Geelong Show Grounds, Vicoria {Overnight}

Our original plan was to spend two nights in Geelong to explore the surrounds, but after arriving at the show grounds, we could only have one {stupid up coming long weekend, stupid country music festival}.  That said it is a great place to stay if you are ever in the area.  Just over $20 for all of us with power & hot showers.

We arrived early afternoon unhooked and without setting up went out to have a look around the city.  Bugger being a little later as we missed a big Sunday market that was on, but we did get to see some amazing old buildings, eat tasty ice-cream and see a replica ship arrive in the bay.

   

We packed up early Monday and left the camper at the showgrounds and went out to explore Point Lonsdale and surrounds.  It is definitely a holiday destination with heaps of houses empty, even fancy looking ones!

    

 

The kids loved that they got to see another seal just off from the lighthouse, even closer than our big walk!  We headed back to the camper, had some lunch before hocking up and heading to Werribee for the night {we promised the kids the zoo}

Victor Harbour, Murray Bridge {Traveling}

Leaving Adelaide we headed towards Victor Harbor, a place that Justin has always wanted to visit.  On the way we detoured through MacLauren Vale, which was lovely and green {of course with loads of old houses}.

Arriving in Victor Harbor we headed for a walk around town to explore the buildings and what it had to offer.  Of course finding a lovely place for coffee & cake for morning tea.  After our sit down we made our way to the information centre, where the kids got to see the old horse draw cart {it has been operational since the late 1800's across to the island}.

 

The next stop on the list was Murray Bridge, where we found a beautiful river side park to have lunch.  We really didn't do this place justice and should've stayed for the night to allow for more exploring but we both decided to 'may hay while the sun was shining'.

 

 

Next stop is 42 Mile Beach Camp for the night.

Coffin Bay National Park {National Park}

We stopped in Coffin Bay on our way, had a look at a local market and the kids had a play at the park right on the water.  Coffin Bay is a quiet little town, known for it's oysters and looked pretty laid back.

Coffin Bay National Park was another location that wasn't in our 'plan' but we are all glad we decided to head here for a few days.  We picked a spot called Black Springs, which was right on the beach.  A quiet little bay with camping spots nestled under the trees. 

 

We spent our first after doing some school work and then exploring the beach.  The boys had a fish while Kyla and I had a walk along the beach. Beautiful. The local wildlife are somewhat friendly, the bees and the wallabies/kangaroos.

 

Some more schoolwork, a picnic packed and we headed out to explore the National Park.  We headed out to checkout Sir Issac Point, the point of the National Park and then headed back to Morgan's Landing to pull up on the beach for our lunch {terrible spot isn't it?}

 

 

 

 

Driving around we had some killer hills to go up and of course come down, then there was the emu's.

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Perlubie Beach {Camping}

Saying Ceduna at just after 10am with a night stop planned for Perlubie Beach {on advice from Amanda & John} we decided to make a detour to Smoky Bay for a look.

What a lovely little sea side town it is, another oyster town and another jetty.  The jetty was teaming with sea life, people fishing & crabbing and a shark safe swimming are {I really had no idea how bad sharks are in South Australia}.

 

We arrived at Perlubie Beach at noon and WOW!  It was amazing, the camping is right on the beach and there are also lovely little shelters scattered along the beach.

 

Our chosen camp spot was right next to another lovely family from NSW.  Sadly this time I forgot to exchange details with them {how silly am I} but if by chance anyone else happens to bump into Tina, Paul & their two daughters in their travels let me know {they're traveling in the opposite direction to us}. We had a great afternoon watching the tides, chatting, fishing, swimming, crafting and simply relaxing.

 

  

The sunset was beautiful, if not weird to be facing directly west to watch it!  The only downfall was the field mice, that for some strange reason moved to the beach after the sun went down.  A cheeky one snuck in the camper at 530am when I took Kaleb to the look, which didn't make for much sleep before it was time to get up for the day.

