linda & Peter on Tour: 2015

Friday, 4 December 2015

Barmah Lakes Camping Area, Barmah

We took the new camper out for the first trip headed for Carters beach / Ulupna Island searched for the camp ground but unbelievably we (I) could not find it !!!! And to believe we have been there before. So we headed to Barmah Lakes @ Barmah state forest to camp another spot we went for a day trip earlier this year and another spot we decided back then would be good to camp, arrived nearly 4 hrs after we left (normally and hrs drive) we did have to return home after a false start when I forgot the solar panels

Anyway Linda was in fine form and certainly had no trouble in letting me know what she thought of the trip so far, Made camp around 2pm first time set up took a bit of time as we had not put the annex up previously. A dinner of sausage sandwiches few drinks and to bed by 10PM

A great nights sleep as we have purchased and “ “ this was always a problem in the other camper for various reasons but this was by far our best sleep since we first went camping some 2 years ago

Woke to the sounds of the birds @5:30am a breakfast on the webber, then we embarked on setting up all the walls etc only to work out that a piece we had specially made (front /side screen instead of canvas) had the zippers on the wrong end well that’s what it looks like will need to get on to them but all in all certainly happy with the setting up. Linda went for a nana nap with the 12v air cooler on another little toy we picked up at a recent camp show- quite impressed actual it did the job in34 deg Temp

Dinner of hamburgers and salad fortunately we are able to eat inside as the flies were something else, could not have eaten in the open as every 2nd mouthful would have had a fly, a few lazy drinks, Linda managed to keep in touch with everyone via FB and at one stage was on FB and texting someone else on the phone (pic below) gota love camping with internet access!!!!

Up again early with the birds quick coffee and breakfast packed up got a few things wrong pulled down camper without closing outside windows and hadn’t taken the annex off, we did laugh as how could you forget to not do it in the right order!!!!, looking fwd to next trip already

Camp already for the weeknd

Camp

She thinks by tipping alachol into a diet coke can will put people off the scent, have a look at the eyes

Cant go camping without internet access

Not fooling me !!!!, close by the ipad and iphone

At this stage she is on FB and texting friends, love the serenity of camping

another great camping breakfast

Eating indoors, the flies were a real pain

an Ebay bargin, does not work

A 12v water cooler, work quite well just fill with cold waer and ice, she managed to have a nana nap and it was 34deg

Packed ready to head home

on our way, the planning started already for our next weekend away

Sunday, 1 November 2015

Running Creek Reserve, Howqua

Headed back for a 2nd year to Running Creek Reserve for Melb Cup weekend with some Myswag friends (Hutchie & Wendy, Vic & Graeme, Nikki & Malcom) met up and Mansfield then drive to camp arriving late morning Friday set up camp, pizzas on the Webber for dinner then the customary drinks that evening.

Woke Saturday to thunder and rain and rain and more rain then off to Mansfield markets where Linda managed to consume 20 odd shot glasses of different beverages that were on sale, all this by 11am she did buy a few bottles of “something that tasted nice” she tells me. While walking around the market she also noticed some priceless “wall hangings” and thought we needed 1 to hang in the patio, best $25 we have ever spent NOT!!!!

Kevington Hotelfor lunch, afternoon drive out towards the slate mine collecting some fire wood for the customary camp fire that evening and a few hours spend around the fire, drinking and just talking BS.

Woke Sunday to overcast skies the rain started to fall so we quickly put the tarp over the camper as to make sure the pack up was not wet. Managed to get the camper packed and headed home to clean it out as we were passing this camper on to Luke & Monika for their enjoyment as we have decided to upgrade to a forward fold camper due later this month

2 enjoyable days even with the rain and our last trip in or ezytrail some fond memories over the last 2 years

Our camp spot

Camp

Linda in the back ground, talking BS

The creek behind camp

Pizza's on the webber

Camp area

Got a little wet and muddy when the rain cam down

We had to put up all the front due to the rain, first time in 2 years this was needed

Camp

Monday, 5 October 2015

Maldon caravan park, Maldon Vic

Location:

Maldon is located 135km northwest of Melbourne in the heart of the Victorian Goldfields. The town is nestled on the slopes of Mt. Tarrangower in an agricultural, pastoral and mining district. It has retained an authentic pioneer-like appearance with history of the gold-mining era being preserved. Maldon was declared Australia's First Notable Town in 1966 by the National Trust.

