Update # 13 covering March and April 2022

G'day

Yep, its that time again to sit back and read away. If you want that is!

Oh, ok then, grab a drink if you must.

March started off very quiet around here at base camp with very few happy campers. Word is, it's quiet everywhere. Some people on the move do call in late afternoon and stay one night then off the next morning.

Now I will do the weather report for March now. Yeh, I know it should be done later but things happened early in the month. Those things were floods, yep floods, you all probably saw the devastation in N E NSW and S E QLD, heck even around Sydney didn't miss out. Torrential rains filling dams and rivers to over flowing causing major damage in all mentioned areas. To see it on the Telavish was shocking and I felt for everyone effected. It made the couple of days of heavy rain here around base camp near Wangaratta and surrounds look like a sprinkle. As there aren't enough housing problems already, now 1000's of people are without homes. Overall, March saw days of rain, some wind from various directions and temps ranging from 18c 25c during the days and 15c 10c over nights.   

The month moved along and early in the month a long-time friend of around 30 years and an ex-employee of mine arrived in the area and made contact so we met up for lunch on one of those Wednesday lunches I have mentioned at a local pub. It was great to catch up with Louis as I hadn't seen him for a bout 5 years. He fitted in well with the usual crew of Wednesday lunches. In fact, he liked it so much he met us again the following Wednesday for another good catch up.

The middle of the month saw Labour Day long weekend arrive here in VIC and busy, busy, busy all through N E VIC and here at base camp was no different. A full house was enjoyed by the owners and of course all the happy campers. Sadly, things quietened down a lot the next week or so. A few travelers coming in for a night or to and the odd one staying slightly longer.

The long weekend also saw a Baseball comp (My favorite Sport) in Wangaratta between the Wangaratta Rangers from the N E Baseball Association and the Strathfieldsaye Dodgers from the Bendigo Baseball Association. It was for the Beyond Blue Cup and fundraiser. I follow Wangaratta and go to their games during their Winter comp when in the area and went home on the day happy after the Rangers proudly holding the cup high. I enjoyed the game heaps as most of 2020 season and all of 2021 season were cancelled due to Covid restrictions. So far, the 2022 season is looking good to go ahead.

The 25/3 arrived and I left base camp, yep, I left. Well only for a few weeks anyway and the aluminium tent stayed put. I was doing a house sit in Junee, 30 mins north of Wagga Wagga NSW, for very good friends of mine, Garry and Roxanne. They went on a long-needed break for a few weeks. It had been 12 months since I last saw them due to Covid causing its usual dramas. Covid is still with us and a few Covid cases close by to base camp so a lot of care was taken by this little black duck to avoid as many people and situations as possible that could cause me to get an unwanted hitchhiker that would prevent me from helping them out. I didnt want to have to ring them to cancel, no way.

After what felt like a very long 3 hours drive, I arrived in Junee safely. It was the longest drive for many months really so a bit out of practice, I think. It was nothing in Pre Covid days to even drive 8 or 9 hours to get to point B. I actually think those long days are behind me now.

On the way I called into Yerong Creek, about 30 mins south of Wagga Wagga NSW, to check out a water tower that was painted. Big deal! I hear you say, well, it was painted but like all the Silo Art that has become very popular tourist attractions these days. Not only Silos are getting the treatment but so are water towers and sides of buildings, just about anything you can get an artist to give the treatment. These artists are so talented. I am yet to see a bad painted solo etc.

Onward and forward, after catching up and chatting to Garry and Roxanne and enjoying a lovely meal prepared by Chef Garry and more chatting it was time to call it a day.

The house sit or should that really be pets sit ???? started next morning and it felt like I had never left from the last time except for one very big difference, it was now in a different house and no longer Young NSW.

Friends Graham and Clair (Southern Cruiser) were also staying in Junee at the local CVP so made contact with them and after a long chat it was decided to meet up at the Ex Services Club in Junee for lunch. A lovely little club with a mainly Asian Menu and also does take away meals. This took place 29/3 and it was good to see both Graham and Clair again and enjoy a lovely Chinese meal. Thanks for the catch-up Graham and Clair. A week later we met up again but that time at the Junee Pub, at the big round about next to the railway crossing. Another enjoyable meal with a good menu and average pub prices. If you are in Junee and looking for a nice meal, both places are well worth the visit.

Speaking of Junee, it is a small town really with not a lot of shops but enough to get by. IGA is the only supermarket but luckily, I like them so all good. Junee is also big in the rail business with a large rail yard and historic station and buildings. There is also what they call The round Railway Museum so one day decided to mosey on down there for a peak. Sadly, they were closed and also another day I ventured there. Oh well! Next time maybe.

There is also a Licorice/Chocolate factory in Junee as well and have really nice goodies there including nice sit-down meals in the café, but I have been there a few times over the years so gave it a miss this time. Also and as well even, I gave the Haunted House, Monty Cristo Historic Homestead a miss as have been there as well. A good visit though if you are in Junee.

The days moved along quickly as usual and not a lot done really but did go for one of my drives at the last minute one day to check out the Bethungra Rail Spiral, about a 30-minute drive North of Junee. There is a viewing platform but all can really see is the rail line going into a tunnel with another rail line above as the rail line winds itself around in the spiral. You would see the actual spiral if up high. It is all still in use as well.

