HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! from the Police Paddocks Carlyle near Rutherglen Victoria

                   HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY!!!

I know that this is posted a little bit early... but only about an hour as we don't want to miss the countdown to New Year's Day! This will be our last day here at the Police Paddocks and while we have all enjoyed our Christmas, said good bye to 2013 and hello 2014 it’s time to move on. So tomorrow we pack up and are driving to our next free camp site Cobram…. That’s another two and a bit hour away, which is perfect for me because it’s about that time when I really need a ‘wombat stop’.

Mum and dad still go for swims in the river, but I am not going in… mum called out a very scary word for me and that was ‘Snake!’… I freaked ‘WHERE? Mum... Dads...  save me! Where is it?? Oooh!” Mum calmy walked back into the annex and asked me that if it wasn’t too much trouble could I shut up and get my claws out of her forehead, climb down, that it was all ok, the black snake was just swimming across to the other side of the river where hopefully it could find an exit and crawl back into the Island on the other side. I didn’t know that was an island. I asked dad what the name of the island was, he looked at me and said with one of those funny grins he gets “that’s Snake Island”…. Well? You asked a silly question…

Wow! Where did 2013 go?? Dad has been retired now for almost three years and mum retired for just over a year… Seems like only yesterday mum saw me wayyy back in May this year looking out of the shop window at the Tahune Airwalk in Tasmania (that’s how I got my name) J Don’t be fooled though… just because someone retires doesn’t mean they aren’t still ‘spry’ despite their advanced years… (pretty sure I am gonna pay for that comment later!)

And now… here we all are January 1^st 2014! I wonder what the year holds for us all? Whatever it is I am sure it will be exciting… I know this year is going to be a special year because mum and dad told me that our very good friends Mandy and Marc are going to ‘tie the knot’. I just nodded although I am not quite sure how a knot is part of a very special year… I guess it’s going to be a really strong super-duper can’t untie this knot knot.. (hmm knot knot? I don’t think that is right. Dad said It’s ok, so if he says it is, it must be).

Mum said it was a good time to think of all the blessings we have had during the year. So ok, here goes. 1) Mum found me and brought me home (obviously the most important one) 2) I met Tammy and Georgia and Bev and they snuggled and cuddled me lots 3) Mum and dad take me everywhere with them and take good care of me… Ok.. that’s about it.  Mum said it’s not all about ‘me’… that's strange... it's my blog so I thought it was all about me (one would have thought it would be).

She said it was a time to be thankful for our health, our family and our friends who have been through different kinds of stuff in the year, when I asked her what kind of stuff, she said “all kinds... good stuff, bad stuff, disappointing stuff, sad stuff, good time and bad time stuff, get sick and then get better stuff, shut up and get over it stuff, and move on stuff, and ‘just booked that bloody venue and organize it stuff’..  Ah! That kind of stuff I understand, mum’s really got that knack of how exactly to explain ‘stuff’ to me….except that last part, she kind of goes off on a different tangent. When I looked at her and said “huh”? She told me not to worry as it was time to go fishing... Whooohooo!

You won’t believe it! I was allowed to say up last night and even though I am only three and a half, I was up at midnight! *yawn* still very sleepy….. and yesterday we went into Rutherglen again to get more water, usually we don’t have to do that but dad said we have to run the Penguin’s shower at least once every two weeks. You didn’t have to tell me twice! I shampooed, conditioned and double bubble soaped myself!

The outside shower has a long hose so dad and mum talked it over and moved the toilet tent closer. That way we could move the poopie bucket (it has a locking lid) to one side, so I sat on the lid and had a REAL shower! It has a nifty on off switch on the spray nozzle so when I needed to scrub under my claws; I turned the water off, because I am a responsible camping Wombat and I know how to save water! Apart  from that mum showed me where the switch was. 

I was ready to put on my Happy New Year "happy hats"… I couldn’t choose between the green and the gold one so mum put both on me! People looked and smiled… I like it when they do that.  But then dad said I looked like Bruenhilda from some German Opera and went “Yodeehoo-oh!” So I told mum to take the gold one off and just have the green one on. We have some photos as well… I will put them on here.

