A cold weekend at Little Duna

So here we are again at Little Duna. Didn’t really think we would be back here so often during winter, but we just have so much fun we can’t stay away!!

Left a little later than usual last night, was just after 7:30pm by the time I pulled out the driveway, minus one usual passenger as Fi had a Thai cooking class on the Saturday so will join us Saturday night.

We arrived just before 10pm last night and the kids had to help me setup the van. While the ground was dry, there were a good number of new ponds, so we must have had some rain. Was a challenge to get the fire going, as everything was damp, but it wasn’t long before we managed to dry it out and get some heat. A good thing too because it was a very cold night getting down to 4pm overnight!! Will be happier tonight when Fi gets up here to keep me warm 😉

As the fire started to crackle, we heard the crack of a gun… spot lighters were out again shooting. This time they were across the road in front of the block, but there must have been a few of them because every time the saw something there were 3 or 4 bangs.

Jess started to freak out, and at one stage we actually thought they were on the road shooting into our property. I jumped in the car with the lights on high beam, spotlights blaring and even the fog lights, so they had a good 10 lights coming at them to make sure they knew where we were. As I got to the front on our property, I realised they were a good 500+ metres away from our front fence. Amazing how you loose perspective on distance at night.

As I drove away in the car, I said to the kids to hold Ruby, knowing she would follow… unfortunately, she slipped her collar and raced after me. Wasn’t an issue, as I saw her at the front gate and as I turned around to head back, she simply loped along beside the car. When I returned though, I found Jess balling worried that Ruby was going to get shot! I calmed here down, but that was enough for her and she took herself off to bed, sad that people were shooting rabbits.

I think Zac was a little afraid by the sounds of the war zone, crack, crack, crack and it wasn’t long before he disappeared into the caravan. Didn’t phase Tara though and she was happy to sit around the warmth of the fire listening to the shooters.

Was when I pointed out to Tara that it was midnight, she decided to take herself off to bed. I said “want me to come and tuck you in?”

“No thanks Dad” she replied “I can manage…” and off she went. Little miss independent!! I did have to come in about 10 minute later to turn the light off though!!!

So as I mentioned, it was a very cold night and I pretty much had to cocoon myself in the doona to stay warm. Also wasn’t very keen on the whole getting out of bed this morning, sleeping in until about 9:30am! Unheard of for me!!

Anyway, I had to get up and brave the cold in the end as I had to get to Benalla before midday to pick up a water pump for the water tank I had ordered and payed for. But not before I went for my usual trip around the block on the quaddie.

The place is very green with a lot of new ponds as I mentioned before. We must have seen some wild weather too, as there were a lot of new branches down around the place. The pile which is the remains of the bonfire was a little smaller than I had left it, so it had obviously burnt out a little more since we had left, but is now just a tangled mess of metal.

So anyway, got organised and headed into Benalla t get the water pump, then headed to the Violet Town cafe for some lunch before returning to Little Duna. I spent an hour or two on the chainsaw, removing some fallen branches which will now be used to keep us warm tonight 🙂

Given it is so cold and I have so much wood, we lit the fire so we will have a good bed of coals for the night. Think I will just spend the rest of the day sitting here to stay warm! Can already feel the temperature falling as the sun disappears behind the trees.

The kids all went for a wander as Tara and I discovered an amazing fact today on one of our rides… the creek flows the opposite way to what we thought!!! I always suspected it came from the north into the dam and then into the creek bed, but seems it comes in from the east, into the creek bed and then into the dam!! Amazing!!!

Hehe… the things we discover. Kushi wasn’t interested in a walk with the kids though and chose to just chill around the fire with me… think he is already worn out!Well that is all I have to report so far, Fi must have finished her course by now and so should be on her way… suppose I had better go and do the breakfast dishes before she gets here…lol

Have fun 🙂