BarbaraTVan: The Grampians with a Touch of Dutch!

5 months late, but got it up finally!!

We haven't been on an adventure for quite some time, as we've been busy building the new "Passion Pit" and GM's big red shed. But we've had the great pleasure of hosting his young cousin and her husband from Netherlands. The Grampians was the best option, as these two newly weds had never been camping before. We were also being joined by GM's niece and hubby, and GM's baby and her partner.

So, on the 3rd March at 8.15am (after a very late night trying out a few different reds that were building up dust in the wine rack) we headed off fully loaded for a different kind of adventure.

We took off to a clear but windy day with lots of puffy clouds in a beautiful blue sky. First stop, breakfast!! Hungry Jacks, and not the best I've ever had, but it was to keep us going until lunch.

We headed off the highway and drove to Sorrento on the Mornington Peninsula. We took a fair while to get there, so didn't have time to stop in and buy their world famous vanilla slices...shattered!!! They truly are the most magnificent I've ever had! We just made it in time to catch the Ferry across Port Phillip Bay to Queenscliff where we were to stop for lunch.

It was a lovely peaceful trip across the bay, where we all enjoyed a coffee on the top deck. We spotted the Spirit of Tasmania making her way around the bay and off to Tassie.

We stopped at Queenscliff and had fish and chips looking out over the bay. It was hot in the sun, so we found a shady table and fed the magpies and seagulls. We watched a pair of young Magpies wrestling on the grass. I've never seen anything like it. It was just like watching puppies or kittens. They'd nip each other and roll around on the ground.....very amusing to watch.

I had forgotten my hat and sunnies, so a quick shop while we were there. I always manage to forget something!!!

We left Queescliff and headed for the Great Ocean Road. We were taking the scenic route to the Grampians.

There were signs everywhere telling people to drive on the left side of the road. There are so many terrible accidents on this road, it's narrow and windy with a beautiful view that tends to take your attention away from the road. But we made it to Apollo Bay in one piece, where we stopped for a coffee and a stretch. From there, we headed into the Otways and our first stopover.

We stayed at the Bimbi Caravan Park, which is quite rustic, but perfect for the area. The showers were hot and the toilets flushed, so no complaints!! We had just set up camp when Mr. Dutchie spotted our guest. He stayed in the same tree the whole time we were there. Very cute :-), and I couldn't have planned it better if I'd tried!! There were also 3 Tawny Frog Mouths in the tree near the amenities, but I didn't bother with a pic, as they had their heads tucked under their wings the whole time. They're pretty cute too!!

We had Spaghetti Bol and garlic bread for dinner, then an early night after all that sea air.

We were up and out around 9 the next morning, drove through some beautiful hills and countryside, and had a wonderful time wandering around the 12 Apostles and taking lots and lots of happy snaps. They really are breathtaking. The rawness of the place is amazing, plus we had the perfect weather.....about 30 degrees and a light breeze. I think we chose our weekend wisely. The next one was a public holiday weekend and would be absolutely crazy with tourists.

Tourists!!!

Shipwreck Bay

We finally left the coast not far from Warnambool and headed north toward the big hills. It would be quite a while before we saw them, and the drive was pretty boring after what we'd just been through.

We stopped at Mortlake for lunch and the ladies in the bakery were lovely and friendly. North again until we finally reached our destination around 3 in the afternoon. The happy campers were waiting for us. They'd all been to the lake for a swim to cool off. It was pretty warm, but didn't take long to set up camp. We needed an extra tent to house everyone, so GM found a hiking tent online that weighs only 2.6kg. It looks good and there didn't seem to be any complaints from the Tassies. The kids helped the Dutchies set up their tent, then it was time for the obligatory bottle of champers to toast the camp. The boys went off to collect fire wood, but GM came back without his glasses. After tracing their steps, they found them again....phew!!! It just amazes me that he didn't notice them missing while he was driving back to camp......maybe he was wearing his beer goggles by then?????

Time for a cold drink!!!

Parks Victoria have reduced the nightly rates for the camp sites, but they've also reduced the maintenance on the place. The toilets were downright scary, and stunk to high heaven!! They were filthy, and looked like they hadn't been cleaned in a while. Mrs Dutchie really didn't like the loos, and I can't say I blame her. No matter how many times I use them, I still feel like something is about to reach up and drag me in, never to be seen again. And the dirtier they are, the stronger that feeling is!! Thank goodness for the portaloo!!!!

