Moruya Holiday - day 21-23

Bright was not bright at all today, but we drove around and took the umbrella and walked up and down the street until we got too wet and went back to the van for some RnR.  I won't bore you with my afternoon trying to run my new Norton antivirus which I purchased with this new laptop, but I gave up after a long conversation with somebody who I could not understand and who hoped I was knowledgeable with the various programmes she tried to get me to run without any success and eventually I told her that she was wasting my time and hers. 😈😈

Day 22

We left Porepunkah Bridge caravan park and decided to head towards Horsham as the weather report was better if we go that way.  We stopped at Glenrowan for a quick look as we have been there before, but were disappointed that the Blacksmith's was up for sale and nobody there as we had a good chat to him on our last visit.  We stopped in Bendigo for fuel and then onto Newbridge where there was a lovely camping area along the Loddon River.  We stopped at the General Store to enquire about paying and they told us that someone would come around later and to just camp where we liked so we found a nice flat spot and sure enough the Caretaker arrived to collect the $15 pn fee, pretty good price for a lovely clean area.

Newbridge Camping area by the Loddon River

Day 23 - Tuesday

We left the Loddon River and stopped at Rupunyup, a small town but with Silo Art so took a photo then on to Horsham for fuel and some shopping at Aldi for some Easter supplies ready for our family and friends at Moana caravan park.  We kept driving until we got to Keith and booked in at the caravan park for 2 nights so I can get the laundry done and organise the van before we meet in Moana.  We are looking forward to our Easter break. 
This will be my last post on the blog as I think Easter will be busy enough without the blogging.
I hope you have a lovely Easter with family and friends and we will catch up soon.

Moruya Holiday - Day 19-20

Day 19

We had a late start leaving from the lovely camping area on the Snowy River just out of Orbost.  It was so beautiful it would have been nice to stay longer, but then we would have been bored just sitting around watching the fish jumping out of the river!  Unfortunately I didn't get any photos as the fish were far too fast for me.

After leaving Orbost we drove on the Great Alpine Road through the small towns of Nowa Nowa, & Bruthen where we stopped to have a quick look around at the Retro shop there which had a lot of interesting bits and pieces but nothing we really needed to buy, just like looking.

Along the Great Alpine Road was this lovely old wooden bridge, not in use anymore but the cattle used it for shelter

Along the Great Alpine Road we came across a number of Cobras obviously doing a "run", and what a great day for it.

We weren't able to stop along the road in many places but there was a photo opportunity at Connors Lookout.  We stopped for lunch near the Little River Inn near another small town of Ensay.  We arrived in Omeo and decided to drive out along the Omeo Valley as we knew of a lovely camping area when we were there with our friends a few years ago.  It was further out than we remembered but we eventually found it and 2 other vans were already there, but plenty of room for us all.

Hinnomunjie Bridge over the Mitta Mitta River

Enjoying a drink by the Mitta Mitta River

A few birds around in the trees

Someone had built these rock towers opposite our van

Another lovely sunset

Camping site along the Mitta Mitta (ours in the middle)

Thought the rainbow might mean rain but we didn't get any

Day 20 - We left the Hinnomunjie Bridge  camping area and headed back to Omeo for fuel.  The weather was cool and we headed towards Mt Hotham, hoping that it will be fine on the mountain as our trip up last time was so foggy we couldn't see anything.  As we got higher up the Alpine Way the weather deteriorated and actually was worse than last time.  It was so foggy that we could only see a few metres in front of us and Ron had to drive using only the yellow lines to guide where the edge of the road was.  At most times we were only doing 20 km/hr, and some cars had parked on the side of the road and we would have stopped but were afraid that someone would run into us as we couldn't see the parked cars until we were almost on them and with the van on it definitely was too dangerous.  The only photos I took show how thick the fog was and most of the time I was trying to help Ron see the edge of the road while he was keeping his eyes on the centre line.  We sure were happy to get down below the fog line to Harrietville and then onto Bright.

Visibility ? awful

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View from the van door

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Bright in the rain

 Lovely autumn colours but dull in the rain

Good sign!

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Our site at the Porepunkah Bridge caravan park

We finally got to Bright and went to the Info Centre for caravan parks and decided that $60 pn was too much so went the few kms to Porepunkah and got this lovely site by the Ovens River at half the price.  I did the laundry while Ron set up the van but before it was all done the rain started and didn't let up for 2 days!  Overnight we had lightning and thunder off and on most of the night, have not remembered so much rain and thunder for a long time and it seems worse and louder in the van.

