My first ‘observation’ for this trip is that children will ask questions repeatedly about the concept they don’t fully understand. Ethan is not too bad with distance, and can comprehend that we ‘aren’t there yet.’, but struggles with the concept of time. So today resonated with the question “How many minutes?”

Today started on the wrong foot, halfway from Holebrook to Gundagai, for breakfast, Ethan asked if we brought his eclair. No, we left that in the fridge.

When we got to the ‘Dog on the tuckerbox’ the roadhouse has been replaced with an Olivers. They do ‘Natural food, and organic coffee’ there wasn’t a regular juice in sight, and the only thing on the menu the kids wanted was prepacked banana bread.

But it wouldn’t be a Poole Wain holiday if things ended there.

Next, the Shell Service station was undergoing renovations and all of their unleaded pumps were out of order. So while Dad is trying to google the next closest fuel station, Mum takes Kelsie and Ethan into the ‘Dog on the tuckerbox’ gift shop. Where Kelsie loses her mind because we won’t let her buy an overpriced lollipop that has a unicorn on the wrapper but looks in no way like anything unicorn related. We are 2 from 2 for negative experiences with random gift shops.

The lady behind the counter informed us the only reliable fuel source was to double back 10km, as the fuel stations before Yass were out of fuel. When we got there we went to the wrong entrance as the diesel-only forecourt was badly signed. We almost went the wrong way back onto the freeway, as we approached the freeway I received a text from ANZ about a payment to J MUHAMMED. I’m glad the bank I have never used is letting me know about transfers to people I’ve never heard of.

Stopping in Canberra had always been on our to-do list. But we should have seen the red flag when the Questacon website wouldn’t let us buy tickets. Anyway, we absolutely had to see the highway that just ends in a paddock, the sign says it’s due to be completed in 2023. We had to see the ‘lane one form’ instructions painted on the road. We finally made it to Questacon and it was a solid hour of trying to Keep K and E from getting lost, running into people, and keeping their hands sanitised after touching EVERYTHING! Kelsie was most excited by the gift shop and she chose a random butterfly kite. At least it may be something that can be enjoyed on the holiday. Ethan picked some ‘stretchy noodles’ because I have no idea. We did visit Parliament house, but that didn’t last long as we still had 4 hours of driving, and Kelsie and Ethan couldn’t stand still for even a picture. Now that we’ve been, I can hear Graham Chapman’s voice saying “Canberra is a silly place”. And for all the bickering between Sydney and Melbourne over the capitol, you know what Sydney, you can have Canberra.

There were far too many native animals adorning the shoulders of the highways today. But non when we got to Sydney. I’ve now worked out why. At the entrance to Sydney highways, there are signs that clearly state Prohibited: Pedestrians, Cyclists, Animals. If only the Riverina would put these signs up maybe so many of our native animals wouldn’t just be another statistic.

We made it to Newcastle at 8pm. And were surprised to see road closures. More roadworks we thought. No, Council was mowing the traffic Islands.