Camping in 6 Star Territory

Welcome to the Wolgan Valley - 6 star accommodation

 
 

Ok, so we weren't exactly staying in 6 star style, but for the price we paid I reckon we got a much better deal. So we didn't have a lap pool outside our room, nor room service (well one of us did I guess), nor massages on the house and all the other things that Emirates has to offer to their 2K a night visitors... BUT we did have our own private condo (the swag - very cosy indeed!), a beautiful river to swim in (a little cool at the moment, maybe in a month or so!), views galore, and all at a price that one couldn't possibly refuse - FREE!!!! Thank you Wollemi National Park, we LOVE you!

Yep, this was LM's first Real Deal camping experience. Yes, the nationals isn't a bad camping experience (plenty of music and things to do), but this was bush style. When we arrived I asked what LM he thought. "Beautiful" was the reply. I heard that regularly throughout the eve and next morning (views, moths, butterflies and other random objects and things).

LM and Max

6 Star accommodation????

Upon arrival he quickly found a new mate - Max. This was great as it gave me the opportunity to erect the swag (though I had "help" from LM as he wanted to make sure the hammer I was using was up to scratch?????). As I kicked back with a camp mug of cask red, LM was "running, running" all over the camp site squealing with delight and chasing poor 3 year old Max about the place.

I took him up to check out the "facilities" we would be using for our stay. He seemed a little more impressed by the motorbikes beside the loos (can't possibly imagine why). He was a little confused that he was unable to flush these... and the fact he could see "poo" in them...

It was a late bed for one of us and a pretty rotten nights sleep for both of us. The swag probably wasn't the wisest choice given that I have quite a nice tent that sleeps 6! Next time I will head out for two nights to make erecting the tent worth it (mind you, with the lack of sleep it would have been worth it for one!).

Even though there was a late night, there wasn't a sleep in! Arrrrrr! ONE of us just had to get up. I awoke to "boy!"... LM was excited to get out and play with his new mate Max. Anyway, he had to wake. Max's Dad was lucky enough to get himself a nice big sleep in (well prob only til 7:30, but it was better than us!).

Up and in undies, LM HAD to find out what it was like to poo in a room with the BEST view one could almost imagine (what a spoilt child). After the poo, it was off to the loo to deposit the deposit :( As he couldn't flush, he decided it was necessary to peer in at all that had gone before!!!! He was very interested and it was difficult to prise him away.

After a breakfast of hot chocolate and warm wheet bix we packed up our swag (taking a little longer than putting it up due to playing with Max!) - not quite sure why it took so long for Max's Dad to pack up his tent... he didn't have to deal with his child, but I had 2!!!!! Both wanting saltanas and the ball and to play with the potty (must admit I felt pretty good seeing Max the 3 year old in a nappy and my little 2 year old man in his undies (ok, yeah I know, so what he has accidents every now and then..... yeah alright, almost every day... you can't win everything).

After packing we headed up the road a bit, parked and I carried LM across the river and we went for a walk (only about 1.5km). We were both too tired to do much more, but LM was great and walked most of the way without too much fuss, but it was pretty slow going!

We drove home.

LM was asleep just as after we hit the dirt. I wished I was!

He woke up when we arrived home. Clearly not having had enough sleep, I strongly encouraged him to have another one with me after we had unpacked the car. It was a nice 2 hour sleep :)

Anyway, that was our little flash camping trip. I would have gone for longer, but didn't want to commit on our first trip out. Next time we will do at least 2 nights!

LM was very lucky before we went out camping. Not only did he have Sash and the dog to hang out with, but as they were leaving Grandpa turned up! Talk about excited! Grandpa stayed for one of the best banana breads ever and what was probably a pretty average cup of tea. Unfortunately it was only a quick visit as he was off to play at a wedding in Bathurst. Oh well, LM thought it was a pretty great surprise!

He also got to play with Ruby for a good hour and a half before we headed out camping AND had a real treat for dinner - Fish and Chips on the drive out to our 6 star accommodation!

What a day and a bit! It has pretty much taken us til now to get over it...

2, 2, 2!

LM has turned 2 (just in case he hasn't told you)

Well... the party that I have been busily (and I mean INSANELY busily) working towards over the last few weeks has been and gone. It went well by pretty much all accounts. Who knows really what went on in the preceding weeks? Not I! All I know is that it was busy. Invites. Knock down wall. Build path. Out of bricks. Hmm... build ramp! Make veggie burgers. Make cake. Clean house. Keep small child entertained while all this goes on.

I am sure that there were a few trips out into the bush so little man could carry Mummies camera and take happy snaps of orchids. He is thankfully discovering a love of bushwalking (and I have been working on it!). Rockclimbing may also have made an appearance, a few trips to the pool even!

Anyway, on the birthday morning someone small (I wonder who) was bouncing out of his bed and literally jumping into mummies room (you can ask Grammy for her confirmation on that point) at 6am! Not my idea of a great start to the day, but LM was just a little excited! I now wish that I had not worked him up into such a frenzy for his birthday. A number of reasons for this: a day where I wished he was still in nappies (my carpet and bed copped it!), no daytime sleep, being woken at 6am, and no sleep till 7!

Daddy arrived just in time to save Mummy! Grammy had taken a quick trip to the shops and left Mummy with an over-excited LM and a heap of things to finish off (salads, moving furniture etc). Presents were a BIG feature of most of the morning: ball, backpack and contents, digger and friends, books, books, more books, wheelbarrow, bike.. you know... the usual!

At about 10am the hoards began to arrive... starting with SJ and young Hamish! Mmmm bubbly stuff for mummy for later, present for LM and some flowers to make the house beautiful!

Then my world turns into a bit of a blurr!

People everywhere. Thankfully no rain! Food! Kids! Parents! Grandparents! Wow. not sure how many people there were exactly, but I know it was 16 kids plus about 1 adult per child.

Pass the parcel

There was salad, veg burgers, sausages and cake galore. the chooks were terrorised. the house was trashed (pee and sand everywhere), LM was so distracted by his workbench that it was not possible to get anything even remotely sensible out of him (not to mention his very POOR toileting skills for the day) "building" "building" "building" "building!"

Anyway, he eventually went to bed. And slept. Unfortunately not til 8am as I thought (hoped) he might. Up before 7am and into the day (thankfully without the vigor and enthusiasm as the day before! Grammy left. We had lunch with friends. Slept - LONG sleep!

Tuesday - bushwalk taking photos of orchids. Both Eamon and I had a great time out in the bush. So many exciting things out there! Centipedes, orchids, other bugs, other flowers, birds, rock climbing, and view! Too short a sleep. Pool in back yard. Poo spreading (horse poo) - long story and pretty funny! A trip out saving friends from a fuel shortage. Poo in bed next to mum (YUCK!)

Today (Wednesday), school for LM. A whole lotta staring into space for Me! Mind you, there was a bushwalk, yoga and I took LM to the pool for the arvo. He had so much fun, but had to get out of the pool before he went fully blue!