Melbourne
Now that this section is over it is time to sort out the next stage and get the car ready to ship out to India.
We stayed just for one night at the camp site just outside Melbourne
and the next morning we headed for a back packers hostel "Enfield
House" right in the centre of Melbourne "St Kilda" run by Heidi and
Paul. It is the same hostel where we stayed for the first night when we
arrived in Australia from England. I telephoned Heidi from the car and
asked if it was possible to bring the car to Enfield House for a few
days to sort it out and get all of the paper work done in the city. She
very kindly agreed and to allowed us to stay there for three days as
their guests. So that morning we arrived at the house and settled in. I
had a plenty of work to do - contacting the various agents around the
city and later on emptying out the car and cleaning the inside as it
was a bit of a mess by the end of this drive. It even rained for the
first time and I had to stop several times and put all the gear into
the car, trying not to get everything wet. The first day went by very
quickly. I arranged to meet up with P&O to organise the shipment of
the car to India the next day, so I was happy that things were going
smoothly and later on we went out to get some dinner which turned out
to be a large Pizza each which we took back to our room and ate them
while we watched a movie on my computer - I think it was a Mel Gibson
film !
Next morning I woke up very early and after a wash I went out to the
car to sort out a few more jobs which had to be done before the car
went into its container. I first had to clean out the trailer and wash
the cooking things as I didn't want them to get all smelly by the time
I want to use them again, I also had to change the wheels around to
even the wear that means front off side wheel goes on the rear near
side and the rear near side goes onto the front near side and so on so
that all the tyres get an even wear, or thats the theory anyway. I also
packed all the things I wanted to keep with me and the rest was put
into the roof box for safety. As James was preoccupied I decided to go
out to the agents alone and so I got a Taxi into the city centre and
had my meetings. Then I had a good walk around the city and saw plenty
of the sights. I got back to the house exhausted and ready for a few
drinks with the other guests.
Later on James and I were taken out for dinner and we sat outside a
café on the street. We all had a very nice meal and as the evening went
on it began to get cooler so we all walked back to the house and sat
about for the rest of the evening, yet another successful day and one
that has gone by so quickly. Today I had to take the car to the area in
which she has to go into a container and it was quite a long drive out
of the city to the dock area. When we arrived I disconnected the
battery and took the rest of my things out of the car and left it to be
pushed into the container and strapped down ready for it's next long
voyage to Madras via Singapore. I was sorry to leave Mini there and as
I was driving her to this place I felt like carrying on and doing the
long haul around Australia again just for fun as I have so much enjoyed
this drive and the hospitality of all the Australians I have met. Maybe
one day I will do it again but I think it would be better in a vehicle
more suited to off roading though I am very pleased with my little car
and very proud despite some that mock. Next update will be from India
in a couple of weeks time. See you all then.
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