Get everything organised inside vehicle and then attend to the hitching up. Use the Jimny to push trailer out onto driveway and straighten it up — all going well so far … then reverse the Alpine back to trailer, use camera and make it 2nd go (first time I was looking at the shadow of towbar, not the real thing!). Pull out the ramps on trailer (easypeasy) then drive the car up — OOps there seems to be a big bounce - go round to front of trailer - I FORGOT to lock down the ball and the trailer has bounced off - fortunately have really strong chains and they are crossed so trailer isn’t on the ground. Quick phone call to Ian Bond and he comes to the rescue - again. He jacks up the a-frame with his hydraulic jack and it’s AOK again.
Triumphantly drive out of Jean’s (with Jean filming me) feeling like a million dollars - I’m “on the road again”.
Have 2pm booking at VicRoads to get the trailer re-registered - first off go to Ian Bond’s shed and he replaces the number plate lights which broke off when I backed over a post in Katherine. The inspection goes well — everything OK am now official and legal.
Laurie is going to be a bit later so I decide to go on ahead to Sale - the POI for the showgrounds is in Camps 4 on Tom Tom - 64 kms - takes me right there. It’s a big showground - room for all sized rigs - not much shade for bigger rigs, but I manage to grab the last spot. Lots of trees around the oval for smaller vehicles.
We have a celebratory meal at the Greyhound Races Club which is on the same property - seems a bit expensive and had to wait a long time for the meal, but drinks very reasonable - tonic water with lemon $2. We also both see our very first greyhound race - all 2 seconds of it as they flash past - the dogs really seem to enjoy racing though as there are lots of wagging tails at the end. The rabbit was funny - hot pink terry towelling with white ears.
PORT ALBERT
