Snow - and the longest journey to get there!

With all the cold weather blasting its way over the southern tablelands this past week or so, I had it on good authority that there would be a good dusting of snow in the Brindabella Mountains, just south of Canberra. I figured when the BOM said there were likely to be blizzard conditions and snow down to 900 metres we would have as good as chance as any of finding plenty of the white stuff to play in.

In previous years we had organised a convoy with either the good folk from this forum, or from our local community to go into the hills with the simple objective of finding enough snow for the kids to make a snowman, have a snowfight and perhaps even a simple toboggan (on an old boogie board). We have found snow on each of our previous excursions to the south of Picadilly Circus on the Mount Franklin Road.

The late notice meant we were setting forth solo. Maxtrax were loaded into Terry, along with a primus stove, dry clothes, lunch and extra provisions for the Hobbits.

The Little Helpers are excited to be heading south!

So off we set – confidently proceeding over Uriarra Crossing and on our way up the mountains. The little helpers knew we were off to find snow, but we hadn't promised anything until we saw the mountains in the distance, with a great white colouring... excitement was building, promises were made that we would be soon playing in the snow when disaster struck...

4WD Storage - How we fit it all in...

One of the challenges facing any family going camping is how to fit everything in, and more importantly, how to keep everything organised during the trip. Our first camping trip in our humble Subaru nearly ended in disaster. Everything we needed seemed to be at the bottom of the pile of gear in the back, and required a major exercise in repacking every time we wanted to access it.

Needless to say a new system was required - and fast if I was ever to convince the family that camping could be fun!

Along came the Terracan, and I started thinking about how we could make life easier for us when we went camping. I had a few rudimentary ideas running around my head, when we bought an alloy sump guard. With the sump guard came a wooden box that the former owner had made for his newly traded Terracan.


The simple box structure is made out of 12mm ply


The top had cleats to allow use of the original cargo net

It looked like a great template from which to base our draw system. We thought we would start using it with the aim of working out what we wanted from a draw system. Funnily enough, we have worked out a system to fit the box!

We found some plastic tubs at Bunnings / Magnet Mart that fit perfectly in the box. They stack inside each other if required, or on top of each other if full of stuff. You can also purchase lids it you want. Originally there was a fridge slide on the right hand side, but we found we could fit a tub neatly in the space, with enough room for our esky to sit on top. On the left hand side we can stack up to three standard tubs, with enough room for a folding 1200 x 600mm table to sit flush next to them.

This is our most common configuration - the bottom box on the left contains heavy tools and spares

We can fit the tubs in various configurations:



We can even put two tubs on the top shelf - which is handy when camping. Usually we can keep the top relatively open, but when tent based camping, the top shelf contains most of our bedding, and it also will easily fit our camp chairs and bench.

There is enough room on the sides to shove all manner of items - we tend to put the kids sports gear on the right hand side (totem tennis, cricket bat and ball and picnic rugs). On the left we can fit in a first aid kit, axe, shovel and various ropes and odd bits. With careful packing, sleeping mats can also fit shoved down the side.

An added bonus of this style of draws is that we can do the majority of packing inside the house (or shed) and simply slide the draws in when required. This is fantastic as it means that we can get most of our packing done early (or leave all our gear packed) but don't have to leave it in the car. You can see on the right one of the taller tubs we use sometimes - it is compatible with the smaller tubs.

It is great being able to pack everything inside and just take the full box to the car once!

One other thing that has made our lives a lot easier is a seat-back organiser for the Little Helpers. There is plenty of room in this offering from Supercheap Auto for colouring in pens, colouring book, a few matchbox cars and a water bottle. It has worn surprisingly well considering the purchase price but I think will need to be replaced soon with something a little more hard wearing. It means the boys have their own little space that they look after and allows plenty of activities to keep them amused on the road. No we don't have a DVD player, and we hope to keep it that way.

Supercheap Auto Seatback Organiser

We have been trying a few different options with where we keep everything. On our last trip we stored the camper's awnings in the car, and used the space under the bed in the camper for clothing (in baskets we borrowed from one of the boy's wardrobes). It worked really well and made life a lot easier once we had set up, as we weren't tripping over a bag of clothes in the camper. Once we had the awning set up, we had plenty more space in the car, which was welcome.

Of course it is all a work in progress, and subject to constant change and modification (but that is half the fun), we have found that sometimes a really simple and cheap solution is really effective, and actually suits our purposes more than a more expensive inbuilt unit might.

