The drive into Port Augusta is beautiful, with views of the Flinders Ranges. After six days of driving, boredom and tiredness could have been an issue. Any tedium was relieved by chirpy monologues about mathematics.
We had to stop at Iron Knob. Elizabeth and I camped there in 2002, in a howling wind.
This time the weather was calm, but otherwise the place was unchanged. Seven years ago, Liz and I went to the shop and tried to buy some matches. They were out. Today, just for fun, I tried to buy a box of matches. They were out.
The shop is under new ownership, having been shut for 5 months. I wish them good luck. I suggest they stock matches.
Arrived back in Port Augusta and when we booked into the same caravan park we stayed at at the start of the trip, we were given exactly the same site a second time. I'm sure this means something. Or maybe not.
The caravan park's right near the junction of the Eyre Highway (running between Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne etc.) and the Stuart Highway running north to Darwin. When we got to the junction I half joked with Pam that we should turn left for Coober Pedy and go around again.
Finished the day with my usual public bar research. I got talking to a bloke who, in turn, introduced me to his son. The son's son (this gets a bit complicated) was celebrating his third birthday. Dad and grandfather were in the pub, confirming with the barmaid their theory that a three year old wouldn't remember his birthday party anyway, and certainly wouldn't remember that dad and grandpa were missing for a while. Or that great-grandpa was missing.
The ninety year old codger at the end of the bar was the great-grandfather. I was introduced, but couldn't talk loudly enough to be understood or he had decided that tourists weren't worth listening to. Three generations agreed that attending the fourth generation's birthday party required a primer.
As I left, the ninety year old great-grandfather followed me out, climbed into his Toyota Defender and drove off. I was impressed.
Group R without zero...
ReplyDeleteThe Georgetown Washington DC post office in a little business residential neighborhood often doesn't have 1st class stamps (asked for by patrons as "regular stamps"--44 cents at the moment). A week can go by; the supervisor (never seen) will be getting around to it. Simpson's stamps are available but not the best for a small business.