Water water everywhere!

Thursday Dec 4^th 1930;

Got the car all ready this morning but decided to wait another day. Plane started out west this morning but 60 miles out struck a big storm and had to return. Made another attempt this afternoon. Spent the afternoon and evening writing.

Friday Sept 5^th 1930:

Up early and all ready to leave when Wandangi mailman came back and said that no hope of getting far along the road. Thought even then I might try as the mailman makes a lot out of a little but eventually decided to wait another day. Did some writing. Visited the hospital.

Saturday Dec 6^th 1930:

Picked up a ‘gate-opener’ and ‘pusher’ this morning and set out. Called at the ‘Don’ selection 15 miles out and had smoko etc. Went on and found Weroona

Creek easily crossable. No trouble till came within 3 miles of Buckley River. Had to do some detours to miss boggy patches. Crossed the first 3 channels of the Buckley alright after a little bit of work on them and then came to the main channel. Terribly boggy here and the banks at the crossing silted up. River fairly high. We thought we could manage the crossing if we could first get through the 30 yards of bog that was knee deep. Cut down a tree and filled in with the branches one bad spot and then tried it. Got nearly through it all, the front wheels being on hard solid ground, when the back ones went down and buried themselves and the back axle. Tried to lever the wheels up but it was hard work and had to clean out all round first with our hands as the shovel was no good in the stocky mud. Got them up a bit and tried to drive out when something broke and we were done. Thought it was the clutch or the gears but could do nothing with the car where it was. Hoped the mailman would be along any minute, so washed as much mud off as possible and boiled the billy and ate and drank. No sign of any car so decided to walk back and see if anyone coming. Kept walking and a few miles came to where rain had fallen so had to go back barefooted. Walked back top Weroona Ck, 11 miles without a stop. ‘Red Dick’ camped here and so had a drink of tea and all he had to eat was damper and sugar and we made short work of it. A half a mile away a black and his gin and pic’s were camped so we went up to him and asked him to drive us another 11 to the Don selection. Said he would in the morning as it was then too late ( being 9 pm) so we made ready to camp with Dick and be eaten by mosquitoes. Were just settling down when up drove old Zulu and said he would take us there. Hopped on and had a great moonlight drive in a buggy and pair up to the ‘Don’. Roused them out of bed and Mr Campbell got his car out and drove us into town. Got in at 2 am and I was feeling very weary and tired and sore. Had a shower and turned in.

Sunday Dec 7^th 1930:

Up at daybreak and arranged for Jack Miller to take us down to the car in his buggy and pull us out. Had breakfast and left at 8 am. Mailman followed behind us. Got there without trouble amnd after an hour’s work got the car out. The mailman went through on our tracks then and eventually got over the river. Had a look at my bus then and after a while discovered the damage was in the back wheel where the key pin was broken. Took the w\heel off and made a job of it so as to get us home. Had some lunch and a clean up in the river and returned. Got changed and slept until late in the evening.

Monday Dec 8^th 1930:

Took the car to the river this morning and washed it. Did some writing. Sent away for a new part for the car. Did some reading.

Tuesday Dec 9^th 1930:

Weather terribly hot although no further rain. Lazed about doing a few odd jobs.

Wednesday Dec 10^th 1930:

Mail day. Ordinary and air. Spent most of the day reading letters and papers. Got the car ready for the road again. Called up at the hospital and saw the patients.