Month: February 2020

Saturday, 29th February 2020

This is all I could find on the origin of Narrung: Narrung is a town and locality in the Australian state of South Australia. It is situated at the northern extent of the Narrung Peninsula, which separates The Coorong from Lake Albert adjacent to The Narrows which separates Lake Albert from the larger Lake Alexandrina.

Early morning for us, (9am) we clean, greet, Do a drone flight, walk the jetty, have lunch, bid farewell and … go.

By the way, lunch is our $12 Crayfish Pate we picked up in Kingston which, when reading the ingredients, we find there are just about twenty bits and pieces. They even managed a little crayfish.

Ferry is cool. Got some video.

Heading to Tailem bend, then point to the Adelaide freeway, we do our test of steep descent with six tonne all up, then weave our way through Adelaide (!) and turn left to Levi Park Caravan Park.

Like coming home, we chat with Colin and Vicky at the counter like old times. We get our assigned site (54) and it turns out to be a test again. We have been in other ‘tight’ sites and this one is a challenge. but we manage with a little help of adjoining campers. That is to say, the chap next door had to shift his car then one Canadian couple behind move their table and chairs, then their camper so we can drive straight in from their end instead of reversing. Easy. We are set up and chatting. The people on the side are from Scotland and as said the ones at the back are from Canada. A fine mix.

It has been a long day/night and the day is done.

Good night in Indonesian: ‘Selamat malam’

Friday, 28th February 2020

Kingston was named after Charles Kingston who was Premier of South Australia from 1893-99 and originally called Kingston, the town was part of the new village settlement scheme started in the 1890s.

Meningie is derived from “the Aboriginal word ‘meningeng’ meaning ‘place of mud'”

Lake Albert was named after Prince Albert, the Consort of Queen Victoria, by George Gawler, the Governor of South Australia.

Kingston Caravan Park was a short lived but delightful stay. The bathrooms were neat, clean and looked quite new. Little things. The first thing I noticed was the plastic flowers in the men’s  amenities block? Oh well. Men like flowers as well. Not necessary but they made an effort. Second, paper towels. I saw a show on TV years ago saying how unhealthy hot air hand dryers were because they collect bacteria and blow it onto your hands. You decide.

We departed and made it all of 30 metres to the Cape Jaffa Light house, which is no longer at Cape Jaffa but transported to its present location on the foreshore of Kingston. If you read the text below, to put into perspective, it was there before the Statue of Liberty or the Eiffel Tower. Two hundred and fifty years may not be that long on European terms but we do have history that can be compared.

Next stop before departure was a visit in town ( but still on the foreshore) to the seafood place we had called a few days ago because we had been told by a friend who had been told a few weeks earlier by a friend who had been told by another friend that crayfish were going for $30 a kilo because of the Chinese crisis with the coronavirus. At the time the lady on the phone first laughed then said it was down to $89 per kilo. This time, over the counter and first hand we were told it had now gone up to $100 per kilo and that was in fact down from $130. So we bought a very small 100gram container of crayfish pate for $12 as a token gesture and suspect about four cracker biscuits will do it. $3 a cracker? Ouch.

That store was right next to the long, long jetty. So we took a walk down the old wooden and relatively narrow structure for our daily exercise, noticing that we were over sand almost immediately and detected the unmistakeable pong off old seaweed. That is to say not the sort of invigorating marine-ish smell of new healthy stuff but the four month past its expiry date type. They say it’s edible. Not this stuff.

Another thing we noticed was about a third of the way from the land there was a ramp going down to the beach, although I would call it more the sand rather than beach, because the beach suggests you are just about in the water. It took two thirds of the length of the jetty to get to the water mark. Now looking at the waters edge, and this was not low tide.

A few minutes later we are at the end with three optimistic fisher-persons and I am guessing a little shidsu that was not entirely wrapped in the experience of being cold and wind swept even in her cosy shelter box. Infact I suspect if she was a Rottweiler, either she would not be there or the owner would be dead.

All three had zero to show for their trouble and the shiatsu’s owner had even lost her husband. He had told her he was going for a cup of tea and she had foolishly believed him.

The remaining male told me the woes of this spot. Firstly they were just not biting today at all. Secondly over the last few years the sand had been depositing on the beach in a big way. We were told the ramp we saw going into the sand until a few years ago went into eight foot of water. Furthermore, a little down the beach there was a boat ramp which had been engulfed by the sand, which had annoyed the boat owners no end.