We were camped at Borough Huts, in pretty much the same spot as the first time we came. And just like the first time, the Rastafarian dude was there again. Instead of a camp full of women hugging and kissing, dancing about to weirdo music and waving their glo-sticks, there was a camp full of men doing the same thing. They were LOUD!! All day, night, day and another night they went on and on. They wouldn't turn their music down, which might not have been so bad if it had been half decent music, but we would have much preferred to be able to hear nature instead. A lot of people came and went in the camp, which makes me wonder if it's not a drug selling spot. They sure seemed like fruit loops to me.

We had very forward Kookaburras and Magpies sharing our camp with us. They were very amusing to watch. Mr Dutchie had lots of fun filming them.

Saturday morning saw us head up to the Pinnacles for a hike. We went via the Sundial Carpark this time, and the hike up seemed quite a bit easier than the first time we did it. I'm glad we didn't leave it until later in the day, it got very warm, and was a hot trip back down. There was a young couple setting up to do some abseiling down the cliff. I think they had volunteered to pick up all the rubbish that had been thrown over the edge, probably the only way they'd be allowed to do it. It was "Clean up Australia Day". The kids went back down to the way we had the first time, the Wonderlands Carpark. GM and I would take the cars back to pick them up. We were nearing the Sundial Carpark when we heard an almighty racket. We came around the bend to a massive noisy bunch of kids and adults. I think they were a tour group from China or somewhere, but there were 17 kids around 7 years old, and were they excited!!!! The parents were laughing their heads off at the excitement. They were all very friendly. It was nice.

We picked the kids up and toodled into Halls Gap for a look around the Brambuk Centre. It was very quiet today and very warm. The place looked quite tired and in need of a bit of TLC.

We headed back to camp where we changed into our bathers and took the Kayaks for a dip in Lake Bellfield to cool down. The water was quite chilly when you went into the deep stuff. There wasn't anywhere decent to lay around. It was all dead trees and clay. But the water was lovely and clean and I didn't fall out of the Kayak! Mr Kid did, so we all had a laugh, but he managed to make getting back in the thing look quite easy. Bugger!!

We had a lazy night around the campfire, but our Dutchies were introduced to Aussie Roadkill. Car = 1, Wallaby = 0. We checked to make sure there was nothing in the pouch, and dragged it off the road.....yes, it was a hit and run.....and a very dark night!! I'm pretty sure everyone slept well after all that fresh air and exercise, I know I did :-)

The next day was a hot one!! There was no sign of the poor Wallaby, so either something's dragged it off (a feral cat, of which there were quite a few, or the Park Ranger). We went for a drive to Mackenzie Falls and let the kids do the climb down and back.

We headed to the lookout instead. It was a busy place, mainly foreign tourists. I don't think the kids were prepared for just how hard the climb out was. They looked pretty knackered when they climbed back out. But GM and I were waiting in the shade, as cool as cucumbers ;-) We stopped at the Boroka Lookout on the way back to camp, took some more happy snaps, then back to camp via Halls Gap for a lovely milkshake from the ice cream shop. It was very warm by this time, so the others all headed off to the lake to cool down, while I settled in the shade with a good book for a few moments of solitude.

We had a camp oven roast for our final night, and while this was cooking, we played a card game called "Cards against Humanity". This game is just so very wrong, and quite hysterically funny. The roast was just delicious!!! Then toasted marshmallows around the campfire. Our last night at camp. It had all flown by so quickly. I think Mrs Dutchie had just about had enough of roughing it, and was hanging out for a shower. I don't know why they wouldn't use the one in Barbara, but the others didn't seem to mind the stink of each other :-) It was a pleasure watching all the cousins interact. I have a vast amount of cousins, and love it when we all get together. There's something quite special about the connection.

The next morning saw the Tassies and the Kids head off fairly early. The Tassies were to be in Melbourne by lunch time to set off on a cruise to Kangaroo Island for their Wedding Anniversary. It wasn't much longer before we set off. We had run out of power and couldn't make a coffee :-( so we hitched Barbara up and set off for Arrarat, and Macca's coffee. We went cross country and chased a Kangaroo up the road for a couple of Km's. It was hysterically funny, but I don't think Skippy would agree with us.

We had one injury and lots of mozzie bites.....and although we have a fabulous collection of first aid kits, we had forgotten to pack this also :-/. We do have a tick list to remind us of the essentials to pack....but we forgot that too ;-).

No creepy crawlies on me this time...Yay!!!!!

We were back home around mid afternoon, and a lot of cleaning and washing to do before I headed back to work the next day. The Dutchies were heading off to stay with GM's brother, and a trip to see the fairy penguins on Phillip Island, and a night at the footy to experience their first AFL game.

It will be quite a while to the next adventure, building a house and cold winters won't see us hit the road again until around October. But I think once we're settled into the new Passion Pit, then we can start to plan our Cape York Adventure.....can't wait!!