We went into Rutherglen again on New Year's Eve and bought a new fly go away thingy for the front of the annex... it works much better than the first one, but dad decided to put up the flappy plastic stringy one in front of it "just to make sure." Dang! I'm a bogan wombat again!

Mum and dad got some of ‘those bottles’ again…. they got a different kind of bottle this time but it still started with a "P" so I think it was the same stuff that made them go all silly before…

(dad reckons I should have a Face Book page and see how many 'hits' I get... hmmmm will wait to hear from people who are reading my blog.. What do you think folks? Or should I just keep on blogging?) Mum thinks if I get my own page, I will get a big head... I can't understand that, I'm a Wombat... my head is naturally big.  Although now it's big and sore... because I am a very naughty wombat and while dad wasn't looking I took a big gulp of his beer. Wombats and beer don't mix.... I told mum and dad what I did and they were cranky pants for a while but then just said 'serves you right'... I did learn a very important lesson though... WOMBATS DO NOT LIKE BEER!

 

Anyway! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Until next time Cheers!

"SNAKE"!!

Mum helps me down.. still a little scared!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY!

while dad's not looking.....

On mum's chair by the campfire with my glow in the dark bracelets

Celebrating with dad

Celebrating the New Year with mum

 

 

with lots of love from Dad and Mum and ME! 

 

 HAPPY NEW YEAR 2014!

 

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS From Police Paddocks near Ruthrglen

HAVE A FANTASTIC CHRISTMAS TO ALL MY FRIENDS, FAMILY AND FANS! :)

                    
                         CHRISTMAS EVE & CHRISTMAS DAY 24/12/2013 ~25/12/2013

Mum and dad and me drove into Rutherglen to get some stores as we will be here for another five days at least. Dad bought six bottles of "Old"... I wondered what it was, but they didn't tell me so it must be for them. Then they looked at a shelf with a lot of bottles on them and chose a 'Ruby Port'... (whatever that is)... and they smiled at each other... hmmm, I think they maybe up to something. Will have to keep a close eye on them.

We went for just one swim once we got back to camp, and that cooled us off for the day, and the cooler temperatures at night help a lot too.

Mum got me a really swish Christmas headband, and two Santa hats for themselves as we are going to video very special Christmas messages to Mum's BEST Friend... and another really special one for Georgia! :D I don't have to say anything, just sit there and look gorgeous, which fortunately.. is quite easy for me! (tee hee)

Dinner eaten and washing up done. I brushed my teeth and went to bed... mum and dad got the bottles they bought in town and sat out near the campfire.. I started to hear mum and dad giggle... uh-oh! What's going on here? I tried not to listen and go back to sleep but then the hoohoohoohoo owls started.. then.. guess what?!  Mum and Dad started blowing over the top of their OLD bottles making a sound 'like' the owls but only louder! They laughed.... and it was late and the rest of the camp had gone to bed! The cheeky monkeys! I shall have stern words with them in the morning.. I feel asleep.

"MERRY CHRISTMAS EVEYRONE!!!"

Mum and dad are still asleep and I don't know if they opened the other bottle of Ruby Port but the level was a lot lower this morning! When everyone got up, mum was ok but dad was kind of 'wonky'... don't know why. We had breakfast, then messaged/called family and friends to wish them a wonderful Christmas!

Mum went down to the river for a spot of fishing... a few nibbles but nothing substantial but that's ok, it's so peaceful down by the river's edge. The river has dropped a bit so the clay ground is very slippery.. we were very careful we didn't want to fall in!

Dad got his Santa hat and put it on me and I climbed up onto the car roof to watch all the other campers celebrate Christmas too, a lot of them had hats on like mine... so that was cool! Some other campers went for walks down to the end of the paddock and smiled when they saw me.. that was nice!

Mum even wrote a song for me, well... actually she changed the lyrics and the song has to be sung to the tune from Frosty the Snowman... so, I have put it here for you to sing...! Enjoy!

