BarbaraTVan: April 2012

Round 2 The Anzac Adventure

Day 1.
It's rather appropriate that we take a moment or two to reflect on the Anzacs & Australian Armed Forces courage and sacrifice, as we probably wouldn't be able to do what we are doing or go where we are going today.

So, on this very wet (sunny at the moment) Anzac Day, we left our cosy Passion Pit to head off into the wilds of a place called Edi Cutting along the banks of the King River at King Valley about 40km SE of Wangaratta. Recommended to us by Gray at Track Trailers :-)

Our little patch of Edi Cutting

We left home at 8.20 this time, but without breakfast which we will get somewhere down the road. So far, it's looking good. We remembered the good camera. It should be a grand adventure as I spend the next few days with three of my favourite men....GM, Doug & Grant ;-)

I have bought a bird book so that I can learn all about the bird life in the area, and GM has gone and got himself a fish book so that he can recognise a fish if he catches one......I imagine if by some miracle he actually does get one, he'll be far too excited to race to the book to figure out what it is, instead he'll probably be screaming and giggling "OMG honey, I finally caught a fish!!!!" while peeing himself like an excited puppy :-)

We're taking the scenic route through Neerim South & Yarra Junction.....It really is very pretty.

It's getting colder

and colder......

The mountains are in the clouds but I wouldn't be surprised if there's snow, as it's been so bloody cold the last couple of days!! So cold I remembered to pack the flanny jim jams & uggs :-) Gotta look my best for GM ;-)

OK, we got to Yarra Junction and decided to go via Warburton. We stopped for breakfast at Milgrove and it is even more beautiful there than I remember from my form 3 camp.

Barbara and the big beast having a breakfast break at Milgrove

Warburton is just lovely and we chose to take the scenic route over the top fo Mount Donna Buang. It was very cold and wet. We stopped at the rain forest walk, drank our cuppa's and took lots of pics.

Looking down from the walkway

Ferns growing on everything

Good for old wild adventurers ;-)

All you can hear in here is water

Magnificent!!!

Makes GM look petite

It was amazing in there :-) and so sheltered you couldn't feel the cold even though you could see our breath.
The drive over the top was just breathtaking and we saw lots of crimson rosella's and 3 lyre birds :-) Even GM got a wee bit excited!!!!
We should have turned off to Marysville and kept going through the rain forest for a while longer, but instead drove through to the main road.
Did the obligatory stop at Bonnie Doon for a tourist photo

No, we didn't stop at the pub!!! :-O

then on to Mansfield where we bought wine and champers (which I had forgotten to pack :-O )

Note: Don't ever forget the wine & champers again!!!!!

We also got some chips and coffee at the Star Cafe. The girls in there were gorgeous and friendly and made the best chips and coffee ever!!! :-)

The trip so far has been pretty tough with GM being his usual cheeky self and giving me a hard time every now and then ;-)

GM :-)

Coming down into the King Valley is breathtaking and all you can see is mountain peaks all the way to the other side of the earth :-)

We actually drove too far and ended up in Edi, which was an extremely good boo boo. This is a wine region and King Valley Estate Winery just happens to be 500m from our turnoff :-) It's going to be a bloody good weekend!!!! ;-)

We set up Barbara in all of her glory and a lovely couple in a mercedes came in to watch us set up.....think we just sold them a Tvan.....might try and get a commission???

Chilling out at Edi Cutting

We set her up faster this time.....we're getting pretty good at this ;-) then toodled down to the river for a fish and a champers and a chill out :-)

We're now back at camp with a fire going and sitting back with Grant while GM is having fun with Jim.

Note: GM is amazing....he remembered to bring marshmallows :-) knew I liked him for a reason :-)

Note: No snakes or spiders so far!!!!

I remembered to bring whisky glasses this time....YAY!!!! But GM has decided they're too small...the man has a serious drinking problem!!!!.

We have trees here that are moaning and groaning, so we went to investigate and found a couple of trees having a cuddle :-)


Cuddling trees

Holy crap!!! We have internet here :-O First time I've ever camped with full phone and internet signal :-)
So far this place is pretty awesome!!!

Day 2.

Woke to sunshine and a sky full of jet streams, but oh so cold!!!! Brrrrrr
Barbara is as warm as toast to sleep in thank goodness :-) GM got the fire going....he's pretty good :-) then he went for a two second fish (patient soul). I had a couple of firetail finches playing around my head while I was watching the river go by.

The river running by

So far the only drawback about this place is the main road being close to it. Sort of takes away the feeling of being away from it all :-/

Went for a drive into Wangaratta and GM bought a you beaut fishing lure worth 1/2 a million dollars......guaranteed to catch a Murray Cod.....yes, even in the King River. If it doesn't work and he doesn't lose it, it will make a very pretty hair bit :-))

Stopped at Hungry Jacks for lunch, as one does when one is camping ;-) and toodled over to Glenrowan for a dose of Oz history and a catch up with Ned :-)

Our mate Ned!

Back to camp and am now sitting by the river in the sun enjoying a glass or 10 of red, while GM tries desperately to bring home some fish for dinner!

