Hi Everyone, Eril and I had a lovely 10 days away in and around the Yarra Valley just north of Melbourne. Eril has wanted to visit the area during the Spring flower time of the year for some time. After a bit of a hectic week we got away on Thursday the 10th late in the arvo. I had planned to get to a freedom camp approx. 7 km North of the Melbourne airport, and we made it easily. Yes, planes were loud BUT for a long time aviator it was music to my ears!!

After a lunch stop in Kinglake our next camp was to be Toolangi Camping/Recreation reserve, with a babbling brook, the smell of wet trees after a little drizzle it was serene?.

Next day we retraced our steps a few Ks and spent a couple of nights at the Castella Central Park. This area is a stopping point for major horse trail adventurers.

Next was to find a dump point AND they are few and far between down that way!!! Decided to travel 30 km up to Yea. I was going to fill up with water as well BUT non potable water!! We stopped at a servo to get some fuel and was hoping to get water as well, again non potable river water. So, I just bought a small amount of diesel. Now that I think of it that would have been ok as we had 15 litres of our own home tank water for drinking and cooking. Anyway, further down the track I found a servo slightly off the beaten track and they allowed me to fill our water tanks so I topped the fuel right up. We were heading to Wickams Road Oval, and finally pulled in after having to find a place to do a U turn as we missed the entrance!! What a great spot with toilets and a large level area available. This is the hub for the local footy, cricket, tennis and exercise clubs, as well as a few guys with their remote controlled cars racing around on the blue metal parking area.

Eril used this as a base to visit a number of gardens etc that were on display. This was a bit of a test of the new system as the van did not move for three days. This trip for me was to see what difference my additions of the 200 watt roof panel and the heavier wiring I had upgraded too?, and ?I had also added the DC to DC charger for when travelling. I was using the 120 watt portable solar panel as well as the 320 watts on the van roof. ??With the low sun angle at this time of the year and mostly overcast days I was struggling with enough battery power. I was using the genset for the morning and afternoon coffee. Also I thought that I had bypassed the Setec charger when I upgraded the wiring which included shifting the Solastar controller. I had to connect the Pajero and use the DC to DC charger from the tug to top up before bed to be able to use the CPAP machine. I then realised that I was going to have to have a dedicated 240 ac to 13.8 dc charger for when the genset was running.

Next camp was to be down near Frankston so that Eril could visit Cruden Farm. Wickicamps found me a site that might have been suitable as I was really wanting to do this trip without using water and power from a van park. Got there and there was a low post and wire vfence to keep vehicles out!! I ended up at the end of a no through road and had to back up 150 meters and into a side street. I ended up doing this twice, YEAH slow learner I know!! It was getting late so I had to opt for the Frankston Holiday Park and had to back onto a concrete slab, and I was pleased to get it in two goes!! The tour at Cruden Farm began before my usual arising time BUT as we had to be out of the van park by 10am I had to scurry. After some stern words exchanged between pilot and navigator I had Eril at Cruden Farm. I enjoyed just sitting in the van amongst the trees watching the news of the day and listening to the birds singing and cattle mooing. After a couple of hours Eril turned up in time for our morning coffee, over which we discussed how many days we wanted to take to get home. Back to Castella was an option but Eril said we could go a bit further and to the west. 

Out with Wiki and found a spot called Regular Camp Clonbinane up near the Mount Disappointment Forest. The gps asked if I wanted to avoid tolls and of course being a cheapskate I said yes. Well, I eventually ended up with a very windy road and was working quite hard!!! Eventually we were on the Western ring road!!! Then Eril made a captains choice and said that I had done enough "mountain" type driving and we would forget Clonbinane!! We took the Calder freeway and when I had a chance I stopped so we could made a decision on where to stay. Out with Wiki again and chose a spot called Parking Area/Camp Ground, 507 Barringo Rd. Mt. Macedon. Guided by trust gps we arrived and Eril said that we had stayed there coming home from a previous trip, only we approached from another side. Great spot with slow internet and a tv signal I could not locate. We had misplaced the tv remote and I was struggling with a torch to see which buttons to press on the side of the TV to retune with!! Ah well, a night without telly won't hurt after all the Political "****"(technical word) that had bombarded us during the week. That night I was thinking through my DC power and then realised that the Setec charger WAS still connected BUT it was not plugged ion and turned on, boy that made a difference!! Of course I had already organised online a dedicated charger from 240 ac to dc!! 

We left a little after lunch time towards Bachus Marsh for fuel. Approaching Pykes Creek reservoir there were all sorts of hand made signs on the side of the road advertising fruit and veges, and when I saw the sign that said "sexy dates" I thought to myself Eril would like to stop there I reckon. The $1 Mangoes caught her attention.. Arrived home around 3 pm just before our daughter Emma arrived from Melbourne to visit us and the new niece and nephew she now has.

So, now there is a new list of refinements to be done before the next restful adventure!!!

Ok, going to try this with a few pics to see if it works. 

Aussie Paul. 

-- Edited by aussie_paul on Wednesday 30th of September 2015 08:32:47 PM