by Sharon Archer
I thought I'd take you on a pictorial tour of our spur-of-the-moment pre-Christmas escape! A friend discovered a fabulous camping ground in the St Arnaud Range State Park - so well set up with cleared areas and small, well-constructed campfire alcoves.
And that luxury of luxuries - flushing toilets!
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| A camp in a field of paper daisies |
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| The "backyard" |
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| Close up of the paper daisies |
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| mmmm, the GPS is having trouble "finding" us! |
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| A "street" sign... that's promising! |
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| Mmm, that change shouldn't be here until tomorrow... |
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| ... but it is! And the GPS is still lost! |
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| Sometimes the best thing to do is relax with a nice cup of tea! |
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| And to start dinner ... |
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| while we watch the rain! |
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| Water brings out the colours on this hollow log |
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| and this lichen on the earth. |
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| Red and green - Christmas colours eucalyptus style. |
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| Butterfly in cognito (with my apologies because only his feet are in focus!) |
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| Ye Olde Fence... don't you wonder how old this is and about the craftsman who made it? |
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| Can't help it - old fences bring out the urge to be creative! Love the lichen and the weathered grey wood and the hole for the rail... |
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| This huntsman found the perfect possie to shelter from the rain! |
So are you a camper or do you hate it with a passion? What would be your perfect escape for a weekend?
I use to be a camper but am no longer one because I don't have anyone to accompany me and I won't camp alone. So now the perfect escape for a weekend would be spent in a nice motel near a friend so we can go sign hunting....the type of signs that are historical markers.
ReplyDeleteSharon, what wonderful pics! I love the ones of the fence. I used to do a lot of camping and have memories of wonderful places I've stayed, and particularly of the peace to be had away from it all. These days I don't camp but I do enjoy day walks in the bush. This post made me yearn for a quick escape.
ReplyDeleteI used to camp all the time, and would love a few weeks camping somewhere near a river (but the weather would have to stay just perfect) lol.. One problem though. We have no camping gear. :)
ReplyDeleteFabulous piccy's Sharon - I love the one with the storm rolling in. But the giant spider (shudder) not so much :) Great post.
ReplyDeleteI am not a camper -- I can't do without a bathroom and a comfy bed (-: But that doesn't stop me loving your pictures! Looks like a great trip.
ReplyDeleteLove the view of the camping ground, the paper daisies are gorgeous, the fence evocative...and then comes the spider.
ReplyDeleteGive me 5 star luxury any day. :-)
Oh Sharon, gorgeous pre-Christmas break and photos. I knew you guys would be well ordered and camp in style :)
ReplyDeleteAnd I love that someone else takes photos like I do. I must show dh - to prove that I'm not alone in my madness of spiders and butterflies and lichen and fenceposts.
I love camping. It's the best de-stresser in the world. Thanks for sharing your trip.
Cath
It looks like a fabulous camping trip, Sharon--even the rain! (I love rain, especially the heavy stuff you get in Australia.) I love camping! It's so great getting back to basics and back to nature at the same time!
ReplyDeleteSharon, what totally gorgeous shots! I love the daisies and that old drunken fence. Not so much the Huntsman. Which brings me to your question:
ReplyDeleteAm I a camper? No. But these last few months I've had a yearning to chill in a caravan by the sea for a week or two. Did it when I was around 13 at a friend's family's invitation and I still cherish the memories. So Easter time we're doing it. I'm just praying no spiders visit the annex!!!!
What kind of camera do you use?
Great shots Sharon!
ReplyDeleteI used to do a lot of camping but now I'm married to a man who like his own bed lol!!!
That huntsman spider *shiver* - should turn me off but I've had enough of those spiders in my house lately that are bigger and fatter and blacker lol!!
ps - my word verification was Kaemper - how uncanny was that? =)
ReplyDeleteHey, Ellen! I can understand about not camping on your own - you'd definitely want to go with friends. We go away with a group at Easter and a couple of women come on their own but there's plenty of willing hands to help with the bits that require extra strength.
ReplyDeleteThough, I have to say that your sign hunting weekends sound like heaps of fun!
