Here we are on another PooleWain family holiday adventure.

It’s been long build up. The weeks leading up to Christmas and then the no mans land gap to New Years have highlighted the lack of holidays for the family in 2025. Mum has been doing an epic job as an executive assistant to Her highness and Young Prince. But this holiday could not come fast enough.

In the last week Ethan volunteered to come into work with Dad to spend some time away from his sister. He was quite pleased to have the opportunity to refine his putting, ensure the hot-cross buns and Chicken tenders were up to his taste bud standards. Even signing off on the fire alarm system and evacuation procedures.

Getting on the road this morning was the usual affair. We packed lighter than previous years, but getting the roof pod on Kims RAV4 and the inflatable boat and paddle-boards in was harder than expected despite the easier to use dedicated mounting points. Kelsie and Ethan were there typical excited selves, strapped in 45 minutes before we’re ready to go. It’s amazing how they find ways to not only not help, but make packing harder… I’m sure there’s a generation reading this smug in the irony of what goes around comes around.

On the road the important car conversations start… How are we going to extend the car Spotify playlist to 3 hours from the 28min currently have. What activities we want to do this year. What are we going to have for breakfast. Kelsie and Ethan were given reasonable free choice from the breakfast isle. Ethan turned down coco pops, he was happy with Cheerios. But that quickly changed at Coles when he found fruit loops and promptly put them in the trolly.

Months at lunch, Bees near the pool, bees drowning in the pool, ants at the port. Insects of all kinds have been testing Kelsies composure today. Hopefully we don’t meet any scorpions.

Echuca had a triathlon event today. All of us were keen to see the swimmers and the bike riders. Waiting for the next wave(s) of swimmer to come down the river was an ordeal with regular “when are they starting” from Kelsie and Ethan.

While we waited Kelsie amused herself by taking selfies in front of the Alice in wonderland sculptures. This is a sculpture walk around Echuca that’s on our list of activities. Though 3km walk may be challenge as Ethans legs regularly ‘break’ walking over distances of 200 meters.

Dinner at Antonios was a miss as they were at capacity tonight, perhaps a lack of staff as there were more free tables than occupied when we asked if there were any free. Backup dinner was a quick BBQ followed by Ice-cream. Ethan was pleased to have family record for largest cookie chunk in his. Thankfully as he asked for cookies and cream this was not unexpected.

When it was bed time Kelsie was happy for a story and off to sleep. Ethan said he nwanted to go down to sleep, but this didn’t seem to be an actual plan as chit chat could be heard behind closed doors and in about 30min before he was out in the living room strolling around wanting to sit and chat. Back to bed young man and sleep.. chit chat restarted and Dad had to set the lights out mouths shut boundaries.

What adventures will our first fill day bring tomorrow. Stay tuned. Same channel, Same random time.