Last day at Stuarts Point - and something a bit different for you

The last day here at this lovely place and I feel really sad.  I wish it was the start of a big trip for us as it is for so many of the campers here.  The people opposite for example are heading off around Australia for a year or maybe two, depending on how they feel.  They are fortunate indeed.  But we have our Tasmanian trip next year to look forward to!

I have something a bit different for you this time - sorry it's so amateurish!  I wandered around this morning with my little camera taking a video of the bird calls.  It's not the best quality but it does give an idea of what I mean.  Please pardon the wobbly photography - I am not the steadiest of people when it comes to taking a video!  Just fast forward when it gets boring. I also call my son Nathan to say g'day, and Peter too and there's another short one later on where I say goodbye , although my grandson tells me that it's not what I really sound like :-)  Thank goodness for that, is all I can say lol!  I have since found out that 75 different varieties of birds have been identified on the campground, and 5 species of birds and animals that are 'at risk' are happily living there.  It has taken me several days to get blogger to accept this video - I shortened it and had to teach myself how to do that, then teach myself how to save it in a different format.  Finally, it took over an hour for it to upload, so I had to wait until I had time for it to do that.  Whew!

In case you happen to wonder about the 'stuff' around our caravan, we were drying things out ready to pack them away.

Peter and I also drove over to Stuart's Point and as we arrived a chap was cleaning some fish opposite a caravan park there.  As if by magic a whole group of pelicans arrived from the sandbank way downriver and I took heaps of video of them carrying on while waiting for him to throw them some scraps, as well as some still photos.  I love this shot of one of them coming in for a landing.

Some of them came quite close to us, eyeing us off to see whether we had anything tasty to offer.  One in particular came really close to me and he was a good 4 foot tall, edging closer and closer.  A bit too close for comfort in fact, considering that huge bill of his!

We then walked back to this footbridge and over it.  On the other side is a track to yet another beach, but by this time I was weary.

It's quite a long way over the bridge.  Before camp I could barely walk around the house, so I've made great progress.

We enjoyed having lunch with our friends back at the caravan.  We're the last two campers left in the park now and we watched the caretaker and his assistant move all the vans that were still here, with a forklift.  We were intrigued - they hook the fork under the A-frame at the front and drive off in reverse, towing the van.  Those that are stored there are put in a large area at the rear of the campground and those that are being picked up soon are placed in another area ready.

Later in the afternoon, Marilyn and I took a long walk around the campground.  There are 7 long avenues for caravans and the same for tents, plus a lot of unpowered sites as well.  So it was a long walk.  I was really tired by the time we got back!  But our walk gave us the opportunity to have a talk to Neil, the Caretaker and have some questions answered, especially about the caravans and wildlife.

Now to say farewell for this trip have have another very short video for you.  Really unglamourous too - well, I am still in holiday mode after all :-) but heartfelt nevertheless.  Even if I did have to guess where to aim the camera - not as easy as it is with a video camera.

Hope you'll visit next holiday - cheerio!
Blessings
Sandie