You need to walk before you run, so this is the story of my first steps with the caravan.  I went down to Lake Moogerah from Thursday afternoon to Saturday morning, just to see how I managed and if there was anything I needed that I didn’t have yet.

Lake Moogerah Caravan Park had a lovely view of said lake, though I didn’t dare set up the awning for fear of it being blown off.  The wind wasn’t constant, but when it got going, it was fierce.

Thursday afternoon was spent just walking around and acquainting myself with the place.  Lake Moogerah has a lot of birdlife, including some spectacular black swans that I managed to photograph.  The one below is the best, I think, probably because the swan seems to be looking at the camera (but judging by how much I had to use the zoom, that’s probably just an illusion).

There were pelicans, shags, ducks, corellas, galahs and rainbow lorikeets as well.  Some scaly-breasted lorikeets came by when I was first setting up the caravan – probably just to laugh at my many failed attempts to reverse it into place before I finally got it – but by the time I got my camera out they were gone.

I watched the sunset from a little hill in the caravan park, then settled in for my first night.

I tested out my bathroom pack in the shower block, and learned that I should be cautious of timer switches when showering after dark.  Having the lights cut out when you’re finishing up isn’t fun, but there was enough moonlight filtering in through the tiny windows that I managed to finish up and put on my PJs without incident.

I had a surprise when I opened my door for a late-night trip to the bathroom and saw a hare sprint across the caravan lots.  I spotted it a few more times after that, but was never quick enough to get a good photo, alas!

I did a lot of driving on Friday, through some beautiful countryside.  I went up Spicer’s Gap, and drove to Boondal.  Mum came down from Brisbane and joined me, and we went to the dam and took a vertigo-inducing walk across it.  I wasn’t quite game enough to get a photo looking down – too scared that I’d drop the camera.  Even with the wrist strap, I was scared I’d drop the camera!

But I did get some spectacular photos of the sky after the sun had set behind the mountains.

Mum and I had dinner at the Aratula Roadhouse (delicious!), then went back to the caravan.  I set up a small home cinema with my laptop and the caravan’s couch, and we watched some episodes of Forensic Files.  She helped me hitch up the caravan in preparation for taking off tomorrow, and then it was time for her to leave – she had work on Saturday.

Saturday marked the end.  I had another walk around the park, then took off back to Brisbane.

After her maiden voyage, I decided to christen my caravan Turtle Shell.