Clarke's Lagoon Reserve near Walwa NSW

Also known as Clarke's Nature reserve, this lovely little area is approx 20k's southeast of Walwa. Saw it first on Wikicamps and a few weeks ago had a Sunday drive out to it and several other campsites around the same area. A photo of it below:

(ps click on a photo to get them all full screen for seperate viewing)

A photo from the reserve looking south along the Murray River ( looks more like a creek)

Well, decided to take Jemma and myself out there for the night. It has great camping areas beside the river with plenty of grass, so no dirt. you have to be self sufficient in everything, but as you know thats why I got the Kedron Van.

Just a nice area, here are some photos of where I was camped:

 View from the van over the Murray

 The expensive new awning in use

So as I was there just for the rest , I didn't go fishing , and the only fish I saw caught were Carp.
Got the choofer out for its first run and it worked great, cooked the evening meal on it.

 Neils choofer Mark 1

IT Works, It Works!!!!!

These choofers are great and they don't take much to make. All the black stuff you see on the ground under it, is the burnt off paint.

So after about 24 hrs relaxing, I am back at the motel. The van went well but each time I use it something breaks and therefore gives me more jobs to do on it. What can you expect from a 10 year old van? The list for this trip is:-

External 240v power point cover broke.

2 of the stays on the front window covers rusted shut, so two more stays.

and coming back I have lost most of the radio aerial, so got to get a new one.

The advantage of all these repairs is that I am really getting to know the van. Oh by the way I installed a 600w inverter and wired it into the living area of the van. It worked great.

Bringing it home #3

Started this morning from the rest area out of Gunnedah at about 8.30am. Traveled to Coonabarabran to fuel up. Thought I would have gone through a lot of fuel yesterday as there was quite a few hills and a bit windy, however, still got 18.5l/100k towing the van. Very happy.
Very uneventful trip to Forbes. A great free camp beside the river. I will get some photos later.
Anyhow, about 1.30 a big gust of wind comes from the south and as I had a south facing window open I come into the van and it is full of dust. I stand around looking at it and cursing, when all of a sudden an enormous gust comes from the North.

Remember when the motel roof came off, well it is similar. The awning blew to bits and landed on the roof of the breaking the antenna. I am cursed. I am insured with YOUI and they have a clause where if you claim within 90days of starting the policy there is a double excess, beautiful. So here I sit pissed off, thinking the world is against me, but at least I have wired up the awning so I can get back to the Motel tomorrow. Life wasn't meant to be easy, but why so hard.

I had to get the lady parked near me in a motorhome to driveher  motorhome over so I could use the ladder on her motorhome to fix down the antenna.

Her are some photos of where I am staying, it really is a nice place.

See no supports now for the awning

Bringing it home #2

Woke up early in the morning at Texas and it was a beautiful day.

Sunrise at  Texas from the van

My new best friend John wanted me to come over to his van and have a chat, seeing he was also up early. John is in his seventies and from South Gerringong. While we were talking a guy came over and looked like a REAL swaggie. Well actually he is, he owns a swag and a bag and that is his worldly goods. John had been talking to him last night. His real is Mark but goes by the name Bushie. Very interesting guy, has done a lot of things and is , of course, a bush poet. He gave me a folder he carries with all his cuttings from papers he has appeared in. The photo below is John on the left and Bushie on the right ( as if you couldn't tell). Then there is a second photo I took of a cutting from a paper. Explains Bushie a bit.

So finally got going about 9am Qld time, a bit later than I thought. Started heading to Lake Keepit, and eventually found myself in Bingara again. You will know from previous posts how much I like this town and it was busy today. Had a pie from the pie shop for lunch and continued on to Lake Keepit. Well I had checked out Lake Keepit on Camps Australia and wikicamps but when I got there all the side roads were closed and the road open was to the caravan park. as you know I bought this van so I didn't have to go to caravan parks. Therefore, off I headed and here I am 25k's west of Gunnedah in a rest area. All by myself, hope there is no axe murderers tonight or this will be my last post.

Will try and head to Forbes tomorrow, but as today shows, anything can happen

Bringing it home #1

Well left the Gold Coast at 10.00am to travel to Texas, approximately a 5 hour drive. Boy you sweat packing up the van. Anyhow, I didn't forget anything. Had a good drive to Cunninghams Gap and stopped as Fassifern (first photo) for a quick look at how the van was going, all good. Went up Cunninghams Gap like nothing. It was really good - me and the trucks. On the way to Inglewood I went through a hell of a storm, there was times I couldn't see in front of me even though I had really slowed down. There is some photos of Inglewood. From Inglewood I headed to Texas and set up here at about 3.00pm. It is a nice level place and we will see how the van goes overnight just on 12v.  the last photos are me set up at Texas.
Let's see how tomorrow goes, heading to Lake Keepit.

Plaque at Fassifern

Main Street of Inglewood

Texas

The next photo is me following the trucks up Cunninghams Gap

Another day in paradise

Have now spent a couple of days getting things organised in the van. What a job!!!!!! Buying things, like a TV- which has now decided not to work properly.
Getting to know the van and how everything works. Went and saw Michael yesterday and bought a few things from BCF, got to like the staff discounts.
Going to get my stuff out of the container today, have no idea where I am going to fit everything, already running out of room. The caravan has got a lot of interest at the caravan park. Met a lot of people through it.

Here is some photos of the inside: