War Memorial.
Penni very kindly drove us in again and we got started - first of all WW1.
A terrific display, so interesting, before we knew it, it was lunch time.
After lunch we tackled WW2 and beyond. There were so many excellent displays and features.
There was also a special exhibition on nurses through conflicts.
At 4pm we had just started 'The Colonial Wars' when I got a text from Penni - 'Are you lost in there? do you want a roast dinner?' Our reply was, No, Yes and can Nathan pick us up again?
We were exhausted but we had seen pretty much all of the museum, we made our way to the exit and got there as they were changing the guard at the tomb of remembrance.
Nathan picked up two very tired tourists, the roast was really excellent, we were even treated to Yorkshire Pudding. Yummy!
All too soon it was time to farewell Penni, Nathan, the boys, and Canberra, . We headed North East trying to avoid more flooded rivers, travelling through Yass to Cootamundra. Home of the Cootamundra Wattle tree and Sir Don Bradman (legendary Aussie cricketer).We're not into cricket in any way, but the town looks interesting so we checked into the caravan park. The news is full of flood alerts with towns on the Lachlan River to our north and the Murrumbidgee River to our south on high alert, if not already affected. At the moment we're okay and will be taking major highways into Sydney so should continue to be safe and sound. Tomorrow it's more rural towns, lets hope those roads are open.
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