Misadventures of the Campervan Kind...

Week two, day two.
Disclaimer
Although we are trying to adopt a 'no blame policy' on our travels, I will point out that campervan-ing it from Sydney to Melbourne was the MOTH's brilliant idea. I am not a camping type girl.

But here we are...five of us in a six berth campervan...

In the beginning
Things didn't start out quite so well... While I was congratulating myself on driving the six minute drive from campervan pick up to rental car drop off through Sydney (and the MOTH had mastered central Sydney traffic and motorways), MOTH, with children in rear seat, had, within twenty seconds of starting the engine, succeeded in crashing the campervan into another campervan. He was still in the Brtiz parking lot. Thankfully damage was minor. No persons hurt (maybe a bit of pride).

Things could only get better... hmmmmmm.....

Wet in Woolongong
With an ominous looking sky, we headed out along the Pacific Coastal Highway, paid our $11 to go into the first National Park and sought out somewhere to eat. The friendly folk in the park recommended Bundeda. Quirky place. Pricey food, nonchalant café staff and gossipy locals, with a stunning beach. Well it would have been stunning if it wasn't raining. We carried on our expedition towards Melbourne.

Admist torrential rain, we pulled into Woolongong. Basics from the supermarket were needed (everything from loo rolls and scrubbing brushes to milk and bread) and the MOTH expertly parked nearby. It suddenly dawned on me then, the impracticalities of parking the Britz beast. No just 'popping out to the shops' on this journey (duh Miko).

Corrimal Beach Tourist Park, in Woolongong is where we parked up for the night, plugged into the mains (electricity and water) and got completely drenched doing so. Nothing like starting a camping journey in the middle of thunderstorms, during which the power shorted out and the campervan started to leak from about three different points!

This morning -  the sun is shining and I'm optimistic about what the day will bring. We've planned a trip to Trainworks in Thirlmere, with hopes to be further along the coast. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.....

It turns out that the electricity issue is not the power cord shorting out, but some greater fault with the campervan. The toilet is leaking and there are also puddles of water in the living compartment and the sink is slow draining (mostly into the drawers beneath it). When we finally figure out how to drain the grey water, we discover that the previous hirers hadn't drained it (as required) hence the water issues... the MOTH has been on the phone for what seems like hours, before finally, we're offered a replacement vehicle. They will meet us at Trainworks. Could our luck be turning...?

Almost.

Missing and Moss Vale
New Campervan. We switch luggage over. New Campervan looks good. We go into the amazing Trainworks Museum. It suddenly dawns on us that the MOTH's money belt (with money) hasn't been seen in the move. Frantic phone calls to Britz and searches all over the new (and the old - by Britz) campervan turns up nothing. Mysteriously it has disappeared... I find out later that night that the children forgot to move their pjs from under the pillow and the orange juice in the fridge. I'm praying things will come back.

And thinking I'll buy the MOTH a St Christopher - patron saint of travellers and lost things.

Trainworks which deserves its own post (tomorrow) is a much needed respite after the events of the day.

 We left Thirlmere, and were advised in Mittagong (I really rate the lady in the information centre there) to carry on to Moss Vale Village Park Camping grounds - which is where (again in the rain) we've settled. Thank goodness for the locals in the park who helped sort out our water issues (Britz did not include the right hose attachments...*sigh*). We were going to get Pizza, but the one within walking distance is closed on Tuesdays - this was evident once we walked there from the park...

So we dined on leftovers of cheese, crackers, salad, pistachio nuts and ginger biscuits with milk (for the kids) and coffee for us.

And will start tomorrow with another smile :-) It can only get better...