Patty and I arrived at The Orchard camp ground on Howes Creek Road eventually after a couple of wrong turns but this place is fantastic right on the lake featuring new clean drop toilets and as much washing water as we wanted from the lake. Green grass and flat camping areas make this a very good camping area.
A couple of locals were setting traps in the adjacent dam to catch yabbies and offered us some tomorrow when they collected them. There were no other campers and we had the place to ourselves so we settled in and set up camp. The only problem was that I had no Optus phone or internet coverage, neither could I get Telstra internet either.
Tuesday another fine day and Patty was able to get phone coverage with her Telstra plan. I got a call through saying that I have 5 voice mail messages but was unable to access them, not breaking camp to gain coverage so they will have to wait and I am preparing this post on a Word document for posting later.
Had a good day and finished my table and set up the shower tent in the morning, the guys came back and gave us some yabbies for bait. I had bought some pickled pork and set up the pressure cooker whilst Patty cooked up vegetables and we had the best meal with pork falling apart.
I set up 2 fishing rods with running sinkers, swivels and hooks then had the interesting job of attaching the yabbies alive to the hooks. We had been told that the best way was to break off the claws because they have a fierce bite and insert the hooks through the tail. Neither of us enjoyed that part but we both did the job and went fishing.
We tried and went through several baitings without success and eventually gave it away but my rod is wedged between some roots and in the morning expect to have a fine fish on the hook. Yeah right that is likely to happen. Millee the dog loves watching us cast out and gets quite excited so she had to be restrained.
Made an open fire boiled the billy and cooked a customary jaffle we sat round the fire until around 8pm when we went to our respective vans and amused ourselves with previously recorded TV and movies. Another fine day in the life of a grey nomad as we pondered on whether the taxpayers who ultimately fund our lifestyle were enjoying life as we are.
Wednesday and another fine sunny morning and I was able to use clear varnish on the cupboard doors and table leg, I checked the fishing rod and was not surprised to find no bait or fish on the hook. After lunch I had a shower and then the rain started, I was able to set up the buckets and catch enough drinking water to top up my bottle.
We went for a walk and found the information office but it was locked up and not attended, I suppose that it will be staffed closer to the Christmas holidays when this campground will be very busy. We have seen many boats on trailers going past this ground there is another campground further along the road with a ramp.
Dull and wet this evening so we didnt have a fire but we decided to leave here on Friday morning so tomorrow will be our last day. Lots of packing up will be the go tomorrow and a fire to burn off our cardboard etc., rubbish as there is no rubbish collection in The Delatite Arm campgrounds.
Last day here and the guys came back and offered us more yabbies but we decided against more fishing. A couple of cars with boat trailers drove in and reversed into the lake launching their boats, must have been here before to know that the ground was hard on the lake edge. When they returned Patty asked them if they caught any fish and was surprised when they offered us a red fin.
We had a fire and I had boiled the billy and had a jaffle so we were in good shape to cook the fish over the camp fire. We scaled and gutted the fish and Patty cooked it on the cast iron frying pan, very nice it was too. The second good food we had today, for lunch the left over pickled pork was served with a full vegie serving.
All the packing up of the camp site was done and very little to be finished tomorrow when we will set off back to Greens Lake via Seymore. The plan is to drive to Mansfield and use the internet to catch up with the blog and forum plus to get my missed calls, there were 5 last Tuesday who knows how many there will be.
A couple of photos showing what we got up to at the camp the first one of me trying to get the internet and see the cursor at the same time, very difficult I gave up in the end. The second one of Patty doing what she likes painting flowers for her hand painted cards. John
-- Edited by yeoeleven on Friday 22nd of November 2013 12:00:43 PM
sarg said
08:31 PM Nov 22, 2013
I Love Your Posts John, You Are Certainly Living The Life.........Mine is Getting Closer Too.
