Albury, Greens Lake

Drove to Albury. Thought I needed a new left indicator on ute – but in fact it does work. Stopped at aCaravan Park. Drove out to find Ettamogah pub – ended up on Hume highway going north again so managed to turn around and try again. Can't find it! Did go in to a caravan place – too dear. Mall for  late lunch and asked re pub. It is closed – went bankrupt and new owners so….

Saturday

Left Albury with the intention of travelling towards Cobram and staying at a rest area for a night then on to Greens Lake. Really nice roads, flat and with a sealed verge which made moving over to allow people to pass so much easier – and safer! Then realised that all the free camp areas are not marked as rest areas, and there are no road signs before you get to a road so you are prepared to turn off! Oh for some consistency in this vast country.

Found Lake Mulwala – yuk. Full of dead trees. Houses all along the foreshore, and I think this is where the camps are – somewhere.  Drove to Cobram – market day so hard to get parking. Decided navman was sending me in the wrong direction to get to Shepparton and ended up at the Koonoomoo junction at the Big Strawberry. Stopped there for lunch then on to Shepparton. IGA open and easy to park so got groceries.

Car washes everywhere – must be plenty of water in VIC! Greens Lake easy to find but pretty full with weekenders, jet-skis, boats etc. Found all the "Grey Nomads' from the website that are here. Parking area saved for me with them so that was nice. Had drinks, then back for dinner, and then campfire chat in the evening. Lovely to have company.

Quite noisy – music, boats until after dark, firecrackers really late and a bit of a fight down the beach – but all ok otherwise

Sun.

Slept until around 8.30. Boats started firing up around 9.30 and have been coming in all day. Lots of families. Have been reading and trying to stay cool. Finally turned the gen on so I could run the fans and charge the computer.

Mon

Drips of rain at 6.30 so shut windows. Quite cool also. Had shower, breakfast, read a bit then down to Kiwis until nearly 2pm. Others turned up with sausages for lunch, Kiwi cooked narn bread on the camp oven.ke

What lovely people. Spent most of the day with the group. Another nomad arrived - Polish guy who teaches Esperanto. Thought that was a dead language! Also a couple who live near here –  and a lady in a van. Then the couple further down joined us – German and his wife – they will join the web as well. Lots of laughter – so good!!!!!!
Dropped the front bed down to air it.

Tues.

Lots of thunder and lightning first thing. Put the front back up about 7.30 before it rained.  

Took Kiwi friend and went to Shepparton for the day.  Went to SPC factory and bought a bit of stuff, and a camera.  Had lunch and did our laundry. Home about 4.30. Lovely day and good company . Tried the camera/lenses with moon shots and Doug’s tuition! A couple more nomads turned up. Generator does not like the turbo-cooker – hard work!

Wed.

Downloaded photos, made business cards, uploaded utilities.

 Having a shared dinner so making Quinoa salad. Pretty hot today - have dropped the back bed down just for some more air. Good day for a sort-out and tidy up.
More moon photos - quite lovely this evening.
Saw a brown snake - came out of the lake. Much excitement - one of the blokes got a stick and beat it to death - we didnt really want it running around.  Has put us off swimming though!

Have decided to stay longer. Having a lovely time with the other Kiwis and Grey nomads. Divine camp oven stew, shared meals and entertainment provided by young campers.

The kids down the beach set up their tent beside the lake then lit their fire with petrol. Big fire ball and the next thing the can is thrown to the water with a great line of fire following. It burnt there for ages, and getting close to the boat. One finally decided to shift the boat!!!! No-one burnt thank goodness.

Then this morning I see they had backed the ute up to moor the boat – but forgot and all hopped in the ute to go to the toilet. Dragged the boat up on to the mud until the ski pole bent and the rope fired off the ute!!!! Took ages to dig it off the mud. No skiing today unless they can repair the pole.

Several Nomads leaving today, the rest of us later in the week,