Another Ada excursion ...

We visited the Ada Tree last October.   It wasn't a planned visit but we were glad to have made the detour.  We even found a new "twisty tree" to continue our photo tradition!

When Nissa visited, we really wanted to take her updated "twisty tree" pic - and show her the Ada Tree!  We were close to the end of her stay when we set off on the 150km long drive to the Yarra State Forest.

We drove a different route to that used for our previous visit and were pleased to finally spot Starling Gap camping area as everyone needed their late lunch!

It was a pleasant picnic spot.  We saw both a yellow and a flame robin flitting about.  I read a little of the saw milling history on an information board attached to the picnic shelter.

We went for a short walk after lunch but encountered quite a few leeches, so very quickly returned to the car!

Further along the road was the Ada Tree access carpark.  We did a new series of "twisty tree" shots, before Erin returned to the car and the rest of us continued to the Ada Tree.  Vaughan walked reluctantly but eventually enjoyed communing with nature - particularly when he and a frog "talked" for a long time!

Hay, it's the Pink Cliffs!

I belong to a few photography groups and in recent times had seen photos of hay bale sculptures. They were all very neat but the castle was particularly impressive - so we set off to see it in real life!

The sculptures were competition entries. By the time we knew about it, voting had closed and first prize (worth $4,500) was won by the castle-builders.  It seemed a well-deserved win!

The competition ran from December to mid-January, when voting started. Maps had been available to show the entry locations. 

We were too late to get a map, so only found the castle and the Christmas teddy bears - but they were worth the drive!

On the way home, we called into Heathcote for a loo stop.  We'd seen signage for the Pink Cliffs that morning, so detoured slightly to see them.

As we approached the reserve, there was a roo sitting on the road in the shade of a tree!

We saw two more roos as we walked from the car park to the cliffs - and more again when back at the car park for an afternoon tea picnic.

There was some interesting history at the Pink Cliffs site.  We'll stay longer next time, for sure!

Another memorial crossing?!

We've visited the Memorial Cross at Mount Macedon a couple of times since our relocation. Of course, our misty mountain picnic will always be fondly remembered!

Today was Nissa's first visit and we enjoyed a sausage sizzle together after admiring the views.

There are many picnic spots in the area, so after lunch we drove around slowly (taking advantage of the clear conditions) to explore further.

We followed the signs to Sanatorium Lake, which was a short walk from the car-park - and we were back in the car before the rain!

Bags this chair!

I've mentioned my large fabric stash at different times. It came in handy this weekend when I decided to make a strap-on pocket for my camping chair. 

When I googled for inspiration, I found this tutorial. I didn't follow the method but I was interested to see how to attach the bag to the chair.

The stash yielded some op-shopped denim, a piece of wildflower print gifted by Erin, another sample of my Mum's machine embroidery as well as ANZAC ribbon and buttons. 

I started putting the bag together last night and finished it off this evening - after several interruptions (and some thinking time).  As you can see, it's a simple tote bag.  I didn't bother making a lining.  The front wildflower print was doubled and joined into the bag at the seams. I divided it to form two smaller outside pockets.

It was a source of considerable amusement that I needed to make buttonholes.  The only time I can remember making them previously was for a sample when doing a sewing course at TAFE, while pregnant with Erin!  Some effort was expended in finding my buttonhole foot and then the sewing machine manual (for instructions on how to make buttonholes).  The actual buttonhole making didn't take long after my few "revision" attempts! 

I'm hoping the buttons prove strong enough to hold the bag and contents.  The rest of the bag is quite sturdy.  All seams are double-stitched and over-locked. 

By gumi, we're good!

While we were at Sheepyard Flat I saw a few campers had rigged their shower bags to provide solar hot water for various uses - washing up and so on.

I suggested we dig our shower-bag out and do the same. 

We found it the other day, half-filled it with water and noticed a sizeable hole!  Drat!

Rather than dash out and purchase a new bag, Nick did some research and found instructions to make a Portable Solar Water Heater. 

We already had gumis from our wonderful Wagga Wagga trip last year.

Yesterday Nick sought to use other materials on hand to create his version of the solar heater linked above.

Plan A didn't quite work, so we headed into Bunnings this morning.  They didn't have quite what we wanted but Masters did.

What did we get? Four metres of clear hose ($4.80), one t-connector ($0.70), one valve ($2.75) and 6 hose clamps ($8.10).  The gumis were free and Nick already had the adhesive at home.  Total cost - $16.35, which is a bit cheaper than a new bag with probably at least twice the capacity (and we've had the fun of putting it together).

The gumis are set up on Elmer's bonnet and heating nicely.  We tested the water temperature after an hour or so and it was noticeably warmer than when filling the tubes.  Another hour afterwards and the water was pleasantly warm, though no-one was keen to set up the ensuite and have the first gumi-wash!

Daleks are cool!

Earlier this month we took advantage of one of Aldi's sales and bought a 7.6litre Coolibah cooler jug for $14.99. Bargain!

The description stated it has a cold storage time of approx 48 hours.

Nick commented at the time of purchase that the lid wasn't insulated and my plan was to make a cover, in line with the covers we use for our other thermoses.

(Even our Engel fridges have extra insulation in their purchased covers).

We took the jug with us last weekend.  It worked well but I still wanted to make an insulated cover. 


While we were at our favourite tip-shop today, Nick spotted a new car-shade.  I've fiddled with it this afternoon, to make a two-part cooler jug cover.  The larger wrap-around section was fairly easy.  It just needs some Velcro - and when I find that MIA haberdashery, I finish the job! 

The lid section was much harder to make.  It's definitely not perfect but I'm hoping it's serviceable - and performs as expected!  I might try to hold it better in place with some buttons and elastic but am conscious the silver-backed foam isn't a great medium for sewing projects - and we'll need to treat the lid cover gently, so that it doesn't tear along the seams.

Picnic finale!

Packing up the van is a pretty laid-back exercise, far simpler than dismantling our tent(s), beds and bedding. I made our bed and recovered it in the plastic cover.

The floor was swept, washing sorted, washing-up packed to take home and various items were stacked in neatly.

Vaughan played a last Magic game with the boys next door, while we chatted to their parents and some other people who were checking out the campground.

We departed around 12:30 - and had enjoyed a sleep-in, pikelet brekkie and some socialising around the packing.

There had been a music party in the forest overnight, starting in the early evening and continuing till about 4:00am, so our sleep-in was definitely appreciated.

We drove the short distance to Trentham where we bought two lovely loaves of sour-dough bread from the local wood-fired bakery.  The Quarry Street Reserve in town is very pretty, so we enjoyed a picnic lunch of fresh bread, home-cooked corned beef and home-made tomato relish - while watching the antics of ducks, geese, coots and other waterbirds. A very pleasant finale to our weekend away!