Greens Lake again

Sun 19^th

Small world. Bloke parked behind me has family still in my little NZ home town. He has been in Perth 30 years. Happy hour with them – they also downloaded my 8GB of books.

Thousands of cars going in to Werribee park precinct – big concert on all day. Backed up right up the motorway.

Father-in-law died – 102 & 4 months! What an amazing long life. Such a gentleman and always quietly helping others. To live that long and still be sound of mind is wonderful.

Mon 20^th

Left about 9 – back to Greens Lake via Bacchus Marsh, Lancefield, Heathcote. Another pleasant drive along the edge of a high plateau with National park to the west. Lots of round boulders on the hills. Vineyards everywhere. A lot of haze from the fires around Melbourne – even at the lake. Hot here – we are all parked under the trees now. Four lots of Grey Nomads. Generator will run aircon – just not on econo! Flies are going to drive me nuts! Those horrible little grass flies that have to sit on you and follow you around. I must be tasty!

Tues 21^st

Hot night inspite of cool wind but slept ok finally.  To Rochester for gas, diesel and a few groceries.  Back to reading again - change from watching TV but may need to set it up for the Federer - Murray game!

We hear that Greens Lake  is likely to be closed – cops and fire brigade sick of the nonsense and the mess, fights etc., - must be a small minority because no problems while I have been here, other than some dopey boat people. A facebook rampage was organised for New Year apparently.

And so it begins - Australia Day weekend. Thursday night an influx of families with boats etc. I moved the van so that we nomads have a circle of 'safety' - bit like the old west when the Indians were expected to attack! Friday - cool and very windy so may put a few off - she says hopefully.

Werribee South, Great Ocean Road

Having a week at a CP - filled the tanks, and catching up on repairs. Have booked the van in to get the Rubber seal around the slide-out fixed first week of Feb. so making progress. Have decided not to do the awning over it as well - another $600 and they look quite flimsy. I am told we are supposed to use a silicons spray on the rubber seal  to keep it supple!

Am enjoying long(ish) showers, and lush green grass. The permanent vans here are very tidy, and have pretty gardens. The beach here is not for swimming - the river mouth and boat launching area. So many people out fishing every day!

Drove to Wye River yesterday for lunch with family. Glad I did it as I wont take the van down that road. It is not the road so much - Gillies Highway is worse, but it is the other drivers and the buses that I would be worried about. Amazing how scared people are of the edge of the road - hug the middle line on corners on the very narrow places!

The sea was stunning although I suspect it may not be good for swimming in many places. Such busy little towns everywhere tucked into the hills.
Stopped at the lighthouse at Aireys Beach. Just had to ask a couple of Dutch girls why they were using a pointed stick and some kitchen spoons to dig a hole just over the safety fence on the point. They want to bury a box there for their children to uncover in the future and wanted to put it at a place that was easy to find!!!! Looked a bit confused when I suggested that it may get washed away from the rain pouring down the path and over the edge. Will take a long time to get a hole big enough - digging in to very hard ground!

Wye River is tiny but hundreds of people there. A swimming/surfing beach with life guards. Lovely cafe, and a very busy shop with fancy fresh bread. Caravan park on the beach was full. A Big 4 park there as well, and houses tucked up on steep hills among the bush.

Turned inland at Lorne on the way home and drove to Winchelsea through beautiful tall straight gums that smelled wonderful. Long climb up from the beach through bush and then out on to rolling farm land.

Mt Cotterill

A month since I last posted - my goodness!  After a lovely 2 weeks of free camping at Greens Lake I moved to Mt Cotterill and have been here ever since. A Grey Nomad I met at the Lake suggested coming to stay at his grandson's property - which I very gladly accepted as I had not allowed for the fact that it was Christmas and holiday time, and that all the CP's are really expensive now, and the free camps beside rivers and beaches are all full at this time of year!  I have been made very welcome, and am thoroughly enjoying having company, the occasional meal with the family - and a rest from driving. I have learnt about sipping port through Tim-tams, sampled some lovely old wines, fired an apple gun (we used oranges), and have seen in the New Year around a bonfire, with a free fire-works display all along the horizon on either side of Melbourne  in the distance.Amazing Artichoke Thistles here. We thought our Scotch Thistles were bad enough! Very pretty but....                                            

Went for a drive to Campbell Cove - apparently all the little building jammed together were boat houses which have now been turned into holiday baches. I didn't poke my head over the dunes to check but a sign did say 'clothes optional area' - nudist beach?

Have seen a fox a couple of times. First time it was heading away having killed all the chooks here - as we found out later! Fire engines on the road a couple of times - grass fires near here but nothing serious luckily. Helped rescue a Galah stuck on the barwire fence - had to cut the wire to get it off. It was then taken to the vet to be put down - had I realised that was to be its fate I would have suggested my assistant should have just wrung its neck. 

I had several days with my daughter in Mont Albert, and enjoyed a wonderful 'proper' Christmas dinner with her partner's family. Beautifully presented and delicious meal, and much hilarity trying to play songs on numbered whistles that were in the bonbons.

I have spent some time in Werribee  - Christmas shopping, and have had the ute 100,000km service done. No problems - just front brake discs replaced.

 Went to see 'Life of Pi' - beautiful photography and a lovely story -well  worth seeing. I think the 3D version would be amazing. Decided to buy a ukelele as well - and a book with notation for picking songs! Need to keep my nails short. Chords basically the same fingering as a guitar - just have to remember that G is C etc! Hard on the fingers after all these years of not playing.

Went to Point Lonsdale on Sunday. Crazy traffic - thousands competing in a swim event, plus the thousands who turned off at the adventure park on the way. Had not realised Geelong was so big.

Heading off to a CP beside the sea on Sunday for a week. Need to fill my tanks, clean the loo etc. Not sure after that - may come back to the farm if the weather/fire danger is still so unpredicatable. Did think of moving to Melbourne but at $52 per night... I dont think so.