On the road to ....Rawson

Monday 27th April
We had a good sleep with the gentle pitter patter of rain drops but by the time we got outside the rain had stopped and we got the van unhooked and the awning up and chairs out ready for when our friends arrived.  The park has very tall trees and the sun was blocked out so under foot was quite damp with quite a lot of leaves.

Anzac Day tribute in Erica

We walked around the park and then decided to go to the little town of Erica and Walhalla where we had some lunch.

The Museum at Erica

Beautiful countryside near Erica

Nothing much was open in Walhalla or Erica as the train leaves from Walhalla every Wednesday so we only had a quick look around as we will come back with Jeannie & David on Wednesday and go on the train ride and have a better look around the town when things will be open.

Our campsite at Rawson

Beautiful autumn colours as we came into the little village of Rawson

Jeannie & David arrived later in the afternoon so when they had set up we lit the camp fire in the camp kitchen area and caught up with them there.  The camp kitchen isn't really a kitchen, its only a shed with dirt floor and nothing to really call it a kitchen, a few empty cupboards and a sink with no water.  Anyway, we had it all to ourselves, but the huge gas bottle conversion fire left us a bit cold so we will have to get more wood if we want to get warm.

Tuesday 28th April

We packed a picnic lunch and drove out to the Thomson Dam.  It was a beautiful drive along a very winding road with lots of tree ferns on the road side. 



Thomson Dam

 

Picnic at Thomson Dam

We stopped for our picnic lunch at the picnic area at Thomson Dam and then drove to Mt Baw Baw.

Picnic at Thomson Dam

 The ski resort was closed so we had a quick look around and found the only shop that was open and although they weren't really open to the public they did open for us and we got a lovely pot of tea and they kindly gave us a plate of biscuits - what great people they were.

Afternoon tea at Kelly's, Mt Baw Baw

  We then drove back down  and stopped to do a short walk at Beech Gully walking trail and again we were amazed at the lovely tree ferns.  We drove around the Mt Baw Baw Ski Resort but as it was late afternoon the fog rolled in and we weren't able to get any good views.



Beech Gully Nature Trail

Beech Gully Nature Trail

Beech Gully Nature Trail

On the road to ..Sea Lake, Castlemaine and Mt Tarangower

Saturday 25th April 2015

Anzac Day 2015

 

We left our first overnight stop at Lake Tyrrell after a chilly night, although very cosy in our van.  We were surprised that we didn't need any heating in the van, as we have considered getting a diesel heater installed, but thought we would see how we go on this trip before we make the decision to spend the money.  We want to make sure that we really need the heating to make our trips more comfortable.  As most of our winter trips will be in the north, we will only need the heating occasionally so we are still undecided, I guess we will make our minds up on this trip.
After leaving Sea Lake we drove through the towns of Berriwillock, Culgoa and several others before coming to Charlton, which we remembered from a previous trip, and were pleased to find the Big Fish is still there as a tourist attraction.

Charlton

We arrived at Castlemaine and headed for the Restorer's Barn, Ron's favourite shop, as he always manages to find something there that he can't get anywhere else.  After looking around this interesting shop, he did find a few old tools for his blacksmith shed, but the prices for the old lamps accessories were a bit high compared to Adelaide shops so we didn't get as many things as we thought we would, but we enjoyed looking around as there are so many interesting bits and pieces.  We then walked around the town, most shops were closed because it was Anzac Day, but we had coffee in a little shop and then got fuel and amazingly with driveway attendant, that makes it a real service station.
We then drove on to Maldon where we stayed the night at Mt Tarangower.

Mt Tarangower camping area

The maggies visited our campsite

Campsite at Mt Tarangower

A couple of visitors at Mt Tarangower

On the Road to Marion Bay, Yorke Peninsula, Sth Aus




 

 

Marion Bay is a beautiful little town at the bottom of Yorke Peninsula.  We stayed at the caravan park which we booked before arriving as we thought it might be busy, but we were there mid week and it was not very full (thank goodness).  
The park is right on the foreshore with only a very short stroll to the beach but there is scrub between the park and the beach so you can't really see the beach but you can hear the waves rolling in, which makes for a good night's sleep!





Walkway to Marion Bay beach



Some of the locals on the beach




Rhino Head



 

Stenhouse Bay





Chinamans Hat Rock

Remains of The Ethel

The Ethel had been sailing from South Africa when it ran aground in 1904 near Innes National Park.
A crew member died and the others swan to safety.The Ethel ran aground near Cape Spencer in 1904. An unsuccessful attempt was made by the tug Euro in May to tow the Ethel back out to sea. A very small part of her is still visible on the beach.


The Ethel Wreck  as it is now in 2015



Pondalowie Beach

Shell Beach

Pondalowie

West Cape


We did another trip to Corny Point and visited the lighthouse and again we were rewarded with stunning coastal views.
 