‘TAHUNE THE WOMBAT’…… (Sung to melody from Frosty the Snowman)

(There is a naughty word in here.. so sorry about that!)

Tahune the Wombat
Was a chubby funny soul
With big brown eyes
And a big brown nose and
He lives down in a hole

Tahune the Wombat
Is camping far away
He looks after mum and dad
And he loves Christmas Day

There must have been some magic
With the family that he found
Tahune loved the kisses on his head
And waddled all around

Tahune the Wombat
Was alive as he could be
He runs around playing hide and seek
And can fish as good as me

Tahune the wombat
Loves mum and dad and grass
But when they start up drinking Port
They’re a real pain in the arse!

Set up the Tripod
Christmas hat upon his head
So sit and smile and send
A special vid to Georgia and to Bev!

We have all decided to leave here in the New Year so I will post again when we get to where we're going... wherever that is!

Stay safe... love Tahune the Wombat.

The original two roomed school house at Rutherglen

now the base of the Rutherglen Historical Association.

One of the classrooms is still used today!

 

The entrance of the old school and Common School Museum

 

A beautiful Christmas Eve sunset

 

Pretty flash... don't you think?

 

In dad's Santa Hat on the roof of the Patrol...

Wow! I can see everything from up here!

 

 

DIARY OF AN AUSSIE WOMBAT - Police Paddocks near Rutherglen Victoria

Friday 20/12/2013

Hello.. here I am back again... Three words for the last two days.. hot! hot! hot! dad gave mum his USB internet doohickey thing as he bought himself an ipad.... he told me it was an Apple, didn't look like one to me, it's the wrong shape for a start! I think dad was out in the sun for too long. Mum and dad got up late and we went for a swim. We came inside and had breakfast, waited for another hour, and went for a swim... sat in the cool where we could and drank lots of water. It just got too hot with the temperature over 40!

We were sitting inside when Dad heard a bird 'sounds like it's in distress'... and he found a little baby fledgling (almost ready to fly but not quite) Kingfisher. It was so hot and had fallen out of its nest. Dad got some water and put him/her in there, then mum went out and she scooped some water into her hand and held it above the baby's head. The baby kingfisher put its head up and opened its beak and had a drink of water. Mum called Wildlife Victoria and told them we were going to take it to the vets at Rutherglen. Mum nic-named it 'Sparky'.
We drove to the Vets and left Sparky to have a check up and would wait until a carer from Wildlife Victoria came to get him. Mum was happy that dad had found Sparky but sad to say goodbye... She could have cared for him/her but not at the moment... I guess it's hard enough looking out for dad and me, another mouth to feed, and I mean hand feed every two hours just wasn't practical!

Mum and dad decided to drive back across the border to NSW to Albury where dad and mum took me into BCF and came out with a new fishing rod and reel for mum. (That was dad's and my Christmas present to mum) and a car fridge/freezer, because dad thought it was a good idea. Actually, he had wanted one for a very long time but had never just paid that much for anything. Mum said, just breathe and pay for it, it's not a luxury, it's a necessity, especially where we're going" I wondered where we were going next but as I knew we were staying put until after Christmas I didn't worry about it.

Then dad drove to Albury shopping centre, and we all had a subway (mine was all carrot... yum) and we sat in the air conditioning for a long long time. We found a big skip bin at a garage and asked if we could put our rubbish in there, because we are responsible campers... mum always tells me, "if you take it in, you have to take it out and leave your campsite as if you were never there". Anyway, they said we could so we got fresh water for a top up of the water tank in the Penguin, and didn't get back to home until well after my bedtime at 7 p.m. 

Mum and dad went for another swim as it was still very hot and then went fishing... mum tried out her new fishing rod so I stopped being sleepy and watched mum cast out, on her second cast she caught her first Murray Cod! I  was so proud of her... but she put it back to because it wasn't a legal size. I am pretty sure I fell asleep after that so I can't tell you anymore.

