West Victoria Trip 2

Yes We decided to return to West Victoria

9^th August

Ok......first up today get the van to tyre place...

got to Mitsubishi at Morphett Vale 9:15am after leaving van back home...Mitz fixed computer problems..couldn’t reset radio..we managed to get it working after Tailem bend got new code from Mitsubishi  and alls well...

Got home from Morphett Vale and reconnected van and on road by 10:30am

over Boarder around 2:30pm SA time.....staying tonight Kaniva CP $20 night powered site

not a great day

Day 2

We left Kaniva  and headed south through the Little Desert NP then to Goroke then about 10klm south again to Lake Ratzcastle camping ground.....flushing toilet/hot showers but no power... great area

Day 3

Still here..so quiet ...beautiful weather might head north tomorrow....no phone coverage here though

Day 4

Well its day 4...6:30am a storm hit us big time....gale force winds and heavy rain.......packed up and were on the road by...9am.....called into Goroke IGA for couple items...then on to Horsham then to Murtoa where we went to a BP self serve...no one there..you pay..then pump works...$156.5 Diesel

Then headed East and are currently at Rupanyup CP $10 night powered site....hot showers and flushing toilets.......bit different from last couple days at Lake Ratzcastle...same amenities but was FREE......while here we found a chap who fixed the legs on the choofa/brazier...that fell off last night after cooking dinner at the lake

Day 5

We left Rupanyup CP around 9:35am after another stormy night...awakening to a cold foggy windy day...heading north to Minyip. Had a look at the CP but it was just to windy and most area was disabled parking only....so we headed NW to Warracknabeal..had a look around at the junk stores and headed out to Jeparit CP its $16 a night powered....2 vans here...no one else...both look like they been here a while ...one being a new Jayco.....at the rear of the CP there’s a small park on edge of Wimmera river

Day 6

Stormy day most of the day today..Caretaker came tonight took our $32 for 2 nights.......we are thinking of returning to Brim tomorrow hoping it might be more sheltered ...we will see

Day 7

Yes returned to Brim this morning.......beautiful day....Rosie cooked meat loaf in campoven on the now fixed brazier hope the legs stay on this time.....meat loaf was served with mashed spuds and peas and gravy....followed by chocolate. pudding and custard.......pretty good camping tucker.

Day 8

Started out looking great.......had blue sky all day...but the wind was viscus 70kph I'm guessing

We got some mesh free from local hardware shop and I made up a little stand on the A-frame to hold shoes etc. to dry..I hope it stays in place as its only held on by zip ties that are pretty weak

forecast next couple days is bad..whether we stay here or move on.it a $million question

Day 9

We decided to stay here at Brim for weekend......today started out promising but started raining before lunch....just after we went for a stroll over to the bridge .where I slipped and fell heavy on wet grass that had lot of tree branches hidden.....skinning my leg and bruising a lot of joints...including my bad right knee....plus a hit mark on my head.....one never learns does he.

Its still raining.....4pm

Day 10

Yes we are still at Brim....but any luck tomorrow we might be at Lascelles...no excitement today..we went for a walk down main street today only to find everything closed.....yesterday..it all closed by 11:30am......been long time since that happened in SA

so another day spent inside the van.....Rosie wants to cook on a fire.....and keep warm by one..she's missing it....B&%^y rain

Day 11

Today we left Brim and headed North to Hopetoun then out to Lascelles...the weather was nasty so we headed up to Ouyen, had a look at the CP there..wasnt the greatest... no level sites and most were terraced at $25 a night...we headed west and are now spending the night at Walpeup at corner of the Mallee Highway and to Hopetoun Rd..$10 night powered/toilets/showers..........4 power points on each of the 2 poles........maybe Underbool tomorrow

Day 12

We went to Underbool this morning..power $10 night..........but its Tuesday and no one can park there as its library day and a semi parks there....I arrived just as it arrived..it was a bit bigger than mine so we travelled on and now are staying at Murrayville CP....still $10 night powered

on the way we stopped at Cowangie......and visited the Kow Plains Homestead a restored early settlement and mine

Day 13

Still at Murrayville CP......afternoon turned stormy....raining this evening......time to head home...tomorrow an early pack up and on the road

21/08/13

More Pictures Here

West Victoria 2 weeks trip

Wednesday the 17^th of July we headed off on the first of many trips planned for the future.

