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 New Year Trip
Tom Groggin, Moscow Villa
Via, The
Poplars, Limestone Creek - Victorian High Country - Australia
By Darren McRae
As usual, the McRae’s were late to the
meeting spot for our trip over the xmas break, but we were soon away and made up good time on the hwy, until GC needed to take the
longest nature break known to man whilst on a turnoff to check himself for some fresh nuts before arriving at Bright.
Whilst travelling over Mt Hotham on Boxing day, we got to drive through
falling snow. A rare sight in summer, before taking a
couple of rooms at the Colonial B&B in the main St of Omeo to
get well rested before heading out again next day.
We
headed to Benambra and on to Tom Groggin station, about 3 hrs drive
from Omeo, meeting with TJL at the bushman's hut camping ground on
the Vic side. TJL had brought 3 semi loads of flies across with him,
as the NSW river bank was packed enough as it was, and
they
had a total fire ban on 100m away on the other side of the river.
 The
other NSW participants [Flemings & McDougalls] were also
allowed to cross the river by our border patrol. They arrived around
5pm
and we all made jokes about the Pajero family who came to camp near
us while downing a few drinks before cooking tea.
The
next day we headed across Tom Groggin station to Mt Pinnibar,
checked out the view, and did a loop which saw us returning to camp
after lunch for an extended happy hour at camp.
Next
morning we headed for The Poplars as Davies Plain was closed until
14th Jan 2002, so we took the alt route, and like wild
dogs we circled camp about 4 times before deciding where we were
going to lay down, slightly spread out, between the Murray and the
toilet block, but some good laughs were heard round the fire…till
someone yelled “ARMAGEDDON”
Which
I believe is a signal to say they have had enough……..
 Next
day's travel toward Moscow Villa saw us go through some great camping
areas on our way to Moscow villa hut for new years eve, we even did
a huge side track detour looking for the elusive brumby rocks down
brumby rocks track, but in typical brumby fashion, they were too
clever to be seen. We managed to double back around us as we tried
to catch a glimpse. Luckily the Brieses stayed in the original
turnoff and were able to point out their direction to GC before the
GPS got him totally lost trying to find the BRUMBY ROCKS….
 We were a day early to
Moscow Villa, but this would ensure a
great spot near the hut, as it did, with time for showers, well set
up camps, and the kids to practice a play for entertainment on new
years eve.
Everyone
was well rested and late up this morning, knowing a late night
coming and no camp to shift, some
time was spent in camp throwing the footy, and GC and TJL spent some
time doubling
the output of TJL’s vehicle [the black out the exhaust, not the
HP] before calling
it
quits and joining the rest of us watching the seasoned campaigners,
and the newbies cook a roast for tea in their respective ovens….
I
never knew that the amount of people watching equals the amount of
cooking ideas available to newbies, but I saw it with my own eyes
that day.
9pm saw the adults having to make their way to the Hut for
the kids play, which was very well done - except don’t crowd 6 car
loads of people in a hut in the dark when someone has a severe case
of baked beanitis…
New
year's eve saw many fearful vegies, some great music, some
 attempted
bomb building with party poppers, and some great jokes well suited
to after midnight, before the last went to bed around 2am.
New
years day saw the Couyants head home, the McRae’s to Dargo, and
the Brieses head home Also, leaving the rubbish burning, fly
carrying, NSW people to their own devices now they were no longer
under the watchful eye of the Vics for the last day.
I'd
like to thank all who attended for a GREAT TIME, the kids for the
best 2 days water fights with my new water pistol, and their play,
and the adults for a top week of company.
Till
next time
Dazza
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