Lakes Entrance

Like all great travelling blogs it seems to be standard that when you are almost home you stop blogging and never quite finish it. Even though it is 9 months since we returned home I still plan on finishing this blog so I can print it out in a book as our keep sake of the trip. So with Christmas decorations’ starting to appear in stores it is time to write up what we did and where we were last Christmas.

We were heading to Lakes Entrance in Victoria for our Christmas, well Christmas Eve at least. After staying the night before in a rather dirty side of the road rest stop (which we arrived at after dark) we had another slow start because Thea wanted to get the traditional rice and almond pudding dessert made before we headed to our caravan park.

We arrived in Lakes Entrance late morning and proceeded to set up camp, do our 4 loads of washing and start preparing for our Christmas dinner. After another trip to the shops for some last minute supplies and decorations we returned to our site to decorate our Christmas tree. There were plenty of large family groups in caravans and tents setting up around us, (complete with Christmas lights and decorations) and with the play equipment near by we had plenty of people watching available. The owners had informed us that there had been some robberies the previous night and to make sure our belongings were secure. Apparently the thieves had striked twice in the last week and on one occasion walked off with a camper’s esky full of beer. Oh what a luxury it was to have a caravan and car that were both lockable.

The kids set about decorating a nearby tree and placing presents underneath while I cooked our traditional Christmas Eve roast pork dinner complete with red cabbage and the pudding prepared earlier. I kind fellow camper was concerned that maybe we planned on leaving the presents out overnight but this was certainly not our plan. We were only staying one night at Lakes Entrance so everything was out for only the one evening and packed away before Tig and I could rest our heads. 

Christmas 2011 Lakes Entrance

Before dinner we all showered, put on our best clothes and enjoyed a special fizzy drink for the kids. We even decorated our table for this event and sat down to a very nice pork roast. Somehow the kids managed to convince us to have presents before dessert and soon the sound of paper ripping was evident. The parents might have been quickly swayed, as we knew there was a thunderstorm on it way and impending darkness. Dessert quickly followed where Kai was the lucky boy who found the whole almond and claimed his prize.

All clean and ready for dinner 

Kids just a little excited

Roast Pork Christmas Dinner

Kai unwrapping one of his presents 

Ella's new music box

The winner and his slightly chewed almond

After the Christmas tree was un-decorated and while washing up was taking place in the camp kitchen (which overlooked the play ground) the kids took to the equipment with the masses of other children and stayed there till way after dark.

I must admit it was a little strange celebrating our Christmas with many other kids and adults spectating our event. There were a few confused children as to why we were opening presents and having a sit down dinner on Christmas Eve when they had to wait till the next day. We always celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve but I never knew it was a spectator sport.

With the kids finally tucked up in bed, almost everything outside packed away and Santa having visited (before we locked him out), it was time for some sleep for Tig and I. 

Fast asleep and waiting for Santa 

Our make shift tea towel stockings

Kai and Maddi were the first up to see what was in their make shift tea towel stockings from Santa. Ella was soon woken and we enjoyed some mini ham and cheese croissants inside while it rained outside. Due to the rain the campground was quite quiet as kids huddled inside their tents. Once breakfast was finished, Tig and I packed the awning away in the rain again, hooked up the van and transferred the kids on our backs from the van to the car. After a quick change of clothes for Tig and I, off to church we went with the van in tow.

Kai and Maddi looking at what Santa brought them

Mini ham and cheese croissants

Church in their Christmas outfits from Gran

The previous day we had checked out where the local Anglican Church (St Nicholas) was and enjoyed a lovely Christmas Day Service complete with candle lighting and communion. After the service we had some conversations with the locals who gave us some advice on the route we planned on taking to get to the Snowy Mountains that day.

After heeding this advice we decided to change our plans and take a less hilly but slightly longer route. We had a long day of driving with only a stop for lunch, change of drivers and topping up on water and fuel at Jindabyne. We had decided to not fill up our water tanks at Lakes Entrance so we had a lighter caravan to tow over the mountains. We left Jindabyne with the van fully loaded with water and food for  the next week in the mid afternoon, it was fine but overcast and preceded up the Alpine Way towards Thredbo and Dead Horse Gap. As we passed Thredbo the weather closed in and we proceeded very, very slowly down to Tom Groggin and along to Geehi in the drizzle and fog. It all looked very gloomy and we were glad we didn’t meet many other drivers, as it isn’t a great road for passing a massive caravan like ours. The big engine in the Land Cruiser and the electronic breaks in the caravan controlled from inside the car came into their own on this 12km decent. 

On arrival at Geehi in the rain we scouted out a campsite that would accommodate us and our friends the Thomas' who would be joining us the next day. There were plenty of people already set up and we anticipated there would be plenty more to follow. Thankfully Tig found one site tucked away and it just required a little maneuvering of the van to get it in there. Fortunately it was not on top of anyone else which was great. In typical Snowy Mountain weather the rain stopped and the sun came out just as we finished leveling the van so we quickly set about setting up the wet awning and exploring the nearby river.

The next day the sun shone and we set about decorating camp with some festive lights and decorations while we awaited the Thomas’ arrival. We were really happy to be spending the next week in this one location, spending time with good friends and doing a little bit of bike riding.

The sun shinning at Geehi

Next blog will be from our final guest blogger.

Till then…

Tig and Thea