Christmas and New Year

17 December Saturday
Bit of a wind today. Had a walk and took photos of our rocky beach.

 Just chilled and chatted. Cooked jacket spuds in open pit camp fire, they were lovely. Bed early as starting to get cold.

18 December Sunday
Cloudy today, when wind dies down quite warm. spent morning chatting to various neighbours, Peter offered us use of his hot outdoor shower later on. Had a problem with the fridge today, Colin checked the battery and solar panel wiring using Peter's meter (Colin's packed up), they are ok so checkd main battery to find fuse casing had melted, ran engine for a while to charge everythingup. Used inverter today for the first time, Colin shaved his head and we charged the computer battery. It has rained intermittantly today but isn't cold, checked the internet (have to sit on a patch of grass 20 metres from tent to get a signal) to find out been snowing at home, shame lol. after dinner Peter and Marj invited us into their motorhome for tea. The bed is over the lounge area and comes down electically at night, so always made up, brilliant idea.

19 December Monday
Lot of rain in the night but not cold. we are leaving tent and heading off to Melbourne to try and get some parts for the Landrover, also replenish fresh food. Dropped into Leongatha to use library to update blog. we followed the south Gippsland Highwayas far as Cranbourne then onto Narre Warren and to eventually to Rover Land at Ferntree Gully. It is run by a husband and wife team, glenn the husband was able to supply us with a used but new looking steering damper and lower steering column , he also gave us is card so if we need anything and can't get locally he can send to us, he also gave us a crd of a bloke who specialises in old landrovers. Very helpful couple they even gave us directions to a caravan park for the night (Wantira Park on Mountain Highway). Found caravan park no problem and whilst I sorted dinner and did laundry Colin fitted the steering damper. stressful but productive day.

20 December Tuesday

Bit of rain in the night but not cold, I had to open window, but couldn't get comfy miss the airbed. Lovely sunny morning definitely warming up, neighbour said would be 32 degrees xmas day!!! In the shower and heard O Come All Ye Faithful on the radio, very strange. Left site and filled up with fuel and visited KMart where Colin bought a fishing rod with a reel for $48 (bargain if he catches fish) and I treated myself to some thongs for $4. back on the road we spotted an Aldi and stocked up on bargains like Nescafe coffee, you can buy a case of 6 bottles of wine for £12 (£7). retracked our route of yesterday and stopped at a rest area for lunch at Koo-Wee-Rup. It used to be a swamp area inhabited by Aboringines but when the settlers came over in the 18th century they drained the swamp turning it into very fertile agricultural land, the area is famed for asparagus. decided to head back via Phillip Island along the Bass Highway (where MOTO GP held), we stopped at Kilcunda West as we could see an amazing beach

from the road, truns out unswimmable due to tides and rips but still gorgeous and goes on for miles. Back at camp Colin is going fishing with Peter a bit later!!! No fish for dinner but he had a good time, it seems he has got the hang of casting now needsnto get the hang of catching. sat around campfire with George (german) and his wife Marion (scottish), Bruno (swiss) a young couple and their 2 year old son (he is pakistani she is Oz), quite a United Nations, just chatting and having a laugh, Peter tells good jokes and stories, late to bed.

TRUE STORY FROM PETER
to start with you have to know what a long drop is, it is a toilet that does not flush but is a big hole in the ground and the drop can be quite long, a notice on these toilets state children must be accompanied by an adult.
Peter has an Italian friend who married and English girl and they had a son called Ricky, who was 5 at the time of this tale. they had gone camping and the only toilet was a long drop, Ricky had been told not to sit on the seat but to squat when he used the loo, this particular time (he must have been stood on the toilet bowl squatting not sitting) when he lost one of his flip flops, he got down and looked into the loo trying to reach his flip flop when he fell in, luckily his dad heard him calling and went in to find him headfirst stuck down the longdrop, he grabbed his foot and pulled him out, and when asked what did he do next he said I threw him in the nearby stream, the moral is read and heed the notices, but what a great way to lose a child lol

21 December Wednesday

the longest day
It was chilly last night and didn't wake till 8.30, overcast but sun trying to peep through. Colin fitted his steering column part and found movement in the steering box which he sorted out. after lunch he went Pipi hunting(shellfish bait)

 with Peter to venus Bay, he also bought a filleting knife (just need the fish), whilst he was away the tame wallaby came into the site got photos this time.

 after dinner the young couple brought us down some damper they had made and cooked on hot coals (cross between bread and scone) it was scrummy. colin went fishing again but too windy.

22 December Thursday

Not such a cold night, my watch was wrong, I thought I got up at 7.15 when it was over 2 hours later so instead of going out today did sorting and washing of clothes, several campers left site today.

