Longridge Park

First week of school holiday started with a weekend of camping. We were very lucky to be able to book Longridge Park, thanks to Rebecca.

Friday night was a bit of a rush as it was a workday for both Kim and I. We prepared our trip through the previous weeks leading to the weekend. Once we arrived home from work, it was like clockwork. Kim packed the car. I steamed bbq pork buns and egg custard buns while the children both had their showers. 

We ate in the car as we drove. It only took 30 minutes to get there. Nevertheless, the kangaroos were already roaming about that time. The entrance of the park was gated with security coded padlock. This code was given closer to our camp date.

This privately booked campsite was a treat. All in all there were 7 families. Some of us knew each other. Some met that evening. We managed to set up camp before the sun set. Even though we had already eaten, we made some wraps as the theme for that evening was Mexican. 

I built my first fire all by myself. It was a pat-on-the-back-by-self moment. Nothing beats a camp fire as it provided warmth and a place of gathering. Most importantly for the children, the firepit was for roasting marshmallows.

The next morning was the real beginning of our camping weekend. I arose with the sounds of kookaburra and walked across the field towards the bathroom. There was a mob of kangaroos nearby which scared me a little. There was a red one which looked ominously oversized. 

We were aware that we had to prepare and eat breakfast before the storm came. Ours was bacon, eggs and baked beans. Rebecca and Ronn were kind and offered their Snowpeak grille to cook our bacon. 

As the wind picked up, it was time to set up the shelter before the rain came down. Setting up the tent in the wind was like taming of the beast by tying it down rope by rope. It was teamwork that made it.

Kim took the children fishing. It was tricky to find a good spot as the Yarra River was flowing quite rapidly. Nevertheless, they persevered and were fishing in the rain. Needless to say, the lures were lost as they were snagged in the hidden rocks in the murky Yarra.

As it was raining, some families drove out to get lunch. We stayed and made lunch. Cherry attempted to cook the tallest 2 minute noodles which I christened the Leaning Tower of Noodles. The pot was precariously balanced on the cooktop.

My sister and nephew, came down for the day despite the rain. They toasted bread on the fire. After the rain and wind cleared, we went for a walk by the river and looped back to the entrance of the park.

They left before the next round of storm came. The rain was a cue for us to start the dinner process. We all muscled in and conjured up a magnificent feast. Henry went out and bought ingredients (dumplings and beef balls) to share. Cheekily, Doncaster was just a stone’s throw away. Technically, we could’ve ordered Uber Eats.

We shared salt and pepper pork ribs, chicken satays, grilled tteokbokki, stir-fry japchae, pan-fried kimchi pancake, beef bulgogi, chicken mu, hot pot 1 and hot pot 2. I am sure there were some that I had forgotten to name, but it was continuous eating. 

The rain continued, as did the conversations and laughs. 

The sun shone bright the next morning. The mist rose up magically. We had a very long breakfast. Kim ground his coffee beans with his Porlex Mini Coffee Hand Grinder and utilised his Aeropress. Ronn made congee with the rice leftover over the open fire. We all added our ingredients. It was very much like the wombat stew (a book by Marcia E. Vaughan and illustrated by Pamela Lofts). But it was absolutely delicious, not poisonous. 

Packing up was a team effort. The children had technology but they also managed to make self-driven play. The hammock proved to be an interesting place for the children to gather.

We met as strangers and left as friends. I think it was the food that bought us all together.