November 11th Last trip this year

November 11th Last trip this year

Wednesday Day1
We headed off early a different way...this time through Milang to Langhorne Creek..over the ferry at Wellington...down through Meningie then across to Coonalpyn then down to Bordertown

We had a look at the free camp area by the lake but it was just to noisey with train and semi's so we headed towards Mundulla to find a camp area called Jimmies Waterhole...but couldnt pin point it as GPS said we arrived but all we found was a very small triangle area along side the main road so we decided to stay the night at Mundulla oval...hoping not to meet up again with the locals we dealt with last time.
To their credit they had fixed the toilets nicely ...we set up staying the night.

Thursday Day2
We headed out early and headed south again...this time stopping at Western Flats.....very nice setup......all to neat...might be busy so we continued SW to Frances...to the Oval........was very dry and with no power.....we ended up back at Lake Ratzcastle...set up only to find the lake was now bone dry.

Friday Day3
Over night there were many campers...that left this morning...more came in that night

Saturday Day4
same as yesterday.......an old chap with a old caravan parked near us...spent lot of time chatting with him over the next 4 days

Sunday Day5...Monday Day6
Same

                              no campfires this trip...gas or heat beads

Tuesday Day7
in the afternoon a 4x4 towing a large van arrived ...only to find it was Hugo and wife in their brand new Island Star caravan..a great evening was had chatting about the Lake Eyre trip

Wednesday Day8
Hugo left early to beat the continuing heat and Graeme (the old chap) head off too........leaving us all by ourselves.
Late evening I felt it was going to rain....so we packed up the awning and annex canvas and put things away that might get wet...it was still very hot in bed but by midnight it did start raining...a quick close of windows

Thursday Day9
since we were mostly packed up we decided that we will head home, as more rain was forcasted...on the road by 7:30am and home by 1pm

this is the last trip for this year

October Upper South East SA Trip

Upper South East trip

Sunday 25th Oct Day1
We left home around 7am..trying to beat the nornal weekend traffic...heading down the Coorong to Narrung Campground..found a spot and set up....but the wind didnt let up...first thing we noticed was the new toilet block with walk ramps.....another was a new building next to the lighthouse

Monday 26th Day2
Still windy...lot of the campers left early...trying to find a sunny spot out of the wind was hard as it changed directions frequently ...no campfires here

Tuesday 27th Day3
We have had enough of the wind.packed up and head down to Meningie then accross to Coonalpyn then to Tintinara got fuel then headed from Keith to Pathaway to Cockatoo Lake...last time we visited there the lake was full....on arrival the main gate was closed with a sign stating "due to fire management please use other gate" so we went up the road around the lake to other entrence then down a bush track...only to have to navigate ruts and deep holes......over dry creek beds...finally to the main area...only to find most of the Lake empty.....set up...near a concrete fire pit.

Wednesday 28th Day4
Chatting to neighbours...we discovered we were next to them camping by River at Swan Reach week earlier...put together our smokey joe weber so Rosie could cook meals using heat beads saving gas..I worked on an idea if I put the hot heat beads in an old cake tin with holes and bring it above the tent pegs that hold the campoven..we could cook breakfast on the spinners lid....worked well ...a ute with a wedge top camper turned up late and chatted with us..

Thursday 29th Day5
Been hot last few days....today is no exception ...last couple days there been a young magpie hanging around us up close...got in lot of trouble with other magpies...but still hang around...Avan turned up late...

                                   Loved Rosies flipflops


Friday 30th Day6
Same as days before..(Avan left early)....chasing any shade we could find....late in the day a ute towing a big van turned up...turns out was Kim a Admin from Caravan Forum...nice couple

Saturday 31st Day7
Kim left early...same as days before...watching fishermen all day and into the night...Rosie did the clothes washing..now we been watching the weather and it been stormy looking.....forcast says Monday will be nasty...A couple turned up late afternoon.....a early poptop kedron....on their way around Oz to Tassie

                                              Toilet

Sunday 1st Nov Day8
We packed up early and were on the road......headed home....got wet in places...but got home safely....I changed the setting on our HEMA6 from easy to short.......and it got us home without too much arguments this time....always says to go through Crafers ...but we go through Strathalbyn and it insists we turn right at every corner to go back......not this time...

