20180325 VIC Hydon, Smythesdale to Lake Colac

20180325 Stopping at Haddon but it's a bit full so onto the next camp area 10ks on, Smythesdale is supposed to be a good camp, hopefully for a few days.

How great is this place they have hot showers, a sink for the backpackers with all the necessary appliances, table and chairs and to top it off a huge fire place to cook on or to warn your bones on these bloody cold Victorian nights.

26-03-2018 There’s not much to do in towns like this apart from walking the streets, and again it was once a very active mining town with the only evidence now are the old buildings left standing, but we did find a community garden so I helped myself to some herbs and a couple of vegies.

The Court House Hotel is the main building overlooking the town.

Smythesdale was established during the gold rush in 1853 and was known as Smythe’s creek until 1864 after John Smythe,

The historical gaol that was used during the goldfields period.

27-03-2018 Time to try out our bikes only you wouldn’t believe it the bloody quick release axle on one of the bikes had falling out, well there goes our ride.  We walked to town hopping we could get the part but fat chance of that happening so it looks like we have to go back to Ballarat tomorrow.

28-03-2018  Back to Ballarat in search of a bike shop and as luck has it the first bike shop we found had the part, thank god, while here we restock our supplies before heading back.

Ya! Someone’s started the fire in the shed, well we know what that means so I grabbed my bottle of red and with Des in toe off we go.  There are many back packers working the area and camping here because of the cheap facility’s, we have found them very friendly although I’m sure they find me difficult to understand as I talk too fast but we always manage to have many laughs.

The camp ground with the cool pirate ship surrounding the tree stump only it was under repair. 

29-03-2018 It’s the school holidays and were not sure what to do, stay or go, we make the decision to leave and hope we can get a camp spot. 

Driving through Beeac I managed a fly by shoot and it looks rather lovely.

Dick told us he camped at Lake Colic for two weeks and it stunk of dead fish, he hated it, thanks for that Dick but why the hell would you stay in a place that long if you hatted it??

We found a great spot all to ourselves only to be told there's no camping hear after we had set up, bugger it we stayed anyway.
The illegal campers we were all called.
Opps 👮

30-03-2016 Our days have been fine but cloudy and really windy, I don’t mind the cold but this wind you can stick it. There’s not much to do so we go for daily walks up the street and back chatting to campers as we go.

Lake Colac looks clean and I certainly can’t smell any dead fish Dick.

We meet a couple, Carmen & Rob and had a great chat over a few drinks but then the boys got cold so we had to leave, put some bloody warm clothes on, Rrrrr.

01-04-2018 We woke to a van beside us with a dog and a kid cramping our style so I pocked my head out and said, did you bring this weather with you, it was the first hot day with no wind sense we arrived and they were a lovely young couple.  Des and I were just about to go for a walk when the ranger approached us and Yes, we had to move so with no spots left we decided to leave.  Its OK for us our vans easy to pack up but it was these poor buggers in tents I felt for.

Look what I found on our walk, BAMBI.