Easter Trip April 2014

Easter Trip April 2014

Tuesday 15th

Left home .....headed to Bordertown then down to Frances, had lunch at the Oval...there is a spot at the back by the Bowling Club
used for Camping....but due to the farmer next door burning off crop stubble we moved on....arriving at Goroke CP around 1:45pm
Set up only to find they put price up to $20 night powered

Wednesday Day 2
We went for a walk through the town...looking for a Church and info that we found......then had a look at the MENS SHED

Thursday Day 3
Packed up by 9am and headed back to SA....getting to Black Cockatoo Bush Camp Naracoorte....late afternoon Frank & family turned up

Friday Day 4
..more arrived....plus we met new Caretaker Trevor and wife.....

Saturday Day 5
We went in to Naracoorte to stock up on fuel/food etc.....was suppose to meet Bill from FB.....but was a no show

Sunday Day 6
Not much happening

Monday Day 7
Lot have packed up...we decided to stay 1 more day..to make sure Baileys Rocks were maybe quiter...YEP!! it frickened rained overnight

Tuesday Day 8
Headed off around 8:45am.....caught Liz on way out....gave us a hug......let the HEMA GPS guide us to Baileys.....Grrrr!! sent us out via Apsley..I never learn..
but was surprised there was no one at Baileys when we arrived....started a campfire in the pit

Wednesday Day 9
No one here yet.....a few visitors checking the Rocks out.....its so quiet...(I stripped off on the offside of the van for a slap and dash wash .......only to get caught out when a Pajero turned up visiting the Rocks ;)  )

Thursday Day 10
Didn't last..... a off-road caravan arrived then 2 4x4s tenting.....more visitors showed up lunch time

 

                                                      home made pies for dinner

Friday Day 11
another van turned up late afternoon.....Ken and wife on way to WA....we had a drink with the off-road couple...then exit for dinner....rained all night

Saturday Day 12
Ken left in morning.....we did our dayly collection of firewood..and Rosie went for her walk around the area...
used up all the wood we collected for the fire that night.after Rosie cooked dinner on fire as she has done since Day 3

Sunday Day 13
We packed up and was out of Baileys by 8am
Set the GPS for HOME only to end up on rough roads including Border track entrance ....but finally came out near the carved trees about 35klm south of Naracoorte on the Penola road
Got diesel at Tintinara Liberty at $148.9.....stopped at a Parking bay Adelaide side of Calburra...for lunch....getting home about 1.55pm

If weather holds off we are off again Wednesday............but doesn't sound promising

Victoria Trip 13th March 2014

Day 1..
After having solar panel fitted..we headed off over the boarder via Lameroo...staying night at Murrayville CP $10 night powered site.

Day 2..
Well we left around 9:30am and headed east...didnt matter where we went ...CMCA Motorhomes were on the move to join up at Robinvale end of the month......so after 220klm we ended up today at Brim....we been here several times last year...again $10 night powered
But on arrival...yep more motorhomes arrived....I didnt count on them coming this far south....well we are staying here till next monday....then off who knows where....Watched 2 taunty frog mouths while getting dinner ready...

Day 3..
Saturday..........weather been raining on and off.......just before lunch there was time to play a game called Numbered Skittles a USA Game.the CMCA members play

Day 4 ..
Sunday....morning was spent with the Horsham CMCA group.....we had show and tell....lot of great ideas....including what to do with a broken chair in bag type
the afternoon was a lot quieter as the last Motorhome left......So we decided we would have dinner at the Brim re-opened Pub.it was built in 1884?

Day 5..
Monday...packed up and headed East around 9:30am.....the GPS told us to turn right as it was shorter.......was Ok on bitumin till it ran out and turned into a summer track only..I was silently praying we wouldnt get bogged as the sky was black with storm coming...30klm later we reached the black top again
then headed to Birchip........had a look at their CP....and decided it wasnt worth the $25 night.....so onward we travelled...stopped at Wycheproof...then headed to Tchum lake...to camp there it was $25 a night....it was well after midday so we headed on and finally arrived at Wooroonook Lake....at $15 night powered
No sooner we had set up when a couple with a caravan stopped and said "Hi.LTNS"...turned out to be a couple we met at Natimuk last august......this is on the edge of highway..so plenty of trucks passing....but the view of the lake makes up for it

Day 6..
Tuesday..Just spend day relaxing

Day 7..
Wednesday..Left Lake Wooroonook in morning and headed to Charlton........Looked at free camp..Ensuite $25 night and powered CP at $15.........bought fuel and extra food and headed south to St Arnuad NP staying at Teddington Reservoir camp area......free....flushing toilets...campfire pits...beautiful weather