 

  

At $5 a night we could easily have stayed here for a few nights but there was a wedding planned for Saturday {which we knew prior to arriving} and they had hoped for a free beach for it.  The set up for it looked beautiful, so hopefully the couple had a great day.

Winning Bush Gymkarna {Event}

We are back for a fun filled weekend again, it was almost like we had never left.

Friday was preparing everything at the grounds ready for what was sure to be a full on few days.  The afternoon came and our handful of children turned into more children than adults, they really do come out of nowhere sometimes, I'm sure of it!  With the children feed, wash and in bed the adults headed to the shed for a few drinks.  It was nice to finally relax and catch up after the crazy week that had been.

I called it an early night, well it was before midnight at least, ready for a long and crazy Saturday.

Kaleb was awake before the sun even rose, he was that excited about riding in the motorbike events.  A big pot of porridge for all and it was time to head over, get covered in dust and watch Kaleb ride his little heart out!  And that he most certainly did.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kyla had a great time watching everything that was taking place, helping hand out ribbons to the winners and playing with all the other children.  I don't think I saw her for the majority of the weekend, same goes for Kaleb once he had finished his races.

The kids party came and went without a hitch.  We had just enough food and balloons, I swear I've not seen so many children in one places in years.  Not since the kid's went to school!  Thankfully with little real effort the kids all had a fabulous time, listening to music, playing with gloop, play dough and even having a game of pass the parcel.

Sunday made way for the horses, sadly no pictures as I left my camera behind but it was a great watch again.  Though I will admit that I talked way more than I watched.  Horses finished up and it was time for presentations.  Sadly, I again didn't get pictures as I was helping behind the scenes but Kaleb really did clean up!

For a boy who had only learn to ride a two wheel bike two months early, had only had his own for a week and had very little practice of the actual events he did so well.  I was very proud of him, we all were.  He was actually awarded 'Sub-Junior Champion'

Children to bed again, night by the fire and it was time to say goodbye to another day.

Monday was a slow start, packing the camper and then cleaning up the shed before saying our goodbyes to new friends and old before heading back to Wooramel.



x

Winning Station {Working}

Another year, another visit to Winning & more bib making for the Gymkarna!




What a difference 12 months and a heap of rain can make.  Our normal spot had to be cleaned up with a whipper snipper before we could even set up our camper, in the cool night.  The buffle grass was just so high, green and lush looking I didn't want to cut it down.

Justin had some new rooms to build, next to the finished bathroom from last year. The kids and I had to do schoolwork, as always. I had a great time taking pictures in the grass, of all the flowers that area around and of the abundance of butterflies around the place.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The kids even got in some driving lessons from Aggie. They can actually drive reasonably well considering it was their first time.  Kaleb can start the car and drive through to second gear, alone and Kyla is getting better with the concentration whist steering the car.

 

 

They even drove us to check out how full the lake was.  I was more surprised than I expect, we couldn't even drive over the sand hill and down the other side.  It was that full!

 

We took a drive over the the old Marilla homestead for another look, having been two years since our last.  It to looked different with all the feed around, there was more cactus {which they are now trying hard to get rid of} and a few things missing!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A sewing day saw 26 more competition bibs made for the gymkarna with help from Lorriane and Aunty Jenny.  It certainly made it much faster with all the help and was nice to have it finished in one whole day.

 

Even better than a day of sewing with wonderful woman was the plane ride over Winning to see how different it looked from the sky.  An amazing trip around the east side of the station.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I even had a small walk around the tip, looking for some old cast iron baths that Kim had brought years ago. Four, old and amazing baths.  Can't wait to see one of them end up in their new bathroom when it is up and built.

 

Another plane ride, this time Kim took us to Glen Florrie for J to look at what is was that they wanted done.  After driving over their driveway I am so glad that he offered to take us, it really would've been a full day drive, especially on that 88km red dirt and super windy road.  I blinked and it was time to move on again.  We backed up in the early morning drizzle to head back to Mia Mia for J to do the work on the cottage.