Black Cockatoo, Greens lake, Aysons

Cool and cloudy again. Left around 10 – drove up through the Coonawarra wine region, Penola, to Narracorte then Black Cockatoo Bush camp. Pretty dry and sandy, $8 for site – no power but good clean toilets and solar heated shower. Big area – but only the caretakers here in their van! About 3km of good(?) dirt road.

Stopped to get the right headlight bulb replaced - $12 – and bought 2 more ($16).

Good roads in SA – very few bumps, but a wide sealed verge with lots of passing areas. Pleasant change. Very quiet evening- read for a while. Caretakers went out so no-one to talk to.

Fri March 1^st VIC again.

Remembered it was a friends 70th birthday on 2^nd so headed back to Greens Lake!  Forgot to take ute out of high 4x4 – was wondering why I seemed to be using a lot of fuel!!!!! Again!!!! 18 & 20L per 100km – ouch! I so need a flashing light  instead of the little diagram thingie on the dash!

Enjoyed the drive – nearly 8 hours with a few short stops to do 450km but who is in a hurry! It is still very dry everywhere. Arrived around 6.30. Five other Nomads there.

Sat 2^nd

Off to Maroopna with the birthday boy. Did washing, had coffee then lunch with  friends and family, and back to the lake about 3pm. GN lady I met at Mt Gambier arrived – is staying with me for 2 nights so reorganised the van beds etc. Cooked a big stew for shared dinner party. Very pleasant evening – bed around 10.30. Thought we would sample the bottle of Rum Liqueur that I bought in Kunnunurra - WOW talk about rocket fuel! Decided it would be great as a medicinal product - to kill external cuts etc like they used to do in the wild west!
Quite ‘noisy’ sleeping in the tent again - can hear coughing, tent zips, bugs and birds. Didnt hear my companion down the other end of the van though, and I presume she didnt get too disturbed by my snoring.

Sun 3^rd

Beautiful calm warm morning, and a quiet day – feeling a bit weary – broken sleep I guess.   

Flipped off my caravan step this afternoon as I trod on it – and twisted my back and banged my shin – AND spilt my drink!!!! Ouch!

 Noisy party way down the other end of the lake late in to the night - fruit picking backpackers  in full voice.

Mon 4^th

Went to Kyambra to get a new step - $75. Metal one now.   Put the van back together – rearranged the bed etc. Tried a 19v computer charger - need to get one as my computer doesnt like the 12v one - would save running the genny to charge it all the time..  

Tues 5^th

Off to Aysons Reserve this morning. The other nomads have almost all gone and the thought of the Pole who has lived in a tent at the lake for 3 months being my closest companion - I dont think so! We have all ended up at the reserve as a group again. 

Seems to be mossie free but there are a few flies. Put the yabbie net in the river.

Wed 6^th

 Caught 4 yabbies but they  are really are too small to be bothered with so let them go. Could have used them for bait though. Woke up to a real morning chorus – haven’t heard so many birds for a very long time. Lots of Kookaburras also. Will stay here a few days I think. Long weekend coming up and a food festival at Swan Hill so will be busy on the roads.