The Grampians - by Andrew

The Grampians  by Andrew.

We came to The Grampian National Park today. We came from Stawell all the way to Halls Gap and then to the Wonderland carpark. We had the caravan hitched and so we had to find a long park for it. Dad had to do a tricky reverse into the long vehicle car space. Then we went on a 2 hour bushwalk to The Pinnacles.  It seemed a very long way and we had to climb thousands of rocks on the way up. We walked through a place called the Grand Canyon. We had to go through a valley and then up some very steep stairs.  When we came down, we had to walk backwards down the stairs. It was really windy at the top. We saw a lady who had slipped on the rocks and hurt her forehead on the way up. Some people were helping her get bandaged up. We saw blood on the rock and on the ground.

Dad took lots of photos of the Pinnacles. I liked it up there; it was a really good view.

On the way down we stopped and had lunch. After we finished our bushwalk, we went to Halls Gap and had a treat.  Georgia and I had Ice blocks and Mum and Dad had coffee.

Then we drove to Wannon Creek camping ground in the National Park. The pit toilets are a bit smelly, but the camp site is good. We had to wait until the rain stopped so we could put the caravan and get everything done. Then we played cards and soccer and threw a football around.

After that we had dinner and played another game of cards.  Then Mum said time for bed but it’s still light. So I asked if I could do some blogging.  Mum said “yes”.

Thanks for reading.

ADELAIDE/VICTOR HARBOUR

• We have just arrived in victor harbour. It is a very pretty beach maybe that is why dad has gone crazy on pictures. But first I’m going to talk about Adelaide, It was almost like being back in Sydney, traffic ,noise we went to see our second cousin, jenny, when we first arrived at her house the first thing that I heard was a bark. Then jenny’s voice we had never seen her before but we had a great time at her house. We played pool, table tennis and had a good meal of roast chicken and chips. Her dog, jay was the liveliest dog I have ever seen, we all had a great time in Adelaide. After all the boring towns we ended up in victor harbour which is 20 minutes from Goolwa the mouth of the Murray River, which was our previous stop. It is nice and breezy and quiet we went on a walk around town. Dad makes us do this every town we go to it’s really boring but I got an ice-block out of it. I miss you all and remember celebrate my birthday on the 8^th of januaryi mean it!!!!

Coffin bay/Whyalla

bad hair day

We arrived in Whyalla yesterday and we had been driving all day so we were all tired. When we arrived at our caravan park we set up and stuffed ourselves with food since all we had that day was toast and a pie. We cooked dinner and ate a meat meal as usual. Andrew and I haven’t had ANY vegetables for four weeks, not that I’m complaining or anything. We all slept well that night except for dad who got stuck with Andrew, and all of our family knows that Andy is a blanket hogger and when he goes to bed he sleeps smack bang in the middle , this drives dad crazy. In the morning we went on a steel making tour it was pretty interesting we also got some iron ore and free magnet. Although Mum was extremely interested in the giant cuttle fish here, I can’t explain them. Here is some information on coffin bay, the previous town stayed at. Coffin bay was discovered by Lieutenant Matthew Flinders and his crew in the ship the Investigator on the 16^th of February 1802.Then some French man started naming everything even though Flinders already named them. I’d better tell you about are bush camping experiences. We camped in the coffin bay national park it was a long drive to actually get to the campsite. When we arrived we set up and tried to relax, but couldn't because there were about a quadrillion bees around, they extremely irritating. There was lots of wild life, mostly kangaroos and emus. We had a good time though then after two nights we packed up and left and went all the way to Whyalla. 

We have just arrived in Streaky Bay. Here is some history on Streaky Bay. In 1627 Dutchman Peter Nuyts saw Streaky bay from the ship Golden Zeepard. Nearly two centuries later it was re-discovered by Captain Mathew Flinders. It is very sunny and hot, when we got to the caravan park we set up and then we went for a walk on the sea edge. It was very pretty; the water was very warm and silky. After that we went for a walk into town, Andrew and I rode our razors because we didn’t want to walk in that heat! Who would?  When we walked to town Mum just had to have a coffee, so me and Andrew got juice and stayed in the café and had strawberry lamingtons. After the lamingtons, Andrew and I got restless and Dad told us to ride our razors down the streets. Mum wouldn’t allow that because she thought that we were going to run into people, as if! But adults will be adults.

After we went home to the caravan park and had lunch,  Andrew, Dad and I went for a swim in the southern ocean. (The second ocean me and Andrew have seen so far). As I said before the water was warm and silky we played catch with a tennis ball and eventually went back to the caravan and had a shower. Then after that, at sunset we went and walked on the jetty (which is the only north facing jetty in South Australia) to watch the sun set and got ice-cream, hmmmmmm life’s good on the road. Well cya guys later now I’ve got to do math hmm.

