Recently the East Gippsland Roadrunners, a branch of the Australian Caravan Club, held its Christmas muster at Lakes Bushlands Caravan Park.
They had 14 caravan and motorhomes (including two in cabins), with a total of 27 people enjoying another wonderful Christmas muster.
The muster provided a large variety of activities, with lots of social mingling opportunities and many laughs.
Most of East Gippsland Roadrunners drifted in and set up in the park during the Thursday. They gathered around the improved large fire caldron in the camp kitchen for a relaxing happy hour. The camp kitchen was decorated to give it a Christmas feel.
Friday saw a slow start to the day with people occasionally mingling around the various camp sites. Later that morning, people lined up in their cars to do the observation drive to Swan Reach via a few back roads to make it interesting, and finished at the Swan Reach Hotel for lunch.
On returning to the caravan park, members took it easy, relaxing around the camp.
Later in the afternoon the group gathered around the fire caldron for happy hour and reviewed the answers to the observation drive. Then members gave plenty of advice to a few cooking their dinner in camp ovens.
After tea many gathered back in the camp kitchen for a games night, some enjoying a game of 500 and others enjoying a game of Caravan Monopoly, with some interesting wheeling and dealing going on towards the end.
Saturday saw members rise to gold coin donation of pancakes in the camp kitchen. Then it was into the annual mini Olympics out on the grassed area. There were many challenges, failures and successes. The rest of the day was relaxing around camp and later in the day a member entertained everyone with his live music before happy hour.
That night after dinner many gathered in the camp kitchen for a mystery guest speaker who gave an intriguing and informative talk on his 30 years experience in the justice system.
Sunday started with an egg and bacon muffin breakfast. At lunchtime many moved on to the Adventure Fun Park down the road for a barbecue/picnic lunch and a game of mini golf.
It was a lovely grassed setting with many interesting mini golf challenges. The large picnic shelter was wonderful, as a large storm came in and interrupted play near the end.
Members had dinner out at the Nicholson Hotel with a choice of Australian or Chinese dishes.
On Monday the group woke up to sunshine and the birds chirping in the trees after the storm the previous afternoon. Members headed on in convoy with CB radio communication to Log Crossing for a picnic morning tea. It was a lovely setting, sitting in the sun, chatting and enjoying morning tea.
After moving on to Lakes Entrance people did their own thing for lunch and later reassembled to board the Eco Cruise on the Gippsland Lakes.
The three-hour cruise was fantastic, despite the windy conditions. There was detailed commentary most of the way as the passengers visited and saw many features between Lakes Entrance and a little way beyond Metung including Boxes Creek, Chinamans Creek, Mosquito Point, Fraser and Rigby Islands, an Eagles Nest and many more places of interest including two visits close to the entrance, viewing many active seals shooting through the water and much birdlife.
On returning to the caravan park it was time for a final happy hour and awarding prizes for the Christmas decorated caravans. That night after dinner a trivia competition was held in the camp kitchen.
The East Gippsland Roadrunners welcomes people to come on a trip before deciding to join.
