Hotham Downhill

Hi all this is just a test to see how some editing software for my bullet camera works as windows won't work with the M-peg 2 and I can't seem to get a codec patch. The writing in the middle of the video is because I haven't given them any coin yet.
I got to speeds of 59km on my mountain bike and you will notice that on the last corner before i stopped and Debs came screeching to a halt that I got major speed wobbles and nearly lost it due to a weight on my wheel for speed readings I have removed it so should look forward to more speed soon. camera mounted on handlebars it was actually better after this but I ran out of batteries.
Don't criticise to much it's my first attempt and I am just testing
Galvo

Naracoorte

Hi again I have finally caught up:)

Well I am writing this post from Naracoorte after a hard days caving :).

It has been a really interesting little stop especially since the kids are doing prehistoric stuff with there schooling and learning about extinct animals and how they can become this way.

Well as I said earlier Naracoorte is South Australia's only world heritage listed spot and it is due to the amount of mega fauna fossils found in the limestone caves.

The most abundant find was in A fossil cave where they believe 95% of the skeletons found were trapped here by falling into what they call pit traps (a hole in the ground leading into a chamber). These pit traps collected animals over thousands of years and usually closed up after the it filled with animals debri and dirt washed in to the hole. As the case with Fossil cave there were nine pit traps over a short space opening and closing at different times so a broad range of species have been found.

It was fully closed off and the paleontologists actually dug there way in.

They believe there is about 5000-9000t of dirt and bones in one area of the cave which they are still working on today.

they have stopped digging up other caves as much of the material showing up is the same stuff.

They have found Tasmanian Tigers, Tassie Devils,Giant tree eating kangaroos, a type of snake that had signs of hip bones, and a mega fauna lion type marsupial plus heaps of animals around today like possums,echidnas,snakes and kangaroos.

They have a really good discovery centre where they have made the animals as they believe they would've looked like although they don't know what colour they would've been.

They come to life and growl hiss and all the rest plus move around a bit which was all to much for little Lucy who lasted about 30sec and had to wait outside with Mum until I could do a swap with her.

Anyway it's been a great adventure and to top it off the kids found a piece of rock with a fossilised shell in it to take home.

Enjoy the pics.

Galvo

It's ok Lucy he eats trees)The weid tree eating kangarooSome Big Old megafauna thingamebob thing?

The Aussie Lion That was at the entrance to the Display growling and moving it's head,lucy had no chance really.

Tassie Tigers proof that Tassie was joined to the mainland.Skeleton of the Lion (I just love the shadows)Some of the bones At the dig. These are preserved bones not fossilised.Megafauna BonesCave Formations

The Tree Eating Kangaroo. Long Front Legs,And only a Single Toe to Stand Higher.Long Straws Visitor to our Campsite - Blue Wren

The Grampians

Well we just spent nearly a week in the Grampians in VIC, it rained ,hailed and was generally very cold one day it stayed around the 7deg mark brrrrrrrr.

But the sun did come out a few times but not usually when we were at a scenic spot though but i managed a couple of OK shots, I was expecting more.

The kids enjoyed some of the hikes up the mountains and Lucy surprised us on a nearly 5km hike which half was up hill although she faded at the end.

The cultural centre there was really good and camping was great and we managed great free campsite which was great and only a couple km from some bush dunny's so could do the quick trip if necessary.

It's very dry here considering we are just coming out of winter and unless they get some more rain will be a long hot and dry summer,lets keep our fingers crossed.

The park was burnt out only two years ago and some areas are still closed but it was amazing to see the regrowth and the wild flowers were in some places abundant.

It really is a wonderful place and would have loved to do some of the longer walks but hard with the kids and also my right knee is giving me a spot of bother every now and then.

There's heaps of kangaroos and emus here and also Echidnas which we never saw but the evidence was everywhere,apparently there are Koala's here as well but i think the fire probably wiped out a large no of them.

We were camped out just under the Mt Difficult range down from Troopers Creek campsite where up to 11 police troopers were camped to catch those illegal immigrants on the way to the goldfields, another obstacle for the Chinese?

