On to Lakes Entrance

We have about 200K to travel today,and it's not long before we come across some of the fire devastation. Just outside Yarram there is hundreds of acres of bush either side of the road that has been scorched black,and what trees are still standing look like sticks of charcoal, some still smouldering.The road going due north from Yarram is still closed and we see fire trucks going up there.We can smell the smoke from the trucks.We had noticed quite a few shops closed in Yarram also and think that the ownrs are probably volunteer firefighters.As we travel we can see smoke in the distance, through the rain and we hope it's raining there as well. We travel through a town called Stratford and peter hops out to take a photo "Stratford on the River Avon" but the navigator is pilot again today and as it is still raining,and there doesn't seem to be much there she takes an executive decision not to stop. We reach a biggish town Bairnsdale where the rain is now coming down in stair rods! We need the bank and some provisions and a coffee and so the sun umbrella comes into it's own for the first time. It keeps some of the rain off! We stop by the River Tambo for a late lunch as the sky starts to clear. Only another 10K to Lakes Entrance and for the first time since we have been on the road, the campsite we have chosen is full. However there are lots more in town and we soon get sorted and go for a walk along the prom.Dry but fresh and breezy( bracing!) we are accosted by 2 Brits who pick up on Peter's Rugby top. They are from North Warks,Atherstone and also turn out to be Welsh. Peter and the chap discuss rugby and cricket( this was before the 6 Nations game) and I hear about their cruise around New Zealand, which they thoroughly enjoyed.Peter remarked later "funny ,football wasn't mentioned!"
Next day,bright and sunny but a howling gale, the project for the day is a haircut for the Navigator.The fist salon we approach only does Ladies on Mon and Thurs......Why?!Anyway we find one that does ladies on a Friday and while I'm having an "all off" Peter finds a pub showing Super fourteen rugby. Lakes Entrance is a strange sort of a place, it is as it's name suggests plus it is at the end of Ninety Mile Beach (N Z had one too)Ninety Mile Beach is a sandbar which protects the lakes and is a haven for small boats and fishing boats. We take the footbridge across to the beach but only stay long enough for a couple of photos and we get grit blasted! A combination of 50mph winds and fine sand makes for an empty beach.WE have our suspicions about the Aussies claim to good weather. In the space of 10 days we have had45 degrees of heat,16 degrees of cold,bush fires and teeming rain and now gale force winds.Back at camp it is just possible to sit out as we are sheltered from the wind. We feel it must improve soon or there may be a plan B!