Destination Paradise

Well, it wasn’t exactly destination paradise.  We arrived at the riverside site late evening and the kookaburras cackled with laughter as they watched us set up camp in the dark.  It took us an hour to work out how to turn the van seats into a double bed.  The toilets were about a mile away and you had to memorise a five digit number to gain entrance.  I wrote the number on my hand but forgot to take my reading glasses with me.

riverside campsite

Saturday dawned bright and sunny and we drove to Berry, a pretty country town with attractive heritage buildings.  We had a late breakfast, Sarah and I explored the shops while Paul waited patiently outside with the dog.  

Buddy barked at every dog he met including the ‘collection dog’ for Guide Dogs for the Blind.   

Then back to Seven Mile for a walk and a paddle along the windswept beach.

The Bearded One joined us for camp supper on Saturday.  Sarah carefully defrosted and stirred the vegan chilli that Paul had prepared earlier in the week.  

“Why are there leaves in this chilli?”

“Must be falling down from the eucalyptus tree.”

Sarah plucked them out and tossed them to the ground. 

“Why are there mushrooms in the chilli?” asked the Bearded One.

“Dammit, this is my vegan bourguignon that I made for a special dinner party and those leaves are bayleaves!”

Oops, bad parents had taken the wrong box out of the freezer.  It was very nice bourguignon.

Sunday we went to the Crooked River Winery for lunch and wine tasting.  Their red wines are sublime.  I got a bit carried away with the tasting and was pissed before I even sat down to eat.  The restaurant had prepared a dog friendly table for us on the verandah. 

It would have been delightful on a warm, sunny day but sadly the weather was cool and blowing a gale.  At least Buddy was happy.  And the specially prepared vegan food was delicious.

Sarah looking like the French Lieutenant's Woman

The sun was back out on Monday so we headed back to the beach.  Sarah was keen to get out with her board so I braved the rough surf and rogue sharks and had a jolly time with my body board.  

No, not paradise but I know how incredibly lucky I am to still be able to do stuff like this.  Thank you Sarah for trying so hard to make it perfect for us, you are a star. (And thank you Bearded One for bringing beer down to the beach.)

Gone Camping

Normal service will resume shortly (if I survive).

Tent Wrestling

Sarah and Buddy are going to sleep in a pop-up tent when we go camping this weekend so Paul and I, ever thoughtful, decided to get the tent out and give it an airing outside.  Paul unzipped the bag and pulled the tent out and was almost knocked off his feet.  They’re not wrong about pop-up!  No messing about with poles and ropes, an instant tent.  Just a couple of guy-ropes to fix it in place.

Yesterday’s storm hit us without warning.  We managed to squeeze the tent back indoors through the patio doors and then tried to figure out how to take it down, twist it into a neat circle and back into the carrying bag.  I read out the instructions while Paul wrestled with the evil beast. Buddy just watched the proceedings with complete disbelief.

A Taste of Egypt

this is how it is supposed to look

The other night we had a particularly tasty Egyptian dish at the Tramsheds; it was called Koshari.  I’ve found a ‘foolproof’recipe by Egyptian author Ahdaf Soueif so I thought I would give it a go for supper tonight. I hope Sarah enjoys being a guinea pig.

It’s a dish made up of layers of pasta, rice and lentils, a spicy tomato sauce and then topped with sweet caramelised onions.  I’ve just made the tomato sauce, it seems to be incredibly piquant and I think perhaps I should have used less lime juice.  The rest I will assemble this evening.  I'll let you know how it turns out.

If it all goes wrong I shall blame the thunder, hail, lightning, manic barking dog and a pop-up tent in the lounge. 

my attempt

Verdict: It was quite good.  A little less lime juice in the sauce and loads more onion needed for the topping.

A Life of Luxury

 

the bearded one and his camper van

Things are warming up – 31 degrees this morning.  We went down to the doggy beach at Sirius Cove and Buddy and I both paddled in the shallows.  Buddy’s legs are so short it only takes a very small wave to swamp him.

This weekend we are driving down the coast to Seven Mile Beach at Gerroa.  As the name suggests it is seven miles of dog friendly beach.  There are some nice country towns to explore in the area and a very nice vineyard at Crooked River.

Paul contacted the holiday park at Gerroa.  They were fully booked apart from the honeymoon chalet with spa or some riverside camping sites.  No contest in my mind, a choice between an air-conditioned chalet with double bed, shower, spa, etc. or sleeping in the back of the bearded one’s VW Camper Van?

Sadly the honeymoon chalet does not allow dogs so the VW Camper Van it is.  Paul and I get to sleep in the camper van with the surf boards while Sarah will cuddle up to Buddy in a tent. (The bearded one will be away in Melbourne on business.) Crocodiles don’t live this far south but I just hope the mosquitoes aren’t hungry.