Leaving home about 8am heading south to Black Cockatoo Bush Camp. Near Naracoorte SA

The trip was detoured  as there was a vehicle accident that closed the Dukes Highway near Keith ...we headed to Meningie. then on to Kingston

Were going to have lunch at Lucindale  but my GPS thought we needed a 60klm scenic tour and by-passed the town....ending up at Naracoorte where we were to be .

We were going to stay for a couple days but after a stormy and very wet night and freezing cold morning we decided to move on...heading over the boarder of Victoria... the road across was a surprise with 3 large turtles crossing in a 10klm distance. At Edenhope had a look at their caravan park by a lake at $25 a night powered. it was just to cold and windy off the lake...so onwards we travelled....arriving at Harrow still cold but with a powered site at $12 a night. we soon set up and relaxed with a cup of coffee..water boiled from an electric jug.....different from a campfire the day/night before.

After lunch we decided a walk along the main street of the town was worth the time including free entry to a Museum telling the town's history.

Still cold and windy...what will tomorrow bring?

Day 3 and nothing has changed.....still wet and cold..sitting in the van. watching wrens outside......while Rosie was up the street paying for extra night here. I went for a walk down in the unpowered camping area at $8 p/n..... I think I'll give camping there a miss and spend the extra $4 and stay where we are. We are thinking of going south to Balmoral tomorrow then maybe on to Cavendish...in the lower end of the Grampians.

A donkey nearby lets all know he's around by calling out …..apart from birds and the occasional car.. that's about all noise you can hear.

Day 4.....another wet day.quick pack up and on the road 9am..heading south..
Balmoral CP was on a very steep angle and at $30 a night..we decided to head on to Cavendish Reserve Camp Ground...powered site at $7.50 ph/pn
toilets and showers and a camp kitchen area

Day 5

 slept in till 8am....seeing it was Sunday. Had breakfast in the kitchen shelter...though it didn't matter as it still freezing cold. we tidied up and headed down to the Wannon River just down the hill from our van..got back to the van ...for a hot cup of coffee..wondering if we could have a camp fire..quite windy..thinking YES..then sky went black and stormy......so in the van we went....If it doesn't clear up soon....we could be taking all the fire wood we brought with us back home

We might be heading North through the Western side of the Grampians to Hynes Camp Ground...on the Rockland’s Reservoir.

Day 6

We have moved on.......but first we had to go to Hamilton to get fuel and supplies...then headed up the Henty Highway to Hynes campground I visited years ago and thought it was a dump....well we tried again....place has been cleaned up..same ol amenities block..but clean...powered site $15 a night...leave money in an honesty box by a rain tank....theres about 8 vans here...no cars....we could be on our own. Might stay 3 nights.

Day 7

Still at Hynes we had a cold night....very fine misty rain.woke this morning to be surrounded in fog....it burnt away leaving a cool breezy day

Rosie did some house/van work including clothes washing..and I strung a line up between 2 trees for her to hang them on.

We have resident wrens (7) sitting on our shoes...lots of magpies and rosellas....plus 3 Emus roaming about 30 mtrs away.

Rosie is currently making home made mince pies in ramekins to cook later in the campoven for dinner.

The sky is getting dark...might be a storm brewing coming in from SE

Still no Caretaker......few cars have came in then left. might be just checking the place out.

At $15 a night who would spend $30 a night at a CP...... power/water/showers supplied here.

Got a phone call from Charlotte this morning.Its her birthday (12)...my grand kids are growing up fast

Rick just rang.........called us wimps..hahaha!!!..hes camping in cabins now cause hes getting old Hahaha!!

Day 8

Still at Hynes....might leave tomorrow

Beautiful day today.....bright sunrise.....blue sky.....best day weather wise since start of trip....sat out doors all day by fire though we really didnt need it for warmth seen lots of kangaroos today close by..a wren making the van its home again.....we left the door open...to air it out feels damp indoors

Still no one-else here.....well.....prob make this place even better being by ourselves.