Now just a quick note to those embracing the climate change concept. Whether that’s true of false, it doesn’t matter. This sand deposit was the effect brought on by that lovely old girl, mother nature. Continents have been forming, desert sands have been shifting and rivers have been both created and drying up long before the word ‘climate’ had ever been invented.  All this was happening when mankind was still banging rocks together for amusement and that didn’t cause any difference in anything at all, unless of course they got a finger between the rocks.

Anyway, next stop was a quick check out of the RV park we could have stayed at for just $10 with toilets and water instead of our $31.50 but we did get 240 volts for that. That means fan heater, microwave, electric hotplate, air conditioner if needed (which we didn’t) and battery charger.

Next stop, IGA. The only place we are told where you can get true, fresh, unfrozen, local fish. Apparently a local fisherman takes it there on Thursdays and yesterday happened to be one of those days. I thought we had got it out the fridge yesterday, only when we went back, it was the freezer. Yesterday it simply hadn’t been in long enough to freeze. Anyway, same fish purchased only now one day old and frozen. (FYI Flathead)

Next stop, the Big Lobster. At current prices, if it was real, I’d put about 3 tonne on it hence at full price, $390,000. You’d have to split it up and freeze it or have a party to end all parties. We settled for fish and chips.

Now, cruising to Meningie. Nicer than I remember it and right on Lake Albert. Very good Information centre, where I googled and showed the attendant a clip of Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band singing Wangaratta Wahine. It’s a long story. Has to do with Cream Brick. Oh, and also the scene from Seinfeld where Elaine tells the painful woman at the party in HER Australian ‘Lindy Chamberlain’ accent, ‘Maybe the dingo ate your baby.’ Anyway, I enjoyed it, and I’m sure that deep down, she did as well.

Next stop, the bird statue that was supposed to have a plaque displaying details of I think South Australia’s only bush ranger. Now I thought Captain Starlight was THE South Australian bush ranger, but surely there was more than one crook here. I also thought Captain Starlight rustled cattle and kept them in Wilpena pound which is a long way from Meningie.

Next stop, a fresh fish seller across the road, which sale product was secondary to the fabulous 1966 HR Holden on the front lawn. Another 15 minute conversation with the same stories except these people hadn’t heard them before.

Next stop, the ‘boozerama’ a few doors down for some liquid refreshments, then on to the car wash to get rid of salt and sand from both car and van. I said it would take about fifteen minutes and I was only out by thirty. N.B. If you hate washing the car, try doing it then followed by a twenty foot caravan.

Done and the sun is getting low.

We are off to Narrung, just a thirty minute trip to a free camp on the other side of the lake and adjacent a ferry.

We arrive but first a short trip to the village to look for evidence of the birth place of David Unaipon, the man on the fifty dollar note. Preacher, writer and inventor, Quote: ‘David Unaipon contributed to Australian society and broke many prejudice Indigenous stereotypes along the way. David Unaipon was born on a modest indigenous mission on the banks of South Australia’s Lake Alexandrina, 80km south-east of Adelaide.’ On advice, we proceeded to the Village and photographed a church which was said to be the one on the fifty with David. It was similar in shape and design, but not exactly the same as on the fifty bill note behind David. The church has no windows as on the bank note, but this could be the back of the church. We couldn’t get to the front. Or was the bank note church ‘enhanced’ by the artist? Leave it to you. You decide.

In the camp, it happens to be ‘chock-a-block’ full but we find a place and we happen to be adjacent to a CMCA group of which we are unconfirmed members. (Paid but not received confirmation. Paid counts. Doesn’t it?)

Great spot, nice people, good self actuation toilets. One hand pump. The other foot pump.

AGAIN The ‘serenity’.

Good night: ‘boa noite’ Brazilian.

Thursday, 27th February 2020

Up early-ish, both still moderately shaky health wise. Excuse me! had a classic fever and sweated like the proverbial most of the night. However, weaker but better. No food, just a cup of tea. Throw all the dishes we have cooked up older than three days. It seemed to me a mad coincidence that both of us had a viral serve within a day.

We had been past the Blue Lake and no convenient to stop. However, we have been here before and it’s only blue when the sun shines and it was not pretty.

So after a relatively early start from the show grounds camping area, we were off to the Engelbrecht Cave. Well displayed and the guide was very good.

