Echuca September 2014

Thursday 25 September 2014
Our first camping adventure since our Noosa holiday. Cate had to work today, finishing at 1 pm, Aisha was at Amanda's for the morning, Zaron was at home and Ethan and I left at 12:50 picked Aisha up then Cate and we began the drive to Echuca from Warragul at around 1:30
I was very excited to be heading here, we are staying at Merool Caravan Park, a park I used to come to when I was a teenager, in fact it spent many weekend and holidays here for the duration of my teenage years.

We had a brief stop at Heathcote, ran around in a park and a toilet stop for the kids, about half an hour then completed the journey, arriving at 5:30.
Going into reception I met one of the ladies, April, running the park with her husband, a son of the original owners. As it turns out April is originally from Traf, a Blaser, again meeting someone from near home on a holiday.

We are staying in a unpowered site for the first time. The unpowered sites are right near the entrance to the park, they are underfined and we can set up wherever we please, I chose right next to a fire place.

Cate and the kids had a little explore while I began setting the camper up. The DreamPot is a definite asset as I had cooked dinner before we left home and the corned beef was ready whenever we felt like it.

After dinner Cate took the kids on a a possum viewing night with several others staying here. While they were away I finished the set up then it was bed time for Cate and the kids.
I decided to have a walk through park and have a look around. I must say I am a little disappointed, I remember this park being very social and at 9:30 it seems like a ghost town, very few people here and after walking around for 45 minutes or so I didn't here a voice anywhere, then again it is only Thursday.

I set a little fire and I sit here now in the warmth of the glow and look forward to having a look around in the day light.

Friday 26th September 2014

Woke to a beautiful Echuca morning. Cate and the kids were up early and after the morning routine we went to see dad and Krissy at the new house in Patho, about 30 minutes from Echuca.

We found their house easily and spent a great day with them. We went for a walk and fed a calf and sheep after lunch. The walk was nice great weather and paddocks and creeks surrounded us. after the walk dad took Cate, Ethan and Aisha for a ride on his 4 wheel motorbike. The kids really enjoyed the wind in their hair.

We went back to Merool via the Torrumbarry a place I have been to before but never really had a look around. It was quite interesting and Ethan and Aisha seemed to enjoy the water flowing through the weir.

From there we went to the site via a bakery and the kids had a choice of a treat while Cate and I had a coffee and hot chocolate.

We got back to Merool around 4:30, I took Ethan and Aisha for a ride on the bikes to have a look around and Cate went for a walk. I remember the "beach" being a wide sandy beach and I was very disappointed when we got there. It is very small and mainly sandy clay, although we didn't actually walk on it, I could tell by the foot prints left by others.

After our ride the kids had a swim in the pool with Cate while I cooked dinner, a BBQ. It was a little cold but they had a ball.

After dinner, we put the kids to bed, Cate went to sleep as well and I lit the fire.

Now I sit here in delight as the fire rages and I look forward to waking in the camper and taking the kids on a paddle steamer tomorrow. I'm in heaven!!

Saturday 27th September
I don't know how many times I have typed, "another day in paradise" but today was another!

We woke to a perfect Echuca morning, a cloudless sky with no wind to speak of at all and very mild temperature. We potted around in the morning, had breakfast we were really in no rush at all. We planned to take the kids on the paddle steamers at some point, no real plans. We left Merool around 10:30 and headed to the port.


Getting a park right near the port we brilliant and we went straight to purchase tickets for the the Pevency. From the wharf we went down stream to Merool then turned around. Memories of skiing the straight from Merool towards Echuca were flowing as we meandered down then up stream.
The kids were bewildered by the experience. Being able to see the steam engine working nearly close enough to touch it had them watching for quite some time.

All Aisha wanted to do was walk independently up and down the stairs showing either mum or dad something the either level. Ethan was similar and the time on the boat seemed to fly.

After the boat trip we went and hat a hot chocolate, latte, banana milkshake and a babychino at a caffe, again a picture perfect day really chilling out in the shade of a tree was perfect.

Over the road from the the caffe was a place where olden day style photos could be taken so Ethan and Aisha dressed up and were photographed. The pictures were amazing.

We then rode on an old style horse drawn coach. The expression on the kids faces was terrific as we went from walk to trot. Although it was a short trip I'm sure they will remember that for quite some time.

Seeing and experiencing the old wharf and everything we did there paled into insignificance to what would happen later in the day. We got back to Merool, the kids had a swim, which they thoroughly enjoyed, I cooked a BBQ we ate and while Cate and the kids ate I set a fire.

For the hour before the kids went to bed we sat around the fire, had a great chat and just chilled. I must say I was in heaven, Ethan and Aisha were telling jokes and asking questions about the fire and we spoke about our favourite parts of the day. I was truly in heaven. They enjoyed the fire as did Cate and I.

Cate put the kids to bed just after7 while I washed the dishes then Cate and I sat around the fire. What a great time we chatted and enjoyed the ambience of a perfect fire on a perfect night while enjoying a moscato and a frothy. The best night since we bought the camper I think.

Sunday 28th September

Woke to another picture perfect day. A slight breeze and perfect skies greeted us as we began to pack. Cate and the kids spent a couple of hours in the morning at the Moama market while I stayed at the camper and began packing. From all reports they had a great time looking around the market and even managed some time on a jumping castle. There was a band playing and true to form Ethan and Aisha were dancing, the only people doing so, they certainly love dancing and singing!

We completed the pack up and hit the road at around 11:45. We were in no great hurry so decided to stop at Heathcote again on the way home for a run around and a bite for lunch, stopping for about 45 minutes.

I decided to go home via the Lancefield-Romsey road which turned out to be a great decision. In Romsey the local Lions club were having a family day and we caught the end of it. There was another jumping castle, well more like a giant inflatable slide for the kids to climb and slide down. There was also a little train for the kids to ride on. We were really lucky to stumble across the festivities.
We got home at 5:10 to complete an excellent extended weekend away. More terrific memories.