Christmas - New Year Getaway 2012

Hello all
firstly Seasons greetings to all.
 
On Boxing bay I loaded up the Camper and headed off to The Honeysuckles (between Seaspray and Golden Beach on the 90 Mile Beach) and set up on the lawn of my nephews beach house. An overnighter turned into 2 and a half days....................
We rounded up the kids and headed off to have a look at the wreck remains of the Trinculo, a 320 tonne steel hulled ship wrecked on the beach nearby in 1879.

remains of the Trinculo at Wreck beach

Trinculo

After a quick trip back home, it was a quick turn around and head for Dargo. I headed for Angusvale in the Mitchell River National Park. The road into Angusvale is a strange one, the road originally was built to construct a new Dam on the Mitchell River back in the mid 1980's, but never eventuated due to the Green movement and a change of Government, by memory. This left a major gravel road leading in complete with 'Trucks use low gear signs and Safety Ramps in the middle of nowhere.

Angusvale from the road in

All the campsites by the river were packed  out, so I only stayed the one night, it would be a nice place to stay a few days with less people around.
I decided to drop into Wonnangatta Caravan Park to have a look, I have probably  driven past 30 times over the years and never been in....
what a lovely place, very friendly hosts and great setting, although the road in is a bit steep..........

By the river at Wonnangatta Caravan Park

I tried the awning out at Wonnangatta

Guy's Wonnangatta Caravan Park

Dargo was very busy with the Christmas crowd, so I kept moving heading up onto the Dargo High Plains. First stop was Grant Historic Area, Grant in the 1860's had a population of over 3000 and boasted 15 hotels but today the bush is claiming it back. the bracken is returning and there is not a lot to be seen. 25 years ago when I last visited the townsite was much more prominent. I don't know why but on this leg I took hardly any photos........even with the high plains being quite scenic.
I would have liked to drive the Blue Rag Range Track but with the camper on it was out of the question.......this is one of the most spectacular ridge top tracks in the country.
Upon reaching the Great Alpine Road I had to decide left to Bright or right to Omeo,  having only been in Omeo late November I turned left towards Bright.
Bright was full.....................I think the entire population of Melbourne had gone to Bright for Christmas, I continued on to Myrtleford for the night. The following day was a transit day getting from Bright to Jamieson. At the beginning of December when I went to Woods Point I noted what a lovely Caravan Park it was at Jamieson and promised myself a stay there when next in the area............Full......so New Years Eve was spent at Skipworth Reserve (a freecamp) on the Goulburn River.
It was a warm New Years Day I started off on the Jamieson - Licola Road over Mount Skene. the road climbed rapidly to the Mount Sunday Road turnoff. 
I stopped here to check the tiedowns on the Camper and to answer the call of nature, to my surprise upon shaking the dribbles I turned to face an elderly Canadian and his wife who were cycling the mountains. 
They had taken the train to Traralgon, riden to Licola (no mean feat 100k) ) upon finding the Licola Store closed and unable to restock supplies riden over Mt Skene (just shy of 1600 metres) down Lazzarini Spur (4x4 1300m drop tp Woods Point to restock, back up Lazzarini Spur (1300m climb) to me meeting them at Mt Sunday turnoff...................I think I need to go have a lay down now...........they were heading to Wrens Flat, Mitchell Homestead Ruins, Tobacco Flat, Sheepyard Flat to Mansfield....
For the people that know this area this would be a tough trip in a four wheel drive, they were on pushbikes................................

atop Mt Skene looking Towards Mt Buller (snowgums burnt 2007 fires)

parked at the lookout Mt Skene

 It was a leisurely run down the south side of the Great Divide to Licola, with a camp on the Wellington River for the night.

Wellington River Campsite with outdoor spa

The previous occupiers of this campsite had thoughtfully built a outdoor spa in the river and after a windy night i was off home again.
until next time folks, my guess is it won't be long ......