Green Patch - June 2011

The lead up
What is it about mechanical appliances? Just as I am about to board a flight for sunny Cairns, our Subaru develops an alarming noise when depressing the clutch… No worries me thinks – I am away for the week, so we can put the Suby in for a new clutch, leaving Terry to be the primary family hauler whilst I am away. Whilst I am away our oven dies, requiring complete replacement (thankfully without requiring a cabinet maker’s services), and then after a particularly cold night and day in the frosty Southern Highlands, Terry decides not to start.

I received a panic call from my wife, Jo, telling me Terry won’t start because the battery is stuffed, and asking if she should buy a new battery for the Terracan. It seems a fair request – battery is original and the weather was particularly bitter that day (I think she said it got to a maximum of four degrees on our verandah). A little more discussion and it turns out that Terry actually started and ran for a moment before stalling…. Hmmm…. I start thinking that perhaps the battery is fine, and it was the repeated attempts to start the car that flattened it.

I am in no position to help. Cairns is so far away and about 25 degrees warmer… I can feel Jo's frustration as she is stranded with two little helpers suffering a very bad dose of Cabin Fever. I try to make noises of how tough I am working, but I fear I have no sympathy at all coming back down the phone line.

I suggest that charging the battery overnight would be a good start (another bitter frost) and see what happens in the morning. The next morning Terry started and stalled again.

NRMA man comes and Terry starts and runs beautifully after pumping the fuel hand pump. It would appear our Terracan had an air pocket or similar in the fuel line. No obvious explanation. Yes, the fuel is winter blend. No, there are no fuel leaks. Yes, the battery is fine.

I figure that everyone was just more than a little jealous of my time in far north Queensland. I try to remind them that I suffer sea sickness and am not looking forward to the next few hours, as I climb up the gangway of the “Reef Magic”… My sentiments fall on deaf ears as I discover that the chill from the southern highlands can indeed be transmitted to Cairns via a phone line!

I don't know how she does it
I came home to a miracle. After a challenging week with the two little helpers pushing every button, vehicle breakdowns and appliance failures, my wife has managed to organise a group of friends to come away camping for the long weekend, pack Terry and Matilda and . Within a couple of hours of touching down, we are back on the road as a happy (if slightly exhausted) family heading east to paradise.

Our destination was Green Patch, in the Booderee National Park, Jervis Bay, about 2 and a half hours east of home. We were catching up with some good friends whom we have camped with before. The kids were primed for a weekend adventure, however I think the rest of us were looking forward to (hoping for???) a relaxing weekend. Dean and Mandy brought their three girls to try out their new caravan for its maiden voyage - a slight step up from our last Bendethera Valley adventure, and Nic and Dave persisted with their tent that had shared adventures with us in the Kosciuszko National Park and Ravine.

We arrived just before dark and quickly set up camp. The weather held off just long enough to enjoy a delicious curry dinner that had been prepared earlier. Not for the first time we appreciated the Thermal Cooker Pot. A shower or two or rain saw us set a record for the set up of the awning (beaten only when it hailed on us when setting up last December), and we retired early to enjoy the sounds of rain falling heavily on the canvas.

Green Patch
The south easterly weather pattern dominated our long weekend down the coast, but it didn't stop the fun. Thankfully the rain was heaviest at night, all but disappeared during the day and occasionally, very occasionally the sun came out to brighten the day. Fresh from the tableland winter, the little helpers thought it was paradise and we couldn't keep them out of the water. When they finally turned blue and admitted they were cold, we simply gave them nice warm showers and put them in dry clothes.


The water was chilly, even if too tempting to resist


The famous white sand was perfect for sandcastles

The Little Fisherman was determined to add to his catch of a single flounder on our last expedition. At school he had recently presented a short speech about how much he loved fishing and one day he hoped to catch a fish big enough to eat. Unfortunately it was not to be.. but that's not the point is it?


It is all about having fun


Especially when your fishing friend Dave is on hand to untangle the lines!

Of course the Little Helper had lost all interest in fishing by this point in time, much preferring to dig more sandcastles and swim some more. And who could argue with him. The water, whilst chilly was crystal clear and the beach sheltered with barely a ripple save for the tiny waves breaking on the beach. Green Patch is one of the few truly north facing beaches on the east coast, and when the sun did appear for its brief moments, it was really very pleasant.


When the fish aren't biting there is plenty of sand to play with


Or water to swim in

The main aim of any such weekend is to take some time out of normal routine and relax. And in such a beautiful piece of paradise it is easy to do so. Of course you have to be careful that:


the kookaburra's don't steal a sausage from the electric BBQ...


or the rosellas and parrots don't eat all your bread...


or you trip over the kangaroos!