Next, the gardens at the Umpherston Sinkhole. Brilliant. Spiraling down with hanging gardens.

Time is wasting. We are off to Kingston via Millicent. An uneventful trip except relying on the lying b**** Ethel the GPS that took us up a heavy truck bypass by chance and it took 15 minutes to retrace our steps. B****!

We are now here because we wanted to confirm our info that there was no bargain basement crayfish to be had here due to the Chinese situation. We are not wrong. Sniffing around for some truly fresh sea food, we found that the only place to get fresh, unfrozen seafood was at IGA on Thursday, which is today and we therefore got fresh fish. Not frozen. Caught local and sold unfrozen.

So we sit in the Kingston SE caravan park having had our first full meal for days with fresh seafood and a bottle of white.

Viva South Australia!

Wednesday, 26th February, 2020

Mount Gambier. Named by Lieutenant James Grant in 1800 after Admiral Lord Gambier, commander of the fleet in the battle of Copenhagen.

A relatively early start. Anne is feeling better and wants scrambled eggs on toast. I am feeling a little below par but have the same.

We follow a lead that Kingston is letting crayfish go for knockdown prices due to the loss of business with the China situation. A phone call brushes that potential seafood boom aside as quick as a smelly, old prawn tail.

So it’s off to Mount Gambier and first, the Information Centre proudly displaying a full size reproduction of the Brig ‘Lady Nelson.’

Lieutenant James Grant sailed the ship from England to Port  Jackson in Sydney.

When it arrived thousands of citizens came out to salute the small ship for making such a hazardous journey. The ship was quite small at just 57.5 feet long, 17.5 feet beam and just 2.75 feet of free board.

The ship made many voyages and was used to map/survey the south coast of South Australia.

The Information Centre was a wealth of …   information … (?) and the ladies and gentlemen on staff were well informed and helpful.

They have a discovery area based on seafaring, had virtual reality system thay was extremely good.  On and on it goes.

Off to the caravan park to set up, unhitch and go forth to do the whole town.

However, it’s now my turn. I feel unwell and once set up, retire to bed. Anything else will have to wait till tomorrow.

Tuesday, 25th February 2020.

Anne woke unwell and spent the day in bed. As the sun was going down, we decided we would be better off in a caravan park for it’s facilities as we were currently on our own in the car park of Cape Northumberland.

So off we went and it was much more comfortable with 240v and water on tap.

Not a brilliant day for interesting tourism. Good night.

Monday, 24th February 2020

Port MacDonnell is named after Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell who was Governor of South Australia from 1855 to 1862. In the 1880s, it was one of Australia’s busiest ports, shipping large quantities of wheat and wool to Europe. The port was, however, exposed to the weather and the site of many shipwrecks.

Cape Northumberland was named by the Royal Navy officer, James Grant, on 3 December 1800, when he was mapping the southern coast of Australia in his early 1800s expedition. The headland was named after Hugh Percy, Duke of Northumberland.

We slept in as usual and when we finally surfaced, our hosts Gary and Camilla had both gone to work. We also forgot to get contact details to thank them for their hospitality, , but we can get those through Lesley.

So we pack up and go for a walk along the foreshore, for a farewell to Nelson. We meet the most popular man in Nelson, at least to the bird life. He is cleaning his recent catch and the birds are waiting for their shot at the left overs.

We chat with ‘Mr Popular’ who turns out to also be a Gary. He fills me in on some fishing tips and even takes us to his van to show us the fishing book that would answer all and any questions.

By now it’s getting towards lunch so we go to the Kiosk for a farewell pie which I think is better than a farewell walk. A homemade Bushman’s beef chunks and onion. Use your imagination.

While we are noshing up at the Kiosk bench, a nice lady arrives with a cute little fox terrier. The dog, as yet un- re-named is tied up outside but we talk to Nancy for what must be an hour and not one soul could walk past this little pooch without oo-ing and ah-ing. By the way, pooch is Something like eight months old but Nancy has only had her for three weeks. Nancy got her as she was going to be ‘discarded’ by the owner. Nancy thought her name was inappropriate and is trying to get the pooch to respond to other names she has tested on her. Nancy said she is a bit of an escape artist so Anne mentioned Harry Houdini. I said she is female. Why not Harriet? We may never find out.

Turns out Nancy lived directly opposite our hosts so we give her some contact details to pass on to Gary and Camilla and we finally depart with a farewell blast from the Klaxon horn.