Depending on the weather we might head south again this week..only home cause Rosie was asked to work at her old place she worked where she retired from 2 years ago...on Tuesday ...Melbourne Cup day

October Cadell

Cadell and along the River Murray

Thursday 15th Oct
Left home early to avoid the heat.....got to Cadell by 9:30am......found a spot ...bit nasty day 43c...still 34c at 10pm.......Brian and Sharron turned up around 4pm....no campfire tonight to hot and windy

                             2 Pajeros now...Brian got a new caravan

Friday 16th
cooled down some....we spend most of the day chasing shade...still no fire tonight...early night

                                                     Brian
Saturday 17th
Rick rang to tell me he should be here 9am....I lit the fire around 10am so we could have a cooked lunch..Rosie did small pasties...Rick and Brian cooked up a treat...cooking all day and into the evening we got through a lot of wood..main problem was the fire pit it was so deep...trapping the heat making it hard to judge campoven temps....shared dress up...fancy tie dinner...

Sunday 18th
most of the cooking started after lunch....roasts and chicken legs...shared dinner again tonight evening closed 10pm

Monday 19th
Early pack up.....said our good-byes to the great Caretakers Mike and Margret ...and see you again soon Brian and Sharron and Taj their dog...Rick and Cindy (always fun to be with)
We headed south to Swan Reach.(got fuel at Blanchtown)..over the Ferry to a camp ground....found a spot watching the weather..very hot and dark clouds....we thought we might have the place to ourselves but by 5pm there were 7 other caravans...I couldnt believe some one lit a campfire and it still had 1m high flames at 3am ..no one in attendance and still 28c...about 5pm it rained lightly

Tuesday 20th
We packed up early...and headed south having a look at Big Bend then Nildottie then onto Walkers Flat...where we came across a campground called Hettner Landing.....we would have stayed there but the sky was black with storm threating so we headed home.

Home by midday......now do we go away again or start in 2016??

September Victoria Trip

Back to Victoria

21st September Monday Day1
after going to the dentist at 8:30am...we headed off to Victoria..
After 6 hours driving we arrived at Wooroonook Lake only to find our usual spot already taken..we had to move another 30ft further away..no biggy...the lake seemed to have more water than last time we were here...wet windy day today...family of 5 slept in a roof top tent over a works trailer..near us

Tuesday Day2
The family left early as it was still blowing 70kph winds
We spent most of the day inside the van...glad to have power

Wednesday Day3
Left Wooroonook this morning...headed East to Charlston got extra food and fuel...then travelled 27klms to our next camping spot...Skinners Flat Res...found the place to ourselves...setup but still very windy...cooked dinner a chicken roast on choofer and sat outside till after dark

Thursday Day4
Beautiful morning...even had eggs and bacon cooked on the choofer for breakfast...spend day just sitting and adsorbing the warmer weather...Rosie went for a walk around the Dam.....about 35mins...dinner cooked on choofer again tonight...just a slight breeze full moon light

Friday Day5
Packed up this morning and headed through Wedderburn down through Bridgewater to Newbridge onto Laanecoorie camping area on the Loddon River.....few campers on the river bank ...we parked back by the fence..away from the screaming and generators and barking dogs....we were going to stay 2 nights here but we will see how it is tonight noise wise..if we leave in the morning

Saturday Day6
We were out of there by 8:30am...and headed west through Maryborough then on to Avoca...slight north to Moonabel then to Stawell then headed into the Grampians to Plantation Campground...we left Laanecoorie cause of the crowds and screaming kids..only to find the place packed...finally found a spot...not at all level..but did have a fire pit and about 20ft from toilets.

Sunday Day7
Got out as soon as we could..by 8am and headed to Horsham..got fuel and before you knew it..we were at Lake Ratzcastle...for next 4 nights....expecting a crowd here we were surprised there was no one here...had a hot shower this morning and campfire tonight...great day and worth the 145klm trip..just for peace and quiet

Monday Day8
Been quiet all day...overcast weather but no rain...had visitors..none stayed...had fire burning all day...roast pork in campoven tonight

Tuesday Day9
2 campertrailers set up about 40ft from us......Durrrrr!!! they had the whole place to park..but next to us.GRRRRRRR!!!.....anyway was cloudy day.no rain.but cleared up tonight...later our neighbours caused a racket...couldnt make out what was said..but did make out a few naughty words

Wednesday Day10
Great day.....neighbours came over and apologized for their behavior last night and asked if we could look after their solar panels...while they were away......tonight we joined them around their campfire

Thursday Day11
All things must come to an end...we packed up early 8am and headed home...going to be warm day..and long drive...getting home around 12:15pm

Next trip will be Cadell mid October