From there I headed to Sandy Beach Reserve/Campground next to the Murrumbidgee River at Wantabadgery NSW, about 30 minutes North East of Wagga Wagga. This was a lovely Freedom camp with heaps of space 2 drop toilets. No drinking water though but you could use river water for washing etc. There is also a 14-night maximum stay and rangers check and fines apply if you stay over. A nice relaxing spot though.

From there the drive continued and I ended up at the RAAF base in Wagga Wagga, it is located about 10 minutes East of the Wagga township on the Sturt Highway. There is a lovely pathed and grass area out front where about 5 RAAF planes are sitting there to view and all for free. A nice 30 minutes or so spent there. It was time to call it a day and headed back to the house in Junee. A nice day had. 

After a tad under three weeks Garry and Roxanne arrived home from their trip away fresh as a daisy and it felt like they were intruding :) you see, I had actually been in their new house longer than they had :) So the next morning I put my things in the Collie and headed back to base camp arriving in N E VIC around 1.30pm after a stop for lunch. Another house sit for Garry and Roxanne has been locked in further down the track. By this stage March had been and gone and was now April. REALLY!

Easter! Yep, Easter arrived a few days after I got back and the park I'm in was full to the brim, happy campers everywhere and not a spot left. All the cabins were also booked out. The owner was saying she could have booked out sites and cabins 2 or 3 times over. She was also saying that she had heaps of Grey Nomads looking for a spot to hide for the school holidays. Over all everyone was good, even the kids and there were a few of them around. The kids close to me and next door were a little rowdy first thing in the mornings but I was awake anyway so no real problem. They have all probably been tied down for so long and needed to run free. At least they were out in thresh air and not inside in front of the telavish or pootas.

Due to me not moving around and keeping off the roads as much as possible over holidays etc I spent a lot of time sitting out front of my van over Easter reading, facing out as people walked past. I was surprised and well, sort of shocked in a way that not many people acknowledged me, I would go as far as saying they avoided eye contact deliberately. Not like fellow caravan holidaying people I have come across during all of my travels so far. The young family next to me were probably the biggest surprise. Yes, I understand they didn't want to mix with an old bloke like me but they could have at least said hello but no, avoided eye contact. There was even a few I would deliberately say G'day to as they walked past even though they didn't look at me but no, no reply. I know they heard me! OK, if they don't want to talk to anyone, fine, but a hello doesn't hurt and is the done thing. After all we are all doing the same thing. Most people left on the Monday with a few stragglers left behind.

Enough of my whinging!

The next event for April was Anzac Day arrived and another long weekend as 25^th was a Monday. Gee, all these public holidays. I don't remember getting as many when I was in the work force. Struth! My heart picked up a few beats then just saying that W word. The park was still busy but a few spots here and there left. That actually continued during the following week as well. It seemed mainly workers in cabins after Anzac Day though as there are a few projects going on around the area. One thing happening is a Council project happening at the park in Glenrowan so workers for some reason came from afar. Obviously, their employer won the bid for the contract and not a local mob. Another thing I have noticed in my travels in the same area is a massive, yes massive, house being built. It sat for many months with just what looked like a concrete house with flat roof but I found out when construction started up again late April that it is actually an Authentic Canadian Log Cabin House attached to that concrete structure. After talking to a local it turns out all the timber logs have been imported from Canada and experts in the construction field employed form out of the area to do the construction of the log work. More workers needing cabins at base camp. I was so interested I had to do a little research into Canadian Log Cabins and found that authentic Canadian log cabins are made from Western Red Cedar but the timber in this house seems a lot lighter so not sure what it is, maybe Douglas Fir which is from Northern America, that is also used in log cabins in that neck of the woods. As of this update going to the printers, I still havent found out the timber so one day might just pop in to the site and well, ask. I'm just curious now. It will be some time before the project is complete though.

Weather? Yep, had that here too. April saw a lot of varied weather; temps were starting to come down with 18c 23c during the days with 15c 7c over nights. Some days with light wind and light rain as well but over all not too bad really so no complaints from me.

Well, before this update turns into an epic novel, I will call it quits (I heard that down the back). So, until next we chat in Cyber Space, take care everyone and no picking up Covid Hitchhikers.

Some pics below as usual.     

Another good one.  Thanks.

ps.. re the log Cabin  .. I once built a lattice work pergola using Douglas Fir (NZ Oregon?).  Painted it with many coats of Acrylic Paint.  It rotted out in less than 5 years.

Enjoyed that, great read and pics. Found the info re the train spiral very interesting.

Regards,

Struth! Where did that month go? It's been a month since I posted this update and checked in so would like to thank everyone for their kind words, they are all muchly appreciated and I tell you that for free.


dogbox, that's a disappointment my friend 

Craig, I do toot but you must still be asleep mate.

Possum, I'm trying but some times it's trying.

Tony, it's not so much the keeping away from people as I still keep my distance too, it's the not even acknowledging you are there right in front of them as they walk past. No big drama. 

Keep safe all. 

Not responding to a "hello" is just rude.  I'm not sure that being glued to mobile phones instead of interacting with people in real life hasn't affected people's ability to interact with people.  I think you can tell when people don't want to talk or say hello, but when somebody is sitting there looking at you with a pleasant, open expression, you say "hello".  If somebody says "hello" first, you respond.  Nobody is expecting you to give up your day chatting, you can keep moving and doing what you were doing. 

Hello.

Chief, you had better fit this one.