Honey BBQ Bacon, Chicken and Sweet Potato Packets

(serves 4)

• 4 Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 4 slices of bacon
• 1 cup barbecue sauce
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 large sweet potatoes, diced
• 4 sprigs fresh rosemary
• salt and pepper

1. Cook on a grill, in the camp oven or on the coals. 
2. Lay out (4) 12×12 square of aluminum foil. (I usually like to double these to make sure they are sturdy- so four sets of two).
3. In each aluminum foil square, divide the diced sweet potatoes and top with fresh rosemary.
4. Place one chicken breast wrapped in bacon on each square and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.
5. In a small bowl, mix the barbecue sauce and honey. Pour the sauce over each chicken breast. (I usually add 1-2 Tbls. water to prevent burning).
6. Close each aluminum foil square around the chicken to create a “packet.”

Cook for 30-40 minutes.

Hobo Stew in Foil Jacket

Ingredients:

• 2 kg stew meat, cubed
• 2 cups carrots, sliced
• 2 cups celery, roughly chopped
• 1 fingerling potatoes (any variety), cubed
• 1 medium onion, roughly chopped
• 8 ounces button or baby bella mushrooms, cut in thirds
• 4 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 4 pats butter (optional)
• 2 teaspoons herbs de Provence
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 4 teaspoons water (optional)

Directions:

1. If you're taking this to eat while camping, do all your chopping before you leave (vegetables should be about a third the size of the meat cubes for optimal cooking) and store the veggies and meats in individual containers in an ice-packed cooler. Make sure the potatoes are kept in water (to keep them from browning) and that the mushrooms are kept away from water (to keep them from getting waterlogged. Marinate the meat in the Worcestershire sauce and store it in a separate container to keep it from contaminating the other ingredients.
2. When you're ready to eat, divide the aluminum foil into four foot-long strips and spray with cooking spray if desired. Each family member can pack on whatever amount of veggies and meat they'd like, but each layer should be salted lightly. Don't over-pack the foil for a bigger portion, but make two packets instead.
3. Top each pile of raw food with a pat of butter, 1/2 teaspoon of herbs de Provence, a little pepper and a little water if desired (or if you don't have butter).
4. Bring the longer edges of the foil together in the middle to form a tent over the food and fold them together three or four times, creasing it well each time (like you're closing up a chip bag). Scrunch the ends in well to ensure there's no leakage.
5. Place the packet over heat (inside a preheated 350 degree F oven, on the campfire grate or on the grill). Cook for 15 minutes to half an hour or until the meat is cooked through and the veggies are tender. Cooking times will vary with the method you use and the size of your food chunks.
6. Serve right in the foil pack (when cooled) or transfer to a plate or bowl to eat.

Coleman Gold Series Instant Up Review

Coleman Gold Series Instant Up - Fully erected

I took my new COLEMAN GOLD SERIES INSTANT UP for its maiden journey on the weekend. 

Heavy Duty Canvas Carry Bag

Step 1.  Lay tent out and fold the legs out to a semi-erect position.

Very impressed with the new heavy duty polyoxford PVC flooring.  Feels nice underfoot. There was a fair amount of dew around this morning.  I was expecting it to need some sun.  Alas, not so much as drop of condensation inside or moisture underneath at pack up.  I usually find drying off tents the most time consuming part of packing up after camping.  It was a breeze this morning.  

With all the new features, my very favourite is the thicker and heavier fabric used in the fly.  It was so much darker inside. So much so, I slept till 7.30 am.  I could get used to that.

The instructions say it requires 2 people to erect.  I disagree.  I always put my old model up by myself. This model is fundamentally same design.  But in saying that, the thicker, heavier fly fabric makes it a little harder to use the wind to pull the fly over the top. The Instant Ups are quite tall and dragging a fly over the peak is a chore if you don’t have someone to hold the far side in place. I struggled with this for about 3 mins.  Walked around it twice, then decided to drop the 4 corners back down and put the fly on whilst it was down.  I then erected it again and it was easy as.  Done.  You can easily have this tent up in 2 mins by yourself, if you remember this tip.  

The only complaint I ever had with the old model was no lower level ventilation.  The new model has 2 extra air flows, plus the front door.  Perfect for those sultry summer nights when every bit of air is precious.

The other bonus is the heavy duty carry bag.  It is huge.  I was able to lay the fly on the ground, place the inner on top of that.  Roll it all up and throw it in the bag.  I didn't even have to push little bits into corners; whilst attempting to pull the zipper.  Nothing worse than taking longer to put a tent back in a bag, then it took to erect and pull down combined.