Of course we all appreciated the down time and break from our seemingly hectic schedules. We loved the fact that we could sit and relax. The kids conducted numerous laps of the camping area on their bikes. Time trials were a great challenge that never seemed to lose their appeal. They also frequently raided the comfort of Dean and Mandy's new caravan to enjoy drawing and colouring in (or was it DVD's?) in the comfort of the settee.


If you look carefully you might see some of the campers flat out enjoying the serenity

The facilities of the camp included hot showers, electric BBQ and washing up facilities. Each campsite is clearly marked, and separated by landscaped boundaries. For a long weekend, the area was surprisingly empty with only a handful of us braving the weather and enjoying the campground. The Rangers were friendly and helpful, however when booking our sites, the office seemed a little disorganised and our sites were moved a couple of times before we finally arrived.

In all we had a great long weekend camping in a winter paradise. More photos of our adventure can be found at our Gallery, and more information on Jervis Bay generally can be found at Jervis Bay Tourism.

Thank you to Dean and Mandy for tolerating our little helpers who made themselves at home in your new caravan, and to Nic and Dave who helped keep the little ones amused by day, and the bigger ones amused, fed and watered by night. A huge thank you to my wife, Jo, who pulled it all together after a challenging week home alone with two boisterous lads.

South Coast Fun - Easter 2011

With the unusually long weekend over Easter and ANZAC day this year, it was too good an opportunity to miss. With many other like minded souls, we headed down from the hills to enjoy the coast for a few days. The weekend was not intended to be a 4WD adventure, merely a leisurely drive down through Tarago and Nerriga to our destination on the northern shores of Lake Conjola.

We were staying with good friends, whom despite our best efforts, we catch up with infrequently. Whilst we try to meet around ANZAC day annually, we seem to only make it every third or fourth year. So you could say we were really looking forward to our weekend down at the coast.

With the spare bedroom (Matilda – our Aussie Swag Camper) hooked on behind Terry, we pushed off on after I finished work on Saturday morning. It was a great feeling to hit the road and coming down the hill near Sassafras we glimpsed the Tasman Sea, looking very blue and inviting.

Having done our first four wheel driving in this part of the world, we thought we would take a short cut to the Princess Highway from Main Road 92, so instead of turning right onto Turpentine Road, the GPS suggested a short cut through Wandean Fire Trail... Of course I didn’t have our topographic maps with us, the Maxtrax were sitting next to the long handled shovel in the shed at home and I was just a little tired after night shift the previous evening... What could possibly go wrong?

If we had stayed on Wandean Fire Trail, we would have come out unsurprisingly at Wandean, on the highway. Instead we ended up heading off in the wrong direction. A few moments later it dawned on us that we would have to turn around – no easy feat on narrow forest trails with Matilda hooked on the back.

A nice wide drainage culvert was chosen to do the deed, however after backing and filling to get the nose into the culvert with the trailer straight, I (driving now) felt an uncomfortable slipping of the tyres as we slid sideways to the bottom of the culvert. Attempts to move forward were met with no result. Attempts to move backwards were also met with no result. Stuck!

A dark cloud formed over us as the air turned blue and the little helpers slowly began to realise that they would not be getting lunch in 10 minutes… My mind was trying to work out a way out… letting tyres down was an option. We did have a garden spade and an axe in the car to assist in moving a bit of dirt around. We could wait for someone to pull us out. Nothing was going to be quick and we were all in ‘good clothes’.

Ah – but I had just finished two nights shifts, I was grumpy and by now a little hungry. So with a bit of right foot, and rocking back and forward we finally broke free from the mud and made our way back onto the track where there was much rejoicing! Sorry I didn’t pause to take photos - but we were by now on a mission to get to our destination and get some hungry boys fed!

We drove on another 200metres and turned around comfortably at the junction of two tracks!!! Lesson learnt.

The rest of the weekend was fantastic. Lake Conjola was beautiful and the waters crystal clear. The Little Fisherman was in his element, with whiting, flathead and puffer fish nibbling his bait under his very eyes. Despite our best efforts of putting a little bait on a very large hook to avoid catching any fish, he managed to catch his first fish – a Flounder.

The Little Fisherman patiently waits


Success!

The other little helper loved the warm waters, and frolicking in the shallows. He has little interest in fishing – much preferring to build sandcastles or play with his trucks and diggers. The coast here gives many options from sheltered lake waters to open surf beaches to suit all levels of experience and adrenalin.


The beach was glorious, the food delicious and the beer cold. We enjoyed a great game of Settlers of Catan one evening, which was hotly contested. This is a fantastic game where strategy and luck combine with negotiation skills to ensure that everyone has a reasonable chance at victory. The extension pack allowed six of us to colonise islands and build our empires with much merriment all round.

