With the exception of Brian & Ann (who were already at Camp Cobark) the rest of us met up at Beresford. Having failed badly in task No1 as trip leader I handed over the reins to Adrian and decided to sulk at the tail for the trip to Cobark. A stop over at Gloucester for birthday cake and lunch (happy birthday Sue) and we were on our way to Cobark. Laura, Lauren, Nicole and Mykaela were all eager to get there. The purpose of the trip was for the girls to go on a week long riding camp. They had lobbied hard, saved even harder and at last they were going.
Arriving at Cobark the crowds are definitely up for Alan & Dianne. We had to squeeze all four camper trailers into a tight grouping, as the waterfront sites were mostly taken. Saturday afternoon was spent lazing away before the need to collect firewood became a priority. A quick trip up the hill opposite the campsite found more wood than we would need. Brian's saw work was superb, as was Adrian's roof rack packing. Arriving back we had a special happy hour, with birthday cake and a song for Sue.
After dinner I found myself sharing the camper with 4 talkative girls. One in particular kept the talking going even in her sleep! Most of the group (except the girls) were out an about at 5.30 am. The fact there was a queue for the shower at that time surprised me.
After breakfast, Jim decided that he would see where he could find a stretch of water where he could try out the kayak he had brought with him. The plan discussed was to launch at the scout camp on the Barrington River and Judy would drive around to Landers Bridge at Rawdon Vale and fish him out again. A recce of the pick up point proved that this would not work as most of the farmers bordering on the river have declared it off limits!
Adrian & Sue, Brian & Ann and I decided to check out a few of the tracks in the tops. The girls wanted to soak up the atmosphere at camp. With the Gavinator in my car we all set off. The first track we were looking for turned out to be through private property and off limits. The next had a locked gate 100 metres in. We decided then to visit some of the same tracks used at Easter. We took the tracks in a different order, some in the reverse direction. Lunch was at the Polblue Falls, which was running at full steam. We all commented that Jim might have has some fun in there with his kayak An early arrival back at camp found the kids in the river on Jim's kayak, all seeming to have mastered the process.
Extended happy hour was now the plan. We all gathered around the Hanrahan's shady digs and relaxed before realizing that a top up of the firewood was required.
Monday morning must have dragged for the girls. The countdown to the start of camp started early and was refreshed every ten or so minutes, with the usual question: "How long till Pony Camp?" Time was spent in the river on Jim's kayak, until Jim advised the future Olympians that he packed and ready to go, and unfortunately that meant the kayak was going too. A big thanks to Jim for letting the kids use his craft as it made a big impact on all of them. I know what a few of them want for Christmas!Time to hand over the girls: "Aunty Lyn" promised to take good care of them. All they have to do is eat everything on their plate, wash and wipe up and make their beds. How easy is that? I guess we will find out next week, when the girls are dragged back home.
Colin.