warning Long Post ahead :D
We set off on friday afternoon after picking up Brad's school uniform for next year *shock* not thinking about that LOL
anyway.... we have spent the long weekend camping near Halls Gap with my best friend, her DH and 2 children as well as her MIL and FIL. Despite the weather on Days 1 & 2 it was great!!
OK so the guys left with our DD's mid afternoon to go and set up camp and Kerryn and I and the boys set off about 430, we arrived at camp about 9ish and got the kids settled into bed and sat and chatted for a couple hours before hitting the hay ourselves.
We woke up Saturday morning to light drizzle that soon became a rather heavy downpour and as the day wore on we realised that it wasn't going to get much better. We let the kids have a play when the rain eased off to a drizzle and then it was back under the tarp when it got heavy again. They got soaked none the less and went through a couple changes of clothes which started to be a problem as I didn't take alot of changes :( It eased off during the evening and someone mentioned the calm before the storm ... well they were right, the rain was so heavy and the thunder and lightening started and it was rather close to us I believe.... now me who used to be terrified of storms actually fell asleep and slept through some of it, only waking to the really loud bangs overhead. I don't think Gareth got alot of sleep though and I know that after the storm had died down and the rain had stopped I got up to the kids to find a few puddles inside the tent and more wet clothes :(
(A wet day for our 6th anniversary!! But a tripod from Gareth was a wonderful surprise :D )
Sunday morning it was up for brekkie and not alot of rain about at this stage, but mr wind decided to make and appearance and it was a bit lucky we didn't get blown away. The decision was made to not hang around the camp today and we headed to Stawell to find a laundromat to wash and dry some of the clothes in case we needed them due to more rain. After there we headed to Peter's Auntie's place to have our packed lunch as it was somewhere dry and warm and out of the wind :D After lunch we headed to the Giant Koala in Dadswell Bridge and that was ok,
I found this sign and I love it!!
I will have to get one for Gareth I think LOL we headed back to camp from here and discovered that the rain that was being kept away by the wind decided to come back about 5 minutes after we got to camp grrr.... back in the cars and into Halls Gap to visit the tourist centre (Brambuk)
back to camp and the rain had stopped YAY! The guys decided a fire was on the cards and that too was lovely :D I decided to try out my tripod with photos of the fire and Pete gave me some pointers which really helped :)
Monday no rain and only a mild wind (until we got up the mountain anyway LOL )
We headed off in the direction of McKenzie Falls and stopped off at some lookouts on the way there and back again. First stop was Boroka Lookout, very windy, but what a gorgeous view :D
We then went to Reed's Lookout but it was too busy so we went straight on to McKenzie Falls and all I can say is WOW the walk down and up was about 1km but it was really steep with alot of steps and my upper leg muscles are letting me know they are not happy!! The tripod and camera got another workout here as did some of the tips from Peter. I have decided I am going to get at least one of these blown up and framed.
It was then onto Lake Wartook for lunch and some kite flying by the guys.
Back to Reed's lookout and it was amazing to look out and realise how much of what we could see was new growth after the fires that ripped through there last year.
We then headed back through Halls Gap and stopped for some ice cream and to let the kids play on the playground for awhile, before heading back to camp for dinner.
Tuesday morning (Happy Anniversary to Pete and Kez 7years :D ) we got up to see this little lady near camp with her little one again, they were about nearly every morning and it was a lovely site. Then it was pack up camp time and relax with some lunch before it was time to head back to the hustle and bustle
I really enjoyed the weekend, even with the longdrop toilets and no showers I would love to go again sometime down the track
We set off on friday afternoon after picking up Brad's school uniform for next year *shock* not thinking about that LOL
anyway.... we have spent the long weekend camping near Halls Gap with my best friend, her DH and 2 children as well as her MIL and FIL. Despite the weather on Days 1 & 2 it was great!!
