A few of years ago, back in the early days of BoyF organising camping trips with friends, a weekend at Cathedral Ranges was planned. Notorious among our friends, it's The Camping Trip that Flooded. In fact, half of Victoria flooded due to the torrential rain!
I arrived at the camping ground on Saturday morning, gettting as far as the first carpark. I drove a lap, not seeing my friends, before turning around and heading straight back home again! Those who'd arrived Friday night awoke to lots of water - there's talk a trench was dug in the middle of the night to direct water around one tent rather than through it - and the toilet could only be reached by wading. By the time they'd given in and packed up, the front entrance of the camping ground was flooded and they had to leave cross-country out the back!
It's quite surprising we hadn't been back to Cathedral Ranges since. ;)
Until this weekend. And it rained.
On Friday night it rained. Putting up tents in the dark and the rain, that's...invigorating.
On Saturday it rained. We moved the chairs into the kitchen tent, out of the rain. The sky cleared and we moved the chairs back around the fire, because of course it was also very cold. We moved the chairs into the tent. We moved the chairs out of the tent. And repeat, repeat, repeat.
And on Sunday it rained. Ok, showered in the morning and thankfully saved the pouring for the afternoon when we were already packed up and on the way home.
Although I'm exaggerating only a little - it was cold and wet weekend - it was also a great weekend. Despite the lack of showers and toilets that I hold my breath to use each time, camping relaxes me. Disconnecting from technology and screens - no TV, phone, internet, Facebook, Instagram... - and reconnecting with friends is wonderful. Necessary.
Menu:
Saturday - Pancakes with fruit. Turkish rolls with ham, cheese and salad. Damper with butter. Roast lamb with red wine gravy and roast potato, carrots and pumpkin. Chocolate self-saucing pudding.
Sunday - Eggs, bacon and hash browns. Chicken burgers with egg and cheese on turkish bread.
It's a hard life out in the bush. ;)
See that big peak in the photo above; BoyF and a few friends walked up there on Saturday. I greatly enjoyed my time sitting around the fire, knitting as I chatted, instead. I did walk one of the trails Sunday morning, just a bit more gently inclined though. ;)
Our first camping trip in months, it was a great weekend. Just a bit damp.
