We decided to go camping for the weekend at a free campground called Aysons Reserve Camping Area on the bank of the Campaspe River. The weather forecast was for fine weather and it isn’t very far from Echuca where there is a Steam Rally on this weekend which we thought the kids would enjoy.

The campsite is relatively busy, particularly compared to last time we visited when there were very few campers. But there is a big area and it doesn’t feel too crowded. We first pulled up at the same spot where we camped last time, but a ranger came to talk to us and we were told that you have to camp further than 20 metres from the river (and if we were camped there when he got back we would receive a fine). There are no signs up, however, advising of this rule.

There has been quite a bit of work done to the camping area since our last visit. There is a long row of bollards along the edge of the road stopping people from camping too close to the river (they didn’t go as far as we were going to camp), the toilets have been upgraded (byo toilet paper) and there is a dump site for black water.

We set up the tent and Nathan started his regular trek around the neighbouring campers to chat to them, and he discovered that we were camped next to some people who had taken their 5-year-old granddaughter, Isobelle, camping for the weekend. Isabelle was taking a couple of small dogs for a walk and Nathan rode his bike beside her and chatted, and by the end of the day they were practically inseparable.

It was quite a chilly night, getting down to around 2 degrees overnight. Nathan sat on his bike for ages this morning waiting for Isabelle to come out of the caravan and ended up deciding to write her a note…there is a photo of it below. Originally he was going to sign it ‘Love from Nathan’ but in the end he left it unsigned.

Nathan and Isabelle

Morning mist on the river

Andrew and Toby with their warm morning drinks