First Solo Adventure.

I am back from my first solo trip away and as you can see I survived it fine even with all the worrying  and  sooking that went on beforehand.

My first stay, Friday night, was in a sheep paddock not too far from Beverley and it was because of the generosity of a lovely woman that I can now call myself a *Solo Camper and Explorer.*  Thanks S.  She gave me the use of her property and so my first night was near some trees locked in so no-one could get me.  I know, the thinking was still wrong.
Calling it a sheep paddock is not fair either because even though there were sheep there they were not the focus.  It was a lovely peaceful block and though there was a house near the entrance once onto the block it was like being in a world on your own.  And not very scarey at all.  Really...


I set up camp in the shade of some trees, had a coffee then went exploring.  Back to camp, another coffee and discovered that I had left my book at home.  Sitting on the table with a few other things I wanted to take.  HoHum...









The netting did a great job of keeping most of the flies out.









Saturday morning after a walk down to the river I was wondering what to do with myself and decided to go into town and look around but Beverley is not very big and that didn't take long.  I remembered seeing a sign on my way to here pointing to Boyagin Rock so thought that I'd try and find it again and go there.  The good thing with a van, as opposed to trailer or caravan, is that once you are packed everything is with you and you don't have to go back for anything when you decide to go *off the plan*  So though I planned to stay at S's land 2 nights I didn't need to go back, I could go exploring. 


I have been to BR before, 3 years ago and we came in from the other side (I think)  but even so I still started worrying when the turnoff didn't appear 15 minutes after driving.  It was a lot further than I thought but soon it appeared and I turned where the sign pointed, showing I had 17 km to go.
17 km through the forest and farmlands along a dusty gravel road.  I was quite a way in before I noticed dust coming in the car so wound the windows up and kept going.  I need new seals around the back door.  Or don't travel on gravel roads. 
Even though I knew I had 17 k's to travel and I did look at the speedo at the start I still worried that I'd gone the wrong way when I wasn't there within 15 minutes.  Can you see a pattern here.  I need to be there real soon after starting or I lose confidence in if I'm going the right way.  Finally got to another sign and this road I recognised so hoping no-one was leaving the rock carpark I started in.   This is a narrow windy road with not much room for passing.
I get there and see 2 other camping groups.  I say groups, 1 was a young couple with a tent and the other was an elderly man with a great set-up on the back of a small truck.  He even had a motorbike.


But it's early and there are bound to be others.  After all this is a great spot and it's school holidays...(no-one else came while I was there)


I pick a spot and set up camp then climb the rock before I have a coffee.  

    
I am not far up the path before I am huffing and puffing and think that I haven't had any iron tablets since I left home.  So, low in iron after 2 days or so unfit still I can't climb theses rocks I want to without getting out of breath and  having pains in my chest?     I need to remember to take my meds and to get fitter.  It's not rocket science!!
I did make it to the top though and took a video of the place but it didn't work out.  I need to learn more about the camera before I want to record stuff.   I don't remember how high this rock is but the view from the top goes a long way.

This morning, Sunday 17th April 2011, I walked up to the top again, hoping to see the sun come up.  I was there while it did but there was quite a bit of cloud so it wasn't the greatest.   
I managed a photo with me as the sun peeked above the horizon.

Me at sunrise on top of Boyagin Rock.

Then back to camp for a coffee.

I spent some time going over the maps I had as I had come the long way to get to Beverley and thought that there would be a shorter way back.  But I am not very good with maps and it took me a while to get the names of the roads I needed written down.  And even then I went wrong.  But that wasn't my fault.  I think.  The road on the map that I wanted looked like it went straight then turned onto such and such road.   But in reality the straight road turned right and changed into gravel and continued a long way, with no signs... So I had to turn off but missed it and I went past quite a way before I turned around and found it.   I thought it was the wrong road and wondered how far does one go before they turn around again and look for the real road, a bitumen road like I was on before.
So I had no idea where I was, what direction I was going or even what direction I needed.  Blind faith, and being unsure when to turn around, got me to the end where I turned onto the road I needed. 
Hubby will come home and look at the map and say, "yeah, that goes here and you turn here"  (yep, told ya)
It doesn't seem to matter how long I think about something and work out what I need to do, or where to go, I'm very rarely right.  
But as this was an adventure I wasn't too worried.  I knew I had to end up somewhere...And this was an adventure...

But home now and I need to do all the stuff that needs to be done after adventuring.
Washing, restocking, cleaning all the dust out of the van...