The journey continues with us heading off on the Saturday morning (14/3/15) bound for Lakes Entrance.  When we left beautiful downtown Cranbourne it was without a hitch.  I have finally worked out that the van tows so much better with the hand brake off.  Took a while.  Along the trip we have seen a nice looking free camp spot that we will stop in on the next trip.  Just near Stratford.  Looks like you would have to get in early though as there were plenty of other campers there.  As we got closer to Sale it was time for a coffee break and rest for the body.  It was about midday as we drove into the town and it looked a lot busier than usual.   Being Mr Confident I made a turn near Maccas and drove straight into the main shopping centre and actually drove through the narrow, busy shopping strip. Worked out it was local election day and I was driving past a polling booth.  Of course I got one of those 'what were you thinking' looks from Deb but all was under control.  Managed to escape from the bedlam and parked nearby for a well deserved rest and walk around to check the sights. (ie coffee shops)  After the regulation coffee it was on to Lakes Entrance.  The park we are staying in is fairly small with challenging sites to park in.  Thankfully I think we had the only drive thru site in the place.  After setting up it was time to relax for the rest of the day.  Yeah sure. 

As the night wore on the wind picked up and of course that bloody awning started rattling and took on the appearance as if it was going to break free from the van.  As usual, instead of folding up the awning when we can see what we are doing, I would much rather do it when it is a matter of urgency.  You know the situation, by now it is late at night, windy and dark and as usual, all did not go as planned.  At one stage Deb is 1 step in front of me (normal some would say) in the fold up procedure and her end resembles nothing like my end.  The bloody devil awning was refusing to roll up until both ends were the same.  With a bit of force all went according to plan until it was found that the cord must be rolled up within the awning to enable it to roll out next time.  Not happening here.  The cord is wrapped around my end like a bloody anaconda and refusing to let go.  At least it is secure and I'll worry about it tomorrow.

Come the Sunday I could not attempt the awning renovation at least until after coffee.  We had a stroll town the street and checked out all of the natives.  It is such a lovely town.  Got back and borrowed a ladder and made the awning as it should be.  It was straight out of the work care handbook, Deb pulling the end with the cord and me up on a ladder attempting to force the middle of the awning out of its place.  Amazingly enough it worked.  We then folded it up and opened it out again a couple of times to make sure all was well.  Obviously I am doing something wrong here.  I have even got a couple of guide ropes now to further secure the awning and hopefully that works.  I am a total failure at anything to do with boy scouting so my guide ropes constantly come loose but at least it appears more secure.

We even got the bikes out in the afternoon and went for a ride around the town.  At least it is fairly flat riding so was easy on the back.  Had to work up an appetite as Deb has made a curry dish in the ecopot so we will eat well for the next couple of nights.  I know it is amazing but we actually slept with the awning down on Sunday night and the van was still in the same spot in the morning.  I have bought longer tent pegs for the guide ropes and hopefully our problems are over.  Yeah sure.  Spent the Monday just doing tourist things, went to Metung and checked out the sights.  What a beautiful little coastal town it is.  Even the real estate prices are reasonable but there would be nothing to do there.  If you weren't a fisherman you would be bored witless.  Deb spent some time this afternoon writing her book while I checked out the latest arrivals at the park.  It is good to watch others parking and you realise that it is obviously a practised art to become really good at it.  Hopefully that will be me in the future.  That is all for now.  Haven't done any photos as yet.