DING DING DING, RING RING RING, the bell has gone. Yehhh! School is back! Bring on Grey Nomad time.

Welcome to February and my January 2017 update and first for 2017, confused? Read on then.

I have been asked why I haven't put my update up yet? Phew! Its only 3 days overdue. Sorry to those people but I have been busy as a lizard drinking the last 2 days, so here tis.

January started finding Myself and a few others as Greens Lake Refugees and sitting it out down the road from Greens Lake at a lovely little place called Girgarre, they have an area set aside for travellers to stay up to four nights. Great clean toilets and hot shower and all for a donation.

Why? I here you ask, well due to a couple of young morons a couple of years back causing problems New Years Eve at Greens, everyone there has to vacate and go elsewhere for 2 nights. You can come back in around midday 1/1. You can't leave anything behind to keep your spot just come back in and hope you can get your spot back or a good one. As was in the last two years a great cue had gathered up on the main road waiting for the barriers to be removed then gates opened. Wooosh, a great rush to get in once opened. As I approached the top of the road overlooking the Lake I noticed my mate Dave and My spots were waiting for our arrival so made a V line to them, we were both lucky enough to get our spots back so set up to enjoy Paradise.

The Thursday before we became refugees there was some extremely heavy rain in the area and us refugees at Girgarre were walking around in water for two of our 4 days, yes 4, due to Dave and Myself leaving the Wednesday, due to the rain forecast. The lake area also got the rain and the roads would have been very muddy indeed and were, from reports we got. It was also mentioned that a couple of people got bogged and couldn't get out for the closure, so said they would stay, nope, go they were told, so a tow out was arranged at their cost. No one escaped leaving.

The weather for January has been just magnificent really with mid to high 30c every day with a few 40+ and low to high teens overnight. The wind was kind most of the month as well. We did get a day here and there with light winds and even some rain but rain is good as I let the awning roof rinse off the dust and bugs then have rigged up a system so I can fill up a 25lt basin with a towel over the top to sort of filter the water and I also fill a 20lt water container.  The water is nice and clean and great for my fresh water tanks. If no rain and clean water for the tanks is needed I get it from a local town that allow you. Some towns are very RV friendly as you move around the playground.

Fellow Grey Nomads have called in for the night or longer with a few arriving for just the one night and stay longer. One stayed an extra 3 nights, one stayed and extra week and another stayed an extra 2 weeks. They couldn't drag themselves away. Yep, Greens Lake and the weather gods were on their best behaviour during January and I tell you that for free.

Australia Day arrived on the 26^th  and boy was that and the following 3 days busy, busy busy busy. It turned out this year that a unofficial 4 day weekend was then in full action. People and campers set up all along the water front as well as up in among trees and out in the open, tents, camper trailers, people sleeping in cars and on the ground and caravans everywhere you looked. Boats and anything that would float on water was also out in force. Speeds you wouldn't believe but yep fast was the order of the day/s obviously. One thing was good about it, no noise after about 11.00pm on any night and none to very little trouble. I did hear about a group of young girls and boys all late teens that caused a little problem with language that was described as DISCUSTING A couple of young hoons driving around but I spose with an estimated 1000+ people camped plus day trippers at Greens Lake, all was good. I add here though that I am glad its all over for another year. Yeeeeh!

I mentioned anything that floats was out on the water and I mean anything, anything from dogs to big boats. I had seen for the first time life vests for dogs. They wrap around them and have a handle on the back so you can lift the dog out of the water, looks very funny but very practical, best of all, Fido is safe.

Now I mentioned the amount of people around and with that many people you get rubbish. I mean rubbish, not rubbish as in people rubbish, although there were a few that looked like rubbish but I won't say that. The people that own and run Greens lake are Goulbourn Murray Water and they normally provide a big bin for rubbish but for the summer school holidays provide 2 big bins plus a massive builder skip bin for everyone to put their rubbish in. I might add here that they are provided at the owners expense, nothing to us. 95% of people do the right thing but 5% just leave it at their camp site and go. Anyone walking past will take it to the bins to keep the place tidy, I have done many many times.

Monday 30^th arrived and the place was nearly empty but not the bins, they were piled up high and rubbish was placed neatly around the base of the bins. Now Goulbourn Murray Water, again at their expense have been sending out a big truck with a trench digger and big bucket on one end, about every 4 days. He uses the bucket to squash all the rubbish down to last until the next scheduled empty, every 2 weeks. The day started with all that rubbish and by about 10.00am all neat and tidy once again. The bins were emptied yesterday, Thursday. Surprisingly, all 3 bins remained.

THANKYOU GOULBOURN MURRAY WATER!

A little bit more on the weather before I finish up. The 4 days over the fake long weekend were just perfect really but the 30^th the wind gods hit us with strong Nth West winds 42c and a total fire ban. It only lasted a day or 2 so all good. I spent the afternoon in the van with aircon going, after letting Gene out of the back of the Collie for a run.

Fishing, yep, people fishing here at the lake all January with a few caught from boats but not much at all from the water edge, that is until a Yugoslavian couple turned up and set up next to the left side of the launching ramp. Mr Y was the fisherman and got what he was after too, many of the beasts. He was after smallish Redfin and due to them being a pest of a fish they cant be put back in the water so he got heaps of 8+ size fish that he was cleaning and freezing as he went. It was great watching him as he would cast out and with seconds had hooked a fish. He attracted quite a few other people that moved in on him but no luck. Mr Y knew what he was doing so much so I have rigged my line the same way and will be giving it a go myself. That will be interesting indeed as I haven't fished for many moons and I tell you that for free. Mr Y was even helping the kids and rigged their lines for them but still no luck for them.

Thats about it for this month, I heard that down the back row! Until next we chat, keep safe out there.

Some pics as usual with once again nothing said, they tell the story for the month. 

Edit....A few little things go wrong during the cut and paste, sorry. 

Gday...

TA Doug ... keep up the hard work

cheers - John

Another good yarn Doug, Most enjoyable as well,

As always a pleasure to read Doug thanks for the effort

Cheers John

Don't apologise for being three days late! I am often two weeks over due. But don't care anymore. To much playing to do.

Good report, 10/10!

Enjoyed the read. Regards rocket n strop