Well, yesterday we did a 4.5 hour shift at a site in Ilford, NSW.
Location is that of our youngest daughter - Simone - that's pronounced the French way... not Simoan!
Anyway, she rang us last week & asked if we were in a position to assist with the staffing arrangements to help with funding for their local primary school which can only accommodate a small number of children - 24 at the moment & only one teacher.
Naturally we agreed to assist where/whenever possible... we were subsequently listed for 12:00 on Friday - yesterday - Yep, Good Friday, first day of the long weekend &, apart from the following Monday, possibly the biggest travel day on the roads!
As it normally takes us about 2 hours to drive there via Katoomba & Lithgow... with the expected increase in traffic we decided to hit the road at 08:00 on Friday morning. Yep, we were right... lots of traffic on the road with a large majority being the big 4X4's with either trailers, camper trailers, pop up caravans or just huge canvas tents/sleeping bags/whatever on the roofracks.
OK. So the initial section on the dual highway heading to Katoomba, whilst busy & naturally a lot slower than it would normally be until we reached Katoomba... then it slowed quite a bit & as the road reduced to a single lane approaching Medlow Bath where it was virtually at a standstill for about 10 mins then progressed at a slow walking pace until we reached the dual highway again through Medlow Bath & on the way to Blackheath.
Once through there it was a normal clear run to Ilford where we arrived at about 11:00.
The set-up was in a council pull in where the coaches assisting railways pick up/drop off passengers, plenty of room for about 15 - 20 cars if they park sensibly (!) yeah right - a quick chat with the off-going staff & we were it. Free Tea/Coffee & packaged biscuits also various cold drinks - Coke/Lemonade/Fanta/& a couple of others as well as fruit drinks in the small cardboard type containers, bottles of water etc. Canned drinks & water bottles were $2 ea along with the fruit drinks. There were some lollies there I'd not seen before... one was largish straws filled with sweet powdery stuff & another sorta (candy belts) (just found out what they were called) strip thingies about 10" long by 1/2" wide covered in some kinda tangy/sweet sugary stuff - tried one, quite refreshing but initially felt like you were chewing on wood. Don't think I'll get a job in advertising!!
Initially it was reasonably steady traffic then it would blow out for about 10 mins & at times cars were jammed in tight but some only stopped to use the toilets there.
We were relieved around 3:45 so ended up doing about a 4 hour shift which was fine, although the back might have had a different interpretation on that issue... but what the hell, it was something different to do & it was all for a bloody good cause.
Received a text from daughter later in the evening... the $$$ value for the day was around the $500 mark. There was a container on the counter for donations to the Ilford Primary School... a number of travelers were extremely generous... putting paper money in - expectancy was simply for spare coins.
Day 1 of a 5 day long weekend.....
Driver-Reviver .
- Chuck
- Posts: 2885
- Joined: Sun Nov 25, 2012 10:31 am
- Location: Blue Mountains NSW
Driver-Reviver .
Chuck & Catriana
aka Geriatric Gypsies.
2018 VW Tiguan.
White.
aka Geriatric Gypsies.
2018 VW Tiguan.
White.
- Swisslulu
- Posts: 2236
- Joined: Fri Nov 23, 2012 8:39 pm
- Location: RV Homebase Fraser Coast Qld
- Contact:
Re: Driver-Reviver .
Good on you Chuck and Trina. Job well done!
Cheers
Lesley
Our blog: http://nussbaumerweb.wordpress.com
Cheers
Lesley
Our blog: http://nussbaumerweb.wordpress.com
- Dot
- Posts: 23540
- Joined: Fri Nov 23, 2012 6:12 pm
- Location: Strathalbyn SA
Re: Driver-Reviver .
Great to hear you are out and about once more? How is your new car doing?
Queen of the Banal & OT chatter and proud of it. If it offends you then tough titty titty bang bang.
- Helen Grose
- Posts: 2104
- Joined: Sat Jan 26, 2013 8:20 pm
Re: Driver-Reviver .