It's good to know that we can survive in the bush and be self sufficient and we used less than 100l of water for the five of us for 6 days although I don't think we smelt so good.....

We went to a small town where some friends of ours recommended the pub meal there called Dunkeld, a very small town so we were thinking usual pub a bit rough, well we were in for a surprise very swank indeed with the yuppies all dressed in there spotless Guchi hiking outfits or dressed better and us after week in the bush unshaven,unshowered,and well with three feral kids.

the meal was absolutely sublime and the wines were beautiful, so $115 later we walked out much to the approval of the rest of the guests no doubt but it was great for us to be apart of civilisation again, just would've been nice to be spruced up and on our own.

Anyways enjoy the shots and next stop Naracoorte.

Yes Honey You Look Ok - Mt Zero

Climb up to the Pinnacle

The Pinnacle

Vista

Same Spot As Above
Lookout Back into Halls Gap

Aboriginal Art

Another Vista
Nice Light - Difficult Range

From Our Campsite - Mt Difficult
Had to Include some Wildflowers


The First of Many Giant Things no Doubt

Galvo

Bendigo

Well just catching up with where we've been, we are now in Naracoorte the only world heritage site in South Oz but more on that later.

Bendigo was a lot of fun and the kids seemed to have good time for a change, I think we almost got through a whole day without a whinge and whine, well almost anyway.

We stayed for three days and did a mine tour,panned for gold with Debs having the keenest eye for gold, a bit of a worry but once she had found one spec it was hard for her to leave, but we had to return later in the day where she had the most luck and we walked away with a whopping six grains of gold the size of sand.
So now we can travel for an extra 10min :).

The mine tour was in the Deborah mine and it was interesting to see how the miners lived and worked with over 6000 mines in the area in the old days and 35000 people all flocked here to reap the benefit's.

Their was a huge Chinese population and to commemorate this a fantastic Chinese museum where they house some very valuable royal Chinese artefact's and home to the longest imperial dragon in the world called Sun Loong also now retired but the oldest imperial dragon called Loong. The chines had a 10pnd ta each for the people importing them so they used to drop them off in South Australia and make them walk 1000m to the goldfields, but they treated them well as they had rest and water stops for them along the way!!!!

Bendigo has some beautiful old buildings and a lot of history and I really enjoyed the place although in the middle of a drought at the moment like the rest of Southern Australia.

It's gotta be here Somewhere LucyHIHO it's off to Work we go.Sun Loong

Chinese GardenIn Front of Sun LoongGold FeverLoong (oldest imperial Dragon in the World) has 5 horns which only imperial ones were allowed.

Echuca

Hi guys sorry for the lack of action but we have been out of contact for the last week in the Grampians.

Well Echuka was not to shabby free camping on the banks of the Murry River. We went on a paddle steamer and just hung by the river swimming and fishing (no luck).

Some friends from Broome came and visited us from Stanhope and a sore head was the result the next day.

Our Swimming HoleThe Local Cruise ShipHome on The River BankLocal Recycling MachineKids had to make a Savanah for School

Galvo

Bright Hotrods

Well we finally left Bright and are now in Echuca on the VIC-NSW border camped out in the bush on the banks of the Murry River. I'm sitting 20"from the waters edge beer in pocket on chair just gone dark with a paddle steamer going by all lit up, cockatoos screeching and kookaburras going off.

Bright was great and had plenty to do there,I got a great 1hr flight in the morning and then decided to land and pack up and get to next destination.

We caught up with an old friend from Broome Dave Millard who was an electrician but now owns a small supermarket in Stanhope, lets just say I woke up a bit rough.

Our bush camp here is awesome and I have run the generator for the first time and used our little hot water system much to the humour of our kids .

I finally feel we are settling in and look forward to more bush camps as this is magic.
After another couple of days we will head off to Bendigo and then the Grampians.

Weather is starting to really warm up now but no doubt the Grampians will be colder.
Leave you with a couple of the 200 pics I took of the hotrods.

Galvo

I think it could do with some bigger tyres?

A Happy Car

One of the 100 flame jobs

No room for the kids :)

The Stig Even Made an Appearance

Plenty of 50's and 60's


More Flames


Just Ugly


Nice Caddie