Yes. I always wanted one and found one at the car shop way back in Loxton. I got it to sound if I can’t find Anne, so she will know it’s time to return to the car. However it is used for ‘special’ occasions as well.

So we head for Port MacDonnell because we have never seen it and also, just outside is Cape Northumberland, which is the southern most tip of South Australia and also gets a mention on weather reports, sort of like Barrow Creek, although Barrow Creek may have dropped off the popularity grid of weather reports.

In a quick I think blue flash we are over the border into good old SA. No fruit inspection point on this road, but it didn’t matter as we were totally legal anyway.

Poet MacDonnell is a good seaside town but of course it points to the Antarctic co it is cool-ish and windy-ish. The information centre is grand and has a settlers museum to end all museums. It is half town settlement and half seafarers and ship wrecks. It got an hour, deserved three and would be completely inspected in three days.

Bought souvenirs as you do and proceeded onto Cape Northumberland. It is a rough, rocky high outcrop with a large bitumen car park and has several walking tracks out to its various points. The new light house is up the hill and still operates while this tourist site is the place where the original light house stood. It and its base got a severe pounding over the years and finally was closed. It is a site of wrecks and heroes. The first lighthouse keeper Benjamin Germein was the first to respond to and rescue souls from the wreck of the Admella, which was sailing from Adelaide to Melbourne with goods for the Victoria gold fields.

Windy and cold but the car park of the Cape is a free camp for self contained vans and vehicles. So to Anne’s delight she being the driving force to visit the cape, got to spend the night right on the cape at the most southern point of the state. Ironically just before the sun went down, a calm set in with just a little breeze and the clouds parted to let the sun out. We spent the night in extreme comfort, in our luxurious box home on wheels, with TV a cooked meal, heating, a glass of wine (3 or 4) and a slightly spooky feeling that we were the only people on earth. By the way, for the first time we used the grey water tank. That is you close the tap to trap all your sink, shower and hand basin water in a tank so it doesn’t empty onto the ground as used. A requirement of the free camp here.

Today seemed a big day. We look forward to tomorrow.

おやすみ Oyasumi  (Good night in Japanese)

Sunday, 23rd February 2020

Nelson, Victoria. Nelson is a small fishing town in Victoria, Australia. … In January 1852 the name of Nelson was adopted for the settlement, after the ship Lady Nelson, which was used by Lieutenant James Grant in explorations of the area in the early nineteenth century.

And thus we bid goodbye to the lovely town of Portland. A pleasant stay. We are heading to Nelson, about an hour or so away and just a few kilometres from the South Australian border. Interesting landscape with numerous pine tree plantation forests. We spot lots of discoloured trees and varying, so giving evidence of a few fires over the years, although most of the trees seem to have survived and new foliage  is evident.

A bit of excitement. One of our gadgets on the dash is sounding an alarm. Battle weary Anne is concerned but it is the tyre monitor and I see the pressure is still OK and so is the temperature of the wheel in question. When I originally fitted the sensors, I set the alarm parameters based on a forty pound pressure. Supreme Caravans told me fifty would be better. This was the first warm travelling day we had since Supreme had increased the pressure and I of course had not changed the alarm parameters. So the warm road had caused the pressure to increase from fifty to fifty five which was the upper limit of the forty pressure. Bet everyone reading this was on the edge of your seats for that one.

Now we arrive in Nelson. We didn’t know what to expect and it was a dramatic plus. A beautiful little town right on a river, not overly large and a picture of, (dare I use the magic word?) ‘Serenity.’

Now, you may recall our new friend in Portland, the lovely lady ‘Lesley’, the world traveller. Well, she told us she has a block of land in Nelson and if we stop there we can park the van on the block. Furthermore, she told us the block is facing the river and is just across the road from the pub! Furthermore (again) her daughter lives next door. So a few texts and we identify the block which does indeed faces the river. Lesley told us to just go to the block and her daughter Camilla will spot us there and greet us. We in the mean time have driven around to the Estuary Beach on Discovery Bay where the fresh water river meets the ocean. Walking tracks, look out, toilets, a nice beach also with displays describing shipping disasters in the area.

Long story short, we meet Lesley’s daughter Camilla, we put the van on the block, Anne and I walk to the pub, refresh ourselves and not the historic photos on the wall, then return around six to coincide with the arrival of Camilla’s husband Gary.

