We had a sit down yesterday and talked road trips. Overseas trips and exotic adventures aren’t or can’t be on the agenda at this point of our life. I know, that sounds so hellishly adult doesn’t it? But a road trip, or two, could be just the adventure our little family requires with the pending birth of Baby Vick in the winter months.

Before I get onto the upcoming adventures I’ve realised I never reported our last little road trip and campee adventure. Christmas camping times were had and that was a month ago and I haven’t reported back about it yet. Pregnancy, what can I say?

Like so many of our life’s aspects, it was a spontaneous camping adventure. We winged it, you could definitely say. Somehow we pulled off something brilliant, which I fear only encourages Mr Vick to continue to be a spontaneous traveller/adventurer/living human being. I prefer to know where I’m going to sleep, but none the less I couldn’t complain with where we laid our heads in the Lower Glenelg National Park to celebrate family, nature and the end of 2012.

Our Christmas time was spent at the seaside town of Warrnambool along the South Western Coast of Victoria. We decided to jump in the car and head further west, right out of civilisation. We ended up at Nelson. A town about 30km’s from Mount Gambier on the South Australian Border. To sum up Nelson would be to say it’s an awkward, somewhat underwhelming kinda town. It’s claim to fame in the Glenelg River and let it be said, it would be nothing without it. Although it does have a pub and a takeaway store so I suppose it’s got all the staples of a true Australian town. If you’re Rex Hunt or a retiree or a boating enthusiast then Nelson is your kinda place. There is water and fish waiting to be found. The hum of boats is the permanent soundtrack of Nelson. But let’s be honest we wern’t in Nelson for its entertaining features, we were in Nelson to a) get an ice-cream and b) to enjoy it’s surrounding wilderness; the Lower Glenelg National Park.

National parks. They seem to be all the rage these days for campers. Many want to experience the affordable, secluded, tree surrounding camp site that is, as a result, difficult to secure. They tend to get booked up months in advance during peak times, and yet, we were going to try and get in on what would be booked out action. I wasn’t confident. I’m the realist in the family but non the less I  entertain the dreamers, but sometimes they actually manage to find something (kinda awesome – but I didn’t say it) even if it is a little left of centre. We have been known to be naughty campees. Camping where permit is required with no permit (as in this instance), camping on someones property, camping just on the boarders of illegal land. Yep, we are campee rebels.

This time Mr Vick found a little clearing designated for overnight walkers participating in the Great South West Walk. We were staying 2 nights but if anyone asked we were doing a bit of walking out from the site. Wink, wink.

Our city of tents and no, that isn’t a random hobo sleeping under a tarp. That’s just my husband.

It was a nice spot. Right by the river near the Battersby camping area. Canoeing, bird watching, walking, swimming, fishing, marshmallow toasting and general laziness – it was all possible there.

First light

Early risers (one less willing than the other)

The new kayak up and paddling

Little Vick developed a fierce interest in fishing

Ya know, I’m not afraid to rough it. I grew up making cow shite mud pies by hand (I know, I know…). But camping pregnant did pull up one surprise for me. Our campsite was literally a clearing in the bush alongside a river. In our camping minds, perfection. No wifi, no mobile phones, no crowds, not even a shower, but thankfully a toilet. Albeit, a drop toilet. Ya know, a hole in the ground with a few walls around it. I’m not afraid of this al a naturale glamour. Left behind my business on many a drop toilet before but having an encounter with one when you’re pregnant with a hyper sensitive sense of smell is a different experience all together. It was definitely a hold you nose and don’t inhale any fumes or die situation… but you have to gasp for air eventually right? Let’s just say I was happy when I only dry wretched twice in one visit.

Then there were the kids. We’ve done camping with a toddler before. No problemo we bragged to everyone. Camping with 2 toddlers, hooley feckin’ dooley, who’s idea was that one? Individually I’m sure the toddlers are excellent little outdoor campers but put together they became little delinquents that required a constant watchful eye. Running full pelt at the river and seeing your pregnant Mum get up and attempt an unco wombat like sprint, was hilariously fun apparently. By the end of the second day of this we were prepared to let them sink.

When we wern’t heaving ourselves at the toddlers or teasing a niece about
suffering wifi withdrawals, we managed to enjoy some good campee times. It’s all about the nature and nature is exactly what Nelson serves up in lashings. The river, the bush and the summer sun, it was healing. We needed that good ole fashion country air in our lungs and the space in our heads. Our little family was thankful for it.

So, will I go back for round 2 with a drop toilet? Probably. It’s better than sitting at home eating Cherry Ripes looking like a wounded wombat right? (….REALLY???) Given that the summer months are fantastical for camping we are definitely planning some further camping adventures. There’s some names of places swirling around at the moment like Lorne, Warrnambool, Adelaide, Byron Bay, Black Rocks and Blanket Bay.

Where is your favourite family camping spot??