Step 2 - Raise legs to fully erect

Drove away from camping feeling pretty pleased with my new purchase.

https://www.tentworld.com.au/buy-sale/coleman-instant-up-4-tent-gold-series

Step 3 - Drop it back down and pull the fly over the peak

• Coleman Gold Series Instant Up design - sets up in under two minutes
• Front door can be pitched out as front awning with two poles (included)
• Detachable over-sized 3 pole (included) awning which can be attached to both left and right sides (so you can follow the shade)
• Coleman Circle Ventilation for added air flow
• Integrated internal storage hammock and organisers
• Power cord management system
• Convenient welcome mat to help keep tent clean and dry inside
• Heavy duty carry bag
• Frame: Steel (includes 5 awning poles)
• Weight: 12.7kg
• Size: 240w x 240l x 190h cm

Fabric: 

• 75D/ 185D Polyester rip-stop inner
• 3000 mm PU fly
• Heavy Duty Polyoxford PVC flooring

Step 4 - erect again & peg out

Side View - No # 1 air flow

Side and rear view - No 2 # air flow

Delicate subject of Overtaking

Overtaking manoeuvres involve risk and require extreme care.  If you have any doubts it is best not to overtake and to wait until it is safer.

The overtaker must assess their options - be able to visually check their path, assess power of their vehicle, their confidence level, condition of the road, wind, speed/distance of the other vehicles. Then they make a judgement call and take the risk or don't take the risk.

The vehicle being overtaken must by law allow space between themselves and other vehicles so the overtaker can pull back into the lane safely. Thus, give them room if they need it!  The overtaken must stay in their lane and not increase speed.  All the vehicle being overtaken needs to do is not change the situation and never put themselves or the overtaking vehicle in a predicament that could end badly for all.

It is not advisable that a slow vehicle drop wheels off the road shoulder to allow a vehicle to overtake, especially in a caravan or towing trailers unless they truly believe there is no risk.  Gravel road shoulders and deteriorating bitumen edges can be exceptionally dangerous to any vehicle but even more so to someone towing a trailer.  Please don't move over because you feel pressured, only do so because you feel safe to do so. All the risk of overtaking lays with the overtaking vehicle and maybe they simply need to wait until the road straightens or widens or you come upon an overtaking lane, at which time you could slow down and allow all those following you a chance to get past you.

It should never be a problem if all road users respect each other and remember that every person has a right to go about their business and do so safely. Even slow caravans, even truck drivers, even other passenger vehicles driving to/for work, or to pick up children or going on holidays.

PLEASE DRIVE SAFELY and RESPECT ALL ROAD USERS!

Poverty Creek Campground, Bribie Island

Poverty Creek Campground, Bribie Island is a fabulous spot to camp. Don't forget your Bushman's or dettol & baby oil if you are heading here in summer. This fabulous spot is only an hour north of Brisbane CBD. You do not need to drive on the beach to get to it if you don't want but this is a pretty special spot to visit also. You can have a campfire in the fire rings as long as there isn't a fire ban. No campfires on the beach.

http://www.nprsr.qld.gov.au/par…/bribie-island/camping.html…

Captain Logan Campground, Wivenhoe Dam, Queensland

I didn't pick the greatest weather to go camping at this lovely campground.  But then again, there is never a bad time to go camping is there.  Captain Logan is a very pretty campground. Shady, well laid out. Great parking, especially if you have a trailer or jet ski. Fabulous for swimming, kayaking and paddle boarding or just not doing anything.  It is a very peaceful campground.

Clean toilets, hot showers within easy walk of all campsites.  Each site has a wood fired BBQ area and is handy to a water tap. Sites are big but very sloped.  Each site has a levelled sandy loam camping pad. It is only just big enough for one large tent and gazebo type set up or maybe three smaller tents and gazebo. If you were going with a big group you would definitely need a couple of sites. They are well spread out though, so your neighbours should not bother you at all.

There is a designated camper van/caravan section so if camping with a group of mixed tents, campers and van's you may need to head to this area.  All camps are on the water so you will not miss the beautiful sunrises and sunsets.  Cars must remain behind the bollards on driveway in the tent camping area.  This makes it a bit of an effort to cart your gear back and forth. Means you can't utilise your car awning for shade so ensure you take an alternative.

Perfect for the kids as there is a notable lack of jet-ski's and powerboats due to the boat restrictions.   Heaps of friendly roo's, birds and the odd penny turtle to discover.    Kids can explore all day long.

For the average family this is an ideal spot and only one hour from Brisbane.  Definitely worth the visit.

$25 for 2 adults so not cheap but most certainly not over-priced either. 

http://seqlakesideescapes.com.au/

Lake Somerset, Queensland

Lake Somerset is a fabulous destination if you enjoy any form of water activity or just a nice day drive. Centrally located between Brisbane, Toowoomba and the Sunshine Coast.  Only a short drive from the country towns of Kilcoy, Esk and Woodford.

There are a range of camping spots close by if you want to stay awhile. If you are simply looking for a day of activity, you can't beat the day use area and boat ramp area.  This is such a super busy spot though, so arrive very early. Large queues for boat ramp, both in and out. 

Only negative was the waters edge gets pretty choppy with all the boats and jet-ski's, which do not appear to slow down when coming near or leaving the dam edge, so not sure it is ideal for the very little children. Maybe head around the dam a little bit further away from the main boating activity.  Not a lot of shade unless you have been one of the few fortunate to arrive at day break so pack a nice big tarp or shade structure of some form. Plenty of toilets (portaloo's) in handy locations.  Nice clean park.  Great day out had by all.

http://www.lakesomerset.com.au/

Lake Somerset Holiday Park Video