    

NUTTBUSH/WUDNNIA

Today we left the farm stay at the nuttbush caravan park. It was very quiet and peaceful even with the constant threat of snakes everywhere. When we first arrived we went to reception, checked in and settled down. When we had set up Andrew and I went to feed a calf named ‘’Yahoo’’. The calf wasn't the neatest drinker in the world but it was still fun. We stayed the night and packed up in the morning and headed toward Kimba. Kimba is the town marking that we were halfway across Australia. Dad was eager to get a picture, as usual.

When we had to get going again we headed toward Wudinna and stayed at the caravan park. I can’t tell you much about it because I am writing this as work when we got here so catch you guys later!.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA
When we crossed the border from Victoria to South Australia we had to go through inspection for fruit because in South Australia the worst pest is a fruit fly. The fruit fly gets into fruit and infects the food so it a sort of a disease. After we got through inspection we got on the highway ad headed to Remark. Once we were in remark we went to the information center like usual. After Andrew and I had fiddled with everything and got bored and nagged our parents to leave. After we grabbed a bite to eat we headed to Berry which was 15 minutes away.
After a night at the big 4 caravan park my favorite part was the pool when dad and Andrew tried to find me in hide and seek tip, they couldn't! , because I was in the spa and when I had to hop back into the pool, it was FREEZING!!!. After the stay at the big 4 we headed towards perterburra and stayed at a caravan park. But don’t forget I miss you all sooooo much!!.

HISTORY OF DENILIQUIN

Deniliquin was founded on January 3^rd 1840. It was founded by John Webster, who also founded the Edward River. He named it after his fellow employee Edward Howe. He founded it with his companion James McLaurin.

In 1842, Benjamin Boyd arrived in our sunburnt country that I am very proud of, I must say. Benjamin was the representative of the royal bank. In the same year, 22 year old Augustus Morris, who was a station owner, came to look for a new country. Morris extended the royal bank’s pastoral empire to the Riverina. To this day, indigenous Australians or aboriginals call Deniliquin ‘Denilakoon’

BLOG (Delinquin-Swan hill)

 My family and I have left Corowa and have come into Deniliquin and set up at the river side caravan park. It was late so we bunked in and had a good night’s sleep just as well we had a big day headed of us. In the morning we went to church and after that we went to a friend from churches house for a BBQ.  We stayed for about 4 hours and we headed to picnic point Caravan Park since we were on the Murray River, it was Melbourne cup week almost all of Victoria came to picnic point and had a massive party that kept dad awake the whole night. When we about to head off we met a couple that new Alice cooper-young’s grandparents that one was for you Alice I MISS U ALICE!!!. 

When we packed up and went to swan hill and we were on the road again. Heading to swan hill or the (heart of the Murray River it is also called) and we finally found a caravan park. We set up and had lunch did our school work and had a nice long swim….. while you people still did maths so HA HA HA.

Wind Farm,  10 km east of Gunning.

28th of October

Today we hit the road and headed towards wagga wagga but first we had a stop at Sutton’s forest and had morning tea there. I had a chocolate muffin so did Andrew. When we got back on the road and passed some wind farms at Gunning. They were massive. We got a picture and boy, was it windy! After that visit we headed towards Yass. It was an hour and a half’s drive but we made it. We had lunch at Yass. We had fruit, cheese and bacon rolls and flavored milks.  Then we drove for about 2 hours but close to Wagga Wagga we stopped at the dog sitting on the tucker box. Dad was very excited for no reason whatsoever. Finally, we made it to Wagga Wagga. We checked in at big 4 Caravan Park and set up the caravan. It took roughly about half an hour to fully get it up minus the annex which it a shade cloth thing. Me and Andrew explored the camp site like where the pool was and toilets and showers and where the camp kitchen was, Don’t forget the Murrumbidgee the river that leads into the Murray river itself.

We spent our first night in the caravan it was extremely cold or freezing luckily me and mum were nice and toasty with our Donna. But the boys were on the verge of getting frostbite they were so cold and dad was complaining that Andrew was wriggling around too much.We had our breakfast at the camp kitchen I had pancakes so did mum and the boys were left to wash up because the girls did it last night.All of the family had a great time in wagga wagga next stop Corowa. Soz no pictures forgot to bring the camera to the libary

It's starting already. Preparations are underway. Soon we shall be leaving town on our big family adventure .

If you are a friend, then follow us for the next few months while we discover a big chunk of our sunburnt country.