What a train trip that was! Someone had given the little darlings a bag full of redskins and sherbie lollies! Not wanting to contend with sugar-high kids on public transport I hid them in my bag. Firstly Archer tried to run away in protest but when that was blocked, he simply hid under the seat. Eventually he came out and then every 10 minutes a loud voice (he was wearing headphones) asked plaintively "’scuse me, Grannie, can I please have MY lollies back now??"
Then along came the conductor checking tickets. When Knox was showing the tickets, Archer looked up from his ipad, lifted one earphone and said oh so sweetly “ I'll have a drink now please.." “Par’me??" said the conductor, causing the folk listening nearby to burst out laughing.
I explained to little Mr Jetsetter that we were not on a plane and that on public transpor twe bring our own food and drink. Not at all phased he yelled, "well can I have MY lollies NOW?".
After leaving Archer with Gus in Chewton, Knox and I headed to Queens-cliff on his birthday gift promise of a Bago Roadie IOU. Along the way I discovered that Google maps take you where they want to not where you originally keyed in.
Consequently, we fell off the freeway and spent considerable time spiraling around residential streets in Altona, and then again in Geelong.
When we finally arrived at the Big 4 with plastic grass, Knox renamed GG Tours Grumpy GrannieTours .I was so exhausted I did not have the brain power to back on to the site as instructed by the attendant and suggested he could park it if he wanted it any differently.
Apollo Bay next day to join the van Dorenmalens staying in a spectacular park right on the beach. Enormous fun- skate park, pub pool with Aunty Suzi in full teaching mode. Knox playing murder in the dark around the caravan park with Asha & Damon and friends that night.
We struck out for Castlemaine the next day dropping Uncle Daan and his mountain bike off at Forrest to do the trail there.
Ended up in Colac trying to find a fuel station – found a good skate park too. Madam Google then took us on a hellish tour to Castlemaine via Ballarat and Newstead.
I did miss the Mini's easy parking and built in GPS sorely. Knox & I had some lovely long conversations on how roads and tunnels are made through rock using blasting...and I loved Knox's compliments..."you make driving the Bago look so easy Grannie!" if only he could have read my mind!
As he said it we were actually hurtling down a mountain with extreme U bends and I was frantically trying to remember to be in the right gear, check mirrors for overloaded logging trucks and grumpy tradies, not look over the edge, watch out for roos or wombats, check engine noises, and speedo, meanwhile praying to St Christopher patron saint of safe travel.
Also, I was trying to convince myself that the fact that his medallion that has always been in the Bago had suddenly slid across the dash and disappeared into the air vent, was not a bad omen.
We made it ok and was Uncle Daan white knuckling it a bit in the passenger seat on the way back? ...possibly…
Amazing how well the Pelicmobile handles on the home stretch, guess we are both flatlanders as well as dry landers- great to use cruise control and the road to 'Gooligulch' in Boga was a breeze in comparison. Knox and Archer needed a long stop -over in Kerang to test out the skate park and exercise equipment. I was too busy to participate as I had to carefully make up the chicken rolls...and stay on magpie guard.
Home safe and sound with sanity intact too!