Saturday 21/12/2013

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BELINDA!! HAVE A TOTALLY WOMBAT-E-DAY! <3  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Ok.. so this was the funniest day ever to start off with. This time mum got up really early to get on Team Speak with her friends in Britain! That's a long way away!!! But before that, while dad was sleeping she thought she would change the water in the bucket, and the washing up water from the river like we always do every day. Mum tied a cable to the bucket and told me that she was looking forward to talking with her friends in Britain, and then she threw the bucket in... BUT! As she wasn't concentrating the bucket went into the river, but so did the cable! Mum had forgotten to hold the end of it!! Mum stood there for a minute, next thing I knew "SPLASH!" Mum just jumped in the River with only her nightie on.... to get the bucket back which had already sunk out of sight! Mum went under the water and found the cable, then without too much fuss. She climbed out of the river dripping wet and we laughed and laughed. Mum changed and hung out her nightie. By this time it was time to talk to her friends, so I went back to bed for a snooze.

I woke up again when dad woke up and mum had just finished talking with her friends. It was already really hot again, so into the River we went.. on purpose this time!

By the end of the day we were really cooled off until mum couldn't find her fishing licence. Well! Mum turned the caravan upside down and went through EVERYTHING! Dad searched the car as well as the toilet tent.. but no! Mum was all flustered and sweaty and cranky pants again! She said she would have to buy another one so she wasn't happy. Then she opened the cutlery drawer and there was her fishing licence!  Mum said she always kept it in her wallet until she went fishing and it must have dropped out!

She told dad she was so flustered and sweaty she would have to go for another swim... so a quick dip and she felt a lot better.. I had my dinner then mum and I heard "YARGH!!" and a big "KER-SPLASH!"  Mum went running out with a towel wrapped around her and then I heard laughing... a lot of laughing! Dad had gone down to the river to get some fresh water to rinse our feet (paws) just before we go into the annex... he had slipped (silly dad had his thongs on) and fell into the River! Mum saw the bucket, dad hanging onto the bucket, dad's thongs floating down the river and a very, very wet towel that dad had around his waist. Mum stood there and laughed then 'carefully' crouched down and saved dad's thongs, the bucket and the towel.. Dad started to laugh as well... glad he wasn't hurt though, there are a lot of tree roots and tree limbs under the water, but it was where we get out so he knew it was deeper there.

Mum and dad are going fishing again tonight, but I am so sleepy... it is still hot but it will get cooler and it is supposed to rain tomorrow!

Take care until then... Here is a little video of "Sparky" mum and I made.

 Cheers!


                                              Sparky loved to sit on mum's finger

DIARY OF AN AUSSIE WOMBAT " Police Paddocks near Rutherglen Victoria

/Greetings!.... I am sorry I haven't been making many entries of late because we have all been having fun, going for drives, playing games, swimming and fishing! So I will bring all my fans up to date...
 
Well, all I can tell you is that mum, dad and I are really glad to have left the caravan park and got back to the bush! The caravan park people were absolutely lovely and nothing was too much, the showers were nice and they had a library and a pool… but the spots assigned to people with caravans and camper trailers are small and only one or two have shade right next to the cabins… and we were all pretty well squished in next to each other. Mum and dad discussed a couple of people in the more ‘advanced’ age bracket trying to tow and turn their brand spanking new HUGE caravan. Dad reckons people who buy vans that size and have an awful lot trouble trying to turn, line up and reverse a HUGE caravan like this one need their semi-trailer licence! After seeing the drama I am inclined to agree.
 

