20170210 – Friday – My second Grey Nomad Adventure

20170210 – Friday. Leaving Monday for Werri Beach

For the last two months I have been stressing out, a lot!

Almost two years ago I took my little trailer,  that my dear Dad built for me many years ago, on a a solo journey from Adelaide, to a bible conference at Rathmines, NSW and on to my friends Barry and Pauline Oliver’s goat farm at Cobar NSW and from thence straight down through Broken Hill to Adelaide and home. That was in August of 2015, and I haven’t used my little trailer since then. It has sat in the yard, forlornly, unused, untouched.

Pauline and Barrie Oliver at Cobar

This year, it is my Sister-in-Law’s 80th birthday and her family are holding a family reunion for her with her 11 brothers and sisters and their families. My brother Rick, Beth’s husband,  died many years ago, and I have only seen Beth infrequently over the years, my last contact being during my travels in 2015.

When I heard about Beth’s 80th I decided on impulse that I would attend the reunion so that I could see Beth once more whilst both of us are able to enjoy each other’s company. I made the booking in the caravan park, a drive-thru site so my trailer can stay on my car and not have to be taken off. That was a few months ago, but now the time was actually here for me to make the final decisions about whether I wanted to go or not; whether I felt that I could cope with the travel since I now need a walking frame to walk.

Was I able to go on another trip? Was I game enough to go on another Grey Nomad “adventure.” In November this year I will be 78 years of age! How did I ever get that old? Well, I finally made the decision, a “yes” it was! I messaged my good friend Peter Roberts and asked him if he could come and help me put my trailer on the car so I could take it to my “garage man” to get my trailer wheels greased and anything else that needed fixing, fixed! Peter came yesterday, and now my trailer is on my car, the trailer is cleaned out and everything is packed that I need to take with me in my trailer, on my journey. Peter also took away the box that goes with my trailer which had broken and needed fixing. He said he would have it ready for me Friday afternoon.

This morning I planned to have coffee with my old friend Peter Schwartzkoppf  but haven’t been able to get in touch with him.  He is not well. He is on dialysis and recently has lost a lot of his energy and strength. He is probably one of the most courageous people I know. He is only allowed 1 litre of water to drink in a day, and is also only allowed to eat about 1/3 of what a “normal” person eats in a day. This is so the dialysis machine can cope with his body and blood. All he is doing now is living each day as best he can, and waiting for Jesus to come. I knew that if Peter were me, with the health that I have, he would go on this trip. So I will forget about my legs, trust in God, and take my lovely little car and beautiful little trailer and go on my merry way to my sister-in-law’s reunion.

This afternoon at 1.00 pm was my appointment to get the wheels greased and the canvas cover water-proofed. I expected it to cost me maybe about $100 but my garage man did it for me for free! People can be so kind.  I then went to Harvey Norman’s to purchase a charger for my iPhone and iPad and thence to Peter Roberts place to pick up my trailer “box.” It was ready and it was fixed perfectly! Another kindness from a very kind man. Darren Gore messaged me on What’sapp to negotiate a time for us to have coffee together while he is in Adelaide. We can probably fit it in Sunday Afternoon, but he will be in touch to make a definite time.

Fay Berry at Vilis working away

Right now I have been at Vili’s for a nice almost celebratory dinner that I decided I would have, celebrating the fact that my little trailer is all ready to go. I have a special woman at Vilis who serves me when I go there. Her name is Fleur and she looks after me so well. She knows what I like to eat and so she fills my plate with the salads I like and not the things I don’t like – no salt and pepper or sauces etc. So many wonderful people in this world.

Saturday is free for me at the moment and Sunday morning will be the morning meeting at South, maybe coffe then with Darren, and then Monday morning I will be on my way. I had actually planned in my mind, not to stay for Sunday, but Adrian Dangerfield is giving the exhortation and it will be good and I don’t want to miss it. When I finally leave on my journeying, I will be praying for God’s care and to keep me safe in my travels. I always think of Shadrach and Meshek and Abednego when I pray in this way. They told the King that their God was able to save them from the burning fiery furnace, but even if God did not save them, they would still not worship the God’s of Nebuchadnezzar.  I know that God can prevent anything bad from happening to me on my way interestate, but if bad still happens, then I will still trust  in my God that whatever happens to me will be for my ultimate good, even if it were my death. So I won’t fear, I will just trust.

Well, I guess this is another small “milestone” in my life’s journey and story.