Griffith, Tullibigeal

Lovely drive from Hay along the river. Called in to the Birdcage camp - will stay there another time. A mob of heifers grazing along this part of the road. Plenty of grass - nice to see for a change.

So much irrigation and I think rice, grain, orchards. The soil looks so different - is actually dark loam! Closer to Griffith there is the huge McWilliams winery, and and market gardens.

Stayed on night at the Weir camp in Griffith beside the canal but too noisy on a Saturday night for me. Friends from Hay were there as well and took me to De Bortoli Winery. Went to the Caravan park the next night. Pretty basic sort of place - but you get what you pay for. On Monday dropped the van into Jayco to get the skylight vent rubbers fixed, water pump checked and ended up putting new gas bottle holders on. The new gas bottles are a slightly different (fatter) shape and my old holders dont work. They also redid the gas fridge nozzle and cleaned the exhaust - actually works properly now. Dont know what they did at Maroong when they 'serviced' it. Did a bit of retail therapy - aerial tuner (but havent got the right fittings now) and had a massage.

Stayed out at Lake Wyangan 10km north of Griffith for 3 days. Very peaceful spot and managed to park on a reasonably flat spot up the top. Heavy rain on the last night - first time I have been in that sort of rain for a long time - and no leaks! Then on to Lake

Cargelligo. Another pleasant drive through wide fertile valleys with bush covered rolling hills, more cultivated land, and quite a few emus. Trees are different - I think they are cypress. Was going to stay at Deadmans Point but no-one else there so carried on down to Tullibigeal to the Pioneer park. Several there already so couldn't get to the free power points! A couple I was parked beside at Pigs Point here also (he is a bookie) - for the races on Saturday so may just stay and join them! 'Town' is in the next block - cafe, general store and pub. About 150 residents.
Heavy rain Friday afternoon - will upset the punters I suspect. This is the 4th year the races have been held - 4000 people last year but I think not so many this year. The pub did a roaring trade - runs a Calcutta on the Friday night.
Grain train took all day to load wagons - finally left about 8 last night.
Lovely day at the races - no money  but very entertaining 'people watching' especially all the young things poured into very tight very short dresses and wobbling along in stilettos - this was a PICNIC meeting.  Fortunately the day was overcast so we didn't bake - and it didn't rain either.Then happy hour(s) around a campfire with the other nomads. Not much sleep as there were a group camped at the track who decided to do burnouts and backfires all night.  They were imports I guess as there are only 150 people in town. I am told there is no unemployment in Tullibigeal as the farmers all offer young ones work who want to stay. If you dont take a job then you are not welcome at the pub! 
Sunday was definitely a day of rest.

Howlong, Tocumwal, Finley Hay

Left the Mitta Mitta River and headed along towards Wodonga then over the river to Howlong to a Caravan Park for a couple of days. Always good to have power, catch up on washing etc. Went to Albury for an afternoon of retail therapy. Found a tuner for the guitar. On towards Deniliquin - through a mob of cattle grazing the verge. Lots of irrigation canals, rice fields, wineries and several places that looked like good camping spots. Didn't stop in Deniliquin - another trip - but carried on up to check out Wanganella Weir. Could be a nice spot but several dead carp left on the road so lots of flies. Went back out to the Gallery for coffee and cake. A lucky stop as I noticed that
a bolt holding the rear spring on the van was nearly fully out. A nice old bloke came over to help me  get it back in, then another local stopped and found a nut to fit. Unfortunately something must have bitten him and he had to dash off and sort out the itching heat rash that was developing fast! Drove quietly on up to the lovely old Royal Mail pub at Booroorlan. $10 unpowered site.The couple have owned it for 17 years.
Wine was rather ordinary, but chatting to another couple and went back to their van for happy hour(s).

The road from Echuca up this way is known as the Long Paddock - has very wide areas either side so that stock could be walked down to the ports back in the old days when paddle boats transported them. Several areas of art works along the route. I did see one mob and several overnight yards that had been used very recently.
Very flat dry land up here - Hay Plains.
Hay is a pretty oasis with the Murrumbidgee running through it. Amazing that a river can have so much water when the land is so dry all around it.
Found an engineering place that replaced the bolt on the van then down to Sandy Point camp beside the river. A large area, and lots of picnic tables along the river. Met another lovely couple - went out for dinner at the RSL with them. Tried prospecting along the river but just hundreds of bottle tops.
Had 4 nights in Hay then off to Griffith.