On ANZAC day we attended a very pleasant Dawn Service at Ulladulla. The Little Helpers both were given the option of attending, and both willingly agreed. They behaved beautifully through the service, and as a treat later we enjoyed some cinnamon toast at a café overlooking the harbour, before hitting the (in)famous Funland for a drive of the Dodgem Cars.

The dodgem cars were a great hit... literally!


The boys enjoy a stroll along Ulladulla Harbour... a minute later they were both in the water up to their necks!

In all it was a great weekend – with great company and we hope to do it all again soon. We must say a big thank you to Bel, Rob and little Hugh for hosting us at your piece of paradise. Thanks also to Nic and Dave for putting the gourmet into catering!

Needless to say we came home via Turpentine Road thankfully without further incident!

Deua National Park - March 2011

With foreboding skies we escaped from the grind for a much anticipated trip into the Bendethera Valley, south of Braidwood. We planned on camping with a group of friends for a couple of relaxing nights in paradise.

The mighty Terracan was packed to capacity with essential supplies for a successful weekend in the bush – bikes, cricket set, totem tennis set, soccer ball and matchbox cars for outside play, with colouring-in books in case of poor weather. We also fitted in a tent, some bedding and some food… little did we realise until after we arrived that we had left the milk at home!

After rendezvousing with our good friends in Braidwood we pointed the vehicles south for our entry to Deua National Park. We let our tyres down while the kids attempted to fill the Shoalhaven River with pebbles. After a nervous look at the sky we crossed our fingers and engaged 4WD for our entry into the park and the trek into the Bendethera Valley.

Successfully across the Shoalhaven River From Deua NP March 2011

Our friend's Hilux takes the plunge From Deua NP March 2011

As we headed into the valley the rain continued to fall which made for a picturesque journey in. Some of the sections in the mist of the clouds were positively eerie, however the track was in good condition and being rocky based, we left little trace of our passage.

The misty trip in From Deua NP March 2011

The descent into the valley From Deua NP March 2011

Unfortunately on our arrival in the valley the Deua River was too high and fast flowing to cross safely. With evening approaching and the little helpers restless, we decided to make camp. Our resultant camp was with the leeches on the junction of the Dampier Mountain Fire Trail and the entrance into the valley. Not the picturesque haven he hoped for, but at least we were able to get out of the valley if we desired. Some other poor party had been stuck in the valley for three days and things were getting desperate – they had run out of beer!

Camp From Deua NP March 2011

With the rain continuing to threaten, we were all thankful for the dinner that was sitting in the thermal pot. Some good foresight by SWMBO resulted in a delicious caserole for minimum effort. The thermal cooker has become one of our most used kitchen items, being used to prepare a delicious creamy porridge in the evening, so that when the hungry little helpers awake, we can rest a few moments longer knowing that breakfast is already cooked.

The other accessory that has become essential in our travels and at home is our travel mug. This mug by Contigo is hard to find, but is spill and leak proof. It also keeps my coffee really hot. As I am the only coffee drinker in my family (apparently it makes me a nicer person), a full plunger is too much coffee to drink in one session. With this cup I can pour one for me now and one for later. I have been told it works well on peppermint tea also!

Aaah.... coffee :) From Deua NP March 2011

The following day our camp expanded with two other families arriving from the west. Another two tried to make it in from Mourya, however were thwarted by the mighty Deua River still flowing far too strongly to cross. We made the best of our time enjoying watching people enter the valley full of bravado only to have second thoughts when they saw the river. Unfortuately with the river so high and fast the Little Fisherman was bound to be disappointed, however a lot of assistance was required in freeing lines and hooks from obstructions and tangles, so as a time killing exercise the fishing was a success.

The Little Fisherman... dejected isn't the word From Deua NP March 2011

The first lads across the river were a group of young fellas from the Thong Strap 4WD club – and to tell the truth we were a bit relieved. With camping equipment consisting of a swag and an esky, these young blokes proved that after a few considering ales, nothing was impossible. Thankfully they all made it across with a lot of right foot and luck, and took their vehicles and doof doof stereos well into the valley.

The young lads make their crossing... just	Lots of right foot and a loud stereo helped From Deua NP March 2011

On Sunday we broke camp and bid adieu to our friends and returned home. The skies had cleared and apparently the river continued to drop, although crossings into the valley remained challenging. We heard on the grapevine that a Hilux was swept off one of the crossings on Sunday afternoon. I guess it goes to confirm the advice that you should plan Bendethera valley for dry weather only.

As usual, more snaps of the weekend can be found