Not again, I hear you saying down the back.

Yep, it's that time again for my Bi Monthly update #7 covering March and April 2021.

Sit back, relax and read away. Don't forget a nice drink and remember, its 4 o'clock in the afternoon, somewhere.

March started with some work around the park, tree loppers arrived to down a big old and very dead Gum Tree that just happened to where the Backpackers were still camped. The owner was telling me she and her husband Dean had been telling them to move for ages but no, still there, even the day before the big event. I think if it was me, I would get the tractor and just move everything out of the way and rope it off so they don't go back. Although once the tree was down, they could go there as would be safer. The workers arrived just on 8.00am and driving out the driveway at 9.30am. Job well done and no damage.

Not only that work but Dean, as in the owner, was busy doing some Reno's near the pool area. He had removed all the old compacted sand in what was once a kids sand pit that never got used and turned it into a lovely outdoor sitting area between the pool and camp kitchen with shade cloth overhead and a couple of outdoor settings, as usual with anything Dean does around the place it was of high quality. What an improvement. That was all just in the first week of march. As of end April the shade cloth still needs doing but umbrellas do the job until then and a few finishing touches. Other jobs beckoned.

The second week of March arrived and it was time to head North to Young NSW, between Cowra and Wagga Wagga. I went there to look after the property for my good friends Garry and Roxanne so they could get away for a short time. A day after my arrival things changed slightly as Roxanne needed to head over to the South NSW Coast to help her daughter who had just had a lovely little baby but was having a few health problems and mum was needed. Garry still headed of on his planned trip but due to bad weather rolling in he decided to cut the trip short by one day and come back home.

Garry has sheep on the farm and a few were due to have some additions to the family of sheep at any time so I was on lamb watch while Garry was away. One in particular was very, very close and I was going into the paddock twice daily checking for the pitter patter of little feet and finally one morning there were two little tackers that had arrived overnight, twins even. I was quite excited really as I hate to admit it but had never been around to see Lambs only a few hours old. I felt like I was an Uncle to them. Two days later another set of twins had arrived overnight. Garry was home by then and he was the one that found those two in the grass with their mum. I had walked into the paddock the morning I found the two first born and as I got closer about 4 other sheep had gathered around with mum and babies, I was very impressed how protective they all were. I stopped and waited then moved forward one slow step at a time and they let me get a little closer so must have realised I wasn't going to harm the little guys. They then moved away a little and allowed me to see the young uns clearly. I reckon the four other sheep were security. A couple of days into their young lives they were soaked with heavy rain so must have thought what the heck have they come into on this planet?

I went for a drive one day while in Young to check out some silo art in Harden, about 30 minutes south of Young, nice too but not a very good viewing area and could be slippery when wet unless you are happy to see it from further away. Still worth seeing though.

Another house sit finished, yep, I do house sitting as I like helping people so they can get out in the playground. It also gives me a chance to check out different areas and maybe even learn a thing or three.  It was time to head back to N E VIC as I have decided to stay there again for 2021. I actually enjoyed not travelling around much during 2020 so another year will get that out of my system. I also needed to be around for the follow up medical appointments etc. Due to hopefully continued relaxed Covid rules etc I can visit more things in the area.

When I got back the backpackers that took over the park had thinned out heaps with only two cabins still in use by them and no campers. It was quiet, YES!

One night all sites were full with happy campers travelling around and enjoying life. It slowed down again but that is normal for the park as it is not actually a destination park its mainly people staying one maybe two nights then move on.

A couple of Buddhist Monks arrived with a group of followers, they were the 'Venerable Chao Khun Kong' (No relation to King Kong) and the group of followers were actually supporters as they walked from Geelong, VIC to Sydney. Apparently, the name of the trip was 'Tudong The Dhamma Road 2021'. They left Geelong on March 11^th and will walk 1087km over 50 days. Just a walk to the local store really. The trip was to promote and develop understanding of Buddhist values and beliefs. They reminded me of a great day I spent at the 'Nhan Tien Buddhist Temple' near Wollongong South of Sydney, many moons back now. They have more than likely finished the journey by the time you read this. 

The owners here at the park were gearing up for a busy Easter and tidying up the park and finishing projects in readiness. They are fully booked out as are all other parks and most other types of accommodation in N E VIC. It was the last chance for all those businesses to make up a little for lost income due to CV19.

