Bit of a last minute decision, but we decided to do a one night away in the caravan and headed south to a massive lake on the edge of the Snowy Mountain (which are not yet snowy)
Lake Eucumbene boasts 170km of shore and some of Australia’s best fresh water fishing, so we were looking forward to seeing a new area somewhat off the beaten track. With just 2 or 3 easy hrs of driving to the campsite, we split the journey with a halfway stop for lunch in a cafe that serves crepes . The Cafe is located in the tiny town of Bredbo (68 Houses and a school of just 28 pupils & 2 teachers), we often pass the place in the evening after skiing and we are always disappointed that it closes at 5pm, so today we were delighted to actually find the place open. However, whilst the food was nice, service good and the kids very content, the price was a flame grilled shocker!! I mean, it was only 5 posh pancakes! I now realise that our previous bad timing was actually perfection and I shall continue to ensure that we never pass the place during daylight hours again.
After lunch we drove onto the campsite which, according to the website, was right at the waters edge with beautiful amenities / walks / fishing etc etc. Now, I always check the location of campsites on Google Maps first as the car/caravan combination have a turning circle similar to that of an Airbus 330, so it pays to plan ahead. However, on this occasion, the campsite was nowhere to be seen, meaning that it must indeed be brand spanking new one............how well timed is this trip I thought. So with TOMTOM navigating and SAL SAL as backup, we left the main highway and headed to pastures new, that’s about 45KM new, on single lane tracks but through beautify green lush countryside. Just as the TOMTOM gave up (no known road on Map), a sign indicated campsite ahead....BINGO! Another few clicks and we’d be at a sparkly new campsite.
Rounding the final corner on our journey I glanced the first sign of life – a cluster of old workman style caravans a bit like the ones you see deserted in farmers fields, having once been used as a “site Office” on a building site , each had that slight tinge of green moss around the windows and was parked impossibly close to the next one, ensuring that doors and maybe even windows could not be opened.....within yards, I had had to stop at a sign saying “all visitors are to report to reception”...........OMG! We had arrived.
A few of the local inhabitants looked up from their beers as I walked into the reception/shop/bait shop/garage and I don’t know why, but I suddenly considered that my decision to forgo locking wheel nuts on the car was somewhat short- sighted . I met the chap at reception who explained that they had almost nobody staying, but the site he had mentally allocated to us was still full so we would have to squeeze in elsewhere. The truth is, he only had one powered site and I now found myself accompanying this chap on a walk around these “ex-bovis homes” caravans to try and find a gap big enough for ours! Wanting to remain polite and positive, I finally agreed on a pitch, having turned down options 1 and 2 which were under low trees and would meant removed either the aircon unit or entire roof from the caravan. I returned to the car and after a 2 second consultation period with the boss, we planned our escape....using a casual “nothing to see here officer” expression, we proceeded further into the park to find an area suitable for a U turn (Wembley sized) and then calmly headed to the exit at a dashing pace of 12 MPH, peaking later at maybe 18 MPH when we were clear of the gates and TOMTOM was again happy we were back on tarmac.
The girls paddle off into the distance.........whilst Sal waits nervously on the shore.
So, we are now having an impromptu weekend in Jindabyne! One last ditty - the route to the new campsite was again new and deserted from cars, but the lack of traffic had a strange effect. There were bugs on this road that were obviously not accustom to noise and as we drove along at our “run away, run away” pace, these things would leap up and impact on the front of the car or window with a significant bang. Hearing the first one, I thought it was a bird that had hit the grill but it happened again and again.........it quickly became like a scene from Jurassic park with impact after impact. Eventually it died down and on reaching the new campsite we found crickets the size of your index finger in the grill............oh, we just love Australia and all it has to offer :-/
First try at the sport of kings!
