Day 35: Junee

There’s something to be said for sleeping in the car.  Clean up in the mornings goes a lot quicker when you’re not so comfortable.  When we sleep in the car, we’re on the road by about 8 every morning.  When we stay at a Caravan Park, we’re pushing to get out by 10—which is check out time.  This morning was no different. 

We headed into town and were almost immediately distracted by the RAAF—Royal Australian Air Force—base that was just right next door to the Caravan Park.  Even though we’d just piled into cars, we let the kids pile right back out and play around the great airplanes they had displayed.  All the kids were having a ball!

When we finally did make it into town we were on a mission to try and find π² a duster, just like his Papi’s.  We were probably in a different shop than the one π bought his in 20 years ago, but we found them at Aussie Disposals!  Sadly, he didn’t earn enough money for a Driz-a-bone brand coat, so we looked at the other brand there—still a good coat, just not the same one his Dad has.  Alas, it wasn’t meant to be.  They didn’t have the right size for him so he “settled” for a Kangaroo-leather Bharma hat.  We met a great guy, David, at the shops and he gave us some great advice about our trip.  I can’t get over how nice everyone is up this way!

We had so much fun at the shops that we didn’t get out of Wagga Wagga until around 1:00.  The kids loved being able to cross the street diagonally!  The stop lights have 3 cycles, the North/South traffic, the East/West traffic then the pedestrian traffic.  It was super fun and we ended up crossing the street a lot more than we needed to just to cross like that!

When we got to Junee, π was too excited to eat so we started our quest to find the Harbrows.  We rooked up to a little second hand shop and asked the older lady at the counter if she knew them.  Of course she did!  This is a little town like Beaver, UT where everyone knows everyone.  As a matter of fact, this lady lives right down the street from them.   She looked up the number for us and we gave Joy a call.

 Wary at first but warming when she understood who I was, she invited us over.  It was so neat getting to meet a person who I’ve heard stories of for the last 20 years.  Neater still was how sweet and accommodating she was.  She let the kids play with the toys in her yard while we visited for a bit.  She was so lovely, it’s no wonder π’s remembered his time with her family so fondly for all these years.

On our way out of town we thought we’d stop at the train museum really quickly and just take a look.  I don’t know if I should say that was a good idea or a bad idea!  Three and a half hours later we had three new friends, Janet and Paul and their grandson Riley and the kids know all about how a steam engine works and they had the best time exploring all the trains in the museum.

 Paul was so patient and kind with the kids—they still hadn’t eaten lunch and they were so excited about getting to climb in and actually explore the old trains that they were a bit wild.  As they ran in and out and up and down each engine, Paul taught π, π² and I all about each one, when it was built, what it was used for etc. 

The most fascinating one for me was the crane train.  The US sent 5 of these to Oz in the 1940’s to aid in the war effort.  Oz wasn’t able to repair their trains fast enough to get supplies to the troops so the US sent these to help.  After the war, Australia didn’t have the money to pay for all of them.  They kept 2 and sent 3 of them back.  According to Paul, the US really didn’t want them back so half way home they “accidentally” got dropped into the ocean.  One of the two remaining cranes was dismantled and sold off for parts so this is the only one left in existence.  It’s rated at 50 (500?) tons yet there are photos of it lifting a 75 (750?) ton engine.  I am still riveted by the idea of watching that! 

This has been such a fun, productive day!  We’ve thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and only Mama is having a hard time reconciling the time with our schedule.  If we make it to tour Sydney, we make it.  If not, we don’t.  It’s as simple as that.  For now, we’re eating hot dogs in the rain at the park in Junee before we head out towards Katoomba.

Interesting how things work out, isn’t it?  Had we kept to the plan today, we would have headed to Katoombra via the highway—just like google maps is telling us to.  We would have missed seeing Austin because he was transferred to the tiny town of Cowra—which is 2 hours off the highway.  But we met Paul who told us the best way to Katoombra from Junee is through the inland road which goes right through Cowra.  We’re just two hours from where Austin is serving!  We’ll pack up dinner here in a minute and head that way and see where the rest of the day/night’s adventures lead us!