I’m preparing to leave Apsley, Vic, and head to Younghusband Kia Marina to begin an exciting new chapter—living on a houseboat. Although I feel anxious and struggle with car travel, I’m determined to push through. Just finishing up packing the last of our essentials into the car.
Later that evening, the sun had already set, and darkness had settled in. Unloading the car felt like a chore, but at least we had the memorable experience of crossing the Murray River on a ferry. It was straight out of a storybook—being pulled across by a cable system. The ferry ride was magical, but stepping onto the houseboat for the first time was even more extraordinary. This is my new home.
The place is a bit chaotic with boxes and belongings scattered everywhere, but I’m excited to start setting up. It’s so much more spacious compared to where I was living before—a granny flat behind the main house (which, ironically, is also ours). Packing everything back in there was a mission, but now I have all this extra room. The houseboat is massive in comparison!
We’re docked in a marina off the main Murray River in what feels like a quiet inlet. There’s a faint, stagnant smell from the water, but it’s nothing overwhelming. I spent some time sitting out on the back deck, gazing at the stars and listening to the gentle sound of water lapping beneath our canoe tied to the boat. My dog Chelsea found it endlessly entertaining—curiously edging closer to the sound but quickly retreating whenever the water splashed against the canoe. It was hilarious to watch.
We plugged in our King camp fridge/freezer to the 240v outlet, but an error message popped up. Switching it to the 12v outlet seemed to work temporarily, but eventually, the error returned. I ended up transferring all the food into the houseboat’s built-in 240v fridge/freezer, so at least nothing went to waste. Crisis averted!
After a long day, I’m completely wiped out. Time to relax and watch some episodes of Once Upon a Time on my laptop before bed. Goodnight for now – Houseboat Woman 🛟