Hutchesson's Camp...

On Saturday 13th August, we packed up and headed for Hutchesson's Camp on the lower Glenelg River which is just over the border into Victoria, near Nelson.

We picked up supplies in Mount Gambier (nice fresh produce at She's Apples), had lunch at Mac/s Hotel, then hit the back roads to find the camp.    We had to go down many pine breaks and tracks to get there.

~

We had pre-booked Site 1 on-line through National Parks for $25.80.  The grassed site had a fire pit close by and good long-drop toilets.  But you won't catch me going in there!

~

It wasn't long and we had set up.  The weather was a bit dreary and drizzly but we put up the shelter off Ruby so we could stay dry .  Gus got the OzPig fired up early.

!

~

I forgot to say, when we arrived, there were a group of kayakers who were in Site 2.  They looked very weary and cold as they'd canoed up the river and had got nice and wet doing it.  The looked to be in the older age bracket too!

~

We had our comfy Pearl camper and they had 2 man tents, bed rolls and wet clothing!  Goodness knows what they had for dinner.  I guess they are used to it.

~

There is a little jetty where you can fish and get a good look up the river...

~

~

Nightfall and it was a bit breezy and wet so I rugged up...

~

I made a potato bake which we cooked in the BabyQ Weber (in a foil tray) and Gus cooked steaks.

~

After a few red wines, I broke out my Chocolate Port that I had brought all the way back from Queensland.  It was an excellent night cap!

~

Next morning, I cooked bacon and eggs inside, on the little gas stove in Pearl.  Won't do that again and fat spattered everywhere.  Poached eggs next time and bacon done on the Weber.

We cook our toast on the Weber too, covering the grill with foil, it toasts up nicely.

~

On Sunday, we drove along more bush tracks to head into Nelson...

~

Today looks more promising with the weather...

~

Of all things, I'd forgotten dish detergent for washing up so we went to the general store and got some of that, Gus bought a water can and funnel and we filled that with a bit more water to see us through.

Then it was back to camp for a late afternoon lunch...

~

We'd bought some stuff to do an anti pasto plate so that was our lazy lunch...

~

...enjoyed with a very nice Pinot Noir...

~

We wandered up to Site 2 as our kayaker friends had moved on earlier.  That would be the better camp so we'll book that if we get back this way again.

~

The afternoon was spent sitting in front of the Pig, watching little blue fairy wrens dart here and there.  Kookaburras laughed in the distance every now and then...very relaxing...

~

Just chillin'...

~

Dinner that evening was chicken wingets, green beans and baked potato and purple carrot - it looks quite gruesome but tastes great.

~

We woke Monday morning to a river that was so flat and mirror like...

~

~

Pity we have to leave...

~

We packed up camp, leaving nothing but tyre tracks.  All rubbish must be taken out of the park.  We were back home at lunch time, showered and back at work by 2pm.  Back to reality!

~

Cheers - Joolz xx

Hutchesson's Camp...

On Saturday 13th August, we packed up and headed for Hutchesson's Camp on the lower Glenelg River which is just over the border into Victoria, near Nelson.

We picked up supplies in Mount Gambier (nice fresh produce at She's Apples), had lunch at Mac's Hotel, then hit the back roads to find the camp.    We had to go down many pine breaks and tracks to get there.

~

We had pre-booked Site 1 on-line through National Parks for $25.80.  The grassed site had a fire pit close by and good long-drop toilets.  But you won't catch me going in there!

~

It wasn't long and we were set up.  The weather was a bit dreary and drizzly but we put up the shelter off Ruby so we could stay dry .  Gus got the OzPig fired up early.

~

~

I forgot to say, when we arrived, there were a group of kayakers who were in Site 2.  They looked very weary and cold as they'd canoed up the river and had got nice and wet doing it.  The looked to be in the older age bracket too!

~

We had our comfy Pearl camper and they had 2 man tents, bed rolls and wet clothing!  Goodness knows what they had for dinner.  I guess they are used to it.

~

There is a little jetty where you can fish and get a good look up the river...

~

~

Nightfall and it was a bit breezy and wet so I rugged up...

~

I made a potato bake which we cooked in the BabyQ Weber (in a foil tray) and Gus cooked steaks.

~

After a few red wines, I broke out my Chocolate Port that I had brought all the way back from Queensland.  It was an excellent night cap!

~

Next morning, I cooked bacon and eggs inside, on the little gas stove in Pearl.  Won't do that again as fat spattered everywhere.  Poached eggs next time and bacon done on the Weber outside.

