Testing the camper car
Testing the camper car
At last, we are giving the camper car a proper test, after two previous failed attempts (both of them involve interesting stories).
Mid-week we headed along the South Gippsland Highway, for an initial overnight at the Fish Creek hotel (lovely Art Deco building, but inside we found pretty ordinary pub dinner, and a pretty ordinary handful of motel units out the back).
Next morning, after a camping breakfast in our room, as well as Jen’s half-hour FaceTime gym appointment with trainer Lorri, we get on the road for the final 60km to Tidal River in the Wilsons Prom national park. Beautiful scenery, lovely low scrubby bush, and magnificent views of Mount Oberon and other elevated features on the Prom, as well as glimpses of Corner Inlet to our left, Waratah Bay to our right, and the rocky islets off the western side of the Prom.
We took a short side track, and came across kangaroos, emus, and lots of Banksias. We also diverted briefly to the mount Oberon car park, which was packed presumably with vehicles of keen hikers (several great walking tracks start from there). Some track closures because of recent damage from fire and rain.
Tidal River was surprisingly busy, but still with plenty of room - it’s a big campground. The weather was a bit patchy, so we set up slowly, with coffee the first agenda item. The solar panels were getting enough sun immediately to start charging the battery - a big part of the test involves seeing how effectively we can keep the fridge going. The second battery charges nicely while we are on the road, but i don’t know how long the fridge will stay cold when we are stationary, and it is running off the battery. I’m happy while the sun is shining.
We erected the awning for some lunchtime shade, and later the awning tent. We can choose whether to sleep in the back of the camper car or drag the mattress out into the awning tent. We’ll see.
As darkness begins to descend, we are visited by more characters from Tiddalik.
The night was clear, I could see all the usual southern sky suspects as well as a couple that are often harder to spot - the Greater and Lesser Magellanic Clouds.
Mounting the bed platform was quite a physical challenge, but we eventually managed it - strategic placement of climbing aids is a key.
Going to sleep was accompanied by the sounds of the bush, and when we got up next morning we found that a very old and very wise wombat had conducted a forensic examination of everything we had left outside - a crate containing our cooking and eating gear. We had been warned of the high levels of interest of these nocturnal visitors in the food of interlopers but had not realised their interest would include such a detailed search of everything even remotely food related. An early morning wash up was needed.
Over a breakfast of stovetop coffee, with toast and Vegemite/honey, Jen and I declared the test a complete success, agreeing that we still love camping.
Now the awning tent is up, for trial completeness we will sleep there tonight, wombats permitting.
What has changed since previous camping trips, I hear you ask? Our dependence on electricity has taken a quantum leap, particularly the need to recharge devices regularly. Perhaps this would be a lesser issue were we to camp away from phone and Internet connectivity. That will introduce a whole new set of challenges.
25 March 2022