Palace Saddle

Arrive to find the office 'unmanned'. Roger apparently has the information required for us to gain access (boom gate etc) in an email. He finds the email and we can access the park - but he can't find anything that tells us which site we can settle on. Dodgy mobile reception, so not having much luck finding out. We decide to go and find the park's laundry facilities in the meantime - which we do - as we are ready and overdue to do our washing. 2 large loads get put on in the brand new laundry. Roger has been able to call and find out we're on powered site No. 21. Roger gets our van parked - and our settling process begins! Not long until we're set up, mat and awning out. Roger now gets to cleaning out the toilet cassette area in our caravan - we discovered this morning that unfortunately our cassette has been left too long and we've had a 'overflow' problem - very stinky! I happily 'disappear' to hang out our washing. When I return, Roger has rectified the problem and odour, he's heading off for a shower to feel fresh. I get to making open toasties with mustard, ham, tomato and cheese for our late lunch. We have some fruit and biscuits to follow. Next we decide to go for a drive to look about Batlow - even though not much going on today. We get back around 4.30pm - now have a lovely relax, me reading a book, Roger poking about getting the fire going and enjoying watching it. Tea tonight is leftover reheated savoury mince over freshly cooked baked spuds (in campfire coals). Roger washes the dishes, I'm catching up the budget books and writing this. Roger has another shower and to bed. I won't be much longer - and I'll get to bed to read for a while.
19/04/25 Saturday. Roger up at 7am - I have a lie in reading my book until 7.30am. We both have our breakfasts, and I tidy up doing the dishes while Roger organises food to take for our lunch today (the makings for a sandwich etc). We're going for a drive today. We leave here around 8.30am - head straight to the IGA supermarket in Batlow to find it opens today at 9am (usually 8am - but not with Easter). We wait until it opens and get our top up groceries - along with some chocolate to make if feel more like Easter. Then get some fuel so we can head off. We return to camp around 4.30pm. I immediately go and get our washing off the line before the chill night air arrives! Roger gets our firepit going - once washing folded and put away, we relax around our fire. While looking at my mobile, I discover a message left on 101 service - listen to it to find I've won a raffle prize! Ring the number provided to speak with Alison Glenn, a lovely lady in Moulamein, where I've got a prize of a pull along cart waiting for me - Rog and I will get onto working out how we collect it. Tea tonight - I cook up in the Thermomix, the creamy tomato and salami pasta. Roger has his shower, we do the dishes, now relax until bedtime.
20/04/25 Sunday Happy Easter. We get up around 7.30am. Have our breakfast. I go have a shower, when I return to our van, I'm in time for a call from Tegan. Enjoy a lovely catch up - while Tegan's cooking crumpets (yum). After we finish our chat with Tegan I go and get a load of washing going. This morning I told Roger I wouldn't mind having a go at Mt Kosciuszko Summit Walk and would be wonderful if he'd do it with me. In true Roger style, once he agrees, he's onto trying to book our 2 night stay in Jindabyne to be able to do the walk this Thursday. I had looked into the caravan parks - but wasn't having much luck (booked out with the holidays re school and Anzac Day). Once I've got the washing hung out and we're organised - we leave (10.30am) to go driving around Tumut and surrounds. Early into this drive - Roger pulls over on the side of the road when he has mobile coverage - and makes contact with an accommodation provider - and books us into Kookaburra Ski Lodge for 2 nights once he establishes we can leave our caravan safely out the front. Woo hoo - our Mt Kosciuszko hike is a goer. Now back to enjoying our day trip. We return around 4.30pm. We are shocked to see our wood pile near our firepit is missing! We look at our neighbouring campers - who have a wonderful fire going with wood that looks like ours! Thank goodness we take stock of the situation before saying anything - as these neighbours have stacked our wood under our caravan to stay dry while we're away and it was raining. Strike up a conversation - nice to meet lovely John and Julia (from Sydney) - offer them chocolates and yoyo biscuits as thank you - they're not 'buying' as happy just with their drinks. Roger and I relax at our campfire - I've left our washing to stay out as it's got damp. We have leftover reheated pasta for our tea, and I finish off my Easter chocolates for my dessert. Roger also has yoghurt and banana. It's raining lightly as I'm writing this up. Roger has his shower and heads to bed. I'll finish this, then wash dishes before going to bed as well.
21/04/25 Monday. Roger gets up before 7.30am, I lie in reading my book until 8am. No plans today so once I'm up - just leisurely all the way. Our main aim today is to get our washing dry - it rained overnight so it's quite damp. Not meant to rain until later today so we'll try to get it done before then - and we do! Have a relaxing day about camp - I have fun catching up sorting my phone photos into date order albums. Lunch is sandwiches for Roger and 2 open toasties - relish, ham, tomato and cheese for me. After lunch we walk to the IGA supermarket to get some cream for Roger's bread & butter pudding he's making for tonight's dessert. Once back at camp - Roger gets the fire going, we have afternoon smoko - cuppas and yoyo biscuits. Later we have drinks (beers) with dip and biccies and beef jerky. Has rained again (phew washing sorted!) so quite cold now - glad of the fire. Tea tonight - Roger uses the airfryer for crumbed fish and homemade chips - served with some boiled vegetables. Roger's camp oven pudding is yummy - though burnt on the bottom - we just leave that behind! Roger has his shower, we're relaxing before bed - I best do the dishes first!
22/04/25 Tuesday. Up at around 7.30am, leaving day, so have breakfast, then go have a shower. Now get organised to have the caravan and myself ready to go. Cooler day - so get into long pants, ls shirt and my boots. Roger has us on the move by 9.30am.Read more