THEN! A lot of young people dragged their sorry butts into the park at 4:30 a.m. and woke EVERYONE up in the park! Dad was not happy… I woke up, and then mum woke up but said to dad ‘don’t worry about it’… Dad said “I suppose… we were young once too”… we all went back to sleep until it was the right time to get up. As I drifted off to sleep I tried to imagine mum and dad being totally irresponsible, staggering into a packed caravan park and laughing loudly discussing how ‘fucking drunk” they were….(Sorry for the naughty word). Dad started banging things that made a hell of a racket on purpose (naughty daddy), mum just shook her head and gave me my weetbix and milk, made herself a coffee and went outside for her usual cigarette and looked up to the Heavens  and said, “hello Fred! Hello mum and dad, thank you… We’re living the dream” then she saw all the rude boys and girls were asleep in their little tents and swags so she yelled out “GOOD MORNING!” one of the boys looked up worse for wear groaned and stuck his head back under the blanket. Mum giggled and sat down behind the van and then heard a stuffy woman complaining about mum as the cigarette smoke had wafted into her new caravan (the one that was as big as a Mack truck) so she went back inside when she had finished her coffee and told dad what had happened. Dad said “Oh really? Well then, let’s get cracking!” went outside and made as much banging and other annoying noises that he could. Mum and dad might fight a bit, but they make me laugh when they close ranks!  

We finished packing and with a final toot of the horn, we headed off to the Policeman’s Paddocks in Victoria on the banks of the Murray River near the town of Rutherglen. The paddocks got their name from the Victorian Police Troopers who used to spell their horses here. The River is flowing nicely and mum fell in as the mud on the banks was very slippery! She just sat there and laughed… and as she was half way in immersed the rest of herself in… Dad was not far behind. You couldn’t see the bottom of the river but it was clear where the current started to flow and where the quiet bits were too. Mum and dad went for two swims it was so nice!

We have two more additions to the camp site. An ensuite tent and a solar hot water shower. Mum suggested we get the toilet tent and shower before we left home but dad said we didn’t need them… Then he saw the other people with them at other free camp sites and said to mum “I think we should get those they are a good idea”… Mum said something under her breath and just nodded. We are all just sitting in the annex enjoying the breeze that is blowing through from the river.  We intend to stay here until after Christmas...Happy Days!

Day 1 POLICE PADDOCKS Monday 16/12/2013

Our first full day at Police Paddocks so named because in 1880 the Victorian Police or troopers spelled their horses here. (Remember Ned Kelly was near Rutherglen!) The flies here are not as bad as other places we have stayed, but little tiny grass wasps buzz and it sounds like there is a swarm! They don't hurt humans (or wombats more importantly)...  

Dad insisted on putting up the pop up toilet tent mum told him to be careful as the name says it all, but dad being dad said, "I know what I'm doing! I can do it"... Mum made that 'hmmm' noise again and looked at the roof of the annex, she seems to do that a lot when dad says something after mum has, it's like she's looking for something but never finds it! Mum stopped making her list and waited for a bit, I didn't know what for.. then all of a sudden from outside "BOING!!" went the pop up toilet tent... "YARRRR!" went dad who got an uppercut from the BOING! Mum smiled, shook her head and went back to making her notes. Mum had to go to bed early that night she said she threw her back out... I wonder how she still cooked dinner and tucked me in without it?

Day 2 Police Paddocks Tuesday 17/12/2013

Early morning and dad had gone for a swim and let mum sleep because of her back. I stayed with mum and watched dad swimming from the window. After breakfast, mum and dad had bacon and grilled tomato, I had some grass... We played hide and seek and I found the best place ever, until dad eventually found me and the game was over. It got hot so time for a swim again, It's nifty having a campsite right next to a river! Mum and dad made sure there was a safe swimming hole as I am not a good swimmer and the current is stronger than it looks.  Mum got out by climbing on the submerged roots of the River Gum trees, dad got out 'his way'... and fell back in two times attempting to get out. Boy was I laughing inside! Mum found a large tree that had been placed across the river on purpose to help with habitat for the Murray Cod, the Murray Crayfish, and some kind of turtle. She swam right out to the edge of the current and just floated all the way down to where dad and me waited. Dad waved and called out 'Bye Bye! See you in Mildura!" I got a bit panicky "MILDURA!!?" I cried, but dad assured me he was only joking and mum was fine. I looked up to see mum swim across the current to the exit point. Then lunch and after waiting for an hour or so we had another swim... it was just so nice in the water and later dad caught his very first Murray Cod. He put it back.