We all spend a splendid time by the river with just a little red wine (& Port) to brace ourselves against the oncoming cool of the evening. Turns out Camilla and Gary have the unique hobby of restoring old boats. The most recent had started its life hanging off the side of a World War 2 fighting ship as a support vessel. It was retrieved, dry docked repaired and fitted out with a lot of patience, time, work and money, not necessarily in that order. We saw photos of before, during and after. It was a job and a half. Gary and Camilla have done several already and it must be a very rewarding hobby. Not only do they enjoy the task but they are bringing a little marine history back to life. 

We were also introduced to ‘Joe’, the white goose that took up residence in the river at Nelson about eighteen months ago together with pelicans, black swans and a collection of water fowls and I think a ‘musk’ duck?

We adjourned to Camilla and Gary’s open but cosy verandah where we had another red (it was getting colder), met the dog and got the story of their old out house, new retired. (Pictured) It was the original toilet of the original house on the site and the story has been handed down from previous owner to owner. Apparently it has come down the line from two or three owners ago and involves Australias own Saint, Mary McKillop. But first some background …

From Wikipedia: Mary Helen MacKillop RSJ (15 January 1842 – 8 August 1909) was an Australian nun who has been declared a saint by the Catholic Church, as St Mary of the Cross. Of Scottish descent, she was born in Melbourne but is best known for her activities in South Australia. Together with the Reverend Julian Tenison Woods, she founded the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart (the Josephites), a congregation of religious sisters that established a number of schools and welfare institutions throughout Australia and New Zealand, with an emphasis on education for the rural poor.

The story goes that, Sister Mary McKillop, on a trip from Portland to Penola, got caught short and stopped at the house to avail herself of this very outhouse. It is also believed that she also decided to lodge at the pub for the night. Now unfortunately it would be almost impossible to prove all this. It is up to the individual to decide whether this is either the classic ‘Chinese whisper’ or the saying, ‘Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.’ Personally, I go with the latter. How on earth would something so bizarre just come out of thin air? I think it would have to have some substance. And being real, Mary would most likely have passed through here and I am sure she would have needed a pit stop from time to time and would a nun not stop at a home and ask for a little favour.

I say yes. Gute Nacht.

Saturday, 22nd February 2020

Last nights late, late night meant a late, late start this morning. Some later than others. (He computer. She bed) Today was destined for a ‘nothing significant day.’ It was a day however to rationalize what we were doing and when.

We had to plan our temporary return to Adelaide. That is, which way and when AND what did we have to do. We have decided to go the smaller road through Nelson. Also look at the Tantanoola caves and the blessed Coonawarra  That’s which way. When, is there by end of month and what do we have to do brings us to the jolly old quarantine service of entry to South Australia.

So fruit and vegetables generally have to be either cooked or processed. So it came to pass that we didn’t do anything in the afternoon except cook and or process consumables/veg/fruit.

All the spuds were sliced then with butter, onion and cheese became a massive bake, enough for perhaps 3 meals for two, or at least the potato content there off. All the other vegetables were similarly processed and the lemons were all squeezed into ice cube racks and frozen.

End of the day, all was processed and we are ready to drive off into the sunset (or dawn actually) towards the border with a clear conscience and a full fridge.

That’s it for the day except we had been warned the rangers check for more than 48 hour stayers which we qualified for (over) and they came for a drive through the park. A few pauses then proceeded on without a flicker towards us.

Showers, meal, including potato bake , Crocodile Dundee 2 for the umpteenth time then kip time for a new morrow.

доброй ночи dobroy  dobroy nochi

(Russian – Good night)

Friday 21st February 2020

Portland, town and port, southern Victoria, Australia. … The bay was first visited by Europeans in 1800 and was named for the duke of Portland by James Grant, a British naval officer; two years later Nicolas Baudin, a French navigator, called it Tourville, a name that persists. (N.B. In our short stay, I have not heard it referred to as such.)

Life goes on. From get up to 3pm work. Caravan insurance, RAA (auto club) membership and  quotes for insurance on houses, domestic day to day etc etc. And now Anne has got ‘cabin fever’ so we have to get out.

I hate un-hitching because it takes a whole five minutes, but we could do with some diesel and we were told there was a Fair of  a sort on the village green on the foreshore of the harbor. This is to cater for a tourist ship in port and we go down to support the local community.

