It’s that time of year again when the PooleWain family ventures north to the Murray River. Sadly the Rav is not with us anymore, so we’ve gone full electric on this run. Additional planning was required, roof racks and pod for extra storage. Not much measures up to Rav boot space. Planned stops for recharge, can and passengers. No planning or preparation would prevent the obligatory “How much longer?” before the burley tunnel.

We made good time to Heathcote, and that’s where things started to unravel. Dad got an emergency work phone call that wasn’t really an emergency, but still took half an hour to deal with. One of the ladies toilets was blocked. Ethan didn’t want to eat his party pies. By the time dad got to his lunch it was cold and dry. Our usual Bakery stop is not meeting expectations this year, on future trips we will look for alternatives.

Finally getting to Echuca an hour behind schedule we realised we’d forgot the sinkies, nurf torpedo, Kelsies inflatable. Well Dad forgot but neither Ethan or Kelsie helped pack except for their iPads so there’s blame to share.

Work call at heathcote.

Tonight was the local triathlon. So after Kelsie and Daddy failed to do a top up charge on the car, and some grocery shopping, the could not drive from one end of town to the other. The car was parked/abandoned and groceries delivered home on foot.

Dinner was at a local Italian place that mummy and daddy both noted has gone more casual than the first time we took Kelsie there. We attribute the change to the epic tantrums and food storm that was left around the table. The conversations at dinner went something like this

Mum, Dad, I’ve got the gum off my tooth. That’s got to be worth at least 20cents

There’s No such thing as a gum fairy.

Dad Dad Dad.

Ethan Ethan Ethan.

Kelsie Kelsie Kelsie.

Excuse me, how long do you think our meals will be?

Waitress confused ‘are we in a hurry?’

Mum and Dad: obviously doesn’t have kids…

Mum and Dads meals no where to be Seen. Kelsie and Ethan had polished off a garlic facoccia and their own meals. And we’re now chomping at the bit for ice-cream

The evening goes on.. bedtime takes forever and everyone is exhausted. Let’s hope we survive the heat tomorrow.