Moruya Holiday - Day 17 -18

Day 17

Our last day in Moruya so we headed off to the Moruya Quarry where the granite was used for the Sydney Harbour Bridge.  It was a bit damp when we arrived so we only did a short walk to see the granite and the picnic area.


Note:  I am sorry but I can't get the photos in the right order and have wasted a lot of time trying to get them right so will leave it as it is and hopefully you can sort it out!!

We then drove on to Mossy point to take some photos of the surf.  I always love watching the waves crashing and could have stayed longer but it was time for lunch so we headed back.

Mossy Point

Mossy Point

Mossy Point 

Mossy Point

Mossy Point

Sunset on the Snowy River at Orbost

Camp spot on the Snowy River

Sunset on the Snowy River at Orbost

Moruya River near the Granite Quarry

Day 18 

We woke up to a very wet and chilly morning so were happy to be in the car.  We travelled south on the Princes Highway

and through Narooma, Central Tilba, Dignams Creek, Cobargo and Bega.  We have seen these towns on our previous trip so didn't stop and it was still drizzling so not good for walking around.  After Bega the weather got worse so we only stopped at Pambula Beach for a quick morning tea then on to Eden where we stopped for fuel.  We stopped at Genoa rest area for lunch in the van having crossed the NSW/Vic border.  We arrived in Orbost and got fuel and then went into the Info and were told there was a lovely camping area along the Snowy River just out of the town so we headed off and discovered most of the lovely grassy areas were already occupied by 2 or more vans but we continued on and found one with only one van (and no tow vehicle)  so we pulled in and soon after the couple arrived back to their van and we introduced ourselves.  They were full time caravanners, sold up everything, and had been on the road for 2 1/2 years, but in between they travelled overseas, usually backpacking.  They had retired at age 50 and had been school teachers.  It is always interesting to hear about other caravanners, all have a different story.

Moruya Holiday - Day 14-16

Day 14 - Sunday 18.3.18

We had another warm night but both slept well.  

Another morning of housework -  washing done by 9.30 am so rest of the day was spent relaxing!  It's all getting far too hard to cope with.

Morning photo

We put the awning out and the side shade as it was becoming very warm so we sat outside for breakfast watching the vans leaving and some arriving.  The large van next to us left so we now have nice views of the river at least until someone else comes in.  The weather quickly deteriorated until we decided to roll up  the awnings and brought the washing in.  The wind was gusting around so much that the van was rocking and the news report was winds up to 90 km/hr.

Mountains have almost disappeared

A smoky, windy day

   We  headed into town for a Pub meal at the Adelaide Hotel which we thought was popular with the locals so had to be a good one, and we weren't disappointed with our salt & pepper prawns.  When we got back to the van it was 39C inside so the new a/c did a good job and got the temp down within a short time.

By now the wind was really blowing hard and the dust in the air made it very unpleasant outside.  The weather report was that there were bushfires in the Tathra/Bega area and from our van we could hardly see the mountains so the dust was probably smoke.  We heard fire sirens most of the afternoon and later heard they were going to help out at the Tathra fires.  Tathra is about 100 km away so hopefully they will be under control soon but we don't feel as though we are in any danger.

Day 15

The wind has finally settled down, but the fires in Tathra have destroyed 70 buildings but no lives lost, but very sad for the community.

We have a problem with the Toyota battery and Ron thinks a couple of cells have dropped out so he has rung around a few places and Batemans Bay has the best price so we headed off to Auto Pro and we now have a new battery with a 40 month warranty.  The old battery was just over 3 years old.

We did a bit more grocery shopping in Aldi and got some bread at Bakers Delight.

  I had planned a picnic lunch so we headed for a spot near the bridge and enjoyed our picnic then drove around to a little beach opposite the town and walked on the beach, and a couple of people were swimming.  We had some time so drove to the little town of Nelligan,  a very small town on the Clyde River.

Clyde River, Nelligan

Ron at Nelligan

Day 16 

Another day, another view

These sculptures are around Moruya in the main street.  They were commissioned by the council and were done with a chisel and mallet.  I will try to get more information but unfortunately the plaques have disappeared from them.