James Reserve, Lima East

James Reserve, Lima East is situated in the north-east region of Victoria in the Strathbogie Ranges. The campsite is on the banks of Moonee Monee Creek (Black Charlie Creek). Go through the shops at Swanpool and turn right past the recreation reserve following the sign to Lima East. Turn left 1.4km down the Lima East road. After 7.4kn this turns into a gravel road. James campsite is a further 5km on the right more info on James reserve

Arrived around midday to find the DSE there mowing the campground as it turned out after walking around a few acres of the camp with only 1 other there Linda wanted to camp in the spot that the DSE trucks were parked, she had a quick conversation with them and they moved and we started the unpack around 45mins latter (around a 5 acre camp, only 1 other there and we waited to set up to get Linda's "prime" spot)

Only 90min set up our record thus far, quite warm however the nearby trees were certainly handy in the afternoon and we walked around exploring back to camp and a great steak cooked on the webber even tho it was still warm we waited for the sun to go down and the temp to drop so we could have our "camp fire" although small still nothing like camping having a few drinks around a fire. Unfortunately due to Lind's excessive drinking was not a good nights sleep due to her snoring all night, maybe next time I will bring the swags as a precaution so I can sleep

Woke Saturday early to the birds carrying on from around 5:30am stoked the fire, cooked the morning breakfast of bacon, eggs and tomatoes on the webber and decided that another day out with the heat would have been too uncomfortable while a nice spot not a lot to do compared to other places we have stayed. Packed again as quick as any other time (think we are getting the hang of it) but the hard floor down the track will be a nice change.

Creek runs along the back of the camp, you can here the water when its quite

Around 6 camp spots with fire pit hot plate and table+chairs

View from our annex

Camp spot or the "prime spot"

View form the entrance to reserve  

View from cam back towards road

Camp

almost ready, and another great breakfast camping

 

Running Creeek Reserve, Howqua

Location:
From Mansfield: South 23k down the Woods Point Rd [C511] to just over the Howqua River Bridge (9k N of Jamieson), left (east) up the Howqua River Rd (Howquadale Rd) this is the first turn left after the bridge then around 8k (gravel, increasingly narrow and twisty) enter state forest, cross Running Creek bridge, 200m up to ridge and down signposted track to left (300m) opposite Steiners Rd

Another Myswag weekend away this time 3 nights away arrived Friday around lunch time to meet up with some other’s set up camp then around the fire for afternoon/evening drinks fired up the Webber for the first time

Woke Saturday morning to the birds and RAIN spent our time sweeping the rain out of our annex area (lesson no1 need matting) our Son Luke and his wife Monika arrived with a mate (Hayden) to do a bit of 4WD we set out with another camper (Matt & his Daughter Chloe) took the Mt Terrible track then on to the Polletti track back to Kevington Pub for lunch caught up with some other campers (Vicki & Graeme) nice lunch and a beer then headed back to camp.

Quick dinner then drinks around the fire again as more people had arrived during the day all up around 20+ camping in our group of which 15 we had never met before (the beauty of myswag.org)

Up Sunday nerves kicked in as the drive was getting closer (my 4WD experience is about 3hrs) thought of going the “chicken track”  to the old slate mine were we were to have lunch however no one else was going that way so I took the challenge. Left the camp and headed along symes track toward then on to Stoney Creek track. What a drive 10 vehicles in the convoy of which 8 had to be pulled up the last incline a lunch stop ended up being afternoon tea as it took over 2 hrs to get everyone atop the hill everyone was safe and reliving the stories that night around the fire with some well-earned drinks and lots of laughter.

A leisurely pack up on Monday arrived home early afternoon unpacked and spent an hour at the car wash cleaning the mud out from under the car Today (Tuesday) spent the day cleaning out the camper and hosing down all the wet flooring etc ready for next time

 



The campsite

The "weekender"

Campsite

Linda getting to know the "locals"

Lunch time for the "locals"

 

8 campers, 5 tents and some swags (our group)

 

4pm drinks

Yackandandah Holiday Park, Yackandandah

 

Another weekend away with the Myswag forum stayed a place call Yackandandah Holiday Park
yhp.com.au a short walk from the town itself arrived around midday Friday and set up by 2/2:30ish. 2nd group there and were able to sit back and enjoy watching everyone else, as on our first  Myswag outing we were the last to finish setting up (some 5hrs)

Woke Saturday to a beautiful day and a 4WD drive to Mt Stanley our first time in our 4WD as the Triton had only clicked over 1000k on the trip up a little nervous would be an understatement

Drove through pine plantations to Mt Stanley and back a steep descend that scared the life out of the both of us, did not put into the correct 4WD KEPT IN 4h instead of 4L??? NFI, well survived it and can only learn

Back to camp then to Yack pub to watch the GF with fellow swaggers (Linda went window shopping thankfully and did  not spend a cent)

Back to the CT for dinner, we cheated and drove into town for a pizza as I FORGOT to bring the saucepans, more drinks in the camp kitchen where a nice little fire was burning then in bed by 10pm

Sunday morning up early for breakfast sitting in the morning sun drinking coffee and packed up in record time and without arguing a GOOD weekend in all. Home to wash the mud of the car and a $hit lot of mud at that and unpack again in record time

Drive into Park

 

Creek around perimeter of camp site

 

Set up

 

Creek

Another campers Ozpig, we need one of these

Behind our camp

 

Camp Site

 

Drive to Mt Stanley, an experience to say the least

A track we chickened out of, we drove around

View from Mt Stanley

Nug Nug Reserve, Myrtleford

 

The outlook when we arrived

 

Another Friday to Sunday weekend away this time to a place called Nug Nug Reserve about 15 km South of Myrtleford the reserve is well sign posted from Buffalo River road about 13km out of Myrtleford.

