day two

I'd never get a job at a newspaper writing headlines that is for sure.

We all slept soundly by the river, lulled by the breeze and the sound of rippling water, and the calls of night birds. No one got out of bed at a ridiculous hour, it was a bit crispy, but oh so clear, when we did emerge tousle haired from our swags.

first order of the day was to stoke the fire and have a coffee.  Then we decided that a morning stroll before breakfast was in order, the boys keen to see the waterfalls and rock  holes we'd found the day before.

  I don't get tired of seeing that silky water....

the kids and I did some geology - hands on - as we explored. The fisher people again tried in vain to tempt the fishies to take a bite, with little success....

until I happened to notice two of these swimming in a sandy bit, told the young fella here to through in his line and we were all very surprised when the fish took the bait nearly instantly. It was a one off I have to say (the Experts reckon this is a different fish to the usual sort that haunt these parts)

The terrain changed again, the rock giving way to gravelly sweeps and shady, open (and shallower) holes. I didn't walk around that tempting bend, breakfast was calling my name by this point. We quickly scampered back over some rocks where shags obviously habitate (the smell of shag/bird excrement - UNDESCRIBABLY BAD) and back upstream for bacon and eggs for breakfast.

apparently she was excited about breakfast too. And not about brushing her hair.

The fish continued not to bite after we went for an upstream walk after breakfast (more like brunch) so the kids decided to have a swim in water best described as frigid. Disheartened by the lack of fish, packing up commence and under twenty four hours after we left home we were back there again. Short and Sweet. I don't care so much about the fish though, I want to go back and just sit there, in my chair, feet up, look at the view, book at hand, listen to the sound of the river, breeze in my face, and where phones don't work.  Its good for the soul!

Although doesn't do much for the washing pile!

skinny dipping optional

last weekend we made a quick trip up to the Secret Special Fishing Hole, to see if the fish were biting. We took the camper trailer, and some mates. We found a new (to us) campsite. The best by far.

need I say more?!

let us just say this about the fish: Georgie got as close to them here as anyone else did with a hook and line (that said, they caught enough for lunch the next day. Lucky there wasn't many of us to feed).

Hard to believe this is the same river as where we were last time, just two or three kilometres down stream. The terrain changes so quickly.

a shallow rock bar that allowed one to cross without getting wet, that is if you don't walk carefully on the mossy rock. Gus got a wet bum :-)

We could hear this long before we saw it, another set of water falls!

hard to photograph, the falls covered three levels. The kids decided just below this spot was good for a swim.

which transitioned to a bath back up above the first fall in shallower (and in theory less arctic like water). My kids don't need any asking twice to ditch their daks and were quite happy to have a soap-less bath. No need for photos :-)

We cooked snags and chops on the bbq plate on the fire, and alfoil wrapped spuds in the coals. And made curly wurlies as well, filled with butter and syrup.

and we chatted around the campfire as the super moon rose (fire not as bush fire like as photo suggests!) and then retired to our beds, tired from the walking and scrambling over rocks and the not catching any fish (the men)

Do you want to see more, Day two?

bin campin

so love butchering the english language, don't you? :-)

Apparently there has been too much basking in the glory of my own fantasticness around here, so how about a change of subject. After the easter long weekend and we recovered from the sugar overload (lets just say the kids eating a fairly sizeable tupperware dish of leftover eggs that mum was supposed to dole out, in ONE SITTING did not put mum in a good mood) caught up on the laundry, late night and the excitement of it all, we went camping.

It may have been said we could have gone for a week with the amount of preparation required for just one night in the wilds, but that is all we were able to fit into our schedule. There may have been some reluctance to return to reality though.

A taste of the camping trip.....

There is a road there in amongst that long long grass. Lots of seed on the car and in the front grill. 

Our camp all set up above the river bank (second trip for the camper trailer purchased in September last year, first one being at Easter. Yes, we are slow). That bank is a lot steeper and sandier in real life than it appears in the photo. Lots of aerobic exercise. Calf muscles still tight.

Scenery that was very hard on the eyes. Lots of big fish seen, but not many hungry ones. Would have been easier to catch with a hand net on a long handle than a line and hook, they were so fat and lazy and uninterested in the bait. Lots of hungry small fish though!

  The water's not cold mum, its BEAUTIFUL! yeah right. Mum ain't that silly.

A little geology lesson.

  And after catching probably a dozen smaller throw-em-back in fish (husband impressed that his fishing time was taken up by unhooking fish) I just about had kittens when this bigger one turned up on the end of my line.

And then after that excitement and further disgust at the big fish that we could poke with the end of our lines but wouldn't bite, and the kids had another swim in the its-not-cold-mum water, we took ourselves off home. I must say, that warm shower was heavenly after the skinny dipping, speedy wash of all smelly bits in the frigid water the evening before!

I have more photos of our wildlife adventure walk on the other camera. I'll share them soon!

less dangerous than chocolate

My mum gave the kids a tent for Easter, in lieu of chocolate. More better for both them and the state of their mother's backside.

On Sunday I put it up for the first time, as its the first real chance we've had.

Its meant to be a four man tent, but I reckon they would be four skinny blokes. This tent will be quite cosy with three swags rolled out in it!

And it only took me about five minutes to erect (without the ropey tie bits, without instructions I have no idea what to do with them. Bloke thing I think).

Now they will be wanting to use it for real. Although I don't think they are brave enough to camp in the back yard while we sleep comfy inside in our warm, innerspring bed.

Which is a bit of a bugger really, considering the cold snap we are getting (or rather, the start of winter).

I think my ugg boots will be getting a workout this season.

catching up

alternately, not catching any fish.

we caught up with friends who were camping nearby over Easter. Camping near enough that WE did not have to camp (I really really like my bed and my shower!).

Kids did some boating:

In shifts - the little kids had to wait.  And the men all wore their green shirts so they would all match! ;-)

Tall tales were told:

And that was just these two, fishing off the back of the wagon!

Campfires were prepared and studied. And the green shirted ones drank much beer, and giggled as much as grown tough men possibly could.

Four grown tough men getting into a boat that isn't really made to accommodate four LARGE grown tough men.

The tough men didn't last long out on the water.  The only thing biting was the mossies, and boy, didn't they get a good feed. The men rowed back as fast as they could paddle, in fear of running out of blood.

And we dined on the best campfire cooked tucker, and the kids finished off with curly whirlies (damper on a stick) cooked over the coals (even though it looks like a bushfire in this photo!)

And then my little family went home to our nice comfy beds and shower, and then joined in the fun again the next day.

Where my little boy found a new big boy to idolise and follow around. Green shirts were again popular. And fish again were off on holidays. But its not about the fish really, is it? Its just about being there.

And funnily enough, relaxing and catching up is quite exhausting!