Summer 2019 - Mid Week Getaway

It has been one of the hottest, most humid summers NSW has had since records were started in 1962.

I couldn't think of anything worse than sweating it out in a hot tin can . . . . . unless . . . . .

You could camp right here :)

Ferndale Park was the site of our Maiden Voyage 16 months ago and this is our 5th visit (if you include the time we turned up and it was closed) and our 4th stay.

On our last visit I went for a walk to the far end of the park where I spotted a huge tree that's branches hung down like a canopy. It was right on the river with access to rock pools and shallow swimming holes.  It was quite a distance from power and water but I recalled a fellow camper saying once that "if you had a long enough water hose and power cord you could camp right under that tree"

I tried to convince Shane that this would be a good option in warm weather as it would provide a shady haven for most of the day.  He was a bit stubborn as he really loved our original site but when we arrived and found other campers on that site he was easily persuaded to take a turn for the better and set up under the trees.

It took a bit of back and forth balancing on the levelling ramps to get Annie straight so her drawers wouldnt slide out when opened.  I was shocked when Shane grabbed an axe and started cutting into the ground at the back side of the van. He was digging a hole to roll the wheel into so that she would stay level as the ramp would not hold her.  I thought she was going to roll away into the Chichester River !

Finally she was straight and our holiday began . . . . 

Night time temperatures got down to 22 degrees but during the day the mercury rose to 35 degrees.  The canopy of trees kept things cool at the front on the river bank but the sun beaming down on the back made things rather toasty inside.  Our trusty red umbrella albeit a bit bulky to bring along just in case kept Annie's back shaded and her interior a civilised 25 deg.

Shane set himself up on the banana lounge, waist deep in the river while I floated around on the inflatable lounge.  Over the years, campers have built little wading pools and ponds from the rocks that have made their journey down from the Chichester Dam.

Visitors

My daughter and son in law, my grandson and grandfurbaby spent a day with us by the river - swimming and canoeing. It was truly memorable. The dogs had a great day fetching sticks and were both totally exhausted by days end.  Not to mention the humans . . . 

Pretty as a picture . . . .

The Happiest Camper :)