Mr B2 said
08:39 PM Nov 22, 2013
Between Yea and Seymour, there is a nice camp on the Goulbourne as you cross it, Its on the right hand side of the road,
There is a couple of Grouse spots along there that I have been going to stop and look at,
They do have Vans and M/Homes parked there from time to time, At the different places,
and looks very easy access, If I can get my Monster in there, You wont have any problems with your one,
There are a lot of good spots around the banks of Eildon, For Camping, It means driving down the back roads, Thru Howqua, Etc,
There all good dirt roads, they take Caravans, Boats and the kitchen sink with them,
Its gets packed out around Xmas,
Drive down just past Jamieson, Excellent camps on the sides of the rivers and creeks, Its before the dirt roads start, To Woods point or Licola,
Jamieson to Eildon road is for Motor bikes, not cars or vans, Its a very tite twisting road, You will need all the road to get around some of the Corners,
My Coach on that road, Forget it totally, But there is a magic spot that I love to camp on Big River, I might try it from the Eildon side, My coach will fit into the camp site, I have
had a look and checked it out, It will just fit in under the trees, Hahahaha.
Big River Bridge to Eildon, Is a wider road, Just, Hahahaha, But my Coach will get around the bends from that end,
Basically no traffic on it, But a lot of Motor Bikes use it, including me, Hahahaha, Just because it is that type of road,
Bryan said
08:51 PM Nov 22, 2013
There are some really lovely places out and John as a tax payer I have no problems with helping to fund your lifestyle, I'm getting payback through the pics and stories you post which is keeping me sane until I can get out there to join all the GNs.
SnowT said
11:12 PM Nov 22, 2013
Nice spot...
Going to pin it on your Blog..
Might be worth the while to come up at some stage..
If I can trade the boat I have for a slightly smaller tinny I will..
Juergen
jetj said
01:32 AM Nov 23, 2013
Beaufiful spot and great photos thanks John.
freehazzas said
01:42 AM Nov 23, 2013
Thanks for the pics and updates, you two look like your having a ball. Sounds like the other campers there are pretty cool too.
Dougwe said
04:09 AM Nov 23, 2013
You have done it again John, another good spot. Hope those sliding doors are behaving.
yeoeleven said
05:32 AM Nov 23, 2013
Yes Doug the sliding doors are behaving well, thanks for your help. The varnish has made them a little sluggish might have to sand some off the back later.
Brian thanks for the other camping spots will search them out next time down there. John
SaGDay said
10:05 PM Nov 23, 2013
Thanks for the photos and story, it looks a beaut spot and, was this to remind us workers, to keep paying taxes to assist you in your chose lifestyle.
Don and Sue
halfpint said
02:51 PM Nov 24, 2013
Yes it was the best spot, just laugh every time I see John with doona on his head trying to see computer. Will go there again it is cooler there.
beiffe said
03:37 PM Nov 24, 2013
A bit of soap may help your slides John.
Just a little bit in the track may do it if you cant get the slides out again.
Regards
Brian
george57 said
04:03 PM Nov 26, 2013
hi John, good to hear you have finished your draws and table, I was quite impressed with your bus and its layout, thanks for the tour! Looks like a magic spot, but Im like you, I need my internet coverage......
Look forward to our next meeting,
Cheers
A couple of locals were setting traps in the adjacent dam to catch yabbies and offered us some tomorrow when they collected them. There were no other campers and we had the place to ourselves so we settled in and set up camp. The only problem was that I had no Optus phone or internet coverage, neither could I get Telstra internet either.
Tuesday another fine day and Patty was able to get phone coverage with her Telstra plan. I got a call through saying that I have 5 voice mail messages but was unable to access them, not breaking camp to gain coverage so they will have to wait and I am preparing this post on a Word document for posting later.
Had a good day and finished my table and set up the shower tent in the morning, the guys came back and gave us some yabbies for bait. I had bought some pickled pork and set up the pressure cooker whilst Patty cooked up vegetables and we had the best meal with pork falling apart.
I set up 2 fishing rods with running sinkers, swivels and hooks then had the interesting job of attaching the yabbies alive to the hooks. We had been told that the best way was to break off the claws because they have a fierce bite and insert the hooks through the tail. Neither of us enjoyed that part but we both did the job and went fishing.