Corny Point

Corny Point Lighthouse

Panoramic view from Corny Point

Panoramic view from Corny Point

Cape Spencer lighthouse

Cape Spencer is a headland located on the south west tip of Yorke Peninsula in South Australia. It was named after George Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer by Matthew Flinders during March 1802. It has been the site of an operating navigation aid since 1950 and has been located within the Innes National Park since 1970.



Inneston National Park



Coastline near the Ethel Wreck

 

On the road to ..... Hall's Gap 2014

Camp Chaos 2013

Another year has passed and we are on the road again to Hall's Gap where we will meet up with our friends from Melbourne.  For the past few years we have added our adult children and their children to our annual weekend get together. There are now 10 children and 12 adults.  Keeping track of 10 children is a bit of a task, but one way or another we have managed to know where they are most of the time and haven't lost any yet.
 For many years when our children had grown up and left "the nest" we met up and it was just the four of us but we thought it would be great if our kids re-acquainted themselves and their families as they are all about the same age, although it is difficult for everyone to make it due to work commitments etc. It will be good to see everyone again and I love to see the children and notice how much they have grown.
We have the van packed and hopefully I have not forgotten anything, but the marshmallows are in and I found the glowsticks that I forgot to pack last year.  I have probably got more than enough food to feed everyone and I know they will all be saying the same, so at least we will eat well, and  is one of the best parts of the weekend along with sitting around the campfire catching up with everyone.
Tomorrow we will be heading off and will probably stay overnight at Serviceton and then head into Halls Gap on Friday. 
Thursday 4th June 2014

The parrots come down for some food

We left home about 9 am and headed towards Murray Bridge through Chain of Ponds, Gumeracha and turned off at Palmer to Murray Bridge and through to Keith where we stopped for lunch at the Bakery and to stretch our legs.  As we were making good progress, we decided to continue on and not stop at Serviceton as planned and kept going until we got to Lochiel Rest Area near Dimboola.  We stayed here on our last trip and although it is near the railway line on one side and the fairly busy highway on the other, it is still a nice area to stay for a night, but the traffic was fairly constant and we didn't sleep too well but I always find that the first night out is like that. The weather has been good for driving, cool and overcast but not raining.


Friday 5th June 2014


Lochiel rest area near Dimboola

We left our rest area around 9.30 am and stopped in Horsham to get fuel and to visit the Aldi store as Aldi stores aren't in Adelaide & I can't resist a bit of a shop at a different store.  Unfortunately there weren't any parking spaces set aside for caravans so we had to drive around a few times before finding somewhere to park, but we didn't have too far to walk and I got a few things for the grandchildren and some fresh fruit. Aldi don't seem to be a lot different from most other supermarkets but they do have a few different brands. 
We continued on to Halls Gap and managed to find the turnoff which we have missed on other years, which is Mt Drummond Road.



 It would be good if they actually signposted it to Halls Gap but obviously they want us to take a different road, but we think that road is better to take the van on.
We got to the Lakeside CP and checked in and we were the first of our group to arrive so we were able to set up and even had lunch before everyone else arrived.

By mid afternoon Kirsten, Michael and the children arrived and it was all hands on deck as they set up their Jayco Swan, so I kept the kids occupied as they were keen to explore the park. 
Soon after Luke, Simone and their children arrived and they settled themselves into their cabin.  This year they have a newer and larger cabin than last year and it overlooks the playground and the kangaroo field.
Amity and Taleah were very excited to see everyone and there were hugs and kisses all round. 
Jeannie and David were next to arrive with 3 of their grandchildren and once again we were all excited to catch up after 12 months.  Everyone was busy getting themselves sorted out in the various accommodation as well as keeping an eye on the kids who were roaring around exploring everything in the cabins and the caravan.  I kept the girls occupied for a while with the balloons I bought at Aldi which was a last minute purchase but they had fun pumping up the balloons and twisting them into shapes. It wasn't long before I had a van full of balloons and I soon found out that balloons don't stay put anywhere.

Camp Chaos 2014

 

Oh no, we are not on the Road !!!! But here are some photos from my garden. Enjoy!



We won't be "On the Road" for a while as I am having a total knee replacement in a  weeks' time. Its not something to look forward to but it has to be done so that I can continue to enjoy our trips away.  I am getting quite anxious about it now that it is only a week away and I have had the pre op assessments with the hospital and anaesthetist and have all the details that they think I need to know.  I just want to get it over and get back to doing the things I want without the pain. I feel like everything is on "hold" at the moment and I just want to get it all over and start getting back to normal so we can do some more travelling.

I have been thinking about what I will do while I am recovering.  I hope I will have some blogging time between my exercises which I think will take up a fair bit of my day. 

Anyway, I have been going through some of my photos and found some interesting ones I have taken over the years of flowers, some from our garden and some from our travels.  I hope you enjoy them.



Golden wattle


This lovely wattle grows in South Australia and most front yaards or back yards have a wattle tree.  We have them coming up in the garden in places we don't want them so have to pull them up.  They are beautiful and flower between August and October.  There are quite a few different varieties too.




Beautiful and unusual Scilla

 




Apricot iris in our garden