 

Day 3 Police Paddocks Wednesday 18/12/2013

The weather forecast for today is just really hot! So we all drove to Rutherglen for a look around. (I ate some grass)... Dad filled up the water container while mum went into the Information Centre, (I ate some more grass) Mum and dad talked with a nice lady at the centre named Marlene and she told mum that there were many Cregans' associated with the town. Mum and dad want to find some more stuff out as we only know that Poppy Jim was born in Rutherglen in a covered wagon in 1913... (While they talked I went outside and I ate more grass) Mum and Dad renewed their fishing licences and I found more yummy grass... Dad then said it was time for lunch. I told him I wasn't hungry and I had a tummy ache.

Day 4 Police Paddocks Thursday 19/12/2013

Housekeeping, cleaning with mum sweeping everything in the annex out, dad found a killed a huge black spider that was down a deep hole and mum said it made her skin crawl, and mum isn't really that scared of spiders... I hummed 'Red Back on the Toilet Seat' dad laughed but mum didn't see the funny side.

Went for a swim again at 10:30a.m. Today is going to be hotter than yesterday. Forecast 36!

We spent most of the day in the river as the van and even the annex was too hot... as the sun went down we all went fishing.. and I think mum must have caught a whale. It took the hook, and the rod bent all the way over and the reel just screamed out about 100 meters of fishing line and it ended ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE RIVER! Dad said whatever it was, it was huge! Mum got all cranky pants because she didn't land it. Mum also caught a Murray Crayfish but put it back... actually, it put itself back. There was a bit of a tug of war and mum tried to shake the hook and line enough to get the cray to let go... Dad went down to help and asked himself if he was brave enough to try and get the hook out by hand. Mum said "Don't do it!"... in the end, dad shook the line so hard that the Cray let go of the hook and very deliberately walked back into the river. I think he was as cranky as mum was! 

Well that's about it for now... I will write more when I can but tomorrow we will be going out into town for the entire day as the temperature will be creeping up to the 40 mark.

 

Where the Wombat is

 

The River

 

It's very nice here.. but very hot

 

Dad and me watching mum swim

 

Best hiding spot EVER!

 

Dad was shocked he caught the Murray Cod, it was way to small.

 

I ate too much grass....

 

 

 

CLARKE'S LAGOON CONSERVATION RESERVE DAYS 9 - 13

G'Day Fans! (tee hee) Technology is a wonderful thing.... I can catch up with my posting while mum and dad have stopped off in Albury/Wodonga for stores and that yucky long life stuff... Mum and dad also bought a shower tent and a solar camp shower.. yay! no more human icky feral smell!

It is awfully hot here on our little cement slab and the pebble ground make it even worse as it radiates up... we were thankful we had our air con for the van until an error message came up... Mum was not impressed and when we went to Jayco the poor man got a real mouthful.. and even copped it from dad (most unusual)... I am digressing, so I had better back track to our last free camp at Clarke's Lagoon Conservation Reserve.

A very pretty place, lots of wildlife especially native birds and lots of shade. We were lucky we scored a nice camp site that got the morning sun and was protected by shady trees in the afternoon. Mum and Dad set up and didn't take long before they found a nice swimming hole with a gravel bed we had to be very careful as the current there was strong and the last thing we wanted apart from free camping was free floating down the Murray past our campsite!

When mum and dad returned I informed them we had new neighbours a couple Dorothy and John both retired educated folk who had a nice big home on wheels, we sat over at their campsite at night and talked about fishing, this and that and the beauty and freedom of free camping. Tips were shared freely with both John and Dorothy and mum and dad gaining valuable info.... of course. I know all these tips and tricks in free camping, but sometimes a wombat just has to let his parents find out for themselves about these things.... hmmm sort of like parenthood.