We cook our toast on the Weber too, covering the grill with foil, it toasts up nicely.

~

On Sunday, we drove along more bush tracks to head into Nelson...

~

Today looks more promising with the weather...

~

Of all things, I'd forgotten dish detergent for washing up so we went to the general store and got some of that, Gus bought a water can and funnel and we filled that with a bit more water to see us through.

Then it was back to camp for a late afternoon lunch...

~

We'd bought some stuff to do an anti pasto plate so that was our lazy lunch...

~

...enjoyed with a very nice Pinot Noir...

~

We wandered up to Site 2 as our kayaker friends had moved on earlier.  That would be the better camp so we'll book that if we get back this way again.

~

The afternoon was spent sitting in front of the Pig, watching a little blue fairy wren and his lady friends dart here and there.  Kookaburras laughed in the distance every now and then...very relaxing...

~

Just chillin'...

~

Dinner that evening was chicken wingets, green beans and baked potato and purple carrot - it looks quite gruesome but tastes great.

~

We woke Monday morning to a river that was so beautifully flat and mirror like...

~

~

Pity we have to leave...

~

We packed up camp, leaving nothing but tyre tracks.  All rubbish must be taken out of the park.  We were back home at lunch time, showered and back at work by 2pm.  Back to reality!

~

Cheers - Joolz xx

Stabby!

I am back on my old pc and getting increasingly stabby with the different platforms I am trying to use to blog on my iPhone and iPad!

~

I have spent the best part of this afternoon putting together a blog from our weekend away and it has disappeared on me twice!  Thanks Blog Touch Pro - you're a  bitch!

~

BlogGo decided not to publish my pictures back pre-July. I suspect it had something to do with my iCloud storage being nearly full.  I deleted a heap of pictures but it still won't publish.

~

Blogsy did the same a while back, saying its storage was full but giving me no clue how to delete pictures - and if I did, would they disappear from my blog posts too??

~

Blogger is my last resort so I will have a go and see if I can publish something from there....

Grrr!

Frustrated....Joolz xx

Picking up Pearl Pt 1

Thurs July 7, 2016 - We left Melbourne early at 8.15am and headed up the Hume Highway.
~

 

It is great on the dual lane highway and we did 200kms in 2 hours.  We fuelled up at Glen Rowan North then I drove 270kms to Gundagai.  maccas for lunch there!  We left there at 2pm and the Google Maps lady said its 3 hours and 20 minutes to Batemans Bay.
~

 

From Gundagai we went up to Coolac, Jugiong, Bookham then through to Yass, although you bypass all of these towns as they're off the highway.
~

From Yass, we went down to Murrumbateman, turned off to go to Namina then followed the Murrumbateman Road then turned onto Shingle Hill Way.  We followed that until we hit the Federal Highway then turned onto Bungendore Road to Bungendore.  Then we followed the Kings Highway through to Manar then down to Braidwood where we fuelled up again.  Ruby is thirsty!
From there the roads got hilly and windy and Gus loved the drive through to Nelligen.  We made our way into Batemans Bay at 5.30pm, exactly on time.

Total kilometres for the day 786km in 9 hours
~

 

We stayed at the Bay Breeze which is nice, clean and comfortable.
~

 

Dinner was a short walk away at Kohli's Indian - also good.  Big sleep ready for tomorrow when we get Pearl!
~

We awoke to a drizzly, foggy morning and it looked like we'd be picking up Pearl in the rain!
~

Friday 8th July, 2016 - we headed for Moruya where the Ultimate Camper factory and showroom is.
 ~

 

We were welcomed then John showed us Pearl and the set up and fold down procedure and all around her.
~

 

Isn't she spiffy?
~

  

They provided a nice lunch for us...
~

 

Then it was time to hitch Pearl on and get on our way.  We are heading for Merimbula further down the coast...
~

There she is, tracking along behind beautifully!
~

It rained most of the afternoon but cleared up about an hour before Merimbula.
 ~

 

We checked into the Sapphire Valley CP and had an ensuite site.  This means we have our own toilet and shower facility on site.
~

 

As you can see, it was nearly dark by the time we started to set up but it still went up pretty quick and it wasn't long before we were sitting inside having a wine.
~

 

~

~

 ~

 

We headed to Club Sapphire for dinner and had a nice meal there - a roast for me and fish for Gus.
~

  

A well earned wine!
~

 

~

Next morning, we packed up and headed off with a big day ahead and Melbourne in our sights!
~
See previously published Part 2 for the rest of the trip.

Cheers - Joolz xx