That is a great thing to do will make your Easter interesting good on you both
HTFFBO Helen [emoji195][emoji195][emoji195]
Sent from my SM-J250G using Tapatalk
HTFFBO Helen [emoji195][emoji195][emoji195]
Sent from my SM-J250G using Tapatalk
- Chuck
- Posts: 2885
- Joined: Sun Nov 25, 2012 10:31 am
- Location: Blue Mountains NSW
Re: Driver-Reviver .
Thanks all.
Dot, it's simply amazing - just wish my slow old brain was a lot more capable of appreciating the incredible technology on board. I'm at the point where, if I activate any more 'assistance' then I will no longer be driving it - just steering.
But, so far, still enjoying it.
Dot, it's simply amazing - just wish my slow old brain was a lot more capable of appreciating the incredible technology on board. I'm at the point where, if I activate any more 'assistance' then I will no longer be driving it - just steering.
But, so far, still enjoying it.
Chuck & Catriana
aka Geriatric Gypsies.
2018 VW Tiguan.
White.
aka Geriatric Gypsies.
2018 VW Tiguan.
White.
- supersparky
- Posts: 7290
- Joined: Mon Nov 26, 2012 7:00 pm
- Location: Home on the beautiful Gold Coast for a while.
Re: Driver-Reviver .
Good effort you guys. Are you planning on getting the Geriatric Gypsies back on the road??
Cheers
David
David and Terrie with Bandit the travelling companion
2006 Winnebago Alpine
Recently retired and loving it.
David
David and Terrie with Bandit the travelling companion
2006 Winnebago Alpine
Recently retired and loving it.
- Chuck
- Posts: 2885
- Joined: Sun Nov 25, 2012 10:31 am
- Location: Blue Mountains NSW
Re: Driver-Reviver .
Umm... well...
Would love to David but,
No.
Since returning from our last trip to the Atherton Tablelands where we spent 12 months - & that was three years ago - the only trips we have made is to
do local shopping. That, in it's self, may have been part to blame for my back finally raising the white flag & admitting enough is enough. I now, sometimes, have difficulty getting up/out of a chair... so the final act of our Geriatric Gypsying was the sale of the van & the Cruiser last November... replaced by the VW Tiguan so all I have to do now is try to understand all the technicality in the handbook....
We are planning a trip in the VW to Milla Milla van park in Jul/Aug where we stayed for 6 months of our last van trip & became good friends with the (then) new owners. If that goes well - who knows.
Would love to David but,
No.
Since returning from our last trip to the Atherton Tablelands where we spent 12 months - & that was three years ago - the only trips we have made is to
do local shopping. That, in it's self, may have been part to blame for my back finally raising the white flag & admitting enough is enough. I now, sometimes, have difficulty getting up/out of a chair... so the final act of our Geriatric Gypsying was the sale of the van & the Cruiser last November... replaced by the VW Tiguan so all I have to do now is try to understand all the technicality in the handbook....
We are planning a trip in the VW to Milla Milla van park in Jul/Aug where we stayed for 6 months of our last van trip & became good friends with the (then) new owners. If that goes well - who knows.
Chuck & Catriana
aka Geriatric Gypsies.
2018 VW Tiguan.
White.
aka Geriatric Gypsies.
2018 VW Tiguan.
White.
-
- Posts: 3472
- Joined: Fri Nov 23, 2012 9:08 pm
- Location: Rothwell
Re: Driver-Reviver .
Can't wait to have you here for a few days early July for the big 80. Seems years since we were down there last Nov.Big hugs Trina and a gentle one to you Chuckles.
Time is passing too quickly so live life to the full with your spouse/partner while you still have she/he by your side.
http://bkmcl.wordpress.com/2013/03/12/o ... m-24-2-13/#
http://bkmcl.wordpress.com/2013/03/12/o ... m-24-2-13/#
- Chuck
- Posts: 2885
- Joined: Sun Nov 25, 2012 10:31 am
- Location: Blue Mountains NSW