Marysville Caravan Park

This last weekend we took a trip up to Marysville, Vic. We used this as a base to get up to the snowy slopes of Lake Mountain Alpine Resort, where they were having a Family fun day/weekend. We had been promising Ben that we would go up to the snow just as soon as there was any.

We stayed at the delightful Marysville Caravan Park, which is situated right in the heart of Marysville. Complete with the Steavenson River running right through the park, this camp ground had a lot to offer it’s few inhabitants. There are wonderfully new and well appointed ablution blocks with hot showers, a coin operated laundry with both washers and dryers, a kitchen area with microwave and stove, a giant jumping pillow (it seems these are everywhere these days and are the preference over the trampoline), a kids playground, ample sized camping spots, community fire pits next to the river, and very close proximity to the town centre (a 5 minute walk).

We had a late check-in after only being able to leave Melbourne at peak hour (5pm). It took us the better part of 3.5 hours for what should have been a 2 hour journey. Next time I’ll take a half day and we will be able to get to our destination, set up camp and get ourselves ready for the evening before 5pm.

Whilst we had a bit of an incident on the first night, all of our fellow campers were very friendly and we had a good chat with everyone there (just about). Most of the others were older (read: older than us) couples with their Jayco’s, some of which were travelling as a group. There were a couple of other families with kids, which meant that Ben had someone to play with. He’s such a confident little guy. Just walks right up to the older kids and asks “Hey, can you be my friend?” “Let’s play run and chase!”

Dealing with the cold

It was bloody freezing on Sunday/Monday mornings. Literally. But we pulled through the night in our little tent with the help of a ten blade oil heater; bought for $20 off of eBay. What a difference it made. It got down to –3 on Monday morning, and it showed. The heater had kept us toasty warm in the main tent and the canvas was nice and dry. However the annex roof was frosty both inside and out. We had some fun warming up the annex to try and dry out the roof & walls, but it was still a bit damp come time to pack away. So it was out with all the canvas once we got home.

Kids love camping, and they love to help

I know Ben loves going camping. He says so. Often. And he was very upset that we had to leave, but was great at helping pack up the trailer. Stella on the other hand can’t talk yet and so we assume that she is having fun. Although, the change to her moany attitude was pronounced as soon as she had had a warm bath (in a warm room) and was allowed to roam freely around the house once again – She was fairly restrained at the campsite due to the river being so close. As she gets older though she will have lots more fun and will be able to join in with Ben’s play.

 

The caravan site itself is in such a beautiful setting. In amongst the hills and the trees it is very picturesque. And when the sun shines it is difficult to leave, as we found out this last Monday (our last day there).

Will we go back? Most definitely. So all that remains is to set another date and pack up the camper trailer. Oh, and wait for a bit more snow!

 

Dude, Where’s my Milk?

And my beer, my port, my bacon, my tomato sauce and my iPhone cable?

So we wake up this morning and I roll out of bed to make the clan some tea. Please note this is not just some tea, this is Imfrikkinstarvingwherethehellsmytea kinda tea. I open up the fridge (eski to Australians) and stare into it for a good 15 seconds. Then I look around the kitchen area and the back of the trailer. Then I ask “Babe, where’d you put the milk?”, to which the answer came back “In the fridge” “Are you sure?” “Yes!” So I stare at the fridge again half expecting miracles to happen, half bemused. “It’s not there. And by the way, there’s no much else it here for that matter either”

Penny drops. Eventually (Hey, it was early and it was a disruptive night, I was tired). Someone bastard had decided to help themselves to a few goodies during the night while we slept not 3 feet away. And they must have been shopping too as a number of our neighbours in the caravan park also had a few things missing out of their fridges/eskis.

My guess is that a few “young people” (really what is this world coming to these days) had been out on the piss/weed, got the munchies and decided that a late night shopping trip through the camp site was just what they needed. The local Woolies was closed at that time anyhow. That’s the limit of my speculation.

I’m really in two minds about this whole incident. On one hand stealing is stealing, no matter what it is and it should not be tolerated. Which is why I guess the the local Sergeant took it very seriously and got statements from all the ‘victims’ as well as questioning a lot of the youth that was out and about at the time. It’s also not great press for the caravan park. If word gets out (yeah, I’m not help much am I?) then there could be a decline in the number of visitors to the camp site. And this town needs as much tourism as it can get – it is still rebuilding after the horrific fires of 2009.

On the other hand, it was a few items of food and drink. Nothing of value was touched and there was plenty around I can assure you. In fact, the iPhone cable that was taken was attached to an iPhone at the time – they left the phone. They even left me a couple of beers. No one was hurt (except for my daughter who had to wait nearly 30 mins for her tea). So it wasn’t really a big deal. I was more just shocked that I couldn’t have my tea ….

The one thing I find interesting is that this type of thing has never happened around here before, Or so I am told. I’ve been camping in many places, in many countries, and have never had anything go missing at all. Until now. I’m going to chalk this one up to experience and count my blessings that nothing of value was taken (insurance would never have paid out for that). Next time we shall be more careful of what we leave lying around.

To those who helped themselves; I hope the bacon was as good as I imagined it would be. Don’t try it again. I’m ready this time.