November 2022
Week 2
 

Left Melbourne.  Saying goodbye to Clinton who put us up in Cranbourne house after a catchup with our Melbourne friends (Mitchelle Jeffrey, Gavin and Peanut) the night before. We had a singalong and they shouted Indian food from a food truck.. 

​

We left Cranbourne at 12.45 and travelled to free camp site with toilets at Colac, overlooking lake, beautiful sunset before the rain hit. Met Christian guy Christopher who gave us his poetry & newspaper to read.

​

Woke at 6.30am headed off at 7.30am to Warrnambool went to Cheese Factory at Allansford with a museum. Then onto Warrnambool to Fletcher Jones which is now an antique market, 2 floors. Then went to beach very wet & windy, then to Tower Hill volcano amazing views & with emus, kangaroos, koala, & even a tortoise. Then went to find a spot to camp for the night. Went to Golf Club where one other caravan there, decided to check out Apex Club, one other tent top camper there, but it was too wet & muddy, didn’t want to risk getting bogged. Then found the hotel was for sale & empty in Hawkesdale so we parked there, Also found out we could use the toilets too!  

​

Woke at 6 am then went into Warrnambool & had shower at park in South Warrnambool.  We filled up tanks at Surfside Caravan Park, had coffee at Coles Express & headed to 12 Apostles. Amazing views and very popular with tourists. Dodged the rain but very windy. Then went to Bowling Club Pokies. Travelled on to Port Fairy which had lovely old buildings, as it was too cold & windy to walk  we then headed towards Portland stopping at windmills & weird statues along the way.. Arrived Portland Henly Park 48hr RV site next to tram ride & within walking distance to town centre and RSL. Decided to stay 2 nights here as picturesque spot. Walked into town, started to rain so went into pub & played $1 pokies & free hot choc lost our $1. Walked to RSL no Kraken machine but gold mine & Sara was winning by $2 Rod not so much. Walked back to van & had Coles minestrone soup in instant pot with Turkish bread.

Next morning woke at 6.30 Rod still asleep till 10.30am had coffee & muesli bar then headed into town as sunny & not raining. Walked along Portland Foreshore to Nun’s Beach, then went into Tourist Bureau & got quarantine brochure. Saw beautiful stone wall with plaques for people who died at sea. Beautiful old church too with high steeple. Went to pokies had free latte & played Kraken. Went to IGA so Rod could buy chicken for fishing in SA. Walked back to the van & drove to Portland fish & chips, had good reviews. Owner even brought them out to the van! Went back to camp site to eat & then walked to bowling club to play pokies for awhile, it was busy! Walked back to van & had an early night.

 Woke early, had shower., refilled water just next to camp site. Had a coffee & went for a walk to botanical gardens. Got petrol & travelled towards Nelson. On way there saw a big live fox near the pine forest, couldn’t take photo. Stopped at Nelson on the river for toilet & rang both our folks then travelled to another picturesque spot where we met Annabelle a whiz banger & her 2 whippets 14yr old & 10 yr old. Travelled to. Brown Bay, where you can stay free fir 24hrs. Rod tried to fish on the beach but didn’t catch anything. Travelled to 708 Eight Mile Creek running river & beach with swans then into Pt MacDonell took photo of 3 penguin statues. Went to Capt Kirk Lookout, beautiful scenery. 2 other vans there for the night. Watched the sunset & had salmon & salad for tea & watched The Crown then fell asleep. 

​

Woke at 6.30am had coffee & Rod made porridge. Beautiful sunny blue sky! Drove to Mt Gambier to see Blue Lake which was amazing! Then Umpherstone sink hole & Cave Garden then went to Coles for a shop & also bought shot glasses from Smoke Mart $10 for 4 Christmas ones! Went back to van & had salad & cous cous Then saw RSL paid Kraken & had free coffee. Didn’t win. Then went to Mac’s Hotel & played Kraken & won $4 & they were giving out free ham & cheese toasties, which. Rod enjoyed. Played for awhile & then realised it was free to join & got 500 points each $5 & free latte. Machine was winning too!

Travelled to Tantanoola free camp site opp pub which had a stuffed tiger in the pub & lion on top of the pub. Another caravan there from VIC. Went into pub & played pokies (there were only 5) just us playing! Won quite good & only put a $1 in! Nice clean toilets & looked renovated. Came back to van, started to rain. Had Baileys in shot glasses, snack for tea, listened to Josh stream & watched Dead to Me on Netflix. Went to sleep at 10.30pm. Had a restless night sleep. 

​

Rod woke at 3 am & I was awake on & off. Got up at 6am I had shower, coffee & Rod emptied portaloo. Travelled to Millicent & Rod filled up water tanks. I took photos of murals accidentally banged door on pole @ bee mural! & then we went to Woolworths bought crumpets & honey & green tea. Drove to Beachport & had crumpet & honey overlooking the jetty & ocean. Drove to Kingston SE RV Camp site $15 for 3 nights.. parked near path & toilets. Went for a walk along the pier, very windy! Walked up the town 2 streets, went & played $1 pokies at Royal Mail Hotel won $3. Had a sleep as up so early. Rod went to Foodland & bought bread & ham & a honey bee slice from bakery for me. Rod talked to Chilean man Gonzalo for awhile them started to rain. Had salad for tea & watched Dead to Me & then fell asleep.

​

​