Onslow has provided us with an entire gamut of experiences. The good, the bad and the ugly. However, do not misunderstand me. Onslow has also been paradise for us in the last eight days. The days are warm, the nights deliciously cool. The sunrise and sunset are spectacular. Yesterday, we discovered the beach at Four Mile Creek and spent a very happy session collecting all manner of pebbles, coral and shells. We have travelled the length of the scenic boardwalk from the Anzac Memorial to Sunset Beach. We have marvelled at the impressive structures of the Wheatstone gas plant, the salt pile and the jetties. We have been informed and entertained by a very satisfactory hour inside the excellent Goods Shed Museum. We have met numerous other campers, townspeople and of course dogs. We have yet to travel out to Old Onslow. That was going to be this afternoon's activity before Happy Hour at the Beach Resort, however, Michael has just returned from a Mission, has spat the dummy, eaten his lunch, had a beer and is now contemplating whether to complete (as much as is possible) the blasted saga of the Swift water heater tank or retire from the world for an afternoon nap.
The troublesome tank has captured significant time during our stay at Ocean View. That the leak was more than just a dribble took a couple of days to realise. Then, there was the task of removing the device from the underside of the caravan. The quest to find a tradesperson at Swift in Melbourne. The taking of numerous photos and much gnashing of teeth trying to shrink them on Michael's phone. More photos taken and edited on my camera and sent via gmail. Conversations backwards and forwards across the country, with hysteria a clear and present danger. Finally working out that the unit had been installed without various necessary components, in a slapdash way, leading to sheared rivets and the breach of the tank. A catastrophe not quite as epic as the sinking of the Titanic, but stressful and bothersome nonetheless. Added to this story is that the caravan company has gone bust, Kokoda appears to be returning to administration due to the insolvent trading by the owner since 2018 (!) and we will have to approach the insurance company about a replacement unit as the current tank is terminally kaput.
What we hope to salvage from this sorry mess, is emptying the tank, returning it to its position and relying on cold water only for the rest of the trip. Fortunately, we are staying in caravan parks for most of this northern endeavour and have access to ablutions, plus the trusty kettle for heating dirty dishes water.
I have also had my faith in human nature restored at Ocean View. The majority of the guests are retirees, who are just enjoying a quiet escape from the rat race in a warm and picturesque setting. Imagine my horror, a couple of days ago, when I noticed a pair of Michael's jeans had gone missing from the communal washing line. Surely, there couldn't be a thief amongst our caravan park neighbours. After a somewhat disturbed night, I was delighted and relieved to see the jeans pegged back on the line in the morning. Any feelings of disquiet melted away.
Tomorrow is Staircase to the Moon, a beautiful event in the Northwest which may be viewed at coastal sites between April and October. Photographs will follow. Plus, there is the Onslow Staircase Street Festival and Markets between five and nine o'clock, so I think a wonderful evening will be had by all.
After that, our stay in Onslow will be rapidly approaching its end. I have already decided that I want to book for next year. Now all Michael and I are arguing about is for how long...
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