Barbara Visits the Kids

19/7/2012
We left home at 10 past 5 on a miserably cold, wet Thursday morning, just Barbara, GM and I. The poor neglected thing hasn't been out for some fresh air since April :-O
We didn't pack much as we were using her only as accommodation this time.
We had a dream run through Melbourne and stopped at the Ballan Roadhouse for Macca's and driver exchange. The place was full of truckies and businessmen and the setup in there is horrible. The tables are in direct line with the doors like a corridor and everytime somebody came in, we got blasted with icy air.
The paddocks were thick with ice for the next 100km's or so and a bit of fog thrown in here and there as well. There was very little traffic on the road, which seemed strange for an interstate highway.
Horsham was the next stop and driver exchange. We had a cuppa & pie from the bakery and off we went again. A quick stop at Border Town for another cuppa and some salad rolls to have further up the road. We stopped at Keith for lunch, and the rolls were ghastly!!! Won't be buying from there again. We ate them at the park, and apparently Keith is famous for it's jeep on a pole???? Well, we searched and searched but couldn't find it. We finally found it on the way out of town. It's true......they have a jeep on a pole............I'm still trying to figure out why???? :-/ GM caught up on a few zzzzzz's and our next stop was Murray Bridge for a fuel up and driver swap....nearly there :-)
And down, down, down, down, down we came into Adelaide....what a hill :-) Luckily the brakes work well!!!
GM set up Karen (his GPS), whom it turns out isn't nearly as clever or sexy sounding as Lee (my GPS) and she took us through Belair....very noice place :-) She didn't seem to like me overiding her and taking the Southern Expressway, but she eventually got over it and we arrived in Christies Beach around 4pm.
We set up Barb with the awning as we intended to stay 3 nights. We had her set up in no time at all and set about cracking a bottle of Champers to celebrate another adventure.

The caravan park was right behind the surf club, so we took a stroll down to the beach and watched the surfers for a while.....it was bitterly cold, then we toodled up the street to get some fish and chips for tea. On the way, we passed a play ground that was just awesome...it was like being under the ocean and far better than anything we had when we were little. GM got a wee bit excited and was itching to play on it, but he managed to control himself...........unfortunately............
We went back to camp, ate our fish and chips, watched a bit of telly and crashed, utterly worn out.

20/7/2012
We woke to a cold drizzly morning and had an amazing breaky of crunchy nut cornflakes (I have converted GM to my style of cooking ;-) ), we set up Karen to take us to see the kids. Well, it seems she was still shitty with us from yesterday as she took us off the main road....right, then left, then left again and back onto the main road about 100m further up........."What the f#*k" was to be a commonly used expression that day and produced quite a few giggles from the back seat.
We eventually got to Birchenough Road and there was my boy :D oh how I've missed his smiles and hugs!!! Lovely hugs from Michelle, a quick catch up with the rest of the family and into the beast and off to Hahndorf for lunch.
It was quite foggy through the Adelaide Hills, so unfortunately GM missed a lot of the scenery. It is such a pretty place.
Karen continued to be a bitch, but we got there eventually :-)
Had a quick stroll around town, bought some chutnies and had lunch at the Hahndorf Inn. I ordered pumpkin soup and they brought me a bucket full!!! So we grabbed an extra spoon and Michelle and I polished it off in no time :-) GM ordered a whole butcher shop, and managed to polish it off.......what a champion!!!!! Boy did I pay for that later that night and the next morning!!!!!
The food and atmosphere was wonderful.
We decided to take the kids to the Big Rocking Horse, and Karen didn't let us down again.....She definitely has a serious case of PMS!!!
We wandered around oohing and ahhhhing at all the animals. They were gorgeous :-) We had sheep, goats and ducks following us all the way. I spoke to all the cockies, gallahs and corella's and made a number of new friends :-)
We drove back to Adelaide and dropped the kids off, then off to dinner at Christies Beach Hotel with the fabulous Veronica Walsh. It's a huge pub and was chocka block full. It was great catching up with Veronica too :-)

21/7/2012
Another wet night and another crunchy nut breaky. We went for a look at Witton Bluff

and off we go to pick up Aaron....Michelle didn't come with us as she was off to Disney on Ice (Lucky Girl!), so GM, Azza and I headed down to Victor Harbour for the day.
It turned out to be quite sunny and windy. We wandered across the bridge to Granite Island

and then went for a walk around the island...saw some great looking bench tops in those rocks :-) It was lovely walking around and completely sheltered on the ocean side of the island.