Arrived around lunch time Friday to a downpour that lasted around 2 hrs we impatiently sat in the car deciding weather to risk a wet weekend or go home we decided what the heck we just brought a tarp to go over the camper for days like this “we need to toughen up” and grow some so we put up the camper in and out of showers that persisted to early evening. We moved the chairs backwoods and forwards from the awning to the fire to eventually the showers stoped and we sat around the fire drinking large amounts of alcohol (well Linda did)

During the course of the evening Linda trying to get her shoes dried “scorched” 1 of her shoes everything was fine until she said “oh well ill replace them” I asked how much were they? $249 needless to say there was some silence for some time, but I’m sure it was my fault or not keeping an eye on them!!!

Woke to the kookaburras around 6:30 / 7:00am stoked the fire, cooked bacon and eggs for breakfast the weather cleared from a foggy/misty morning to a brilliant day. Collected wood from around the area (well I watched Linda as someone had to keep an eye on the fire, shit she worked hard!!!!) and we cooked the left over bacon over the fire for a snacks latter then we decided (I did) to cook our steak over the open fire as well as some potatoes placed in the fire (2^nd attempt Linda got impatient with the first lot and they turned into charred cricket balls) she googled during the week as how best to cook them then followed those instructions 2^nd time around

Sat around the fire for a 2^nd night not too cold around 6deg the fire was raging by this stage again Linda drank lots of grog while I sipped on a few.

Sunday morning up and a coffee around the fire packed up then in to Myrtleford for a Coffee, Jam donut and sausage roll for the drive home unpacked the trailer in the garage due to some wetness and have all the floor covering/tarp out ready or next weekend to clean

Got home and quickly made a lamb roast for dinner with the kids (Kirstie invited herself and David so we had to invite Luke and Monika otherwise Kirstie will go to great lengths to let her brother know)

Learnings this trip:

·         Bring more bread

·         The innerspring mattress is much better the a foam mattress

·         Be brave when the weather is cr@p

 

 
 


5pm

Breakfast time

 

 

obvious

 

 

Linda still looking for phone coverage

 

Campsite's

 

A lazy afternoon

 

Skipworth reserve -Jamieson (Mar 14)

We ventured out this weekend by ourselves to Skipworth reserve 7Km from Jameison access via sealed road and campground on the left from Jamieson (1 of many along this stretch of road). Only took just on 2 hrs set up this time as we had a plan, executed the plan and did not argue at all!!. The learnings from out last outing payed dividends. Set up camp ready for a night under the stars and a nice little fire to suite. During the night to my horror realised that I did not pack enough beer for the 2 days (Linda took enough for a week) off to Jamieson pub to restock.

Woke to a beautiful crisp morning (Sat) stoked the fire ready for a day of doing nothing (Linda did go walkabouts for more fire wood) went down to the river for a stroll nice peaceful setting. Diner was a quick BBQ and we sat around the fire for hours watching a squirrel (or something running up the tree near our trailer) did have 4 legs. Linda spent some time feeding the birdlife that were around our camp

By this time Linda was getting anxious as there was no mobile phone coverage and getting the DTs as she could not text or snap-chat the kids.

Woke Sunday morning and placed the last couple of logs on the fire, sat and had coffee and toast ready to pack up and head home after about 10mins of packing the camper Linda was determined that the camper was to be sold, as the pack up was not going to her plans  (taking too much time) learnings from this trip

·         A new mattress for next outing, the foam mattress is cr*p

·         Pack beer first and more just in case

·         Defrost bacon early, could not defrost, did not have the bacon, eggs and tomatoes breakfast as planned
·         Must fix the 12v lights

·         Bring garbage bags for the rubbish  

A nice get a way only around 2.5 hrs from home a place we will certainly revisit and explore other camp grounds along the Jamieson River

 

Our friends for the weekend

The "gather" collecting more wood

the river

more of the river

 

 a big day collecting wood

 

 

breakfast time with a view  

 

The Island - Lake Eildon (Feb 14)

Our first camp in our new ezytrail camper was with a Myswag group at "The Island" - lake Eildon our virgin trip. Certainly learned a lot with a great bunch of people the first of many more trips will be had with the Myswag group

The day started with checking our recently purchased gas BBQ and 2 burner stove when I opened them the morning of the trip realized I did not have the right connection or a 9kg bottle, quick trip to BBQ galore and adaptor in hand. Pulled trailer out of garage ready for the weekend, filled up water tank and checked only to have tap fall apart in my hand fortunately we had to 20litre containers for water. Turned up at camp spot to be greeted by helpful and friendly people who gave advice on our first full set up only took just over 5 hrs from start to beer. During the night the jockey wheel gave way (did not engage fully in the first place) as well as a number of other learning's

•   Make sure you put down the stabiliser legs at the back
•   Get rid of the 33 extra poles you don’t need before you go away and spend hours looking for the right pole
•   Bring a claw hammer not a rubber mallet
•   Buy good pegs
•   Bring a phone charger that works if you have reception
•   Put up the annex up from the middle out, not from the outside in
•   Bring a broom
•   Don’t need to bring 4 towels
•   Don’t buy a fold out en-suite and attempt to put it back in the bag

All in all a great couple of days relaxing by the water, camp fire by night and company for our first trip out in our new camper trailer. A long list of things to buy before our next trip and a lot of learning's to take home  

View from our camper

 

Leaving the camp

View from lake back to campsite

 



From our camp

Our first set-up

 

Water's edge -The Island -Eildon