Our Easter....

was spent in the countryside of Victoria, camping. Real camping. You know, the kind of camping where you have to take your water in with you, there is no power and we use portaloos. However, we do take our campervan so all comforts are not forsaken! I also take our super warm and comfy wool doona and loads of pillows. Love that cozy feeling on a cold night!

We left, all loaded up with the campervan, one motorbike on the front of the van, one on the back and Bronte's PeeWee 50 on the roof! The load we tow is horrendous! All so that Zachary and Stan can compete in a motorbike Trial.

A 3 and a half hour drive, we arrive at Glenmaggie. Some of the loveliest countryside to be seen. All green and lush and large rolling hills and beautiful valleys. The nights are crisp and clear and the sky is full of billions of stars. The days were divine - not too hot but clear blue skies and no wind.

Each night we sat around a large campfire with friends that we had made the year before. Col, Jo, Gemma, Georgina (Georgie!), Harrison (H) and William (Will Will). The kids are aged 10, 8, 6 and 2 and they all got on so well with our kids it was marrrrrvellous. Other families came to our campfire at night and even some diehard bike guys with no kids loved being around the fire with us all too. The first two nights we played Chinese Whispers which was hilarious! Adults and children alike - 20 or so of us - all laughing our heads off! 18 year old boys who I thought would be way too cool for the game loved joining in too...it was a great thing to see.

Of course we had toasted marshmallows everynight - half the fun was searching for the perfect marshmallow stick. Then everyone would put the two-bits in to try and educate on the best way to toast. Well I just like 'em burnt thanks!

Motorbike riding all day everyday...trials is hard work. Samuel, Bronte and I had to 'observe' both Saturday and Sunday - hard work out in the sun. Observing is where you 'score' each rider for the 'section'. We looked after section one (closest to the toilets!) and it is a spectacular section as the A grade riders and the Experts manage to jump there bikes over impossibly large logs. In fact, in the photo below where you see Bronte and Samuel sitting on top of a big fallen tree - well the bikes use a ramp and get right up there and over the other side! Very fab to watch! Not too many accidents in my section thank goodness and I only had to lift bikes of their riders 5 times!!!

Zachary was hopeful of getting a trophy this year. He came 4th though so missed out by 2 points. Bad luck really as he was in the running for 1st place there for a while until he made a really silly error and was given 5 points. He was really upset but that is the name of the game.
Stan did well the first day and was also in the running for a place/trophy but he also did a couple of silly things and didn't place.

Easter Bunny came to our area which was cool. Bronte had her 'Easter Bunny Rocks' tee on in anticipation!

Only one super serious injury on the weekend which saw a 19 year old Expert Rider rushed to the local country hospital and then airlifted to Melbourne. Thank goodness it wasn't on my section! Not sure what he did but I know he was up a steep incline and somehow flipped backwards and ended up damaging his spleen and pancreas. Apparently that is super serious and he is a very lucky boy to be ok. Generally the sport is not too dangerous as it is not a speed based sport. The kind of injuries that happen are more your broken arm, fingers, bruising, scratches from the blackberry bushes and the like.