Day 11 - 18 24th February - 2nd March 2012

Day 11 24 February 2012

This is the second day free camping at Mountain Dam.  After Brekkie we went for a drive to the Grampians.  Halls Gap was the first stop.  Went to information to find out what was in the area of interest.  Decided to do a walk to the Pinnacles or should I say in the general direction of the Pinnacles.  We had several things against us making the entire trip.  We did not have water with us and we were doing it in the heat of the day, not very wise without water.  We walked up quite away but finally turned back as the heat was really getting to both of us.  We would have to tackle the Pinnacle another day. 

We then drove out to Brambuck south of Halls Gap, probably one of the best Parks Victoria Offices and a very interesting Aboriginal historical centre.   Took the historical walk around the centre and read up on some of the history, viewed the pictures, learnt about some of the symbols they used for communication and weapons/tools used by the Aboriginals in years gone by.  We returned to town and decided we would take the walk to McKenzie Falls. 

What an absolute delight that was.  On the walk down I thought about the fact that I would have to return via the same steps however this time they would be uphill.  I would have done it again given the chance.  Not only was the Water Fall spectacular and amazing but the coolness of the water was invigorating.  We rested awhile at the falls and then took the long trek back uphill.

I went for a swim with Oscar in the Lake.  My first and I must admit I am not keen.  The ground beneath my feet was slimy as all buggery.  Oscar handles this type thing like a true male.  I will have to get used to this or it may wreck our friendship, he needs a buddy to do these things with and I had better learn to be a good buddy.

The climb up to the Pinnacle

Resting on the way up

Steps up to the Pinnacle

Brambuck

McKenzie Falls

Kooka out for a swim on the Falls

Day 12 25 February 2012

We are having a lazy day around camp today, total fire ban day so feeling flat out like a lizard. There is another couple camping here (Belinda and Graham) but they are a little deeper in the park.  They have been traveling since April last year and what a terrific couple.  They are very interesting and very down to earth lovely people, who do not have any problem teaching and imparting knowledge to the novices.  I believe I am becoming a little more relaxed around people.  One of my goals for this trip is to be more relaxed around strangers.

I took a walk with Oscar today again learning to use the camera.  I will share more photo’s with you as time goes. 

I am still not used to using the local long drops.  Today I had two swims with Oscar in the Lake; it is getting a little more comfortable, as Oscar is trying to teach me not to fear the unknown, to deal with it when it arises.  However as suspected there are things in the water to scare the living daylights out of one.  I was just learning to relax on the second round of swimming for the day when if you can believe it a black swan takes off from the water a couple of metres from where I am swimming, only giving me the biggest fright of my life and all the confidence and hard work Oscar had put in to get me to this point went down the gurgler.

After the second swim we decided to go into Horsham for a cold beer.  We had a beer at the RSL and then went Grocery “Top up” Shopping.  We went back to the camp had a light dinner sat outside for a while and low and behold there was an owl in the tree just ahead of us and a sugar glider possum flew from one tree to the other in front of us, we gazed at the multitude of stars above us and finally found the Southern Cross, the milky way and Orion’s Saucepan, then it was time for bed.  It was very difficult to sleep as it was extremely warm.



Tree with Attitude

Bird of Prey

Moss at the Lake

Vegetation at the Lake

Day 13 26 February 2012

We packed up camp today heading out to Little Desert National Park just south of Dimboola. We said our farewells to Belinda and Graham who were headed off to Arapiles National Park.  We stopped off in Horsham as I had forgotten a few items and also needed to do a stop at the dump site. 

Eventually back on the road to Horse Shoe Bend Campgrounds in Little Desert National Park.

We arrived about 1:30/2 and setup camp.  If there was a day till this far that I felt a need to go home this would have been it.  Another Total fire ban day and it was so damn hard to breath.  The flies are killing me.  But I need to persevere as this is nothing, I’m sure, to what this wonderful trip has in store for me. 

Went with Oscar for a swim, in the Wimmera River, after setting up and I was back on track.  The water was amazingly cool and refreshing and the sand beneath my feet was just like sea sand.  The fact that I still could not see through the water still put me off a bit but it was not half as bad as swimming in the lake.

When it started getting a little darker we headed back to camp and found that Belinda and Graham had arrived at Little Desert as well.  We invited them over for a drink and they explained that Arapiles, whilst it was a beautiful place, was clearly for the avid rock climbing enthusiasts and did not have too many camping spots so they decided to head over to Little Desert which they were planning to visit in the next few days.

We have been eating extremely well on this trip.  Very little fat, lots of salad, vegetable and fruits.

Our new home Horse Shoe Bend - Little Desert National Park

Our First sunset

Our first Guests

Our first Guests

View from my bedroom - Use your imagination

Day 14 27 February 2012

We headed into Dimboola today to get gas for the gas cylinder and to do laundry.  Looked around the town small quant little village one wonders how these little places survive.  Not too many of the shops were open.

On the way back from the little town of Dimboola we stopped off to do the Pomponderoo walk. It was not a very big walk.  But we do try and do a walk at least once a day.  Some of the walks are long some of them just enough to keep us active. 

We returned back to camp, Oscar went for a swim in the river and I tried to see if I could work out how to edit photo’s using the crop function of my camera.  Still not able to do it, will keep persevering.

Belinda and Graham came over for a yarn and a drink again this evening.  I took picture of a Kookaburra who was only too willing to pose for me.

There had to be one

Posing

Another Pose and very happy to do so.

Day 15 28 February 2012

Well this is the start of week three of this trip and we are still as enthusiastic as ever.  Today we decided to do the discovery walk which was approximately 6km’s.  It wasn’t a very strenuous walk as it was mostly flat.  Lots of Roo’s around.