:)
Sharon
Thanks, Annie! A bush camp is peaceful, isn't it! I love watching the birds and the butterflies especially. It's Ballamba - the Season of the Buterflies - down here and because of the rains we've had there are sooo many of them flitting about. When we went for a walk, I said to my husband I felt like I'd stumbled into a Walt Disney film the way they'd all rise up and float around us.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you deserve a little escape - I hope you get the opportunity soon!
:)
Sharon
Suzanne, no camping gear is a definite stumbling block! LOL I have to say that I prefer fine-weather camping too - but I guess when the rain comes along you just have to make the best of it! We were lucky because it stopped raining long enough for us to pack up on the Sunday - started again as we drove out of the park!
ReplyDelete:)
Sharon
LOL on the big spider, Helen! I've got a thing for spiders... even though they make me shudder too! I have a large huntsman living in my office - I see him on the ceiling or walls. It's a bit unnerving to use the noticeboard and see the long legs poke out the side! The worst was the day I found one in a manilla folder in the desk drawer! Eeeek!
ReplyDelete:)
Sharon
Thanks, Anna! You know one of the really fab things about camping is how much I appreciate getting home to a comfy bed and running water!
ReplyDelete:D
Sharon
LOL, Michelle! A shudder from you one the spider, too! Actually when you put it like that, it was a bit of an ambush, wasn't it!
ReplyDeleteHey, 5-star is great too!
:)
Sharon
Hey, Catherine! A woman after my heart! I love chasing nature around with my camera! I must show you my grass seeds with dew sometime - i confess to being immodestly pleased with that particular photo... haven't quite worked out how to turn it into a blog topic though! LOL
ReplyDeleteActually wasn't it you who told me the name of the butterfly I posted about early last year?
Camping is a great de-stresser, isn't it! There's something soothing about the basics of it.
:)
Sharon
Hi Emily, another vote for camping! Yayay! LOL!
ReplyDeleteI love the rain, too! Though I confess that having while camping can be a bit of a trial! MUCH nicer at home and listening to it on the tin roof!
:)
Sharon
Robyn, I'm already looking forward to your blog on your Easter trip!
ReplyDeleteMy camera is pretty basic and a few years old now. It's an Olympus, 8 megapixel with a 5x zoom. I spend a lot of time stalking thins with the macro setting! It's not an SLR so it can be a bit annoying with the delay between pressing the button and the shutter actually activating. You know those darned butterflies aren't considerate about holding still just because I have the perfect shot lined up! LOL That's were I adore the digital - I can just delete all the mistakes!
:)
Sharon
LOL on your comfort-loving man, Mel! Appreciating the finer things is great, too!
ReplyDeleteUgh on your spiders - the rain does drive them indoors! The little sooks don't letting all those feet get wet!
Hey, what a perfect verification word! LOL
Sharon
I am the 'hate it with a passion' type. I have done my share of camping thank you & am happy never to go again.
ReplyDeleteLOL, Marybelle! You're very definite about that! Did you have an awful experience? Or is it just been there tried that and never never have to do it again?
ReplyDelete:)
Sharon
Oh, I'm soooo with you on camping. We get away any time we can and I must make a note of St Arnaud Range State Park. Nice and close to home. We're off to Geehi Flats (Kosciusko NP) on Sunday and I can't wait. Love a bit of rain on canvas at night, not so much during the day but as you say, you take the good with the bad. BRW, is that a T-van you're towing?
ReplyDeleteHigh five to a fellow camper, Louise! Have a fabulous time at Kosciusko... I haven't been to Kossie yet! Must put it on the "to visit" list!
ReplyDeleteSt Arnaud is very close to home so it makes it an easy trip for a treat. Let me know if you want more details.
And that is a T-van! We love it to bits! Looking forward to some time away in it next year - absolute luxury after our four months camping with the motorbike!
:)
Sharon
Sharon, we camped in tents a bit as kids, but I preferred it when we got a caravan and slept in the annex - or does that still count as camping?
ReplyDeleteI have to admit, now I prefer a room. :)
Love those photos!!
Thanks, Rachel! Hey, your annex definitely counts as camping in my book! I have to say that otherwise I can't count our T-vanning as camping! LOL
ReplyDelete:)
Sharon Archer