June 5: Sometimes You Have to be Flexible

I enjoyed my ride with Shane and Carol this morning. We drove through a few dust storms, the wind was howling, and I was nicely protected! We arrived in Ravensthorpe at 9:30. As luck would have it (I’ll explain in a moment), the caravan park office wasn’t open until 2:00. 


I loaded everything back on Tilmann, and decided to go check out the town. I first went to the post office to get more stamps for Grayson’s postcards (and send him another one), then went to the library to get WiFi. I paid $5 for an hour, but was unable to connect. I got my $5 back.


I stopped at the IGA cafe and had something to eat. I was also able to buy a cheap plastic cup because my Sea to Summit collapsible cup died in Esperance. 


Next I stopped in at the Sweet Shop (yes, this tiny town has a shop devoted to my favorite food group...sugar!). I was talking to the owner, and a couple from Hopeton. They said the weather is supposed to be bad for three more days. They said the road to the next town (Jarramanup) would still be directly into the wind, and it was 115kms (this I knew), and it was very hilly. Hmmm.... all not good things when put together! I then blurted out, “Is there a bus to Albany?” The shop owner said there was. She told me where to inquire about said bus (at the BP Roadhouse), so I went there.


I asked about the bus at the Roadhouse. Giada and Vivica told me the ways I could get a ticket for the bus. Then, Giada asked where I was staying tonight. I was planning the caravan park, but she wrote down her address (and it’s Vivica’s and the other women who work at the station, house too). They said I could stay with them.


The best way for me to get a bus ticket was to go to the library. They book TransWa bus tickets there. So, I went back to the library, and booked a ticket for tomorrow morning for me and Tilmann to Albany. This bus takes the long way (versus the bus on Thursday), but I’ll get to see countryside I wouldn’t have seen.


I went back to the BP and waited a short bit for Giada and Vivica to get off work (I had a piece of carrot cake while I was waiting that Vivica made. It was very good!). Giada and I walked back to their house. Giada sleeps out in the caravan, and there are extra beds there, so I’ll sleep in there tonight. Tilmann is parked under cover. 


In addition to the wind blowing fiercely, it has been spitting rain off and on, but not enough to knock down the dust. The air is a brownish dust color. I think this is a good choice to take the bus to Albany. Plus, I get to make new friends! If the caravan park had been open, I would have been staying there in my tent in this wind and dust. This is so much better!


Tilmann ready to go!


Thanks Carol and Shane!


Giada’s home, and mine for the night



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