Got back to camp and Belinda had left us a note to say there was an owl behind their van in the trees and to see whether we could find it.  Well over I went to see if I could find the owl.  See the pictures below it was rather challenging to say the least. 

I caught up with the blogs today.  We went into Dimboola for a beer and to catch up with the local gossip.

Seems, for all those up to the local news, Dimboola was the town, that the couple were captured in, that was on the run from the cops re child pornography not too long ago from Frankghanistan.  They hid out at the Horse Shoe Bend Camping grounds for a week, but when he went into town to the IGA he was recognised by one of the locals who locked him up in the store and contacted the police.

Got back to camp and just as we drove in Oscar leapt out of the vehicle, at first I thought he thought I was going to hit the pole, but instead he jumped out with camera in hand and started clicking away.  I looked in the general direction to find a Goanna.  What a beautiful specimen.  He was not threatening at all just wandered through the camp stuck around for a while then meandered off to better pastures all the while allowing us to get some happy snaps.

Belinda and Graham came around again for a few sun downers a recollection of the day’s events.  We had an eye fillet steak and veggies for dinner. 

The Owl on a branch

Ohh Please let me sleep.

Side on View

Wimmera River

Day 16 29 February 2012

It is a Leap Year and a very nippy morning.  We are packing up and heading on out to Dergholm State Park.  We are going via Nhill. 

Oscar decided that he needed to stop off at the local hospital to get his ears cleaned out as they were annoying him something awful.  Not sure it was such a good idea as he finally realises I swear like a trooper.  Have to watch my P’s and Q’s.

If you can believe it what are the chances of sitting in a small town knowing that you know somebody that lives there but the chances of actually seeing them are remote as you have no idea how to contact them.  Well I decided to wait in the car for Oscar while he was in the doctors and played a bit of Sudoku on the HTC (must keep the mind stimulated) when I looked up and saw a vehicle that I recognised.  I thought ok that looks like Jackie’s Car, I will wait and see if a woman with red hair gets out(thank heavens for the red hair as I was sitting about 400m up the road) and when I saw the colour hair I knew it was Jackie.  Got out of the car locked it and walked towards her.  When I got closer I said “Hello Jackie” and she looked in total amazement to see me standing in front of her.  It is a small world.  Jackie and Family immigrated to Australia from South Africa 1 February 2005.

We finally left Nhill at approximately 3:00pm, after getting some maintenance materials for the fly screen on my bedroom window as I had accidently stuck my hand through it.  Drove to Edenhope stopped for a pie and cappuccino as we had no chance of making dinner.  We were headed for Bailey’s Rocks.  When we got to the turn off we found that the road was closed.  We continued on towards Dergholm and found “The Pub in the Scrub”.  We stopped off for the standard local drink and also to get advice from the locals re other places to lodge for the night.  A local bloke was good enough to tell us to go back to the road that was closed to continue a further 7 km’s back and turn right.  Follow the road and you will come out at Bailey’s Rocks.  It was an alternate route.  Happy as Larry we set off and sure enough we ended up at the very spot we wanted to be at.  We struck gold once again.

Day 17 1 March 2012

Very Windy outside!!!  We had quite a night of it.  We decided to stay in bed for a while longer and just chatted.  Oscar was anxious as he needed to get out of bed and find something to do.  We eventually got out of bed at 11:45.  Had breakfast and decided to do the walk to Bailey’s Rocks and Stony Creek Walk. After completing these two walks Oscar decided he needed to see the bridge which was the reason for the road closure.  So off we set to see if we could find out whether we could go through that way out tomorrow on our journey to Penola.  All in all we must have walked a good 10-11km’s today.  This healthy lifestyle is getting too much for me. We have pretty much decided that we will set up base camp at Penola/Naracoorte, possibly Bool Lagoon Game Reserve or Wirreanda Campgrounds, and then investigate Naracoorte, Mt Gambier, Castleton and whatever else is in the vicinity.  We are finally going to leave Victoria and our comfort blanket.  Bring it on South Australia here we come.

We are having roast Pork and veggies with a side of salad tonight.  It will be an early rise tomorrow.  We are almost at the end of week 3 and I am still overjoyed that I made this decision and ever thankful to Oscar for deciding to do this adventure with me.

Day 18 2 March 2012

Packed up the camp early today and as established yesterday we had to take the alternate route back out of the park again as the bridge had not been repaired as yet.

We entered South Australia at 10:45, South Australia time or 11:15 Victoria time.  Well, we are well and truly out in the big wide yonder now.  We have left behind our comfort blanket (Victoria).  Wirreanda Campgrounds at the Naracoorte Caves is where we have settled.  We bought ourselves a National Parks Pass for 2 months which cost us $50 with Oscar’s Seniors Concession.  It pays to be old, or should I say older.  The drive across the border was mostly uneventful.  I expected there to be a welcoming party at least, they obviously do not know how lucky they are to have us visit. Oh well we can dream.  Arrived in Penola just after lunch and did the normal, fill up with water, fill up with fuel, have something to eat, check out the information centre, stop off at a cellar door to pick up some stock and then off to base camp. 

Set up camp and had a hot shower at the ablution facilities that they have on offer in the park.  All the free camping sites we have visited in Victoria offered only the basic amenities such as toilets (mostly long drops) and barbeque facilities.  I must admit that whilst I have not missed a shower since starting the trip (thanks to the van being equipped with a shower and toilet), we are rather restricted with space and water, so to splash out felt really good.

It is really cold tonight.  The wind is howling outside and it is not very pleasant.  I will publish this blog tonight as we are well and truly behind.

Till later

O&V