Howdy!

Yep, it's that time again to sit back and read away because this is my Bi Monthly Update #6, covering January and February 2021.

January started the day after December finished Yep, sure did. New Years Eve and here in the park Nth East VIC near Wangaratta there wasn't much if any noise around after heavy rain set in around 8.30pm and continuing until early hours next day. It must have dampened the spirits a little, I think and I don't mean the spirits in a bottle.

The next morning arrived with CV19 raring its ugly self again in Melbourne along with Greater Sydney even worse so very quick changes to rules started to come into effect within hours of announcing. As of 5.00pm 31/12/20 masks were now compulsory when indoors away from home again and as of midnight 1/1/21 the NSW/VIC border closed to all of NSW. Here I was along with many others hoping 2021 would be better. Not a good start!

Moving right along.

The 7^th January arrived, woke up and decided this was it, I was going on one of Doug's Big Day Outs, so did the usual morning rituals and had breaky then tidied up. It was time, in fact 8.00am so time to head off in a Westerly direction with my sights set on a little town I had heard about with a newly painted Silo, where was it even, I hear you ask, well, Picola, a little east of Barmah, Northern VIC. After a 1½ drive on back roads I arrived at this tiny town of nothing but a painted Silo really. A very nice painted silo it was too. After taking a few pics for future reference I decided to head further West and slightly south to Tongala, a lovely little town I have visited before when staying at GreenS lake, Nth Central VIC checking out a great Memorial for soldiers lost in the Vietnam War not all that many moons back really when you think about it, how time gets away from you. That day I found my cousins name on the wall of remembrance, that was very emotional that day and I tell you that for free.

This visit was to check out the street art all around the town. I was reading and taking pics of the art around the RSL and this bloke came over and handed me a brochure and explained it will tell me about the art and locations around town. He also said to call into the shop opposite the RSL and he will have a chat. I did just that and he asked me my name then set about drawing a sketch. He handed it to me and said enjoy my time there and the sketch. I said I would go get a donation from the car and bring back, no, he was a volunteer and there was no charge. A very nice sketch too and all in two minutes. A very talented person indeed. See the below pic of the sketch. So, if you find yourself in the area or nearby why not pay a visit to Tongala, a lovely little country town with a lovely bakery and who can resist those? Not me.

It was time to make a move so thought I might go see who if anyone was at GreenS Lake but pain was starting to creep in and I still had to call into my GPs surgery at Kyabram, also Nth Central VIC and pick-up scrips and referral for blood tests that was discussed on a phone consult two days earlier.

That all done and dusted, had some lunch while sitting in my car then headed back to base camp in Nth East VIC. Arriving around 3.00pm and a lovely day had out and while still keeping away from the masses.

I am not sure what is happening here at base camp as a few families enjoyed a few days here over Xmas and the start to the new year but left and was quiet for over a week with just mainly the solar farm workers that had returned to start back there 4^th January. Most cabins are occupied by them and about 9 campers around a treed area and a few in on-site vans that were placed on sites not used much. At least they are bringing a reasonable income for the owners that had to cope with fires nearby early 2020 then CV19 since. The money they get from me would be like pocket money I spose. Still, its something. The middle of the month arrived and things are still very quiet on powered sites just the odd one or two staying a night and leaving the next morning. It has to be something to do with the VIC/NSW Border restrictions for sure. People are just not prepared to risk going into NSW and have that chance of being stuck there. Must be!

Away from that and we had a variety of weather for the month starting early in January. We got Thunder Storms and a couple of times for that matter. Nothing damaged around my aluminium tent or the park and a few tree branches down around the area and on side or roads. A couple of flood warnings but didn't eventuate. Temps varied a lot with 8c to 20c over night and 25c to 38c during the days. A couple of nights were a little uncomfortable but I survived to see the next day. Wind varied from just a breeze to very strong. Again, I survived. So, all in all not a bad month weather-wise. In fact, pretty typical for the Northern parts of VIC. For this time of year. It didn't stop there though and the end of January saw more rain come down from the skies and boy did the rain gods let us have it yet again. Extremely heavy rain for 24 hours and severe weather warnings being sent to my mobile phone. Those backpacker workers I mentioned earlier under the trees got flooded out and were forced to scatter to higher ground.

Later in the month, in fact the Friday before the so-called Australia Day long weekend, I had to venture back to the GP in Kyabram to pick up a copy of blood results and a referral for my Cardiologist due to the postal service being unreliable still. That done, I decided to head to GreenS Lake to see who was there but after driving around didn't notice anyone I know so headed back to base camp as pain was setting in.

