Stopped at Kilmore on the way home to stretch the legs and give Poo Poo Head some fresh air. Checked out the bakery/cake shop in the main drag and what a gem. The pies and treats were spectacluar. Harking back to my first post in this category; ” …. Im a little worried that the poor old car might collapse under the load.” Arrived at home, pulled onto the nature strip and organised to open the gates and off load a few easily accessable stuff from the car along with my bike and bike rack before putting the Panda away. Jumped in [ ... ]

Last morning … getting ready to start packing up for the drive home. Ill stop by the Oppy tribute in Rochester on the way back. Its a bit of a ‘thing’ for cyclists. We found a huge adventure park behind the Moama Sports Club yesterday, so Daniel was in heaven. Oppy’s early bike, doesn’t look much but by todays standards but is an important part of sport in Australia anyway. As is the commemorative statue in Rochester honoring Oppy. Seen the camper with a satellite dish attached to the drawer bar the day after we arrived. It was became significant after we [ ... ]

Last night was a fireworks display and procession of the Echuca paddle steamer flotila. The river was layered in a sheet of smoke as the paddle boats edged past. Each one lit with red flares. It was a very impressive display with steam whistler blasting. I found the fireworks display a little out of place. Although they were impressive against the wharf as a back drop, the idea of fire works in a dry drought affected timberland was a little odd. I presume they know much more than me, just didnt expect it. We intended to view the show from the wharf, [ ... ]

Why do they print “enjoy wine in moderation” on the side of a box of wine that contains 20 litres …. We were late booking and ended up with a site they discribed as the “last one” and a “small site”. We were expecting the worst but was pleasantly surprised. The site was drive through, roomy and the last in a row which gave us more room and no neighbours. The shower block was a bit of a walk, but a seperate toilet block was very close. Close access to the reception for the news paper, and the gate to the [ ... ]

The ducks can hear you open a loaf of bread …. and in they come for a free feed. Then they leave as soon as the bread is gone. They arent very partial to the sultanas from fruit bread; they manage to eat all the bread from around the fruit. We went to the Holden Museum in Echuca. The was a SLR5000 A9X Torana to dribble over, but alas no HJ GTS Monaro’s which everyone knows are the coolest of the old Holdens. (I had one, thats why) But interestingly they had a couple of design prototypes which are made out of [ ... ]

The local CFA were everywhere collecting for the Childrens Hospital appeal. Daniel liked the fire truck that came through the caravan park, although he wasnt getting in the truck with the fireman … he didnt like it that much. There was an easter egg hunt at the local primary school, with 19000 eggs in a paddock and almost as many kids stomping all over them in the warm sun. Daniel managed to find about 10, which worked out to be $0.50 each … all for a good cause I suppose We found an easter festival that sounded like it might be [ ... ]

I decided to bring my mountain bike, something Ive been ‘trying’ to bring camping for the last dozen or so holidays. Echuca boasts some defined bike tracks along the Murray. Went out for a 75 minute blast through the bush along the Murray and it was pretty good fun. Ive never really ridden through bushland before and its great fun. Had a couple of mishaps; sliding out, hitting the scrub, hitting sand etc. the track along the bank of the Murray covers some diverse terrain through both the Banyule State Forest and Echuca Village reserve. Follow the track I rode in Goolge [ ... ]

Here are some photos of Barb writing her blog entry As you can see, she had been having a little Chardy

I have never seen a caravan park so bleedin’ full in all my (short) years of campervaning/caravaning (you choose!!)…this is why Ross never wants to go away on school holidays – its chaos!  Luckily we have a nice site on an “end” so the nasty people next door are at our back and we have enough space to put Daniels new totem tennis set up and have a play without other neighbours in our face….do I sound like the typical “want-to-get-to-know-my-caravaning-neighbour-type-chick?….ummm….NAHHHH!!..Anyway, we have 4 lovely days ahead of us. Hopefully the rain stays away, our little man behaves, and the [ ... ]

We got to Echuca at about 5.30.  Stopped in Heathcote on the side of the road, made some sandwiches and Daniel had a twinkle. Site at the caravan park is pretty good. It was the last site available, and a small one at that, on a late booking but turns it is the last in a row so only nieghbours on one side and extra space on the other and it has access both sides; basically a drive through site. Managed to get a frosty SBS picture on the “you beaut” antenna, but by some twist of fate the tent next [ ... ]

Barb is at work and the packing seems endless …. Im a little worried that the poor old car might collapse under the load.

Preparations are underway for the first major Panda trip away to Echuca for Easter. The first 2 weekends away were more just test trips. A few major additions, changes and modifications are being done to edge closer to the perfect Panda. Half of the hanging wardrobe is being converted to a pantry, and the other half to shelving. Wire kitchen baskets will be the pantry, and we’re picking up a sheet of matching decorative ply from Jayco to make the shelves. Barbs parents are coming up for a couple of nights. We have been warned about the stereo snoring, so [ ... ]