23 December Friday

Set off just after 9 to Wilsons Prom

 to visit Squeeky Beach (Peter said he would make sure nobody would park in front of us , and he had made up a sign for his Suzuki LAND ROVER RECOVERY VEHICLE)

Reached Tidal River and was reading about the floods on March 22 2011, they had the rainfall for one year in one day. Roads and tracks were washed away

 and campers and staff had to be evacuated by helicopter, a few weeks later the vehicles left behind were brought out(they had all drowned). Roads had to be rebuilt and bridges renewed before Tidal River could be reopened to the public on the 23 September 2011.Many parts of the prom are still closed. As we were filling up with water a young lad came up to and wanted to know about our "rugged"car we told him what it was and how long it had taken to build. He seemed really impressed. Drove back to Squeeky Beach, the rounded grains of quartz sand make a "squeek" when walked on. the beach is near white

 and really squeeks when walked on. Colin said the water was cold. There are quite a few families on the beach as school is out for Christmas. Drove onto Foster to get supplies of meat and decided to have steak for Christmas day.When we got back to camp there was a tent pitched on our site and 3 chairs,

 but Rose recognised one of the chairs as Bruno's the tent belonged to George,it was a joke set up by Pete(oh how we laughed(yeah right)).Colin told Peter he would get revenge.  Later that arvo Peter drove us to Walkervilles south to show us the disused lime kilns

 on the beach, plus fantastic scenery.

 Met another couple Sandra and Ian who were brought over in the 60's by parents, nice couple

Christmas Eve Saturday

Hot start to the day. Peter left this morning but will be back Christmas day afternoon with Grandkids and Marj for a 2 week stay. He has Brought enough water for a small town.

 After he left Rose used his outside shower, brilliant idea having shower attached to outside of motorhome with hot and cold water. We just sat in the very hot sunshine for the day, went fishing but still no fish. some Chinese had been fishing right out on the rocks for about 3 hours and caught 4 fish. Used our BBQ for first time it is really good and cooks very quickly, even cooked jacket spuds. Spent evening round camp fire with Bruno Sandra Ian and Chinese guys, Sandra's daughter had rung earlier to say it wasthundering at home.

Christmas Day Sunday

Thunder and lightning started soon after we went to bed then heavy rain, it went on till about 4.30 am. It is a bit wet this morning to say the least, but its warm. there is a big lake by the toilets.

 It is still a bit black in the sky and showery at 9am. Read Peter's weather station we had 17mm of rain in the night. Rang Laurie and Marion to wish merry Christmas and the weather in Brisbane isnt very good either. Opened our Christmas cards in bed, it just does'nt seem like Christmas at all. Weather has improved , the sun keeps popping out. Just after 1pm. started rolling with thunder again, then just stopped. The BBQ failed today so had to cook steak on cooker along with fried/halved jacket spuds, they were like big chips. Colin had an idea for revenge on Pete, he made up a sign with NO PARKING DISABLED ACCESS

 which even fooled some campers who wanted to camp infront of his motorhome. It made Peter and his familly laugh. We sat in the carpark in the evening to Skype home(its the only place for a signal), we had a brolly up over our heads as was spotting with rain and lightning again. It was great to talk to everyone , we missed Natalie as she was driving to Sandras for Christmas. Peter asked us to join them for a brew and sausage rolls before bed.

26 December Monday

More rain, lightning and thunder in the night Colin slept through it. Sat in carpark again to Skype Natalie at Sandies, she has settled into her flat and they making plans for coming out to Oz Jan/Feb. Told her to look up what a long drop toilet is on Google, as they are planning to hire a motorhome for part of the trip. It was good to chat. Weather is changeable today, sunny, windy, showery. Had a walk westerly along the beach in the arvo, looking in the rock pools and scrambling over the rocks, it was really nice, we have been invited to dinner tonight with Pete and Marj and familly they had cooked a full roast dinner beef and venison and roast veggies in camp ovens on camp fire, followed by plum pudding and brandy custard, it was delicious all plates clear. it was a really lovelly evening such a wonderfull family, it will be a wrench to leave them.

27 December Tuesday

Peter brought his solar panel over for fridge as we have a problem again also gas bottle ran out, it did really well lasting nearly 3 weeks. Sorted clothes and got rid of books and magazines to Marj, Colin decided had a bad earth to battery so repaired that. We had a moment of thinking about staying here but decided we really must move on. Cooked jacket spuds in camp fire to have with with chicken curry, lovelly, then round fire for the last time, it was a clear starry night and nice sat around with Bruno, Jeremy, George, Marion, Peter, Marj, Ben, Dylon and Josh plus some other youngsters that joined us before they headed off to Sydney for New Years.

