Perth - 16th November 1998

I'm in Perth, with partner Deanna. It's hot, it's sunny, and I'm staying in a house with a pool. Nuff said. Big thanks to Marina Hagarty for our place here in the sun.

Horror story of a car hire from Sydney - it was supposed to get us all the way here and back, a mere trifle of 8000 miles or so. But the company owned only wrecks, and the one we carefully selected was a Mitsubishi Magna with an amusing gearbox that kaputted in the grandest sense after only 24 hours on the road. We were towed to The Middle of Nowhere Garage some 150ks east of Wagga Wagga, I kid you not. Subtle negotiation with the hire company resulted in a full refund and us leaving the car for scrap.

On by Greyhound to Perth - 72 hours continuous coach and four dead roos. We've spent a busy week hunting down a car to BUY! Yes, brave for a non-driver to invest in a used car, but The Hornet fills us with, if not confidence, at least enthusiasm. It's a bright yellow 1980 Holden Commodore stationwagon (6 cylinder, L-type, 3.3, whatever that all means), and apart from the lights not actually working as such, and a curious rumbling on start-up - well we can't complain.

No doubt there'll be much to tell on the return leg, but it's nearly time for a meteor shower over here (and most likely where you are), so I'll close up. Various ramblings exist elsewhere on this site: on heading off once more... and thoughts part two...

The story of the car continues here...

Jez 16/11/98

Goin' home…