Weather for March was varied and started off with nice days with high 20c during the days and low to high teens overnight with a lot of strong gusty winds but nothing damaging around me. Rain, as we all know a lot of that came bucketing down all down the east coast and slightly inland with serious floods in many places. I was lucky as keep clear of all that but still had a lot of rain. It sure was nice to see some sun again after all that.

The heating problem with the Collie is hard to know if it actually fixed but Im pretty sure its not as when I did test tows with the Aluminium Tent on rear the weather wasn't hot both days. I did notice it was slightly better and only got warmer but not as serious by the time I got to the top of longish hills but did drop down very quickly once over the hill. I will chat to the head surgeon at the car doctor again and maybe change the Thermostat and take it from there. I was also thinking of getting a secondary temp gauge fitted to compare to the original.

Moving right along and March ended, bringing in April and the arrival of Easter and boy was it busy around here in the park. I was here last year, 2020 but everywhere was in lock down and no one here but 2 others and myself. The owner was telling me she could have booked the place out 3 times over. She put vans and tents wherever one would fit just to help happy campers out and help her bank account as well no doubt. Im sure if she could she would have put tents up in trees.

There were people here that come every year and mainly families so a lot of kids around too but the kids were no problem as were most of the adults. Surprisingly, no noise after about 10.30pm so that was good. That said, I had a solo bloke around my age next to me and his daughter and her family next to him that insisted having his TV outside all the time and was turned on as soon as he got up in the morning around 6.30am and stayed on all day until he went to bed at night around 10.30pm, even if he went out the TV was still on. He also smoked and I had to block the vent in my bedroom. Thank goodness for the awning as I was able to leave the door open and bring the half curtain across at night, so got fresh air that way. I spoke to him the second morning about it and I was grunted at, then ignored me the rest of the time he was there, 5 nights. Sites are very close together at this place so doesn't help when things like that happen.

I also noticed because nearly all were family groups plus relies, didn't really want to talk to a solo bloke like me so I just kept to myself. I did say hi as I walked around but that's as far as it went. No drama though as I was still a happy camper and I tell you that for free.

Moving right along the month continued and happy campers arriving and going in all sorts of rigs ranging from caravans to tents to even sleeping in cars. People just wanted to get away from their every day lives. Even when I go down to the shops there are heaps of people travelling around the area. Yep, busy, busy, busy.

When I was coming back from Young and pulled in to a rest stop someone told me my right-hand indicator on van wasnt working and due to having to take the van to get the fridge fixed and new awning fitted early May and also needed to get new lights on the van anyway, I got that sorted so all was working for that drive over to Shepparton and back.

I rang the repair place two weeks prior to booking and was told the awning was not there, whaaaaat! Why? It hasn't come in and don't know where it is. So, I decided to go there and find out Why is it so. The girls in the office didn't know much at all and didn't seem to bother to check it out. Fortunately, the person I spoke to originally walked in so told him the problem and he got on the poota and found it was sitting down in Melbourne ready for pick up so he said he will arrange that to happen and see me on the original booking date. My blood pressure had risen to off the monitor but started to go down to normal readings. I left there and headed off to visit a mate that was camped alongside the Murray River near Cobram. Just a small detour heading back to base camp. That all done and dusted I arrived back at base camp late afternoon.

I haven't been out for a sit-down lunch since very early 2020 due to Covid and going out for lunch once a week is an indulgent, I like to do so had read about a place close to base camp, Mokoan Hub and Café. Along side Lake Mokoan, Winton, Nth East VIC. So headed off one day late in April to check it out. The café menu sounded nice indeed so stayed for that sit - down lunch. I had to put my name and contact details down on a list but nothing to actually identify me to others coming in after me for Covid tracing if needed so all good. What was the lunch like I hear you ask? Very nice indeed and worth the visit. Ill be baaack. So, the day out for a sit-down lunch drought was over at long last. It was my fault really as I was, well, a bit paranoid about Covid still. I have to get back to normal, whatever that was/is. My drought was over but the Mokoan Lake drought was not. No evidence it was actually ever a lake now, but I remember when it was and you could see it driving along the Hume Highway. Sounds familiar doesn't it 'GreenS Lake' Nth Central VIC.

The end of April arrived and a quick dash to Young NSW for a specialist appointment and a visit to friends Garry and Roxanne with a quick stay overnight then back to base camp in N E VIC. April wasn't the only thing that ended, so has this update. So, until next we meet in cyber space, see ya in a couple of Months. Keep Safe out there everyone.

Some pics below as usual.