G'day and welcome back. Yep, I'm still here. I haven't ridden on ahead just yet :)

This is my Claytons Update #2 It covers January and February 2020. So, sit back and see what I have or have not been up to.

The new year, 2020 started very quiet indeed with only a few other happy campers around and we all seemed to keep to ourselves New Years Eve for some reason, so no wild New Years Eve parties. I did sit in the camp kitchen for a while but no one else was interested as no one came by. Much different to last year here in the same place. Oh well, it can't always be a social occasion in the playground. It was nice to have a quiet night though and I tell you that for free.

The first day of the new year and a new decade was upon me quicker than quick with fires still raging not all that far away really over the mountains in east Gippsland and another Biggy east of Albury and one Biggy near Bright and yet another on the south NSW coast, so still heaps of smoke around. The day progressed with nothing done by this little black duck, I did potter around van though, sweeping leaves away from my site etc, checking fluid levels in Collie and well, I even changed a hose fitting on the aluminium tent that has only taken me two weeks to do, well, I cant rush these things. Not much else done. By mid-morning, out of the few vans around overnight only two of us left. Others started arriving early afternoon though.

The owners were telling me they have had heaps of cancellations due to the smoke and fear of fires. You see we are at the foot of the Warby Ranges and bush surrounds us out back. I could be out of here quicker than quick if I had to be. I checked the VIC Emergency app every 30 mins to keep on top of things and mainly keeping an eye on that fire near bright. It is the one I keep getting warnings about as not all that far away really. It was known as the Carboor Fire. It actually burnt for ages like the other biggies around. One day was so bad I nearly packed things up in readiness to evacuate but held off and all was fine by the next day. A need to watch and act was still there though. By mid-February the fires had settled and mostly out or under control so checking the emergency app was just a couple of times a day to finally once. I like to check it still because it keeps me on top of things. The Carboor fire is still actually burning but contained and under control.

I have had a couple of visitors as well, Col from Wodonga, near Albury came down to say hi and Bob from Shepparton, North Central VIC also came across. It was good to see both of them again. They are both Grey Nomad friends. I caught up with Bob again a couple of weeks later at his place and Debbie was there as well.  

While on visits, I had to go see my GP in Kyabram, North Central VIC and not all that far from GreenS Lake so decided to head to GreenS to see who if any one I know was there. Hiding behind some trees lakeside was Richard and next to him was Faye and little Abbie (her dog). They were the only GN's there, in fact, there were only six people camped there altogether. It was two days after the Australia Day weekend and usually does quieten down after one of the busiest times at GreenS, but not that quiet. Maybe something to do with the water level being right down? I was going to ring and visit friends in Echuca as well but by then the pain I get had started to set in and I still had a two hour drive to get back to the Aluminium Tent in Kelly Country, so headed back, arriving in a little pain, so I still have a way to go yet.

Speaking of pain etc and as I write this update, late February it has started to settle pretty good and I am able to get out and about a lot more. I have been across to Echuca and visited Ken and Lyn and it was good to spend some time chatting to them as I hadn't seen them for a couple of years. I also went to Wodonga and caught up with Col again, we were going to have lunch at the Commercial Club in Albury, I havent been there for years but we chatted for so long, had actually forgot to go. Next time!

I was going down to visit my youngest daughter and the boys, small and big ones but that day had car problems and by the time it was sorted didnt make it down due to afternoon appointments for my Daughter. In a way I was lucky as it happened while still at the aluminium tent. It was nothing serious, well, sort off anyway. Turned out to be a battery problem so instead of going down to visit family I went for an 80km drive and return so 160km drive to give the battery a good charge. The next day I spent some time ringing around and ended up getting a new battery fitted. That way I hopefully wont get stranded somewhere. Oh well! The joys of motoring. So, they say anyway.

I did get to visit south of Melbourne on the last day of Feb so all good. I got to see both grandsons and that was great but the big boy (Dad) was in Tassie on business. A great morning had and only one stop each way due to pain so at least thats good. Its a four-hour trip each way. It was the first time for a few visits I didn't stay overnight somewhere. I was just a bit stingy and didnt want to pay for accommodation, Yeh I know, I can't take it with me. Not only that reason but as well even I wanted to see how I went with the pain as I would still like to go to Townsville this year. I was tempted to do a house sit but its cold down here in winter, oooh! poor little me, I hear you say. 

You might remember in the Claytons Update #1 I mentioned the Collie getting hot while towing well that is booked in to get looked at 9^th March so hopefully that will also get sorted.

Early February I took myself off on a drive to Beechworth, near Bright, north east VIC. I wanted to visit the craft brewery there, Bridge Road Brewery. I like craft beers. I found this place really nice with a few nice beers indeed so chose one and ordered a nice sounding roast duck pizza. The pizza in the place had come highly recommended. The recommendation was spot on as was my choice of beer. It would have to be the best pizza I have ever had and enjoyed that then washed down with a lovely craft beer. I'm glad I only had the one small beer because as I left Beechworth and just on the edge of the town the police had set up for breath testing and drug testing. Phew! They chose to give me a breath test only and I was happily sent on my way. Arriving back at the aluminium tent one happy and full camper, of food that is. No dinner that night and I tell you that for free.

I also went and had a look at the Winton Raceway, about a 15-minute drive south of my place of temporary residents. What a disappointment that was. It looks so much different on the telavish. It was out in the bush and actually looked run down for some reason, not what I was expecting at all. Oh well! The only thing good about the drive was I called into the south bound rest stop at Mokoan near Winton and between Glenrowan and Benalla to check out some street art on the walls of the amenities, nice too and themed to do with the Raceway. I also saw the area where the Glenrowan Solar Farm is being built. I'm attracted to Solar Farms for some reason. I also went into Benalla and took a stroll along the walk way at Lake Benalla and came across a lovely peaceful structure that you can sit on and kids can play on. The only thing was, I couldnt find any information about it anywhere. Oh well!  

Late 2019 a guest at the CVP did street art and painted a lovely mural on the end wall of the main amenity block. What off I here you ask? Ned Kelly of course. Very nice indeedy.

Weather! Yep, we got plenty, so time for the weather report.

I've given up on the big map behind me and the clicker thingy in my hand. Looks like they got lost on the mail.

January saw, or should that be felt? Mmmm. Anyway, we got more hot temps and I mean hot, like mid 40s to high 40s on many occasions and even a couple of 50s just to keep us on our toes, with high 30s being a regular reading. They were accompanied by varied strength winds and from different directions. We even got a little rain, nothing to get too excited about but two days a light rain fell on and off. Better than nothing I spose. The fires were still burning and smoke still hanging around but not as bad thank goodness. The fire we had been keeping an eye on were still burning as well. February arrived and finally saw lower temps, low to mid 30s was the order of the day most days with no rain, although they did go around us and varied wind speeds and directions.

Overall, January was hot and worrying and February very nice and not as worrying indeedy.  

Well, thats just about it for the first two months of 2020 so it brings this update thats not really an update but is sort of an update, to a close, so until next we chat,

Keep Safe on the roads and out there everyone.  

DOUG