Friday 2nd January.
We worked Friday and both finished at 2.30pm before heading off towards Lake St.Clair. We travelled along the M1, but we took the turn off before the Hunter Expressway so it took us a little bit longer to get there as we had to go through a few towns. When we arrived, a bit after 6pm we went to the office, which is an on site caravan and paid her for the family for the three nights we were going to be there.
We tried to find a flat spot to set up, which was hard, as the whole area has a slight incline all the way to the water, we finally settled on a spot and started to unpack the trailer. We were set up and having dinner, which was pre-cooked from home, teriyaki chicken on wraps with greens, which the kids didn’t really like. We got a fire going, although it wasn’t cold, but is nice to have when you are camping. The kids were in bed by a bit after 10pm, us not long after that.
Saturday 3rd January.
We seemed to all sleep well, managing a slight sleep in! Megan, Zarah, Keira and Kye all got up and went down to the water, then came back and put their cosies on, grabbed their boogie boards and went swimming….and all before 8am! We got up and had breakfast in peace for once, while they were out in the middle of the lake! They came back as we had our coffees in hand and breakfast themselves. It looked like it was going to be a beautiful day, was quite warm already and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.
We had planned not to do anything during this weekend and it looked like it was going to turn out that way too, as Megan, Zarah, Keira and Kye all seemed to entertain themselves. I got my paddle board out and they all took turns with that and had a lovely time in the middle of the Lake.
We got a fire going, not so much for warmth, but also for cooking dinner, which was steak, sausages and salad. They all had marshmallows after dinner and we spent the night pointing out satellites and shooting stars, the moon was full and bright and it was a very pleasant evening.
The kids all went to bed before 10pm, we stayed up for a little longer, Jason actually going for a quick swim.
Sunday 4th January.
Had a good sleep, was lovely lying there listening to the water lapping against the waters edge. Everyone was up not long after, the water sports starting not long after they got up. The kids all played after breakfast and we had a slow morning, having a lazy start to the day again, coffee in hand as usual. I played with Megan’s remote control car, as there was a good track to give a good go.
We all stopped for lunch of crackers and various toppings, a staple for us while camping. It wasn’t long before we found our next water activity though. Someone had left behind a large blow-up water thing that had seats in it. Jason blew it up with the trucks compressor only to discover it had a leak, hence why it was probably left behind. Lucky we have everything though, as he did his best and glued the holes together, which seemed to work, as it didn’t go down. He attached a long piece of rope to it and sent it out into the middle. I lasted for a little while in it, but then swam back to shore as the kids climbing and jumping off it felt like I was on a boat in the middle of the ocean! They had a lovely time with it, lasting for and hour or two before the glue gave way and the the thing slowly leaked, until it didn’t float anymore.
We got the fire going to sit around while we had dinner which was another camping staple, spaghetti carbonara, a meal that everyone enjoys. It was another beautiful evening, albeit a little cloudy though. They all had marshmallows again, then headed off to bed, a little earlier than the night before. We stayed up for a little while longer, then headed off ourselves.
Monday 5th January.
Had a restless night, was maybe a little bit too warm in the tent, despite having the sides down to let what little breeze there was through. We were all up and having breakfast by 8am, with the kids all swimming after breakfast today. We weren’t rushing at all, but we did slowly start to pack down the trailer.
We finished packing up the trailer, then all had a quick swim as it was so hot, before making our way back to Sydney. We left after 2pm but had to stop and get some diesel for the truck, also stopping at Maccas for ice-cream cones. We found our way back to the main road and made it onto the Hunter Expressway for an easy trip back into Sydney, not really hitting any traffic at all. Was home after 6pm, unpacking the trailer for the washing and cleaning to begin!!!
Was a great short getaway where the plan to do nothing actually paid off for once, everyone came back fully charged to begin our next adventure…..off to Victorian High Country. Although the kids enjoyed this trip, as did I, Jason didn’t really like the area, a. because there was no flat areas at all, and b. every man and his dog (literally) could go there as it isn’t 4WD accessible only. We will make it back again, but maybe after the second time, we will find another place to visit.