28 December Wednesday

Clear sky and sunny, beautiful day to be travelling. Colin has taken down the solar twinkling lights as will be leaving them with Peter for his help and advice plus his wit!! Said our goodbyes to Sandra and Ian who had kindly invited us to stay with them for a couple of days, then Bruno and Jerry, George and Marion and finally Peter and Marj and familly who have made us feel part of their lives in the past 2 weeks, who will finish Pete's jokes for him now? We got away 10.15 and made our way to Wonthaggi to get some fresh meat before heading off to Gembrook and our next campsite at Kurth Kiln (Cockatoo) in the Bunyip State Park, arriving at 2.30pm. We both feel very tired, took us ages to set up camp, we decided to stay for 2 nights as Colin wants to tinker with Land Rover. We are on the side with the toilets (long drop) on the other side is the fresh water lake but you cant camp with vehicle next to tent. A trailer tent pulled in and took ages to get set up, have 2 noisey kids and didnt respond to a friendly hello(sod em). After dinner had a walk to the kilns.

 During WW2 there was a shortage of fuel so it was decided to convert wood to charcoal using a method patented by a Dr Kurth, where we are is one of the sites chosen as there is plenty of wood and water,it only operated for a few years as fuel embargo ceased. Went to bed early as really tired.

29 December Thursday

Slept late only heard Koala in the night Colin said there was music going in the night till 2.30am. Few clouds in sky at moment, very peaceful as well. We sorted through our magazines and maps and Colin gave some to our neighbours before they moved on. Colin did his tinkering then we both had a shower before going for a walk in the forrest(we saw butterflies that appeared to glide). We did a big circle and stopped to talk to other campers about 300metres from where we are, they have seen a few snakes today and they have a friendly Koala. Got back to camp and Colin lit the camp fire with wood we found lying around and once it was going we did some jacket spuds in fire to go with fried chicken and salad followed by mince pies and custard(hard life living rough).Whilst sitting around Colin spotted a Koala climbing a tree

 about 50metres away. we read earlier they had released 250 Koala's into the forest from French Island in October this year as part of the revegitation of the area, as i was writing this a baby Koala

Sorry pic is blurred but he is so cute

walked over and started to climb a tree next to us, we still find it exciting. Just before bed the young Koala came down from his tree and ran for the bush.

30 December Friday

Bit cloudy this morning but forecast 28deg rising to about 35 by the weekend . Big Koala still in his tree. The rangers came this morning to clean the loo's and found a Koala on the ground at the base of a tree.

 It has been a good spot for wildlife.. Left about 9.30 and headed toward Healsville then Toolangi to get onto road for Yea. the country side is getting drier as we travel north. At Yea we took the road to Seymour and across country via Pukapunyal. On this road we saw a Kangaroo in the road, he ran off into the bush and hit a fence surrounding the Pukapuyal Military Area, it was funny as he kept trying to jump the fence without success. Decided to camp for the night at Dargile Camp Area just north of Heathcote where we stopped at info centre for local maps. Satnav took us through the bush rather than up the road,

 good job not up a mountain this time. Camp area isnt busy and even though ther are trees there isnt a lot of shade. Weather is very hot and sunny. The other campers are very noisey, they cant talk to each other they have to shout,Colin has nicknamed them the Clampits. We sat out all evening without jumpers, with Colin typing up the journal.

31 December Saturday

Strange night, warm and chilly at times. Rose is not feeling very well, had a headache yesterday which was put down to heat, but now has sore throat,just have to dose up with Paracetemoll. Clear blue skies, hot today must be about 30deg. Arrived at showground at Bendigo, not many here and only $20 a night with free laundry. A family in a neighbouring street spent most of the day shouting and arguing with each other(neighbours from hell). Rose went to bed early not feeling well.

New Years Day 2012 Sunday

What a night the family again shouting and screeming well into the night, then fireworks, Colin got up to watch and said they were very impressive. A market started at 6am. Had a walk round it , was quite amazing but didnt buy anything, they are the places to go as they much cheaper than the shops. Rose went back to bed for the day,just feel awful, feel sorry for Colin. It is very hot today looked on internet it was 36deg. Caretaker came round today and only charged us $10 for one night(forgot to tell him we had stayed two nights). Rose certainly feels better this evening just very hot and thirsty. Colin went and talked to a fellow camper for 2 hours this evening he's in a Toyota camper and originally from Croyden. Rose had a couple of Weetabix for dinner and Colin had Apricot and custard when he got back. Colin spoke to Laurie today and it seems the cyclonic weather they had is pushing the heat in center of country south, that is why its so hot.