Christmas at Morgan ...

We set out Friday after work from Gawler. Of course we had to plot our way via dirt roads, and despite the warm, dry conditions of the past weeks we managed to find enough mud to get the car dirty. Arriving in Morgan, we found the caravan park and were directed toward one of the best camping areas I have ever seen. Being next to the River there is no shortage of water, and the grassed areas were very healthy. We chose a site with a pretty view of the river, through the gums, and the ferry beyond.

While we were setting up camp, Jill came over and introduced herself. With all the travelling we do, it was still strange to think that after the best past of a year we didn’t know everyone yet. On our way to check out the facilities we met up with Irene, who provided a much needed cup of tea. More people arrived around tea time, with tents and caravans. After tea, we all got together and enjoyed swapping to stories, both good and bad, over a drink or two. It was a great atmosphere and continued for quite some time after we had gone to bed.

Saturday morning was warm and not so sunny. The sound of the ferry had prevailed half the night, and started again at some interesting hour. It is easy to forget that this is the means for which everyone in the area gets from A to B. We sat enjoying the scene of the early morning over the river, watching the ferry doing its thing, over coffee.We had been told that there was a small area behind the caravan park that was great for 4wding, and once most had arrived we set off to explore, with Snoopy as our guide. I know compared to the Simpson this might be a small area, but if it wasn’t for the power lines it would be very easy to get yourself lost in this labyrinth. We convoyed through different terrains and degrees of difficulty on a most enjoyable adventure ending at an old quarry.

We are relatively new 4wders and very inexperienced in steep descents/ascents. We found ourselves faced with what looked like a huge drop down into the quarry. After watching one or two manage ‘the hill’ our fear was still there, but coached by our capable president we attempted the descent and made it!! Once we were all in the quarry passengers alighted while drivers tried out the achievable and some unreachable challenges. It’s amazing how what seems so difficult and frightening appears to diminish after you have tried it. There was even a lovely mud patch for John. Our son Gannon is a skate boarder, and his comment was that this looked just like a skate park for 4wds.

Back to camp for lunch, a chance to chat and catch up with new arrivals and then our December meeting. Some keen drivers went back to the labyrinth ending with a search for sand. We had all but given up hope of finding this sand patch that Snoopy remembered from before, when it found us. Although a lot smaller than the quarry, there was a slightly higher degree of difficulty, as Rob found out. He got slightly hung up on one sand dune, and Fred showed us all just how many different ways 4wd wheels can go at one time.

The evening meal was a the Morgan Commercial pub. 40+ people converged on this small town pub (a little more than they could cope with, I think). All in all we enjoyed the evening. It was great to meet up with people we don’t see regularly and listen to more stories.

Sunday dawned quite hot. Strangely it took a little longer for people to get going. Once we were up and about, some took off sight seeing, some went walking and others just sat and enjoyed each others' company. The children enjoyed the caravan park swimming pool again.

We all began dispersing from lunchtime after a very enjoyable weekend.

Disclaimer : please note