Tumbarumba, Jingellic, Tarrangatta/Pigs Point

Interesting drive from Corryong to Tooma. GPS took me over 7km of gravel road that came out at the tiny hamlet of Tooma - 2 churches, a hall and a pub! I did see a turn off but of course why would I not believe the GPS when it is set to avoid gravel. Stopped and asked a farmer how far and was assured that I would be fine - just take it easy around the last corner. Lovely drive through some very tidy

farm land. Very skinny cows with young calves with the drought they have had, but also some better cattle. Stopped at the pub for lunch and a chat to the couple who have only been there a few weeks. On along the ridge tops, through bush and up hills then down to Paddys Flat. Lots of caravans there so checked out Paddys Falls. A very narrow winding sealed road down into there and very small and shady so drove out. Luck I met another car at the top - no room to pass and a sign warning that it may not be suitable for caravans would be helpful!!!! Carried on to Henry Angel camp and finally found a spot beside a stream. Quite a damp area. Still feeling like home - even a possum squawking in the tree in the night!

Decided to go to Jingellic but stopped in Tumbarumba as GPS had me going a long way round. Checked with some locals regarding the road, got a haircut and headed off on the Linden Roth roa. Once again a lovely 'familiar' drive through farmland. Reminded me of Taihape - Erewhon/Springvale stations. A narrow steep winding bit at the end and lots of forest through here. GPS finally decided there was a 'through road' about 10km from the end!
The camp at Jingellic is lovely with a wide river, and a pub above it but was pretty full when I arrived. Found a spot below the pub. A musician tonight until midnight! Could get noisy over this weekend but many have gone to the races at Towong today. Stayed 3 days then decided this place is far too busy - very popular pub thats for sure. Headed off with the neighbours to Tarrangatta. We have had a couple of musical sessions - he plays uke and I have dragged out the guitar!
 A lovely drive over Mt Grayna - another winding road along the Murray then over the hill and down to another arm of Lake Hume. Must hold a huge volume of water when full and I am sure the farmers must appreciate the grazing at this time of year when the water is low. 
We were going to stay at the showgrounds but after a show there is horse poo everywhere so went back to the Omeo road and down to Pigs Point camp beside the Mitta Mitta River. another very pleasant spot and very popular. No TV, radio or phone. The river is surprisingly swift and has trout. Did catch one yabby in the net so let it go! A nasty steep gravel road to get out of the camp up on to the highway - very tricky! Had a couple of music sessions but no-one came to sing with us. Did have one bloke telling us that he and his wife sing in choirs - but he didn't seem to want to join us - maybe he was too good!!!!
From this camp to a CP in Howlong for 2 days - internet catch up and an afternoon shopping in Albury.

Bright, Smoko & Nug Nug camps, Corryong

Very pleasant drive down to Bright from Glenrowan. Beautiful streets in these alpine towns - avenues lined with magnificent English type trees. I can see why Bright would be so popular in the Autumn. It all feels so like home. Mountains, pine forests, ski villages with accommodation, cafes..... I was surprised at how big the towns seemed - had imagined them to be smaller for some reason.

Made my way to the Smoko Reserve - after missing the turn off as Garmin via Camp6 setting wanted me to go through a paddock. Fortunately there was room to turn around just down the road - and was followed in by another caravan who had the same problem. A very narrow dirt road to get in there but a nice spot beside a stream with a couple of campfire pits and very basic toilet.

Met the guy who has the caravancaravan.com.au website - small world! I have contributed a number of places to his site. He spent some time on his IPad showing me the new features of the site - I might have to go buy and IPad now!!!!
3 of us in here now. Sat around a campfire after dinner which was very pleasant. One couple is here for the Rockabilly weekend at Bright.

Was not happy with the site of wasps in the bank beside the stream - the first time I have seen them over here. Quite a bit smaller than some we have at home so maybe not so aggressive. They were the one thing I was pleased not to find - until now! Also snakes around I am told but have not seen any yet. so peaceful here.

Decided to go the 90km to Omeo without the van - then around to Mt Beauty and back to Bright - so set off. Harrietville is not far then started climbing up into the mountains. WOW - no place to take a van anyway I think. Found the Meg corner I had read about - the one that is a problem when going south as I was. A tight 20km corner and steep up-hill. Also had to pass cyclists -utter  nutters - but then there is a cycle event on next weekend so maybe they are practicing! There is a large area of the mountains that has been burned a few years ago but lots of regrowth. Such tall straight trees.

After negotiating  what felt like hundreds of 30 km bends and constantly climbing I decided to take a break. According to the GPS I had done 10 km - and had only been travelling 30 minutes. I still had 70 km to Omeo -  way too hard I decided and turned around and headed back to Bright. Had lunch there while it poured with wonderful refreshing rain.