Day 8
Thursday..still here...lots of kangaroos today....stars out last 2 nights

Day 9
Friday..Left this morning...with storm clouds
Moonabel campground .... Ok for a BBQ area not great for camping
Landsborough CP was very old..hard to fine..full of old vans and $15 powered night
Stawell CP was not welcoming....so we travelled other end of town to Stawell..Gates CP....$33 night powered.here tonight as storm hit

Day 10
Saturday..Left around 10am......headed west to Horsham
Had a drive through Centenual Park camp ground Mt Arapalies...too many tents..then through Jane Duff Reserve....might put that on our places to stay list...got drop toilets.campfire pits..but will have to keep eye on weather.track in might be a problem if wet.

ended up at Lake Ratzcastle....only 2 others there..weather turned out great

Day 11
Sunday.......very windy day....had planned to use the little webber tonight...all ready to use it...guess who left the headbeads lighter home..Ohhh well just dug a fire pit and Rosie cooked pasties in the campoven and choc pudding for desert.
caravanner near us left soon after lunch.

Day 12
Monday..Spent lot of time with...backpackers....1 young couple from France...touring Oz in a falcon waggon...other young couple were German and doing same but in a old datsun ute with a camper of sorts on back..Phil from Camps Australia Wide..parked next to us...had a great chat with him...before he headed off....other caravanners left late afternoon.

Day 13
Tuesday...late morning..today...we were met with both young couples as they were both heading west continuing their journeys.....that left us alone felt weird as it turned so quiet...you forget there is lot of noise from others...slamming doors...chatting..walking past etc.
even though I see them every day....hundreds of swollows flying over the lake..sure kept the fly numbers down.

Day 14
Wednesday..woke to a wet stormy early morning.....thought "typical Ratz weather"...we were heading off today anyway.......got fuel at Goroke....then headed to Frances back in SA.......then made our way to Mundulla Showgrounds.......been here before but was determin to find the showers...well we were not welcomed there..and yes no showers........the ppl we spoke to said they wanted the camping area closed and are going to lock the toilets after 6pm.....I dont think we will be back......was a lot of lightning tonight and some rain

Day 15
Thursday......on the road by 8:45am......giving Mundulla the flick......and headed home....got home 12:50...late lunch
Now to get ready for Easter trip to BC



Our SE Trip of SA November

Wednesday 6th November

Very hot day....ended up at Narrung..left Friday morning after 40 hours of rain...

headed to Hillsview CP Millicent

 

 Narrung by ourselves

HillsView CP

  Saturday we did day trips to Robe then Beachport then down to Southend.then back to Millicent

 Robe's Obelisk

Day 5
Sunday...most of the other campers with dogs have left today....we spent couple hours at Millicent Museum this afternoon

 tomorrow we are back on road to who knows where????

 
Day 6
Today we moved on.........Had a look at Tantanoola rest area.then onto Mt Gambier show grounds at $20 night powered but was bit smelly..so onward we went..Stopped at Dartmoor..looked at Sawpit campground (free)...now staying at Narrawong CP near Portland Victoria

Day 7
Spent day at Portland.........bought a weber smokey joe.....and tried it out cooking dinner..little pasties

 

 Cape Nelson Light House

Day 8
Headed north to Hamilton had a look at an extinct volcano Mt Napier....Mt Eccles ..Lake Surprise Campground and McArthur ending up at Cavendish

Day 9
Still here

Day 10
Left Cavendish this morning....had a look at Nigretta Falls and Warron Falls (suppose to free camped here but was too uneven ground).......then headed over the Boarder back to SA..staying tonight at Penola CP..... tomorrow who knows

Nigretta Falls

Wannon Falls

Penola CP

Day 11 Saturday
Left Penola today first looked at a place 3 klm south......then headed East back into Victoria to Bailey's Rocks campground...there were 2 big jayco 23ft caravans and a tent there when we arrived.......Cooked on a campfire tonight

Day 12
We are still here but others left mid afternoon........cooked dinner on campfire

Day 13
woke to foggy morning and a very hot day..walked around the ROCKS before it got hot......35c in van.........no fire tonight

Day 14
It was a non event day today.....we collected wood for a fire tonight but decided it was to windy and stormy looking to lite one....packed up around the van and retired early

First there was one then there were two

Day 15
It was stormy looking over night....We packed up and headed off to Naracoorte to catch up with friends..Dennis and Therese.....Dennis made a extention collar for the weber....we finally got on the road around 3:30pm...and headed home getting there about 8:15pm