We walk around Benalla and do a little shopping. Last night we had half a dozen camps here for the 60th birthday party on the weekend, but after lunch they really started rolling in. This property would be about 20 acres in size with loads of room for everyone. The weekend visitors are all packed in tightly and Woody is assuming that they prefer not to walk. Our peace has been shattered. Woody is getting anxious because they’re filling their tanks with Doc’s water. There’s a van under our kitchen window and a tent near our back bumper. We eat … Continue reading The Empty Esky Tour, Day 8 – Broken Creek

Day 7, Thursday 27/2/20 Broken Creek, mid 20’s We have breakfast in the camp kitchen again as it is pleasant and sun filled. My shower got a little cool, so afterwards I threw another log in the choofer. That takes … Continue reading The Empty Esky Tour, Day 7 – Broken Creek

Day 5 – On our North East Silo Trail visit we discover Tungamah Lions Park RV stopover. Situated on Boosey Creek at the southern end of town this is a large freedom camp with creek views. Corella Continue reading The Empty Esky Tour – Tungamah Lions Park

Day 5, Tuesday 25/2/20 Broken Creek, warm 33 The boys drive into Benalla for newspapers. I shoot the sunrise over the sheep paddock. Over by the quarry there are rabbits skittering about and a family of purple swamp hens walking single file and busily chatting to themselves. We carry our coffee machine over to the camp kitchen to use the power and pay Doc an extra $1 privilege. It’s a beautiful morning to eat breakfast in the camp kitchen overlooking the paddocks and to have a little more room to stretch out for a change. We pile into one car … Continue reading The Empty Esky Tour – Day 5 Broken Creek

Day 4, Monday 24/2/20 Vaughan to Broken Creek, overcast 33 A hot night and we slept well, the air smells of dry grass. We leave the others to pack up and we head into Castlemaine. We park beside the gardens and a friendly council worker explains that we qualify to park in the space marked ‘No Parking except for 6 metre vehicles’, it’s right behind the IGA supermarket if you’re interested. Now that’s good to know but at this point in time Woody has just realised that he has lost his car keys and that the car may have been … Continue reading The Empty Esky Tour – Day 4 Vaughan to Broken Creek

Day 2, Saturday 22/2/20 Vaughan Springs, warm This camp is so quiet, yet below us the Springs Reserve is jumping with families having picnics and kids swooshing down the big old metal slide. It’s a perfect day for taking it … Continue reading The Empty Esky Tour – Day 2, Vaughan Springs

Day 3, Sunday 23/2/20 Vaughan Springs, hot about 30 A few camps have left. We wake to the screeching of cockies. There’s no better sound on a hot morning than cockies screeching overhead. We laze about and take things easy and in case you’re wondering, the town of Vaughan is a collection of old miner’s cottages. There are no shops, just the remnants of 19th century mining, a Chinese cemetery and the Mineral Springs reserve. The campground is quite small, but it is quiet and there are toilets and water is available. It is the perfect spot to put your … Continue reading The Empty Esky Tour – Day 3 Vaughan Springs

Background On Christmas Day 2019 we were enjoying the peace and tranquility of the Yackandandah Caravan Park and planning a tour of the Upper Murray area. There was smoke hanging in the air, a legacy of the bushfires around Sydney, … Continue reading The Empty Esky Tour – Vaughan Springs