# 24

#24: Help a stranger with mechanical problems

My dad is pretty much the King of Tradies. I'm not. But I can do a basic oil change and am pretty convinving at poking around at some random bit under the bonnet and saying "nah, that's fine. Problem's gotta be somewhere else", in my best I-totally-know-what-I'm-talking-about voice. So I figured that since I was driving the entire way around a pretty damn big country, and seeing as its something I've never done, helping someone out with mechanical problems would get a guernsey on the List.

In an ideal world I would have crossed this one off by stopping for a couple of hot Swiss chicks stranded in the middle of the desert who would have repaid my mechanical aptitude with much love and affection, rather than two middle aged dudes in the middle of Coffs Harbour suburbia, but I guess you've gotta take what you can get. Anyways, one of these guys was standing next to their car literally scratching his head, so I figured this was my time to shine.

Turned out they had a flat tyre and no jack handle. Did I have one they could possibly borrow? Of course. Did they need anything else? An ingenius contraption made out of pipe cleaners and clothes hangers to hold up their busted muffler? A raw egg and some chewing gum to stop their critically damaged radiator from leaking out everywhere? No? You sure? Fine, whatever. It still counts.

The guys were pretty grateful, and that's fair enough - its not every day your guardian angel rocks up disguised as a van driving ginger hippie. But what got me thinking was this: I've seen lots of people stranded by the side of the road before, but I've never stopped. I always assume there's an RAC guy or a Tradie Dad already on their way, or someone who actually knows what they're doing will stop, or if I stop for them then I won't be able to rescue the two hot Swiss chicks who might be stranded just around the corner. But this time I did stop, and pretty much it was only because of the List.

So as an extension of that, could you say that the Van List is making a difference to the world? Making it a better place for all of us, individually and collectively? Bringing a little bit of light to those who need it most? Well yes, now that you mention it. You could say that.

You're welcome.

Highs and Lows

Its been a fair while since I last did a generic what's been going on post. So here goes, broken down into mini journeys along with their highlights and lowlights.

Melbourne - Canberra
I spent maybe a week between leaving Mat's place in Melbs and arrivng at Kirby's in Canberra, via Snowy River National Park and Mt Kosciuszko.
Highs: Golden Plains Festival (see previous recipe entry), Beautiful scenery and campsites around Kosciuszko, an excellent day's drive from Vic to NSW, following the Snowy River
Lows: Being balls cold every night. Incredibly steep and windy roads that reduced the van to an average of 35k's per hour, and me to a stressed out wreck.

Canberra
Planned on hanging with Kirby for a few day. Stayed for 8. Nothing like free accomodation and good company.
Highs: Catching up with Kirbalicious. One of the best things about this trip is hanging out with old friends and meeting new ones. Kirby is a super top bloke, even if he does work for the government, and his housemates are both super friendly and genuinely lovely people, even if they both work for the government. Other highlights were the War Memorial, National Art Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery. And of course Devi's bday picnic culminating in white water rafting down a river, on a couch.
Lows: Canberra has some pretty cool stuff. It just needs more of it. Much, much more.

Canberra - Sydney
From Canberra I headed down the coast as far as Eden, which is fairly close to the NSW/Vic border. Then spent about a week heading to Sydney.
Highs: Heaps and heaps of amazing small towns with lovely beaches and free or cheap campsites with hardly anyone around.
Lows: Hardly anyone around. Getting called in from a good surf coz some folks in the shallows saw a shark. The surf was good, damnit.

Sydney
Last year I put up Laura (an old lawn bowls acquaintance) for a night when she came over for uni games. This year she repaid the favour by putting me up for 8 nights. I think that's fair.
Highs: Seeing The Herd live. Amazing. Again. Finding a girl who actually liked my hair, and could put up with the beard. Manly and Newtown both rock. Could definitely move to Sydney permanently because of those two suburbs alone. Chinatown and bumming around the CBD in general.
Lows: $86 parking fine for reverse parrallel parking, instead of forward parrallel parking. Seriously?

Sydney - Coffs Harbour
I met Simone, a lovely Scottish lass, in Sydney and we headed up the coast for a week.
Highs: Lots and lots of awesome bays and beaches. Getting some awesome waves and generally chilling out in Treachery Bay. Buying awesome hippy/wrap/fisherman pants. Comfort to the max.
Lows: Weather was a bit temperamental with rain most afternoons. Easter Weekend. Serisouly folks, I have to camp somwhere every single night. I shouldn't have to put up with you and your families coming and crowding out my campsites just so you can get a few days off work. So selfish.

Coffs Harbour
Been staying with my Uncle in the hills just out of Coffs at his beautiful property for the last week. Should be here until mid July when I'm catching up with my sister in Byron.
Highs: Heaps of waves. Seeing Tijuana Cartel in the little hippy town of Belligen.
Lows: Heading back to the van for a quick beer between the support act and Tijuana Cartel, and then waking up 45mins later. Still saw most of the set. I think. Being an unemployed bum is awesome when its by choice, but now i'm looking for work and haven't found any yet, its just annoying. Life is just so damn hard sometimes.
Oh well, better go for another surf...