Last night Rosie made home-made pies in campoven....Yummmmmm!!!

tonight I think its beef stew.

Day 9

We packed up and headed NW to Toolondo.....what a dump..$12ph/pn plus extra $7 for power.NO THANKS......we came across Natimuk CP at $25 a night powered.

After lunch we went for a walk to lake only to follow a path which was probably 4 klm long........lots of native birds by van again...including baby rabbits....... Might go to Brim tomorrow..great sunset

Day 10

We Packed up and was on the road by 9am......Headed through Horsham then North to Warracknabeal...called into Fishers IGA to top up on food then to Caltex to get diesel $152.9 + 4cents off

Next stop was Brim at $10 p/n .we booked 2 nights

Lovely spot by a small lake..modern hot showers and toilet and changing area inside...great picnic area...beautiful day weather wise

Day 11

Woke to a not as great weather day...no rain but cold wind...spent lot of time collecting fire wood.(though we still have what we came to Victoria with)..... Rosie made steak and mushroom pies for dinner...”Yumbo”

Rosie walked in to Brim town...about 1klm had to get her newspaper.

Sat out side for short time by the brazzier fire tonight but got too windy and cold.....Rosie been taking pics of our meals for reminder..back to Warracknabeal in morning to meet a TC chat member Tess...then head north again...this time Hopetoun.

Day 12

Well we left Brim after 2 relaxing days sitting by camp fire........was great meeting up with a fellow TC member today...between rain showers....by the way Thanks Tess for the cuppa.......
We are now at Hopetoun ...Mallee Bush Retreat camp area....$15 a night powered/flushing toilets/showers on Lake Lascelles

Thunder and lightning tonight...some rain

Day 13

Woke to brilliant blue sky this morning went for a walk up the street and met the people that were also staying at Brim.....who then parked rear us again where we are now.....also met little later a couple who parked near us at Natimuk CP.

After lunch we went for a stroll half way around the Lake...to see the amenities in the free camping area...just as good as ours with flushing toilets and hot showers...and undercover BBQs..only thing no power.

Got the fire going for dinner tonight..and YEP..Rosie..just about to cook .when it started raining heavy......managed to get the brazier to a veranda ...and continue cooking Chicken Tonight in camp-oven

Depending on weather...we might be staying or heading out of Victoria and stay over-night at Lamaroo CP

Day 14

Left Hopetoun this morning....after a very foggy and heavy dew start

We headed back over the SA Boarder and staying the night at Lameroo CP before going home tomorrow

 

END OF TRIP!!!!

More Pictures Here

another week and we will be off again to Victoria maybe!

Towitta camping

Friday the 10th to the 12th of May we camped at Towitta ..been 3 years since we were last there....nothing has changed much except last time there were over 50 people with us..this time total of 4

even only 4 .there was a lot of camp fire cooking.....camp ovens working over time

Curried chicken with rice

little pasties

Bubble & squeak for lunch

a quail cooked in a 3" camp oven........smallest one I ever seen

Our friends Rick & Cindys Saturday nights dinner..all cooked on camp fire

a lovely fruity cake cooked in a camp oven

Our Kangaroo stew
Well next trip will be in June....who knows where yet.....

Back at Nurrang

Yes ANZAC Day we made an extended 4 day weekend of it and went back to Nurrang

We weren't the only ones with the same idea...it was crowded again like last time...but this time it was also school holidays....with kids and dogs everywhere.

As in the past we used our brazier to cook up some yummy meals

 wild life relaxing

 Cloud formation was spectacular

 

we will be off again soon

Easter at Black Cockatoo Bush Camp

Easter time where to go......Back to BC....Thursday 28th March to Tuesday 2nd April
We were joined by our friends Dennis & Therese also Frank & Brenda from Caravanners Forum with their family
The weather wasn't the greatest and we spent nearly all of it sitting by a camp fire in our home made brazzier/cooker

We were greedy and stayed an extra day (Tuesday) and came home in the wet..rather wet too

 

 

Next trip will be at the end of April

More pictures at:  CampingTrips/BlackCockatoo0313