So the last three weeks have been both exciting and exhausting!!!
We said our goodbyes to Angie, Rod and 'the Crazy Germans", which was a bit sad, but we were so excited to be heading down to Victoria to catch up with our fabulous mates!!!
We left Mulgoa after a brunch and headed off on our two day trip down south, next stop being Echuca to visit 'The Gronows'. We stuck to the highway this time, not unlike our trip between Buddina and Sydney on the 'Great Dividing Range' and made great time. The landscapes were beautiful to start with but as we got down near the Yass area it became dry and barren like what we remember. We pulled up stumps at a lovely town at their showgrounds called 'Jugiong'. It was getting colder as we were coming down also and the weather wasnt too flash with it starting to rain after we set up. The showgrounds was supported thru cash donations, so we put ours in for our nights stay. It was a well kept place with great amenities and the grassed areas were well maintained. Well worth our donation if you ask me. We were so full from our brunch, and also that Marty was missing his daily cornflakes, that we decided to have cereal for tea then hit the sack. Our time at Angie and Rods had taken it toll with all the drinking and socialising, we were b*****ed.
The next morning we woke and were on the road around 7:30am and were heading in the last leg of our trip down south. On the way l had found out thru some texts that our surprise was not any longer with Peter caving to Dusks questions, but we were still thrilled anyhow and couldnt wish the time away fast enough until we arrived in Echuca. We eventually were knocking on the front door around 4pm, only so late because the stupid 'nav b****', my nickname for our GPS navman, took us thru Shepparton which we proceeded to drop the caravan off at 'The McKays' and save us taking it all over the countryside over the next few days. Anyway, getting back to our arrival, there were tears, but only after everyone said hello then Meg ran up and cuddled Dusk so tight that that made her break and the tears were rolling down her cheeks!! It was so good to see them, even though it had only been four months since we saw them in Noosa. All the kids, Jackson, Liam, Boo and Meg took up were they left off and were playing with each other excitedly.
Over our three weeks in Victoria catching up with mates, we stayed with dusk and Peter and the boys on a few occassions and had such a great time. We relaxed, laughed, ate, swam and had a few memorable moments. One such time was on our last stay there and we all decided to hire a canoe and paddle down the Murray, just at the Port area down to the Echuca-Moama Bridge and back. Was hilarious, although l silently think Dusk and Peter were scared s***less and wondering what they were thinking taking us down there. You see, Marty and l are sometimes like an Italian couple and express ourselves 'loud and proud'. We got in the canoes not thinking too much ahead as we had done this before, but for some reason we just couldnt get the hang of it and it didnt help that Marty was being stubborn!! We kept going in circles and zig zagging across the river, all while screaming at each other to do this and do that!!! You see, l was in the front and he was seated in the back of the canoe, and do you think Marty would believe me when l said that it was up to him to steer the canoe? No way!! He was so adamant that l was the one that was supposed to steer, that even when Peter suggested l was right, or the neighbouring canoists agreed when l asked them, he still didnt believe me!!! Anyhow, after 20 mins of screaming at each other, with all the Port watching us, most likely laughing their heads off, and with Dusk and Peter canoing off in the distant trying to get away from us, we finally got our act together and did it right! All Dusk and Peter said was that they thought it was funny, but l reckon they didnt want to hurt our feelings and were totally embarressed.....oh well the old Beesons do occassionally rear their ugly heads and bad behaviour...
Marty and l also took the kids to the movies to see the new "Muppets" movie, Meg's very first time at a picture theatre. All the kids loved it, sitting up there on their extra cushioned sets eating popcorn and lollies and drinking soft drink. It was cool for Marty and l also as it took us back to our childhood watching 'The Muppets'...,,
Another great time was on our last night together and we decided to go out for tea at the Moama RSL. Awesome meal, great entertainment with the band, the kids espeically enjoyed it, and alot of beer and wine was consumed. We got back to the Gronows and continued our drinks while going down memory lane with listening to some favorite classic songs, the night eventually ending at 2am!!
Our visits and time spent with Dusk, Peter, Jackson and Liam was definately what we all needed, and great memories were made.....
Bell XX