Bendethra, Easter 2010

Good Friday (2/4/2010)

Attendees:

Meeting time was 10am, depart 10.30am, Renate & I were 8mins late, BUGGER I got trip report.

Leaving Waldron Swamp rest area we went via Moruya (fuel top up) into Deua Nat. Pk. & on to the Bendethera camp grounds, arriving around noon to be greeted by Gary, Robyn & Craig who came up Thursday to secure a good site.

Craig was introduced to us as a single guy that is friends with Gary & Robyn but we were soon to find out that Craig was with his fictitious girlfriend Natasha and that progressed over the weekend to Natasha the inflatable friend, the joke did become a little "over inflated" by Sunday.

With camp set by around 3pm we were given a tour of the camp grounds by Gary & Craig. The site covers a few Km along the valley floor and the many groups that were there for Easter were spread out and at no time did the place become over crowded. Our site was surrounded by bushes & trees giving it a little privacy from other sites, with loo's nearby it was a very nice site indeed that Gary, Robyn & Craig picked out for us, well done guys.

Some campers near us Friday night were up till around 4am Sat morn. and decided that 3.30am was a good time to chop wood, they discovered at around 7am that it was a bad idea and were aroused by the sound of Slim Dusty singing his yodelling songs at full blast. They moved on that morning to cheers from the other campers I am sure.

Saturday 9am we set off on a drive up the east side of the camp to a couple of Trig points along the way culminating at Araluen for lunch BUT Gary's estimated ETA was somewhat out and we just got to the pub in time for the 2pm close of the lunch kitchen (at 1.50pm) not the estimated noon. Matthew's lunch was the last to be served and he thought that they had forgotten him, when his meal did arrive the publican also gave him a beer cooler because of wait he had to endure.

Leaving the pub we headed back to Braidwood and in to the camp via Snowball road arriving back late (6pm) for happy hour "Bugger". Gary's estimate was out again LOL. A very nice drive it was, that was enjoyed by all.

The camp fire was fantastic & I reckon we went through a tonne of wood in the course of the evening.

Sunday morning following the daylight saving sleep-in we were awakened by the sound of Emily & Matthew looking for Easter eggs left all around by the Easter Bunny.

By 10 am we departed for the loop drive of Bendethera Valley, as well as see Craig (& Natasha) off, as he had to return to work, Craig left us near another Trig Point on his way out of the park. We had a varied terrain drive culminating with lunch next to the Deua River, very pleasant indeed. The drive back to camp got us back by around 3pm, just in time for happy hour, Robyn & Gloria stayed in camp and had nibble's ready for our return.

Wayne, Gary, Chris, Ray & Peter gathered a truck load of wood for the camp fire.

Sunday night around the camp fire we were entertained by Emily & Annette devising a game whereby we add a letter to the front of our normal names and took turns in calling out our "New" names, it was a riot of fun and laughter.

I got nominated for a bugger award because my camp chair's arm broke and left the chair with only one remaining arm holding the thing together, as the evening wore on in front of the biggest camp fire, I got a little tired and reclined my chair and had a micro sleep to be awoken buy the remaining arm of my chair snapping and dumping me unceremoniously on my head backwards onto the ground, Bugger. The youngest Sullivan daughter (Alicia) thought it was soooo funny she nearly disgraced herself laughing. Another tonne of carbon (wood) was released into the atmosphere Sunday night.

Monday, pack up day, boo.

We broke camp by around 10.30am and started the mammoth drive out to Snowball Rd towing our trailers around hairpin turns + raging rivers + very steep and rough tracks taking two hours into Braidwood and the official end of the weekend. Again Bugger.

Thanks to Ray & Gary for organising the trip and not forgetting Craig for his help in the navigation of the tracks, thanks and well done guys.

All that attended were so glad they did, the whole weekend was a huge success.

Colin, Trip Reporter.