Hold on tight as it happened again. Yep, another Greens Lake storm, this time 3/1/16. Gale force winds and heavy rain. The wind died down after a few hours as did the rain a little later. I was able to fill 3 buckets and a big basin that I do my cloths washing in with nice clean water for my van tanks. How do you do that I here someone down the back say, well you slope the awning slightly to one end and the run off goes into a bucket or similar. Just wait a few minutes so any dust etc is rinsed off first, nice clean water after that.

 

Only one van had problems and that was a older couple looking after their very young grandchildren. They had the annex set up on their van and ended up with a river flowing through so they were out digging trenches and building sand banks around them. All good the next day and happy campers yet again.

 

While on the weather, the rest of January was very hot here at Greens Lake, very hot, including quite a few nights, high 30's with many 40c + during the day and low to mid 20's, with a couple giving 30c a good look over night, also hot. On a couple of days I had to let Gene out for a while to power up the aircon, that helped but I had to keep Gene chained up so she didn't go walkabout. I don't use Gene much at all as my solar panels and batteries provide all the power I need but 240v power is needed for my aircon. I have these things so why not use them. 

 

The water level of the lake has gone down considerably and continues to do so, the man that comes to get a weekly water sample (from the lake not me) told us it is just evaporation and is going down by 10cm per day. You need a cut lunch and drink to get to the water edge now.

 

Surprisingly, even though it was school holidays all month not a lot of people around actually camping. Locals came out by the dozens each day armed with boats and anything else that floats or moves on water but most were gone by 6.00pm and the rest by dark. Some even bring their boats in while dark. I even had to wait before going out for my late dip, for safety reasons in the dark, due to a couple of boats still to come in, how dare they :)  the only drawback being close to the ramp but no problem at all.  

 

Grey Nomads continue to call in and stay for a while then move on continuing their journeys.  As I will be doing sooner than soon, after I sort out a few things first, no hurry. I was sitting relaxing on a two occasions  when I had visitors, people had heard I was here and came to visit for a couple of hours. They were staying near by. 

 

Away from Grey Nomads for a moment, as we are not the only ones here, in fact locals are the ones that mainly use this place and they have been enjoying boating and skiing. At most, they all are pretty good out on the water but some don't take notice of the rules and the markers out on the water with speed limits and exclusion zones. 

 

On one occasion there were some speed skiers testing boat props late in the day, getting ready for the southern 80, a boat race on the Murray River near Echuca in February. Well, they had done a full circuit of the lake and setting up for a second while rounding the far end when a boat with 3 kids on biscuits, floating devices you sit or lay on attached to a rope being towed by the boat (see pic below) were heading near them that I had just taken a pic of.  As I put camera down to look for next pic to take they went right across the path of the speed skier. Yep, you guessed, speed skier went flying as did the 3 kids. I wasn't quick enough with the camera as I think like a few others watching I was in shock. A few minutes and all was ok, thank goodness. We found out later the driver of the boat that caused the problem said he was watching the kids not in front of him, real cleaver!  Mmmm, why is the spotter sitting next to the driver facing the rear of the boat?!  The speed skier had a bruised back but apart from that was ok. Kids OK as well.

 

Australia Day, so called extra long weekend arrived and so did the campers, in fact they started to arrive Thursday and especially Friday and by late Friday night there wasn't a spot along lake side and many up around the tree area. A few big groups set up and one in particular right next to the launching ramp to the left (West Side) about 4 vans and a couple of tents, big group. Noise, yep, a big sound system set up with thumping music from 9am till around 11pm each day. A big fire roaring each night and thankfully any wind kept the smoke to the left of the ramp also.  

 

Heaps of boats and anything that floated were out on the water until dark most nights. Everyone taking advantage of the near perfect weather also spending hours in the water swimming etc including myself, I wasn't letting boats stop me going in. I did keep an eye open for any boats etc coming nearby. The only thing was, I had to wait until the last boat finished, for safety reasons in the dark, so I could go in for my late night dip that I do most nights just before bed time, bugga, think I already mentioned that, oh well. Great to cool down and freshen up before hitting the land of nod. The fan I have set up at the end of my bed also helps with the heat of the night. Couldn't be without it now. All happy campers were gone by late Aussie day night and with school hols now at an end and public holidays no longer for a couple of months things are back to some sort of normality here at Greens Lake, yeeeeeh!

 

Things here at "The" Lake get pretty hectic out on the water and as mentioned rules not adhered to so security was needed, so a safety security officer was arranged to keep an eye on things ( see pic below). 

 

The Wednesday after Aussie day was spent in Shepparton so a locksmith that was arranged by Holden could check the rear canopy lock on the Collie, it has been playing up yet again. This is now the third time. After about four hours it was hopefully fixed. He found a problem with what he called wafers in the barrel so fixed that. He also mentioned the lock appeared not to have been touched so I will have a chat to Holden in Townsville about that as they were supposed to have replaced all canopy locks twice during 2015 when there. Time will tell now if it has been sorted.

 

A visit to the local medicine man 28/1 found things to be ok and new scripts for regular meds issued. Enough repeats to see me through for a few months so all good really. A final visit to him just before I leave this area and start heading on my 2016 northern migration will double check things for my journey.

 

Well, that's about it for this update so until next we meet, keep safe.

 

 

Foot Note:  As this update goes to print 9.45am Sunday 31/1 it is 13c, cool North East breeze and raining. I have filled 3 buckets and the basin since 7.00am. Looks like it's here for the day. Never mind all part of being in the playground. 

 

Anyone want to buy some clean water ? :)

 

A few pics below as usual.

 

DOUG

 

Top.............Speed skier just starting off

Middle........A home made BBQ boat...great idea these.

Bottom.......Speed skier in action, he had gone down to end of lake, turned around 

                   and heading back when things went belly up. 

 

 

 

 

Top.............A lovely sunrise, as is most days.

Middle........The new safety security officer

Bottom.......Girgarre Railway Station near where I stayed as a Greens Lake Refugee.

                   You will still be waiting in 2116 though as it is no longer in use.