The Lucky Tent*

Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip....
Our  adventure as part of the "Mooral Creek 9"

Ok let's go camping at Mooral Creek for Fish's 50th
 sounds good, may rain (always does when we camp) no big deal.

Early departure from home Sat a.m. drop girls at Pete and Kylies place in Newcastle, take Pete with us and head for the countryside outside Wingham.  Tent erected and ready to go (other than being wet from the rain pouring in as we set up).

and the day progressed (or perhaps digressed):

the chair was just not made to hold 3 people!

And the speech that set the wheels of fate turning.....

                                          

Sunday Morning

View from the verandah at breakfast

 Sunday saw the departure of those we will call "The Wise Ones", as they feared becoming trapped.

Leaving was, of course, easier said than done as the theme that was developing for the day seemed to be Extreme Bogging(click  for details).

With most of the cars bogged in, it took a lot of palm fronds  over the mud (this mostly did nothing other than serve the purpose of feeling  as if action was being taken-and seemed to be an effective leech delivery system). The fronds however were useful to walk on later in the week rather than the mud.

Better check the creek:

still looking pretty good "she'll be right. Out tomorrow no problem"

petanque in the drizzle showing the can do, make do spirit of the day!

and  so Sunday continued.......

halfway up Deceptive Hill

back veranda now covered

Off up Deceptive Hill with portable "Bush Dunny"

Do not go near the flag!

heres what happens when you have a leech:

                                         
                                        and here's what happens when you step on one!

 Beer in one hand GWH in the other

Fire courtesy of "fat paper" (NOT the "good wood")

Drying of the wet pants (hoping this was the story)

and then there was Monday.....

Oops... going nowhere today!

Cards

Tuesday

Pictures from the newscast  of spiders and bugs taking refuge on the back of a red-belly. These aren't real clear but you get the idea.

Tuesday saw the last of the grog and the first of the puzzle....

Wednesday

The water is receding but is still rushing too fast and hard to even think about trying to get out.

Had plenty of free time  to wander and take photos of the place.

and cards, game 3 of the "Stuck in a Flood Tourney", had us listening to 2BOB radio (the local community radio) our only good reception. The after school program was in fact a bit better than the German Hour. Only just.

this is the creek down the bottom of the place, before (above) and after (below.

Thursday

yes ... puzzle, cards... creek checks....

Friday

 1st out Livo, John and Narelle

                                                                                

then us

then Terry and Cathy

and Fish

We travelled in convoy as there were still 3 more creeks to cross and we had no idea what challenge they would  offer us. This proved to be a good idea as one of the bridges had to have planks (sleepr type planks) put back in before we could cross.

Then a 7 hour drive home.... (and only one leech in our gear)

All that behind us now. Reflecting it was really a good time with great people, and I can think of many worse places to be stranded for a week. As I spent time at work this past week, then into the crowded shops with cranky rude people, road rage crazy drivers and so many people that just don't smile, I can't help but think

" I sure wish I was back at Mooral Creek"

 *Lucky tent: purchased in US-left in US, finally brought here, left in Coff's but travelled to Southern Highlands (still unused), finally got some camping action, with poor results. Second time out... see above.