Gday!

Welcome to my Bi Monthly Update #10 covering September and October 2021.

You know the drill, grab a drink. and so on.

Covid, yep, Covid was still hanging around being a pain in the, well, bum, causing havoc everywhere STILL.

The month started very quiet indeed and a couple of workers in the park left leaving on 3 of us in vans and only 3 cabins in use, the cabins being workers. A week into September saw me moving on too. Yep, time to do some traveling. All of about 200 metres to the back of the park, to a hopefully better site that will give a little sun in the morning on cooler days and shade later in the afternoon during the hotter days. I have actually been eyeing off this site for some time but missed out on it 3 times as the owner forgot I wanted it and gave to others, workers. Yeh, I mentioned it again and got lucky. So after slowly packing everything up over two days and driving that long distance with a stop half way for a rest stop, I am very safety conscious, I arrived at my destination. Then slowly leveled the aluminium tent and got that back to the way I like it. Bringing down awning and setting all that up had to wait until another day as roof needed a good clean first.

I had to recruit some help to get that job done though because I shouldn't be on ladders etc so the owners teenage son was going to do all that for me but like most teenage boys had to wait for him to be ready not when I wanted the job done so I carefully managed to get about 50cm in from awning edge done myself so I could at least get the awning all set up. There was a lot of black gunk on the roof so after researching and speaking to a few different people a friend suggested trying Jiff as it is non-abrasive and only a paste. Yep, easy as and looked nice and clean. Thanks Sue. That done and a couple of days later the awning was then set up and back to the comports, I like around me outside. I needed a rest day after all that and I tell you that for free. To be honest it was a few rest days. Age is starting to catch up with me and things are getting harder to do. Being solo doesn't help as I have to do it all and having to ask for help is not easy and I also tell you that for free. Over the years gone, I have been the one to help not getting the help.

Shake rattle and roll!

No, it wasn't back to the good old days of rocknroll but an earthquake. Yes, an earthquake. The 22/9 at around 9.15am I was sitting outside in front of the aluminium tent with feet up on a stool sun shining and cuppa in had when I heard what I thought was a large freight train coming around the corner as the rail line is just over the road from base camp but no, it wasn't a train.

I looked up and noticed everything a little further away shaking and sounded like a gale force wind heading right for me and was like a wave heading right at me. The ground was actually moving as it rolled by me and my chair was shaking. Gee, I thought someone had moved the earth for me but realized I was on my own and not possible. It was a 6-magnitude earthquake.

I must say that I have been around earth tremors but nothing like that. The roar was the thing that got me the most. Luckily no known damage close by but Melbourne had some and bad, friends sent me a photo of the Cape Patterson Coastal Road down in South Gippsland and west of Inverloch of the road opened up. It was also felt far and wide so not just around me. Something different from Covid numbers etc and violent protests in Melbourne. Ill leave my feelings about the protests too myself.

The 25^th arrived and it was time for the AFL Grand Final to be front and center, sadly though for the fans of both Victorian teams it was in Perth and at night time here in VIC so some very disappointed fans around. The other thing that was unfriendly was Melbourne was still in lock down and not allowed to have visitors or visit friends as we in the regions were not allowed to visit others so we just had to watch it at home on our lonesome. Here at base camp, it was very quiet indeed, people just don't want to go away and risk being locked down away from home. It was also cold to sit outside anyway so inside it was.

As I do this entry into the update, I was actually watching Melbourne Storm try to get into the NRL Grand Final the next week. I am also keeping a bigger eye on my long, long time supported Atlanta Braves over in the US of A in MLB and making a run for the big one in that comp. The World Series Baseball.

Alright already, who won the AFL Grand Final I hear someone down the back say? Well, Melbourne beat the Doggy's and did Storm win to get into that Grand Final? NO! Bugga! Never mind, the better team won on the day. Atlanta Braves won their game and a game closer to the big one. However, they have been very consistent this year, consistently inconsistent so time will only tell with them.

Now that the sport report is finished it is time for the weather report.

September saw a big improvement in temps etc, mainly during the day. Nights were 1c to 11c with days 12c to 21c, sunny on many of those days with varied light to moderate winds and a few days of rain, some light some heavy. That all said the month ended with heavy rain on a few days but was lighter now and then. Minor flooding caused by rising rivers in the area of N E VIC. A lot of mornings were spent actually sitting in the sun in front of the aluminium tent having breakfast so no complaints from me really. Well, someone has to do it. If I can save some ones job for them by them not having to leave, I will willingly continue to do what I do. Im very thoughtful like that.

October came out of left field and was upon us quicker than quick with Daylight Savings starting up as well. YES! I love Daylight Savings. I don't know where the time goes but one thing for sure is it flies by very quickly indeedy.

The start of October found Melbourne still in lock down and although not looking good at all but a few very minor rules relaxed as in the Regions but not in lock down. NSW is very similar. A lot of people are like me and worried about going too far afield just in case a snap lock down is enforced trapping us somewhere. Not a good feeling and I tell you that for free.

The first day of October also found me careless. Yep, the Collie was in for a service and a couple of minor repairs. Its hard to believe the Collie is now 7 years old. I was up at sparrows and took the beast to the car doctor and my good neighbor arrived shortly after and played Uber driver. He again played Uber driver later in the day so I could get the Collie. I must say that I like using Ubers as they don't charge for the trips.

The month progressed along with Covid still causing upsets all over the country but Sydney came out of lock down on the 11^th but not aloud to travel into the regions. Melbourne was still in lock down with regions out of lock-down but living with heavy restrictions still. That all changed at the end of October when Melbourne had the padlock open and taken away. All of VIC become one. People from Melbourne were allowed to travel to the regions and the regions were allowed to travel to Melbourne. There were still a few restrictions in place but all retail and hospitality were open for business. It's very difficult keeping up with all the changes and confusion sets in sometimes. Masks not required outside but must be worn inside. Not only that but as well even, it all happened on the Melbourne Cup un-official extra-long week end. You see, cup day was on a Tuesday so a lot of people take the Monday off as well, giving a four-day weekend. Here in base camp, N E VIC got flooded by Melbourne Escapees. I kept to myself as much as possible.

I did manage to get a quick visit mid month to Lake William Hovell near Chestnut sort of South of Bright N E VIC. Then on way back a small detour to Beechworth to have a look at Woolshed Falls during the month then back to base camp. I managed to get all that done with very few people around as Melbourne were still in lock down and not many people from the regions around either. In fact, no one at the lake and only two others at the falls so very easy to keep well distanced.

Weather, yep got that too. Heaps of it.

Night temps ranged from 3c to 12c and days from 13c to 25c. Lots of sun but some rain here and there with minor flooding during heavy rains but not too bad rally. Wind came in and varied strengths and directions. Overall, no complaints weather wise.  

Well, that was my September and October in still a covid state. That's State not state. The State (VIC) is starting to open up and now everyone is allowed to move around a lot more. So that all said I will call it quits for this update and hopefully start to move around a little myself, so until next we meet in Cyber Space take care and keep safe all.

Oh! Remember my baseball team, Atlanta Braves? Well, they made it into the World Series and as I finish off this update, they are 3 games to 2 out of best of 7. We only need to win 1 more game out of 2 and we will be victors. Fingers crossed.

Some pics as usual below.