It will more than likely taste a lot like spaghetti bol I would imagine ;-)

Gosh I hope he hasn't fallen in......he's been gone a good 1/2 hour and 5 minutes is usually his maximum patience point :-O

Did I mention I remembered to bring the scotch glasses :-)

Note: Bring schooners or buckets for GM.

Yes, we are definitely having spaghetti bolognaise for tea.....

but all is forgiven :-) I looked up to see him walking into camp with 2 enormous logs slung over his shoulders and a big dumb ass grin on his face :-))

That's my GM.....can't catch a fish to save himself, but has to the be the best arsonist I've ever met! :-))

GM made me a shower!!! He just rocks!!!!

Have Abba blasing out of the stereo......sorry kids....and wildlife ;-)

Note: GM went exploring and found the most fantastic campsite ever!!!! Somebody's very well hidden secret :-)

Note: No spiders or snakes so far!

Note: Did I mention I remembered the scotch glasses?? :D

Day 3.

Had a big sleep in and leisurely packed up camp after some yummy scrambled eggs with mushrooms and baby spinach :-).

Decided to try our luck at the Murray as GM is convinced there are fish to be caught! The eternal optimist :D

We got 1/2km up the road and decided to check out the winery :-).....fabulous decision!!!! We came away with 3 bottles of wine....and I think she made a boo boo when she charged me....got it a lot cheaper than the price list :-)) We bought a bottle of BARBERA!!!!! and it even tastes pretty good :D What are the chances of that???

Drove to Rutherglen and grabbed a coffee and drove to our next site in less time than it took to drink the coffee :-)

We are staying at Police Paddocks in the Gooramadda State Forest on the Murray River :-)

There are only a couple of others here, so we pretty much have total privacy :-). The place is magic....so calm!!! It's mid 20's with hardly a breeze and the river is just drifting slowly along. We've been so lucky with the weather so far :-))

All you can hear are the birds and the hum of the waeco in the back of the patrol.

Cracked a bottle of champers to celebrate another successful site....as one does ;-) It took us 48mins and 25 seconds set up to sit down with everything put in it's place and a champers in our hand......we're pretty bloody awesome at this now :-)

Someone has been here before us as the fire is still warm.....I got it going again with a handful of twigs, 2 takeaway coffee mugs, toilet paper and a champagne cork :-)

Note: Always take champers, it makes it easier to light the fire!!

I have made an extremely important discovery....one that is vital to my well being on future trips.....I can't drink scotch and spin fish at the same time :-/ so it looks like I wont be doing too much fishing....will have to rely on GM for that now hahahaha!!!!

Note: Pack plenty of steaks and sausages!!

Note: Still no snakes and spiders :-)

Day 4.

Another lazy sleep in and woke to a very still, foggy morning. It looks great on the river :-)

GM bringing in his bait

GM cooked up a fantastic breakfast of bacon, eggs, tomatoes & hash browns :-) He's pretty awesome so far today :-)) He also finally caught some bait with his fancy little bait net, soap and gum leaves???.............see!!!! He can catch something.....he never ceases to amaze me. While he was doing this, I was cleansing the Murray of carp.

Stupid carp!

He'd better catch something today or else he's going to owe me another $1.40!!! Pity they were carp, they're a pretty good size and I caught them with corn kernels while still in my flanny jim jams & uggs :-) I was going great guns until my reel exploded into 27,000 pieces! :-/ so it's definitely up to him now. Probably a good thing I stuck a silverside in the dream pot for dinner ;-)

Went for a drive into Rutherglen to buy a couple of bits and pieces. It's a lovely little town :-) They have to keep up the appearance and style of the old buildings and we had a bit of a tough time finding the supermarket :-)

Luckily for us I put that silverside on ;-) Dinner was magnificent and after tidying up, we sat in the tent with the heater going and watched a movie and had crackers and cheese for sweets :-))

Day 5.

Woke just about 8.30 and had a quick breaky of crunch nut cornflakes :-) The camp fire is ticking over nicely and the billy is on while we wait for the tent to dry out and and we leisurely pack things up. It's a beautiful, calm and relaxing place, but doesn't have loos, which may be a good thing when it comes to crowds....less loos, less people :-)

We set off after 11 and decided to come home over the black spur as GM wanted some pics for his computer.

We also passed through Buxton and the devastation from the fires is still so visible even after 3 years :-(

We had leftovers for lunch at the park in Alexandra, and it was far colder than when we'd set out...brrrr!!! and continued to drop all the way through................it was bitterly cold by the time we got home at around 4.30.

Summary

There were no hairy spiders or snakes, not tent poles to the face and only one spike from a fish hook. The weather through the days was magnificent, but bitterly cold at night. Overall a very relaxing trip which is what it's supposed to be all about :-)

It was about 285km to Edi Cutting but the whole trip was around 850km....just a wee one!!

Note: Victoria is definitely the best state in Oz!!! :-) We have it all right here :-)

GM is off to work on Tuesday for 6 weeks so I can't see another trip happening for a few months now, which should give us plenty of time to plan for the big one :-)

Note: Remembered to bring the whisky glasses!!!! YAY!!!!

Note again: Barbara is awesome!!!!

A few pics of the friends we made along the way and other bits.