First on-road hurdle, i stopped at the Wallan Nth roadhouse to check the tyre pressure. I need 64psi and the pump only goes to 60psi … oh well, a coffee and toastie should resolve the sadness
Mon and mid 20s today but Wed/Thu forecast around 40deg along the central Murray. No fore ban today or probably tomorrow i expect it after tomorrow.
Weighed the car on the Broadford multideck and came in at a round 3300kg which ironically is the Troopys original factory GVM. Ross had Troopys capacities increased before delivery with a Federal DOT second stage manufacturer modification. As a result the Troopy is Federally certified to carry an additional 600kg.
At 3300kg on this trip the Troopy is loaded with camping gear, water which is more than we would normally carry with the van and we still have 600kg
Drove through Yarrawonga and out west following the Murray on the Murray Valley Hwy heading for a river front camp in the Big Reedy Lagoon area. At the gate into the reserve was a large group of kids wearing red with backpacks.
Monday 18-11-2019 21.01
(Hit this Google Maps link if the map above isn’t visible
https://www.google.com/maps/place/-35.96882254739027,145.93824968250158)
GPS accuracy 4.0 mtrs
Everybody remembers something they forgot to pack. Ross was reminded by the billion flies he forgot the insert repellant.
Great little spot right on the Murray with just enough room for one car, and located on a 4×4 track between 2 car accessable larger camp areas. Plenty of fire wood about to.
Its around 32deg and with an inviting river side camp whats left to but jump in the river. The current is strong but almost non existant at the bank. The water is refreshingly cool
Sitting reading the paper contemplating dinner and maybe flicking a lure afterwards Ross stood up and spooked something big about 3ft from the waters edge. Dinner postponed and a frantic rig up of a spin rod …. but no luck.
Packed up this morning and heading out took a little more notice of the sign than we did heading in. Firstly the sign forbidding collecting of standing wood … $5000. My god, dead trees are apparently sacrosanct.
The next sign was a little more concerning. No fishing of any description Sept, Oct, Nov … lucky Ross didnt come to fish.
Tues 19-11-2019 14.27
(Hit this Google Maps link if the map above isn’t visible
https://www.google.com/maps/place/-35.95313254801991,145.89879204140445)
GPS accuracy 8.0 mtrs
Heading to a area of the Murray the furthest point north of the Highway, hoping that with so much easier access points elsewhere therell be no people around.
Wow, got that a little wrong. Arrived at the first point where the track meets the river and the river was full of the kids from yesterday paddling downstream in 2 person canoes.
Ross decided they would be heading to a large beach area with easy shallow exit, so long as we avoided that we should be right.
The first camp at Trues Beach area wasnt ideal, but there was a narrow track at the end heading further along the river. The extra height of the boat on the roof could be an issue, but the worst that could happen would be reversing out.
The track was narrow and winding with a few tight bends and jump ups. There were a couple of points where stopping, measuring, debating and holding our breath was required. No guts, no glory … but more importantly no damage.
Around 1km along the track we found a gem of a camp area. Small, isolated, long questionable track in, inaccessible to 2×2 cars, right on the river, easy river access, shade with windows of sun for the solar panel, no camping opposite on the NSW side and plenty of firewood. Awesome.
Just better head a little further on, just to see whats there and although very very unlikely see if theres a better spot … plus the next beached camp area, Nevins East, cant be too far along.
The track out of my chosen camp was 4×4 only, but the rest of the track west was easy pickings and in around 500mtrs we came onto the eastern end of Nevins East Beach. A huge, long and wide beach area a one caravan right down the western end.
Headed back and pitched camp. Shortly after the school kids canoes started floating by on the current. Maybe they could have been Scouts or Guides, but being during the week unlikely.
3The 33deg heat was tamed by swamming in the river on and off most of the afternoon, and once the school kids were well and truly gone and unlikely to be able to paddle back against the current it seemed like as good a spot as any for some naturist swimming
3 x small asian cars appeared on the track and stopped at the drop off, checked it out, realised if they got down theyd be unlikely to get back up and then headed off. Clearly all 3 cars driven by young stupid people.
Schnitzel, Nasi rice and salad tonight on the camp fire.
Ross heard some people activity approaching from the west, and then spied what appeared to be large inflatable toys. They looked like kids, oddly with not an adult in sight. Theres no easy access where they were so Ross yelled out there is easy access here in our camp.
2 guys and 2 girls in g strings appeared from the bush drinking, with a Labrador and 2 inflatable toy boats. One of the female urchins had a fiul mouth, and they wandered into the water a floated away expecting the dog to swim 500 to 700 metres ….
Wednesday 20-11-2019 16.25
(Hit this Google Maps link if the map above isn’t visible
https://www.google.com/maps/place/-35.86526707392246,145.595992268053)
GPS accuracy 6.0 mtrs
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