One thing I did notice was not as many people as usual with still plenty of room but that could have changed, even that night. I also noticed the bollards that had been placed around the lake. I was led to believe they were all around the lake but I only noticed approximately 150mts each side of the launching ramp only and down both side of the ramp. The idea was to stop people camping in that area and getting on the sand to camp. Nope, didn't stop em at all, still people camping on sand and in front of the bollards. Another thing I noticed was that the water level wasn't out as far as I thought but was out further than I had ever seen, the tide was really out.

GreenS Lake has really changed from eight years ago when I first stayed there and I tell you that for free.   

Moving right along and February arrived and a week into the month saw heaps of rain yet again, the weather gods are really giving it to us there for a few weeks. Those backpackers camping under the trees at the bottom of the park were all forced to scatter once again, water everywhere, and doesn't take long for that to happen. The water drains away just as quick though once the rain stops and stop it did but the next day.

While on the weather I will get that out the way. We had overnight temps 11c to 23c and day time temps 25c to 35c with varied wind speeds and directions all month. Rain on a few different days but the last 10 days of Feb nice and sunny with no rain in sight. So not a bad month really. The end of February saw the rains settling, for a while anyway.

Those that follow my Updates might remember I am having a problem with the Collie running warmer than before work was done on it. Well, I put the Collie in to a reputable place in Wangaratta to get them to see if they could find the problem and service the beast while there. I got a call from the head honcho man saying they couldn't find anything out of the ordinary and the radiator tested OK. We chatted and agreed maybe change the Thermostat so he went off to find and price one. He also asked if they could take for a good drive around some local hills etc so I agreed to that. I got another call about 2 hours later saying he is holding off on the Thermostat as the fan wasn't kicking in enough or staying on for long in his opinion. After another chat I agreed to replace the Fan Clutch. That was ordered and I got car park until the Fan Clutch arrived.

I got a call about 3.00pm a few days later asking to bring Collie in and they will fit new Fan Clutch. That done and dusted I headed off. I took the long way back to base camp and noticed the temp gauge was still showing the same as before while not towing. I wont know about towing until I leave for a house sit in NSW as the aluminium tent was going with me, mainly for the trial run to see if things have been fixed. I could have left the tent behind up the back of park otherwise. I will report on the outcome next time.

Victoria was in Covid lockdown yet again in mid-February for a week then the padlock was opened a little with masks still to be seen indoors and outdoors and other rules. Friday 26^th saw a few more relaxing of the rules and masks, masks still have to on in big shopping centers etc.

I have had a little scare with my health as a test done came back with a positive result and further investigations have to take place so plans have been put in place for that and I had to change my travel plans yet again. No drama as I have decided to stay put in this great place N E VIC and not go to Townsville this year again. The house sit will take place mid-March in NSW for a couple of weeks then back to VIC. I just hope Covid doesn't change those plans. Time will tell.

Visitors, yep even had a couple during February and after the lock down was finished. A good friend was out and about visiting family with his van in tow just down the road so called in for a couple of nights to say hi. A good chat both nights while safe distancing was had and it was good to see Roger again. He has called in a few times now. Thankyou Roger and as usual great to catch up.

A few days later my Daughter from down south of Melbourne with the three boys, one big and two smaller, tagging along and stayed in a cabin for the last weekend of February. It was great to see them all again and the grandsons showed me their skills at the Bike/BMX track in Wangaratta. Future BMX champions I reckon. The two Grandsons love being outdoors and the rougher and wilder the better. They have a Ninja Gym thingy set up in the backyard at home and are both like monkeys climbing all over it. Max, who is 5, likes to try to set personal bests and has achieved it too. A great time spent with family again so thankyou to them for visiting. I will have to visit them next time though. That will have to wait until I return from NSW.

Now, those that follow my updates will remember there are two massive Solar Farms being built near by and one is up and running already with the second one getting very close to up and running, so I headed there and got an update on pics but as usual it is very difficult to get the camera to give a true vision of actually how big these farms are. I have included a couple of pics including an aerial shot that is not mine but was given and a big thanks to that person. That shot is from a couple of months ago and is of one section of one farm, there is another bigger section not in the pic. I found out just yesterday, 28^th February that a slight hold up on the second solar farm has moved the finish date to mid-April at this stage. I also found out that the first farm is called the South Glenrowan Solar farm and the second farm is called the Winton Solar Farm. Also, and as well even there is to be yet another one built and will be called the Glenrowan Solar Farm but that is a little down the track.

So, with all that said it brings this update to an end so until next time, be safe out there everyone.

Some pics below as usual.

DOUG