Victor Harbour

We didn't see any whales :-( but we stopped and had calamari and chips for lunch....pretty delish!!!

We took a few happy snaps and then toodled over to Encounter Bay to catch up with Kirsty Pursehouse and her girls, Summa, Ella & Paige.....boy do they keep her on her toes :D Beautiful friendly happy girls :-)

Encounter Bay

Stopped at the shops on the way back and managed to find an amazing clock for the Passion Pit that only just fitted in the car :-) We decided not to stay the 3rd night and hit the road aiming to stop at Keith for the night so we could get to Warnambool a bit earlier.
We called in at the Ekhidna winery in McClarenvale on the advice from Veronica Walsh.....She is an amazingly clever girl sometimes :-) She suggested this place for the ginger beer, and I must have had my blonde hair on, for I never even thought that it might have booze in it!! Bonus!!!! :D Best ginger beer in the whole world!!! We bought a dozen as we only had the small fridge in the back of the beast :-( Will just have to go back and get some more :-)
We kept driving and got to Tailem bend in time for a fuel up and dinner. We went via Strathalbyn (beautiful place) and caught the ferry across the mighty Murray at Wellington, then onto Keith for the night.

22/7/2012
We left Keith at 5.20am to dark and fog and stopped along the way to take pics of the SA roadsigns which are far better than ours :-)

Don't drive like a ???

Don't drive like a ???

Don't drive like a???? (Door handle Veronica Walsh???) :D

We stopped at Macca's at Mt.Gambier for breakfast and had the worst coffee ever!!! nearly as bad as the one from Border Town :-/
We hit the Victorian roads with a bump and a thump.....gosh our standards are poor compared to SA, gotta wonder where all our money goes....certainly isn't into the roads!!!
We arrived at Warnambool and set up Barbara at the Fig Tree Tourist Park where we had an ensuite site.............Luxury!!!! :D
Then off to see the rest of the kids. Alyce took us to a great little cafe just down from where she works and had a lovely relaxing lunch, and then off to see if we could spy any whales.....alas, still no whales!!! :-( Brad met us at the beach and we toodled off to Allansford cheese factory, where we got to taste some yummy cheese. So, loaded up with some cheese and some chilli honey, we headed back to town where we had a couple of drinks at the Warnambool Pub. What a great pub!!!! So many things to see in there....pretty funky place :-) They had a band and great comfy couches.....I coulda quite happily stayed there and got pist ;-) but we had to go and get ready for dinner, which we had at a place called images..........I found this quite funny, as that's the name of the place where I get waxed :-) It was a rather different experience tho :-) and Alyce and I had yummy cocktails :D

Cocktails at Images

23/7/2012We left Warnambool at 8.10am and made it back to Warragul around midday with a stop at a roadhouse west of Werribeee, where we bought coffee and fresh atlantic trout, which GM used his amazing Masterchef skills to cook a delicious dinner with :-) The fish man must have liked us, coz he threw in 1/2 doz huge prawns, which GM polished off without stopping to breathe!!!!

SUMMARY
Well, it was great catching up with our babies and friends, and having hot showers without getting mud between the toes, but it sure doesn't even come close to a camp fire, the wild, a few drinks and the stars :-) It was exhausting!!!
Camping food shits all over takeaway, and I've never drank so much coffee in my life....thanks to the .05 laws......
We travelled around 2100km's and saw places we've never seen before....or anyone else has ever seen for that matter......we still never found out what was at the end of the private dirt track!!!! Thanks Karen ;-)
Barbara is supposed to be watertight and dust proof, but she has a slight leak in the right hand rear.....which will have to be looked at.....don't want the red dust getting in there next year!!! But she sure is warm at night and builds up quite a bit of condensation which we will also have to try and combat. GM just might have to sleep outside....or stop sweating!!! ;-) We had to strip her out when we got home and everything has been washed and is ready for the next adventure :-)

The Anzac Adventure

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.

A bird

A bird in a cage!

Another bird

And another....

and another...........

Cheeky little things just loved the extra sharp parmesan

Guess it's another bird



Edi Cutting to Police Paddocks



Home to Edi Cutting

A wasp nest