A sudden heavy shower here at the camp in the evening also which left the place with a lovely smell of eucalyptus oil.

I was given 2 little trout fresh out of the stream last night by a keen fisherman camped here. Delicious. I had thought of going 2 km down the road to the trout farm - but have now sampled the real thing.  They are very tiny compared to the ones we catch in Lake Taupo  - may be it is because they are in a stream?
I had been puzzling over some unusual high square sheds along the valley. Have been told they are the old tobacco drying sheds from when this area was a centre for tobacco farming. Now there are chestnuts, walnuts, hops, berries - and delicious peaches and corn from a roadside stall.

Nug Nug camp west of Myrtleford is a very pleasant spot with good facilities, plus power and some water. A clean trout stream runs along the edge. It is run by volunteers - $5pp and $5 pn for power. A shame the lovely old trees are infected with a beetle though. The friends from Smoko joined me - another pleasant evening around the camp fire although not late for me - had polished the ute and washed the van plus lots of other little jobs. Then a thunderstorm overnight meant I had to hose everything down in the morning!
Another nostalgic drive today along the Murray-Golburn Highway to Corryong - so like NZ around here. Think Waioweka gorge where it is a bit wider - or Orakei-Korako with the pine forests.

Werribee, Bendigo, Greens Lake, Glenrowan

A while since I posted! Long but pleasant drive from Halls Gap to Werribee. Still don't like freeways even though you can drive faster and there are two lanes - don't get to see the countryside! Turned off at Ballarrat and took the long tree-lined Remembrance Drive - and ended up in town so had a bit of a narrow detour to get through. On to Bacchus Marsh and down to the friends at Mt Cotterill that I stayed with last Xmas. Lovely to see them again. Spent a couple of days in Melbourne and was taken out for my birthday dinner by my daughter and grand children. Power off all day Sunday due to rain causing shorting on the dry lines - had to go out to get a proper coffee by mid-morning! Had the Garmin set to avoid toll roads and was taken all through the city past the Victoria Markets - on a Saturday. Finally ignored it and went sideways on to less congested roads!!!! Did do a bit of toll road on the way back - all of $8 but unlike last year I now can go online and pay. Decided not to wait and see if they took the money off my Visa - paid anyway! Got caught last year - a $2 toll with $15 late payment fee that then went to $23 - ouch. Posted to Perth then emailed to me so just missing deadlines each time!!!!
My young friend worked out how to turn my headlights off - ex mine vehicle. Nissan thought about 4 hours and several hundreds of $$$$ - he found a box under the dash and pulled a fuse in about 15 minutes! At least now I wont be changing a bulb every 9 months or so!
 On up to Bendigo. Spent 2 days with the friends I met at Tom Price 2 years ago. So lovely to meet people that you can catch up with annually and they still feel like old friends. Then to Marong to the Caravan place to get the fridge gas serviced. Stayed at the park there overnight just to make sure it was working, then on up to Greens Lake. Several of the nomads still there so great to catch up with them again. A thunderstorm with a splash of rain yesterday then dead calm for about an hour (happy hour time ) then wild wind for an hour or so from the other direction! Weird. Had 4 days at the lake then decided to head to Bright. Am at the Glenrowan CP to catch up with washing etc. This is Ned Kelly country. What a pretty area. Hills, trees, some green grass in amongst all the brown.

Went for a 10km drive then back to town. Enjoyed to the Kelly house museum. Loved the egg holder. The interactive show is closed all week so that is disappointing. Had coffee, spent 5 minutes walking the street - very commercial but I think the town would not exist if not for the Kellys!

Halls Gap - still!

Love this place. May leave in a day or so. The Jazz Festival was great - especially as I managed to get jobs in the Hall so was in air conditioned comfort for much of the time. So hot outside in the marquees.
I think there were 9 venues and 130 bands this year. Didn't get to see many of them as I was helping with registrations etc - and enjoying the company of some lovely people including the ones from Hamilton who organize it all. Very impressed with the sound man - orders all the gear for all the venues and has it sent from Melbourne (I think). He spends the day setting it all up then goes to each venue while each band plays just to make sure there are no problems. He said it has taken a few years to get the bands to trust him enough not to touch the mixers and the sound is great! The drums and pianos etc also come up by truck for each venue. What a major logistical undertaking it all is - well done to the volunteer organizers!!
The power to the whole of the town went out on Saturday evening - just after I had ordered a pizza for dinner. I managed to be fed - others would have to eat salads or the sausage sizzle up the road! The festival carried on with those who could play acoustically until it had to be stopped at 8.30pm for safety reasons so we all went home. Power finally on again about 11.30 that night.
Sunday morning was a shocker - wild gusts of wind from all directions sending great bursts of dust and sand all over the town. Consequently the hall was a very popular venue. Did not deter bands or fans though. The big bands were re-located to another hall because of the dust.
Came back the the park Sunday afternoon, had a nana nap before the evening's entertainment here - several musicians entertaining the campers.