I just relaxed here and wandered around by myself exploring old wombat holes and watching the water hens and the Galahs, and other native birds soar and call. Dad and mum wanted to fish but as they were told they would need a licence to fish in Victoria we had to drive into the nearest little town named "Walwa" to get some milk, bread and licences.. until we were told that as the Murray River is attributed to NSW, a NSW Fishing Licence is fine... it's if we decide to fish the lakes and dams, that's when we will need a Victorian licence... gee! I wish there was just one for all the States!
We returned home and mum even drove the Patrol! (Very Well I might add too!) Dad immediately set up a rod and line with a lure and got a horrible Carp... big ugly smelly things.. not native. Dad buried it as you are not allowed to return them to the water under any circumstances. He caught an even bigger one the next day and left it out to see if any animals would take it during the night... it was gone the next morning... no tracks, no drag marks nothing! We think an owl or a wedge tail eagle took it.

Not many photos this time as we just relaxed and enjoyed the site pretty much to ourselves. We all sat around the campfire at night and mum and dad cuddled (ick) as it was their 32nd wedding anniversary! We celebrated with cookies! (I had some nice green lush grass as it was part of a grazing land at one stage).... The reserve is a popular weekend camping area.. You really need to be prepared though, and provide EVERYTHING. including toilet stuff that you humans use. I poo cubed shaped pellets and they don't even smell... just like an Australian Wombat should! 

We set off for the Policeman's Paddocks tomorrow (the 15th of December) near Rutherglen Victoria... this is an important place for mum as it is where her dad was born on the side on a road in a covered wagon in 1913!
We are not sure if we will have internet coverage for my blog when we get there so this might be the last post until after Christmas.. so...  Wishing everyone a very safe and happy Christmas!! And if you are travelling down this way and you see a big patrol with a Wombat looking out the side window.. wave... because IT WILL BE ME!!!

until then.........

THE ANNEX WITH CAMP KITCHEN AND PANTRY

OUR MORNING VIEW FROM THE VAN

THE MURRAY RIVER

                                  WHERE THE STRONG CURRENT MEETS THE QUIET

                                                       OUR SITE UPON ARRIVAL

                                                          THE SWIMMING HOLE

                                            ROAD FROM SWIMMING HOLE TO VAN

                                                       HEY! I KNOW THAT GUY!

                                                     AT NIGHT.... WAS A BIT SPOOKY!

                                       DAD AND A CAMPFIRE, FEELING SECURE NOW.

                                                       GOOD MORNING WORLD!!!

                                                                 PRETTIES!

                                             VICTORIA ONE SIDE...NSW THE OTHER

DIARY OF AN AUSSIE WOMBAT Days 4 to 8 TOM GROGGINS.

Wow! Talk about difficult when bush camping and there's no internet connection! Very frustrating for me to blog and bring you all up to date on the adventures we are having! The last time I spoke to you all we were at Tumut and heading off to Tom Groggins... Well, we spent five days there. Totally beautiful and at the head of the Murray River. Crystal Clear water, and a swimming hole to boot... Dad pulled up on the Monday and it was hot.. and I mean hot.. It was a case of us all being 'cranky pants', which is funny as I don't wear pants... Still, once the tent and the annex, camp kitchen and other necessities were in place... we headed all of two minutes to the rushing water for a swim. Dad said we don't have any bathers mum said it wasn't an issue at all as we had the place to ourselves and I am totally embarrassed and shocked to inform you that mum just went straight in  au naturale! While dad in his undies and tee shirt said "WHAT!?" Being the good wombat I am I averted my eyes and kept a look out for other campers... Mum said it was bliss, cold? you bet! But the flys and the heat took it's toll on all of us so the dip was welcome. Me? I stayed out of the cold water deciding to just have a sponge bath with dad later on.. (Picture included). It was surrounded by mountains and was so isolated we couldn't get any radio signal, not on our walkie talkies or even on the car radio.

It is so very pretty at Tom Groggins (Part of the Kosciusko  National Park) and I made a lot of friends there mostly Kangaroos and there were some wombat holes but they have been taken over by naughtier bunnies and hares, Dad wanted to catch one and have rabbit for dinner but mum said no... so that was that!

On days 3 and 4 it stormed and of course we blame dad for that.... "It'll rain tomorrow... storming!" and the river came up and made the rapids too fast to be safe for a swim. Mum and dad were disappointed but they played Doctor Who Yahtzee  and Camp Poker a game devised by dad.....  with two jokers enabling 5 of a kind! that beats a Royal Flush... apparently, what would I know I am just a wombat.