The town itself was once a thriving metropolis. Maldon's reputation as a picturesque historic town, known for its intact 19th century commercial center is well established. One of the most important late 19th and early 20th century townscapes in Victoria, Maldon began as a gold rush town in 1854 with the discovery of alluvial gold at the base of Mt Tarrangower. It developed as an industrial mining town during the later years of the 1800s. As one of Victoria's richest quartz mining centers, various mines at various times recorded the highest returns in the State. Mining declined in the first years of the 20th century, the last mine of the era closed in 1926, and the town's population and fortunes similarly declined....

Set off for another long weekend (GF weekend) to Maldon Vic, about 2 hrs 15min from home again camping with the “Myswag” group all up about 20+ camper trailers a number we have done weekends anyway with previously and some new people we had not met.

Arriving early Thursday we were one of the first to arrive so setting up was quick and orgnised a far cry from our early days were it took us 5hrs to set up. Linda went missing for some time only to rock up back and camp after sharing some Keith’s homemade Sambuca( she cert a dinner of pizzas made by Keith on his electric pizza maker then a few lazy drinks around the camp fire.

Woke to the birds Friday morning. A breakfast of bacon and eggs were cooked and shared with our neighbors Hutchie and Wendy on our newly acquired ozpig, the morning was spent making/eating scones and damper when Linda returned looking for her iphone, a quick search and backtracking her movements she found the phone ringing (as I was dialing her from my phone) in the bottom of the campground toilets, thankfully they were flushing toilets not a long-drop!!!!! She retrieved the phone placed in rice but unfortunately the phone never lived to tell the story word spread across the group and jokes and one liners were plentiful.

That afternoon/evening we cooked a roast and veg in the camp oven (first time), perfecto!! Absolutely stunning a few more drinks around the fire with our 40+ friends old and new

Saturday spent to morning with everyone inquiring about the “phone” only to have a few understand Linda’s devastation so they made a number of alternatives she could use (pics below) Afternoon spent in the beer garden watching the GF to return to camp for a quick dinner of toast for Linda and Crownies for me

A quick pack up, good bys and arrived home just after lunch time, another stunning weekend with old and new friends now planning for Melb cup weekend in 4 weeks

Camping area

Set up ready for the weekend

The lovely!

Breakfast on the ozpig

Our little camp

getting ready for dinner

cant keep away from FB !!!!

Delicious, absoutley delicious

Kangaroo Hotel beer garden watching the GF

The nightly fire

Thursday, 28 May 2015

Bindaree Hut, Vic High Country

A weekend swaging up in the Vic High Country with some fellow Myswages (Jason, Julie and there son Tait, David and his son Sam and Craig) headed out to Howqua Hills Road to Sheepyard Flat.

Then it was on to Brocks Rd which we followed to Bluff Track. Bluff Track is at approx. 1500 metres and so was quite fresh. It had plenty of water laying around, which at 1pm still had ice from the puddles sitting on the ground.

Lunch time stop was at Lovicks Hut before heading to Bluff Hut then made camp at Bindaree Hut campground. We all quickly got the fire going, because the chill was already setting in at 4pm

An enjoyable evening was had around the campfire (dinner was sausage's in rolls) Linda had thermals, woolen socks X2 pair, scarf, beanie, gloves and a thick coat but was still a little cold and actually went to bed dressed like this with ug-boots on and not forgetting the 2 hot water bottles. Everyone was up early however Linda was last to rise ( I thought rigamortis had set in) but she woke to her normal self, complaining about the cold

The next morning we woke to find the grass had frozen over as well as our 20litres of water from the jerry can sitting outside overnight which some 4 hrs latter was still frozen. The temp @11am was -2 deg so god knows what it was overnight

At 11am we headed up Bindaree Rd stopping at Bindaree falls and then drove the Monument Track to Craig's Hut ( while engaging low range I lost sight of Jason and while reversing to line up with the track reversed into a sign post which made a all mighty noise but checking latter no damage)

Arrived at Craig's Hut to a stunning view with a clear sky another "bucket list destination" completed would like to be here in the mist so another trip in the wind.