Rum & Dal

When we were asked to go camping with friends we immediately thought cold damp weather and knee deep in a boggy field not forgetting the food poisoning.  Err reality check, we’re talking camping in Australia not England

The expedition team consisted of Asar, Sofia, Bobby, Rum and Dal.  Asar’s profession is in Risk Management so he made the ideal tour guide he certainly earned his 5 stars.  Asar and Sofia being the expert campers took a hold of the reigns and got the tents up, then down, turned around and I’m sure at one point inside out. After an hour three tents had been erected, their personal best.  Well done.  I would have helped them but I was hammered the night before from the works Christmas party, but that’s another story for another time.

We stayed at the Lake Fyans Holiday Park which is within The Grampians National Park.  It was about 250K from Melbourne CBD, around 3 hours drive according to Google Maps, it took us 2.5 hours.  Lake Fyans is a 4 star camping park with many facilities, I would definitely recommend this Park.  Asar however was eyeing up a 5 star camping park not sure why, maybe you get your own butler?

Before embarking on the walks we stopped off in the local town for a bite to eat. Whilst driving there was a constant high pitched screeching noise.  They sounded like crickets to me but that loud? Sure enough when we pulled up in the car park and opened the car door it was all you could hear the sound was eerie. Check out the video, you’ll hear the crickets but listen out for the traffic and people talking; this will give a better idea of how loud the crickets were.  Strange thing was all that noise but we couldn’t spot a single cricket.  Asar did torpedo a tree and managed to stress a cricket out from the obvious pitch change in the sound, though Sofia’s cry of despair was more apparent.

The weather was amazing, no longer shocking for us The scenery was beautiful and the walks we went on were tiring but worth the spectacular views. MacKenzie Falls was our first trek and very beautiful it was.  We sat at the foot of the waterfall and soaked our tired feet in the cool running waters.  After getting back to the top we were shattered but continued on to the final walk of the day.  Unfortunately we did not see McKenzie in all its “heavenly glory” The Grampians are suffering from a 6 year draught so many of the flowing waters have become dry.  I did start a waterfall of my own but don’t tell anyone

January last year there was a huge forest fire caused by lightening.  The forest is regenerating and looking healthier.  There have been several bush fires in the Grampians and it has always recovered to some extent.

Back at the campsite, we sat in the gazebo protected by the netting from the flies and mosquitoes.  There was even a possum on the loose, which could also be heard growling outside the tents in the middle of the night.  We sat till late, chatting and drinking under the stars.  I don’t know much about camping but I did know a bottle of Famous Grouse would keep the night critters away.  That was probably the best bottle of Grouse i’ve had, actually no, there was that wedding in Leicester.  Thanks to Bobby our American Indian we learnt many new power phrases which he enjoyed using throughout the day.  Any of you guys know what liquid calories are?? Bobby is a man who knows what he wants especially when it comes to the temperature of his food, “piping hot” I let him add a comment and explain that one.

We woke up bright and early (6am) in the morning to a chorus of birds that sounded like wild monkeys!  We wanted to hit couple more beauty spots before the sun was out full force.  This walk was the most challenging and the flies did not help, they really do take some getting used to.  We finally reached Pinnacle viewing platform and it was amazing, nothing Dal and I have seen before.  You could see as far as your eyes would let you.

There are many other treks and breathtaking scenery to be viewed unfortunately we ran out of time.  The Grampians are worth coming back for again and again.  Our only regret was that we did not see much of the wildlife.  We only managed to catch one wallaby but we took some goods photographs of it.

Huge thanks to Sofia and Asar for showing us how easy camping is and for providing us with camping gear.  Thanks also go to Bobby for educating us on the American way and keep your whits about you and make sure you never sign one of those Asar “contracts”.