The next morning mum got up first and went into the annex and stepped into a puddle! Oops... dad wasn't happy but putting their heads together they dug little trenches like the Romans did for the aqueduct's in past times. Slowly but surely the big puddle drained away from the van (nothing important got wet as the Penguin van is an off road model and is high off the ground. Soon the weather cleared and the bright night sky shone again, dad went to bed but mum and I stayed up and tried an experiment to video the night sky and the stars that seemed to join up... we could even see deep space! It was amazing to say the least, we haven't seen the video yet, but time will tell when we do watch it if it did work or not. Dad slept in but I woke to the smell of bacon, eggs and grilled tomatoes! I woke dad up real quick!

The next day, mum did some laundry and dad pottered around I decided it was my turn to go fishing... I didn't catch anything but it was fun trying! Dad caught two trout one rainbow and one brown but they were too small so dad put them back.

We are heading off to Clarke's Lagoon Conservation Reserve tomorrow and I am looking forward to it. I have put some more photos up of our stay at Tom Groggins right on the border of NSW/Victoria.

Until then...

THE SWIMMING HOLE

SETTING UP

"DAD! WAKE UP... MUM'S COOKING BACON!"

"BREAKER BREAKER.... NOPE.. NO SIGNAL DAD"

ME.. HAVING A GO AT FISHING

"WHAT DOES THIS SIGN SAY? BEWARE OF

HANGING WOMBATS?? HA HA!

CLEANLINESS IS NEXT TO WOMBAT-LINESS

AFTER THE RAIN... A DOUBLE RAINBOW!

MUM AND ME AT THE CAMP FIRE.. 7PM

BYE BYE TOM GROGGINS

DAY 2 and 3

Hey there people! It's me again... Tahune! Yesterday we were kind of slack and really tired from the trip.. but after morning tea, I am sorry to say.. mum went kind of nutsy Fagan on her 53rd birthday and decided to take a waist high dip in the Tumut (pronounced Doomut in Warijuri) River! I couldn't believe it... such reckless behaviour... Swimming in 8 degree water?? And on top of that the river was flowing fast and there's heaps of trees and submerged dangers in there....  Is she mad? Well, according to dad she is!

Ooh!  I forgot to tell you that we had two visitors just after brekkie! Mum even videoed them... two copperhead snakes not ten feet from our van! I was not coming out of the van until they had gone.

We all went for a walk after lunch and found the wetlands walk very peaceful and enjoyable. We even found a nice quiet spot where the water runs backwards with mum and dad intending to go fishing before dinner. I think I will just sit here and watch the river... It is just so peaceful and spinning rods and lures are a bit fast paced for me... you have to remember, I am a Wombat after all.

Mum returned after catching two trout, the first one was a good size and the second was a smaller rainbow, but she decided to follow the 'catch and release'.. She told me she had a lovely time so that's all that mattered, especially as it is her birthday today! Dad didn't even catch a cold... Ha Ha dad!

On Day 3

We woke after a great night's sleep, ate breakfast and then dad added to fuel to the fire and asked mum if she was going to take another dip? She said she was! This time dad is going to video it.... Brrrrr! It's freezing, mum told me where she went in was a safe swimming hole and not to worry as she knew the river and where it was safe and where it was not. Sure enough... dad got the whole thing on video. Mum wasn't in the water for too long as it doesn't take long to cool down in that water!

Off to the shops to stock up on longlife food and other groceries for the trip as we won't be seeing a bathroom or toilet block for some time. Dad worries a lot.. mum said she doesn't care as long as she's there to tell dad to 'pull his head in' occasionally, we'll be fine. Although I did hear mum say under her breath "the two week bet is looking good!".

I intend to do some fishing as we are leaving here tomorrow and heading off to Tom Groggins camping area in the National Park. I am looking forward to seeing the Murray River (I am a Taswegian after all)... But for now? I am off to enjoy the River while the sun sets..

Cya!