Made an open fire boiled the billy and cooked a customary jaffle we sat round the fire until around 8pm when we went to our respective vans and amused ourselves with previously recorded TV and movies. Another fine day in the life of a grey nomad as we pondered on whether the taxpayers who ultimately fund our lifestyle were enjoying life as we are.
Wednesday and another fine sunny morning and I was able to use clear varnish on the cupboard doors and table leg, I checked the fishing rod and was not surprised to find no bait or fish on the hook. After lunch I had a shower and then the rain started, I was able to set up the buckets and catch enough drinking water to top up my bottle.
Dull and wet this evening so we didnt have a fire but we decided to leave here on Friday morning so tomorrow will be our last day. Lots of packing up will be the go tomorrow and a fire to burn off our cardboard etc., rubbish as there is no rubbish collection in The Delatite Arm campgrounds.
Last day here and the guys came back and offered us more yabbies but we decided against more fishing. A couple of cars with boat trailers drove in and reversed into the lake launching their boats, must have been here before to know that the ground was hard on the lake edge. When they returned Patty asked them if they caught any fish and was surprised when they offered us a red fin.
We had a fire and I had boiled the billy and had a jaffle so we were in good shape to cook the fish over the camp fire. We scaled and gutted the fish and Patty cooked it on the cast iron frying pan, very nice it was too. The second good food we had today, for lunch the left over pickled pork was served with a full vegie serving.
All the packing up of the camp site was done and very little to be finished tomorrow when we will set off back to Greens Lake via Seymore. The plan is to drive to Mansfield and use the internet to catch up with the blog and forum plus to get my missed calls, there were 5 last Tuesday who knows how many there will be.
A couple of photos showing what we got up to at the camp the first one of me trying to get the internet and see the cursor at the same time, very difficult I gave up in the end. The second one of Patty doing what she likes painting flowers for her hand painted cards. John
-- Edited by yeoeleven on Friday 22nd of November 2013 12:00:43 PM
There is a couple of Grouse spots along there that I have been going to stop and look at,
They do have Vans and M/Homes parked there from time to time, At the different places,
and looks very easy access, If I can get my Monster in there, You wont have any problems with your one,
There are a lot of good spots around the banks of Eildon, For Camping, It means driving down the back roads, Thru Howqua, Etc,
There all good dirt roads, they take Caravans, Boats and the kitchen sink with them,
Its gets packed out around Xmas,
Drive down just past Jamieson, Excellent camps on the sides of the rivers and creeks, Its before the dirt roads start, To Woods point or Licola,
Jamieson to Eildon road is for Motor bikes, not cars or vans, Its a very tite twisting road, You will need all the road to get around some of the Corners,
My Coach on that road, Forget it totally, But there is a magic spot that I love to camp on Big River, I might try it from the Eildon side, My coach will fit into the camp site, I have
had a look and checked it out, It will just fit in under the trees, Hahahaha.
Big River Bridge to Eildon, Is a wider road, Just, Hahahaha, But my Coach will get around the bends from that end,
Basically no traffic on it, But a lot of Motor Bikes use it, including me, Hahahaha, Just because it is that type of road,
Going to pin it on your Blog..
Might be worth the while to come up at some stage..
If I can trade the boat I have for a slightly smaller tinny I will..
Juergen
Beaufiful spot and great photos thanks John.
Yes Doug the sliding doors are behaving well, thanks for your help. The varnish has made them a little sluggish might have to sand some off the back later.
Brian thanks for the other camping spots will search them out next time down there. John
Thanks for the photos and story, it looks a beaut spot and, was this to remind us workers, to keep paying taxes to assist you in your chose lifestyle.
Don and Sue
Yes it was the best spot, just laugh every time I see John with doona on his head trying to see computer. Will go there again it is cooler there.
Just a little bit in the track may do it if you cant get the slides out again.
Regards
Brian
Look forward to our next meeting,
Cheers
George
no Don and Sue it was forced on some of us ROD