Feb 2014

Feb 2013

Went for a drive to Reeds Lookout on Tuesday since the road had been opened that far. Then to Mt Difficult lookout  What a great view of Halls gap - did not see that lookout last year when here. Smoke visible from the Gisborne fires.
The road to the lookouts seems to have been a barrier to the fires a couple of weeks ago that threatened Halls Gap.

Loxton, Pinnaroo, Hopetoun, Halls Gap

Left the Burra Gorge and drove to Morgan- Caravan Park beside the river. Lots of families here and the Park is beside the ferry. Did the washing etc. Nice spot but headed off to go camping on Thurs and ended up at Lyrup. Lucky I only paid $10 for one night as the camp area is very small with low trees and the loo is way down the road! Very hot so had to run fan all day. Saw lizard on a tree – came out of the river. Tried to rain overnight!

On to Loxton then down to Paruna except I missed the turn at Loxton and the Garmin doesn’t tell me to turn around. Reprogrammed to Pinnaroo and carried on – then after 25km realised I was still going along the river.
Turned around, back to Loxton and on the right road. Paruna is a tiny place. Doesn’t seem to be anything open here. Pulled into a tiny community Caravan Park - $10 p/n but no internet so on to Pinnaroo. Grassy park with a dozen permanent vans for Asian potato farm workers.
Talking to a retired couple from here who have been camped for 2 months. The farmers lease a circle of land to potato farmers who put down a bore and crop the circle.
There is an animal park out the back -lots of birds in cages, roos, geese

$20 p/n powered so staying 4 nights since it is a long weekend. Swimming pool beside the park and an easy walk to town.

Wandered down the street - got groceries then meat from butcher. Switched on young man who will do well I think. The grocer got his meat yesterday and won't get more until Tuesday – will be out by tonight so the butcher is staying open all weekend also – and supplying the meat for breakfast in the park on Sunday. Nice little town, has a big soldiers hospital, green golf course, very tidy. Lazy few days – washing, housework etc.
Quite hot so inside mostly.

Got my headlight bulb replaced - again!!!! Fifth bulb in 22 months. I need to get the lights turned off - this mining thing is getting annoying when the bulbs blow alternatively! BUT - called into the John Deere place looking for a mechanic and they did the job for me FREE. It has cost me anything from $12 including the bulb to $20 plus the bulb to get this 5 minute job done! Should learn to do it myself but it is a tight space to get your hand in to and I think I would end up losing a lot of skin!

Thought about camping before Ouyen but a very hot and very windy day so kept driving. Had lunch break at Ouyen – seems a big modern town then through recent fire area. Several very old abandoned rail siding ‘towns’ on the way. Rolling grain country. Stopped at Lascelles pub for more cider! There is a Caravan Park there opposite the pub – but very small and right beside the road. Stopped at Hopetoun eventually. Checked free camp around the lake and found power points on grass. $15 p/n at Mallee Bush retreat. Emailed a friend to come here instead of Brim. 

We went in to town, had lunch at café and a bit of shopping. VERY hot day. Spent the next few days hiding in the van with the aircon going while the next heat wave rolled over me.
A few people coming and going.
 Water-skiers on the lake in the evenings. Lovely spot to stay. I am told the the whole lake had people camping around it over the long weekend. The back area is run by council and has an ablution block for free campers.

 The Bush Retreat is fun and a credit to the forward thinking town. Accommodation for 42 people in various interesting buildings. Have to bring your own linen and have the use of the main kitchen. You can hire the whole complex for $400 a night! All buildings seem to be air conditioned - a good thing when a couple of grain silos have been used. Interesting sloping roof on the kitchen block.

Next stop Halls Gap. Although the Grampians looked quite hazy I am told the fire is out other than damping down hot spots - there are still firemen in town. Nothing obvious from the road in to the town although I did drive through a burnt patch where the fire had jumped the main road out of Horsham. A sudden change in the weather from a heat wave to cold gusty wind and 'almost' rain has been a pleasant surprise. Looking forward to the Jazz Festival in the weekend.