G'day! I'mmmm baaack Or should I say Still here

Welcome to this, my Bi Monthly Update #4, covering September and October 2020.

Grab a drink of some sort, depending on the time of day as to what that is and read away.

Well, September started off still with CV19 restrictions all through VIC with Greater Melbourne still locked down tight with a dirty great big padlock BUT talk is about of how things will change and sooner the better me thinks. I feel really bad for all the businesses that have closed, many, never to open again and those people that have lost their jobs due to CV19. Rural VIC was still in level 3 restrictions. The NSW/VIC border finally opened up their so-called bubble to a 50km radius so that essential permit holders could cross back and forth without isolating etc but no going out of the bubble. Me, I was and still in Nth East VIC with no complaints really and just doing my little bit by staying at base camp as much as possible and wearing a mask when out and about.

The middle of September came upon us quicker than quick and Rural VIC had heaps of rule changes, we were allowed to travel around other areas of Rural VIC without distance restrictions, yeh! Another big thing that happened later that same week was NSW extended their border bubble to roughly a 100km radius of the border. If you were a resident in that bubble you could travel within that bubble without a real reason like before but still need to apply for a resident permit to go across the border into NSW from VIC. A big change and will help business pick up hopefully. Unfortunately, still no talk of changes in Greater Melbourne. I decided to take advantage of the extended border bubble that now included my location and at the last minute applied for a resident permit and headed to Albury just cos I could I spose. I also wanted to have the experience of going through and seeing what is done at a border check point. It took 20 mins form the time I arrived at the cue until being checked by a lovely and friendly police lady. She scanned my permit bar code and checked my licence, all good so headed off. I got a couple of things I couldn't get locally then came back to base camp. At least I can say I had that experience.  

Enough of CV19 talk. For now, anyway.

On one of my drives to Benalla to do shopping I decided to go the back road and take a peek at the new Solar Farms being constructed at Winton, about halfway between Glenrowan and Benalla. WOW! How big is this place, BIG is what, massive even: There are actually two farms and about 3km between each, both massive. They are still in the early stages of construction so will keep and eye on it as it progresses. For those interested they are just a few km north of the Winton race track on the Glenrowan road. I am attracted to Solar Farms for some reason. Maybe it is something to do with having solar panels on the roof of the aluminium tent and running a few things from the batteries that store that power and how great it is. The best thing about the farm is, well at least for the owners of the park I'm in, there are Spanish back packers staying in cabins and they keep coming, with them now occupying 5 out of 9 cabins and 3 now on-site caravans. The owners put 3 older vans on sites that had to be reversed on to as most people staying here didn't like them. The only sites left are drive though with a few very easy to reverse onto sites. Some of the drive through sites you actually need to disconnect the car though once you have driven into the site. Oh well. You cant have everything all the time. I'm actually on one of those sites.

Solar Farm update, Word is, it will not be finished until around March 2021 at this stage.

The last week of September saw a few travelers starting to move around the area and each night a few happy campers set up in the park. I had a neighbor each night one site away but a different one each night. You see, they arrived late afternoon and set up then next morning left and that happened each day. I am continually amazed as to how people arrive, set everything up, things like their awning comes out as do the table and chairs and in some cases privacy screens or even in one case a full annex. Each night were people around my age and just the two of them, no kids etc. Next morning, yep, you guessed, everything gets packed up and off they go. Me, if I'm on the move and only staying one night even sometimes two I just leave car hooked up get aluminium tent as level as can be then all ready to leave next morning without any effort or noise, well, apart from starting car that is. Yep, I'm amazed. Oh well, we are all different and do things our own way.

I might do a weather report at this point so, September saw heaps of rain with quite a few days with wind as well, some strong, luckily, we did get some sunny days thrown in for good measure. Temps ranged from -2c to 4c over night and 11c to 17c during the day. As most times, no complaints from me as I manage to keep warm and when I do out to the shops for food enjoy the sun when out coming through the car window. It wont be all that long and I will be looking for the shade of a tree.

October weather started off with heaps of rain for a couple of days then 3 days of high 20s, a 4^th day would have been declared a heatwave I'm sure but not to be as temps dropped to high teens with more rain, well heaps of rain really. Still, I'm not complaining as the rain keeps the dust down and rinses things down. October saw temps range from 4c-10c overnight and 18c-28c during the days.  

Did I say it rained? Well it did and heavy at times, so much so, the area ended up on flood alert. It didn't stop at that either as it came back only a week later and all the warnings back on the table. Crikey! What else can happen in 2020? Bring on 2021. The rain kept coming with a day here and a day there no rain.

Speaking of October, it started as September finished with happy campers coming and going with a few even in camper trailers on unpowered sites and a couple even in tents. Only a few so still pretty quiet around here but a few. It didn't last long at all though as things slowed down again as rural schools headed back to the class room. Each night varies as one night there could be a few happy campers around and the next I was on my own again.

The month continued along with daylight saving starting on the 4^th and me still staying put to see how things actually pan out with this CV19 virus that has caused havoc during 2020.

Now hold on a minute, didn't I say enough of CV19? OH well, sorry, too late.

Things down in Greater Melbourne didn't go too good over the first weekend bringing nice weather but a lot of rule breakers heading to the beach. Unfortunately, this CV19 thing could go belly up again at any moment. Bring on 2021 I reckon and forget 2020 even happened. The pages of the history book will certainly be filled with unpleasant happenings and I tell you that for free.

OK, that's enough of CV19.

The month kept moving along and I finally got to go to Beechworth and visit the Bridge Road Brewery and get one of their magnificent Roast Duck Pizzas and a six pack of their Craft Pale Ale. I took all that back to the aluminium tent and enjoyed the pizza heated up with a lovely craft beer. Niiiice! I went mid week and it was quiet in the Brewery. The CV19 setting was well sorted and felt safe while there. Mmmm, that was close, I nearly got started on that subject again.

WOW! 2 outings in 2 months, I will have to slow down me thinks.

The last week of October came upon us quicker than quick and the AFL and NRL weekend arrived just as quick. In VIC for the last few years there has been a Grand Final public holiday on the Friday before the game and even though the game was not in VIC this year due to CV19 the public holiday still went ahead, making a long weekend. A couple of caravans arrived Thursday night and a few on the Friday, leaving the park with only a couple of vacant power sites and some unpowered camping areas. It was the busiest since March this year. All VIC rego plates and I'm sure were all checked as to where they came from. The owners of the park must have slept well that weekend as the bank manager wouldn't have been banging down the doors.

The Sunday arrived and it was time for the NRL Grand Final in Sydney.

Winners are grinners so they say and the AFL Richmond Tigers were grinning as were the NRL Melbourne Storm.

Mmmm, did I say enough of CV19 stuff above already? Soooorry but Melbourne allowed all retail and Hospitality to open up with limited numbers allowed in and more changes on the 9/11 but more on that maybe next time.    

The following weekend and last for October saw a unofficial long weekend as the Tuesday was Melbourne Cup holiday and many people take the Monday off as well, making a four-day long weekend. More on that also maybe next time.

Yippeee! I just realised it will be 2021 when next we speak.

That brings this update to a close so until next time Take care out there.

 Some pics I have put together are below.