Camping at Lake Ratzcastle ...

 We set off (with our friends Peter and Kathy) on a gloomy Saturday afternoon, headed for Lake Ratzcastle in Western Victoria.  We had heard that it is a good place to catch yabbies.

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 We set up our camp on the sandy banks of the lake.  We hoped the rain would hold off.

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 The level of the lake was way down due to low rainfall so our chances of wetting our yabby net was very slim!

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 This kangaroo was grazing at the waters edge.

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 The sunset was stunning ...

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 We got the campfire lit as soon as we had set up our bedding arrangements (always first priority).  I packed hot water bottles which saved us from freezing overnight!

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 Next on the list was to make some bread dough.  This would be cooked in the camp oven ...

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Here it is - coals underneath the oven, then heaped around it and on top.  I made bread rolls and arranged them into a cake tin.  To stop it burning on the bottom, I scrunched up some aluminium foil and put it in the bottom of the camp oven then sat the cake tin on top of that.

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 We used the Auspit rotisserie again to roast 2 small legs of lamb (marinated in balsamic vinegar, dijon mustard, brown sugar and mixed herbs) ...

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 A new toy was the roasting cage where we put the potatoes, carrot and pumpkin in to roll and tumble around, roasting over the fire....

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 We were blessed the whole night with no rain and no wind (quite amazing for this time of year) ...

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Roast veggies (need to cut the pumpkin and carrots smalled next time as they took longer to cook that the spuds) 

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 The finished meal (Peter didn't want carrot or pumpkin) with green peas/beans and gravy.  My bread turned out well but we burned it on top at the last minute by putting extra coals on top of the oven.  We'll know for next time!   All in all, a successful roast lamb dinner.

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 Breakfast the next morning was poached eggs and bacon ...

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 with campfire toast (which worked so well on the Auspit) ...

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 Yum!

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 Time to head for home, down this dirt track...

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 ... then this dirt track ...

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and finally this dirt track!

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 We were pretty weary when we got home and unpacked.  Everything smelled like a campfire so lots of washing took place.  We had lots of roast lamb left over so I took the opportunity to make Shepherds pie with the left over meat.(we don't usually have much left over from a small roast).

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 I fried off the celery, onion, carrot and pumpkin then added the chopped lamb then all the other ingredients as per the recipe - here

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 Let is simmer away for and hour or so while you boil/steam some potatoes to mash...

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 I cut a sheet of puff pastry and baked that at the last minutes - a pie isn't a pie unless it has pastry, right?  This was a lovely, warming dish - a good way to end a great weekend.  I also froze 2 small portions for another time (bonus!)  ...

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There was even some lamb left over for cold lamb and sauce sandwiches for Gus today.

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Cheers - Joolz xx