OK so the guys left with our DD's mid afternoon to go and set up camp and Kerryn and I and the boys set off about 430, we arrived at camp about 9ish and got the kids settled into bed and sat and chatted for a couple hours before hitting the hay ourselves.
We woke up Saturday morning to light drizzle that soon became a rather heavy downpour and as the day wore on we realised that it wasn't going to get much better. We let the kids have a play when the rain eased off to a drizzle and then it was back under the tarp when it got heavy again. They got soaked none the less and went through a couple changes of clothes which started to be a problem as I didn't take alot of changes :( It eased off during the evening and someone mentioned the calm before the storm ... well they were right, the rain was so heavy and the thunder and lightening started and it was rather close to us I believe.... now me who used to be terrified of storms actually fell asleep and slept through some of it, only waking to the really loud bangs overhead. I don't think Gareth got alot of sleep though and I know that after the storm had died down and the rain had stopped I got up to the kids to find a few puddles inside the tent and more wet clothes :(
(A wet day for our 6th anniversary!! But a tripod from Gareth was a wonderful surprise :D )
Sunday morning it was up for brekkie and not alot of rain about at this stage, but mr wind decided to make and appearance and it was a bit lucky we didn't get blown away. The decision was made to not hang around the camp today and we headed to Stawell to find a laundromat to wash and dry some of the clothes in case we needed them due to more rain. After there we headed to Peter's Auntie's place to have our packed lunch as it was somewhere dry and warm and out of the wind :D After lunch we headed to the Giant Koala in Dadswell Bridge and that was ok,
I found this sign and I love it!!
I will have to get one for Gareth I think LOL we headed back to camp from here and discovered that the rain that was being kept away by the wind decided to come back about 5 minutes after we got to camp grrr.... back in the cars and into Halls Gap to visit the tourist centre (Brambuk)
back to camp and the rain had stopped YAY! The guys decided a fire was on the cards and that too was lovely :D I decided to try out my tripod with photos of the fire and Pete gave me some pointers which really helped :)
Monday no rain and only a mild wind (until we got up the mountain anyway LOL )
We headed off in the direction of McKenzie Falls and stopped off at some lookouts on the way there and back again. First stop was Boroka Lookout, very windy, but what a gorgeous view :D
We then went to Reed's Lookout but it was too busy so we went straight on to McKenzie Falls and all I can say is WOW the walk down and up was about 1km but it was really steep with alot of steps and my upper leg muscles are letting me know they are not happy!! The tripod and camera got another workout here as did some of the tips from Peter. I have decided I am going to get at least one of these blown up and framed.
It was then onto Lake Wartook for lunch and some kite flying by the guys.
Back to Reed's lookout and it was amazing to look out and realise how much of what we could see was new growth after the fires that ripped through there last year.
We then headed back through Halls Gap and stopped for some ice cream and to let the kids play on the playground for awhile, before heading back to camp for dinner.
Tuesday morning (Happy Anniversary to Pete and Kez 7years :D ) we got up to see this little lady near camp with her little one again, they were about nearly every morning and it was a lovely site. Then it was pack up camp time and relax with some lunch before it was time to head back to the hustle and bustle
I really enjoyed the weekend, even with the longdrop toilets and no showers I would love to go again sometime down the track
4 comments:
What a beautiful part of the country that is Sam - I'd love to visit it some time [BEFORE I retire!!]. And good on you for being such adventurers camping out! Love, P
Sam, it sounds like a great weekend despite the rainy parts...I bet it was just good to get away for a few days!!
The photos are stunning, it will be hard to choose which ones to get blown up :)
It great to have you back safe and sound.
J.xx
love those waterfall pics and wow, that is one BIG koala! LOL
Fantastic photos Sam. I'm very impressed, well done.
I love the waterfall shots and the cute kangaroo too.
So glad you all managed to have fun even though the weather wasn't the best.
It's nice to get away sometimes isn't it. We don't do it nearly enough ourselves which is a pity.
Have a great week end and take care. Love from Susan (smiles1965) at Scrapboxx.
Post a Comment