THE WALLABY TRACK WITH LIONEL MUSSELL
ANNOUNCING
Lionel, pictured with his daughter, heads
off on a helicopter tour of the Grampians
A VERY GRAMPIANS CHRISTMAS
I know Christmas is well and
truly over but I must tell you
about the wonderful gift my
grandsons dreamed up for me
– a half-hour helicopter trip
for two over the Grampians
mountains!
They know my love of flying
in choppers and, in fact, I'd
been talking about flights I'd
done just before being handed
the gift. I'd been wondering
about the conspiratorial looks
that had passed between them
as I spoke.
WHERE I LIVE
Living nearby, we were able
to pick out a few familiar
landmarks, like the Halls
Gap Lakeside Caravan Park
downstream of Lake Byfield
– Stawell's main water supply
– and the Grampians Old Man
Emu Stay, which we’ll feature
in GoRV in the next issue. I'm
pleased I'd ordered a red roof
for my house as it was easier
to pick out from the air!
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Looking across the lake from
the air, you couldn't
see all the campers in
caravans, tents and other RVs
who were enjoying the free-
camping by the water but
were completely hidden by
the trees.
I was visiting my eldest
daughter one day many
years ago and a helicopter
was flying over Hong Kong
Harbour on the telly. “I've
got 2000 hours in my logbook
flying in aeroplanes but I've
never been in a chopper,” I said.
“We can soon fix that,” said
son-in-law Gary. “I've got a
mate who flies them.”
I was a bit sceptical but a
few Saturdays later we were
airborne over the Mornington
Peninsula, Vic. Jackie and
Gary, plus seven-year-old
grandson Cameron, came
with me for the ride. Now,
30-odd years later, Cam was
one of the instigators of my
incredible Christmas gift.
ANY RV’ERS ON
THIS COUNCIL?
Whenever I hear of councils
bowing to pressure to stop
free-camping in their area, it
makes me wonder if any of the
councillors have ever been on
trips with a caravan or other RV.
There are many councils that
have opened their area to free-
camping and this has resulted in
accolades from local traders who
have benefited from travellers
shopping for food and fuel, etc.
But the latest council to stop
free-camping is Bundaberg,
provoking a lot of negative
correspondence in the local paper.
Most free stops I've used have
been fairly tidy, where there is
provision for rubbish in bins, and
I believe most free-campers are
responsible folk. However, there
is a minority that spoils it for the
rest of us.
See you down the track.
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