There’s the ship and there’s the Fair but just not that many people. Well, not the teeming hordes you would expect from an ocean going liner anyway. Turns out the three or four hundred tourists were bundled onto busses on the wharf and were whisked away to parts unknown, we can assume by the social organizers of the ship, caring not one toss for the extensive and concerted efforts the local entrepreneurs had exerted to provide a happy and interesting facility just for they, the tourists. To quote Ned Kelly, ‘Such is life.’

We did our bit by purchasing coffees and in my case a unique, tasty and just a little inconvenient curly fried potato.

One vendor has a unique trailer made out of a Catalina boat plane from Lake Boga bought for fifty pounds after the war. We have described the Lake Boga flying Boat museum previously. A great display with the story on the front and inside.

Anne managed to get a long shot photo of the tourist tram or cable car (that can’t be right) that cruises the fore shore but we as yet have not caught.

A woman entertainer is doing an incredible job singing (for the teeming hordes) and I find out it is even more incredible that it first appears. She has an excellent voice but is blind and remembers hundreds of songs word perfect. (I was actually told thousands but …) What a marvelous person.

A wander up the hill to read a few plaques and other notices revealed the creation of Portland and again as in all small country towns, it never ceases to amaze me of the detail and significant memorials to those lost in the confrontations of the world. As I may have said before, I think in large cities the lost had loved ones of course. However in small towns, those who lost their lives were known by the whole town.

The street scape is interesting with old and older buildings as well as novel public seats and of course the inevitable garden beds.

We are informed by a couple of chaps leaning on a temporary bar, that in just a few hours, there will be yet another Fair, but this time up the hill near I think the council chambers, and this time not for the blow ins from the ship, (my words not theirs) but for the locals and we ‘blow ins’ are welcome.

So to me the agonizing decision to go out at night. You see there is also going to be an outdoor film which means it can’t start till dark which means it will not finish till 10.30pm or god forbid even later. I had no need to agonize because it had already been decided we were going.

So showers, and pack my small ruck sack with jumpers, water and a torch, then the mammoth walk to the venue which also happens to be up hill and I am complaining (mentally) all the way. We arrive six and a half minutes later which included loitering on the way for a few photos.

A Rotary sausage sizzle, a glass of wine and now things are looking up. We grab two public stools having noted just about everyone else had brought fold ups. Cold is setting in and we mange to grab two more comfortable plastic chairs by sharing with a nice lady sitting at a table by herself.

This is Lesley who is a very interesting local who has the wanderlust for travel and has been all over. We share a few stories and a few wines till the film starts. The screen is one of those inflatables and the film is ‘Yesterday.’ A brilliant film with a unique theme and especially for Beatles lovers which I happen to be. See it. It’s worth it. (in my opinion)

As the sun went down I couldn’t help but notice there was just one lonely star in the whole sky. Photographed as well as I could.

Anyway, the film started to get a bit long after the wine tent closed and it got cold. Exchanges with Lesley, a walk down the hill with teeth almost but not chattering and home sweet home, once the diesel heater was on and the second Port was under the belt. A nice night. What tomorrow? This is a 48 hour free camp. That will be up at 3pm tomorrow and we have been told it is policed by the council. Then again it is Saturday only time will tell.  Bonne nuit.

Thursday, 20th February 2020.

All good things must come to an end and besides, our batteries are going flat. We have had to start the car a few times to build them up.  Such is life in free camping when the clouds blotted out the sun and limited the recharge of batteries. Something perhaps which should be remembered in these ‘eco’ days.

On to Portland for shopping etc including a Laundromat, a lunch at a ‘health shop’ lunch. I have to say it was very good.

By the way, in this OVER politically correct environment, did this one slip under the  radar?

Also, we spot a ‘Gaelic’ travelers vehicle which brings my omnipresent heritage appreciation into sharp focus.

We decide to stay at Henty Park. A 48 hour max stay park in the town. A free park with very good toilets and water. We fill the tanks and take up a convenient spot which is adjacent an oval.

I spot a vehicle of fond memory and get a chance to speak to the owner, a young chap, Stephen, who tells us this wonderful car has been in the family for a long time. He has looked after and restored it as required. He treats us to an inspection, then he and friend, Ebony pull out to go home (I assume) making me flash back around fifty years as it pulls out, just as I remember. By the way, it was a 1964 I think XM model Ford Falcon. Fabulous!

Enough nostalgia. It’s time for a walk around and chat to fellow free campers. Quite a few actually.