TUESDAY 12 NOVEMBER     HOME TO COROWA     331kms

We had a calm and methodical final pack and departure – not always the case with us! Left home at 11.20am.

The BOM radar this morning had showed much rain happening over Gippsland, so that cemented the decision to turn northwards, rather than to the east.

Took our usual route through Yarra Glen, to Yea – lunch stop at one of our favourite bakeries. John had a pie and pasty, I had a very nice salad roll.

Couey settled back into the routine of Bus travel quickly.

We’d fuelled up at the servo at Murrindindi, on the way to Yea. This was a really easy servo for John to pull the rig into. $1.499cpl.

By the time we reached Yea, it was showering rain.

As we travelled, discussed options for the next few days, as we would not be getting to Canberra until Friday, in time for the weekend sporting activities. We decided to go to the Rutherglen/Corowa area. John liked the idea of visiting some wineries at Rutherglen. I suggested we stay at Corowa, because I thought John would be interested in doing some bowling there.

Given our late morning start, the focus was more on getting to a destination to prop for a few days, rather than doodling around byways, sightseeing. So, from Seymour, it was up the Hume to beyond Wangaratta, then via Rutherglen and across the Murray to NSW and Corowa.

It teemed rain as we neared Benalla, but we drove out of the rain band just before Rutherglen, about 4pm.

The first caravan park we saw, once across the river, was the Rivergum Holiday Retreat – a Top Tourist one, so we pulled in there. They did not have en-suite sites, but did offer “riverfront” powered sites. After discount, we paid $33.30 for a powered site.

The man checking us in seemed a bit strange and not quite with it. We explained the length and height requirements of Bus. One would not have thought he was ignorant of the requirements of motor-homers, anyway. The site he allocated us was a shocker. It was small, with low hanging trees and was very definitely not level. The park itself was a huge one, with the front section full of cabins and permanent accommodation structures, and slightly seedy in appearance. The van sites were at the lower level, a long way from the office.

We had a look around the van sites area and saw a number of sites that would be better than the one allocated. There was hardly any other vans there. John walked back up to the office and obtained a site of our choice. Bit of a lesson there – next time, walk around and have a look first! You would think we’d know by now…

Our new site was very pleasant, with a view down to the bush area by the river, which couldn’t be seen. There was a nice grassed area between us and the bush – great for dog exercise!

An amenity block was not too far away from us and was clean and adequate.

Given the large quantity of permanent accommodation structures up the hill, I would not like to be here in summer and school holiday times, when it would be full.

There were numbers of ibises and ducks wandering about. Our cement slab was poo covered. I swept it clean before we set up. The grass was likewise liberally decorated.

Set up the camp, then sat in our very comfy new chairs and had a beer each, to celebrate being mobile again. John then went inside to have a nap, while I took Couey for an explore to the river. There was a good track going from the park towards the Murray. The river was running at a good high level – pleasing to see.

I’d intended to follow the track alongside the river for a while, but Couey got buzzed by a dragonfly, of all things, and it really frightened her, so she was reluctant to go further. Big, brave, black dog – not.

Before we left this morning, I’d picked a big bagful of broad beans from the prolifically bearing plants in the vegie garden. We had some of those for tea, with roast turkey thigh roll, left over from last night’s meal. That was followed by some strawberries – a gift from our flat tenant yesterday.

Watched the Keating Interviews on TV – reception was alright. Former Prime Minister Keating had been known for being blunt and forthright, as well as for his ego: the program was excellent!

It was a cool night but the doona was still too warm.