Last day at Lake Cargelligo

 As soon as our meatballs were cooked an about to enjoy the ambience of the lake our neighbours started up their generator 😵‍💫 this went on for 2 hours until Tony couldn’t contain himself & went over & said they were disturbing everyone around.  One of the females was quite rude & said they wouldn’t turn it off.   Unfortunately they weren’t cooking anything so we could only assume it was for heating or an electric blanket 🤪. They waited for 15 mins & then turned it off !!    Lazy morning with late breakfast & slowly packed up.   Headed to town to the bakery before heading off to Albert, The Rabbit Trap Hotel.  

 

Frog Hollow Camp, Lake Cargelligo

 Quite cold this morning & as we weren’t moving stayed in bed till 9am watching the bird life on the Lake.   Late breakfast, clean up & off for a walk around the lake looking for fire wood.   Met a few people on the way & had a chat & back to van for lunch.   

Looking for firewood 🪵 

Our camp looking over the Lake 

Meatballs cooking on the fire

Tony cooking meatballs in the camp oven & baked potatoes in the fire 🔥 very yummy with chilli flakes, parmesan & sour cream 😀 

after all our wood collecting we had someone come around selling bags of wood for $10 so we are right for a few more fires 🔥 

Balranald to Frog Hollow Camp Ground

 Easy start this morning & left for next camp Lake Cargelligo.    Tried out my new heated throw in the car as there wasn’t as much sun coming in today & it worked a treat.   Works off the 12 volt in the car 😝.    

The Hay plains were unusually very green, no trees but had a lot of cotton or wool all alongside the road.   

Lunch stop at Goolgowi - not much here other than a Roadhouse which didn’t look all that much from the outside but proved to have delicious food.   Shared a nice chilli chicken wrap, few hot chips & cappuccino ☕️ Arrived at Lake Cargelligo around 2.30 & decided the Frog Hollow free camp ground looked pretty good.     Right on the lake & quite picturesque & lots of bird life which I hope don’t wake us in the morning 😀  we set up camp, got the fire going early & enjoyed a coffee ☕️ People kept arriving all afternoon - there must be 15 or 16 vans here dotted along the lake.

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We even had a guy called Joe come around selling his fresh plum puddings - we are yet to taste them but the reviews were good on the website 😜

As the day drifted away we cooked sausages & onions on the fire for dinner.  An easy meal for the outback!   Coffee around the fire before coming in for dishes etc. Hoping it’s not going to be too cold tonight 🥶

Renmark to Balranald

 Beautiful sunny day for travelling after a very frosty start to the morning!   -2.9 at the Renmark Airport & coldest place in SA.   Had a little fright on the road first thing this morning when we saw 4 trucks coming the opposite direction to us & one was overtaking & coming for us 😵‍💫 we had to slow right down & move over to allow him time to get back in 😡  trouble free for the rest of the morning.   Lunch stop at Lake Benanee overlooking the lake — sunny but cool so sat on the bed in the sun (was tempted to lay on the bed & read my book 🤪).  Great for overnight free camp 🔥

On to Balranald, a quick shop for fruit & vege at IGA & onto our camp.  Nice grassy area on the river.     The river is the highest we have ever seen & the water level is still rising!

Quick walk along the river & back to van for drinks & dinner 😀

Black Point to Renmark

 No hurry this morning & all went to plan.   No brake lights on but the freezer door still off 😩 

Stopped for diesel & coffee at Port Wakefield & then a beautiful drive through Balaklava, Auburn & lunch stop at Eudunda.  

One more stop to get rid of our fruit & vege (1 banana & a few grapes 😳) at the quarantine bin.

Arrived at Renmark River Bend Caravan Park at around 3 pm, set up camp & wandered down to the river with our coffee. Spoke to a couple for about 1/2 hour & back to van to look at freezer door & think about tea !

Yay - temporary fix but freezer door is back on - we don’t have to eat all my frozen meals at once 😜🤪 yummy mild chicken curry & rice for dinner!

Adelaide to Black Point

We were woken Saturday night at the Dunes by a friend of ours about 11.30pm at night to say our lights in the PRADO were on, so Tony hurriedly dressed & went to investigate 😳 we have had this problem before where our break lights won’t go off!   We had just had our battery replaced a few days ago.   Had to disconnect the battery & luckily in the morning the car started.   With much thought we decided to continue on.   Unfortunately while hitching up, the break lights came on again & while I was packing the freezer, the door fell off 😩   Wasn’t sure about continuing on but after some thought kept going.

On to Rochelle’s to say goodbye on the way.   We arrived with a warm greeting from Rochelle, Koa & a tiger 🐯 Thor was so excited to see Nana & Pa’s van.  As we pulled up the van smelt hot & brake lights on again so thought it was time to call the RAA.   He suggested the problem was likely the break controller leading from the car to the caravan.

Itinerary Changed Already 😝

Our itinerary changed before we even left home!    COVID decided to enter our life & delay us leaving.  While Tony was in isolation he managed to do some online shopping & bought a standup paddle board 🤑   Luckily it arrived before we left 😜🏄‍♂️

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Saturday night we headed over to Nikki’s for dinner to say goodbye -  Koa had a bad cold so had to keep everyone separate but we all had a good night.

Goomerri Bush Camp - Day 2

Quite cold last night, no power, but toastie warm in bed with bed socks & extra blanket.  Woke to sunshine pouring in the window so stayed in bed till quite late till it warmed up!  Breakfast outside in the sun today ☀️ Had quick FaceTime with Rochelle to see how Thor was 🤔 he was quite sick with high temp but has recovered very quickly 😀

Tony has had drips from the cover coming out of his standup board cover which we thought had taken on water during the rain we had!   This is the first place we have had a chance to take it off the car 😳 we also had moisture in the back wardrobe so a few minor things to check out.  Most of the afternoon was taken up booking ahead & seeing where we want to go!

Had a beautiful walk around the bush camp - lots of animals around but nice & quiet!

Our van in the middle 😀

Set up our fire ready to cook steak, potatoes, carrots & pumpkin!  Our meal was extra good (or maybe we were extra hungry 😂) we had some scones left over so put them in alfoil to heat up (they tasted like they were freshly baked 😜 

Back in the van for dishes & coffee but as soon as I put the pump on for water all the power went off (couldn’t see a thing it was so dark) Tony got it going again but as soon as I put the pump on it went again 😳 he has changed the battery over now & we have lights & the pump again!   Still not sure what caused it but for now we have power 🤩

Goomeri - relaxing day

 Bit cold so have been very indulgent & stayed in bed late till it warms up!  Spent the afternoon working out the rest of our itinerary & booking places!  

Had a lazy walk around the camp to show Thor the animal enclosure but they had all been put to bed 😴 but saw kangaroos, goats & ducks wandering around the dam🦘the days have been sunny & warm & Tony in shorts yesterday 🩳

Ducks, goats & kangaroos 🦘 love walking around here & cows sound close at night 🐃

Our camp for 4 nights (we are in the middle)

They were playing a film on the big screen tonight but we were happy with our own fire 🔥 & cooked our steak & vegies on the fire 🔥 

Tony enjoying his scones, jam & cream - Woolworths scones wrapped in alfoil & heated in the coals were amazing (tasted like I had just cooked them )

Fires have been good here & can buy a bag for $15 if we run out !