STAWELL to BARHAM

March 7

Checked out Stawell town, didn't take long. We have a great spot at the caravan park, camped beside the lake where there are lots of birds.

March 8

Today off to Halls Gap, small town in the Grampians. Very popular holiday spot. There are lots of Holiday cottages, camp sites and resorts.

Town of Halls Gap

 We stopped at the dam just out of town, Lake Bellfield and then travelled through the Grampians down to Dunkeld.

Lake Bellfield

Grampians

Two years ago the Grampians had a major flood and near the southern tip was a huge land slide, went across the road, taking all the trees in its path including the road.

Looking up from road

Looking down from road.

From Dunkeld we headed north east to Ararat and arrived in time to do a tour through the J-Ward Goal. It was a goal for 5years and then became an asylum for the criminally insane.

Grampians from the North

"J Ward"

March 10

Off to Halls Gap market day at the school, had a wander round, saw some lovely hand made jewellery and bought some dried lavender.
From Halls Gap decided to travel up the northern part of the Grampians and headed off to Dadswells Bridge.On the way stopped off at a lookout, The Balconies, fantastic views and the road was very wriggly, great on the bike. Passed by a huge Reservoir, Wartook Reservoir.

View from the Balconies (Wartook Reservoir in back)

South from the Balconies.

McKenzie Falls

Lake Wartook

The next stop was at McKenzie Falls, so many people and a fantastic view. More zig and zag through the hills until we reached Dadswells Bridge and there to greet us was a giant Koala, had lunch and headed back to Stawell.

Roses Gap Road

Dadswell Bridge grow BIG Koala's

March 12

Shopping and pack up day.Went off to an Alpaca farm not far from the caravan park. Had a great chat to the owners and sweltered in the heat. Victoria is now into a heat wave record.

Home of the STAWELL GIFT

Stawell Caravan Park

March 13

Time to move, Mike spoke to a farmer looking for farm sitters and as we were passing close by we called in to meet them.
Quite a drive through irrigation, channels everywhere and some magnificent maize crops.
Barbara was working so we stayed on and spent the night on the farm. Alastair and Barbara Bear are a lovely couple and we will return at the end of June.

Bear Homestead at Boort.

March 14

Made our way slowly to Barham, over the border and now back in NSW.

BACCHUS MARSH TO STAWELL

FEBRUARY 28

Did our usual trip around the town to see where everything was. Bacchus Marsh seems to have been a farming town and today has extensive market gardening as it is not that far from Melbourne.
Went out for tea with Tony and Elspeth as it was Elspeths birthday.

MARCH 1

The start of autumn and a great day for a scenic tour so off we went on the bike. Left Bacchus Marsh and headed for Greendale, Blackwood and Trentham through very hilly State Forest, fantastic on the bike boy was it cold!!!

One of many Great Old Pubs in the bush.

Tony M, You could make one like this!!

Entering town of Trentham.

 Went for a wander through Trentham with it's wombats. Haven't seen any live ones yet but some amazing resin ones so life like. The owner of the shop had a ute full of farmyard animals all made of resin.

Honouring a Local

Ute full of "Happy Chappies"

Onto Daylesford, such an interesting town (almost alternative ) walked around, had lunch and then on to Creswick where there is a woollen mills, only working coloured wool mill in southern hemisphere. They spin lots of Alpaca. We had a great time roaming the shop and found some duck down slipper/boots ideal for winter in the van. I spotted a lovely top made with bamboo yarn, just couldn't resist it.

Ceswick Wollen Mill Sign

Creswick Town

Home again via Wallace, wind was so strong Mike had to stop half way home to catch his breath.

MARCH 2

Home today as Mike needed a rest after our trip yesterday.

MARCH 3

Tony and Elspeth collected us and took us another great trip. First stop Weeribee gorge, great rock formations but very little water. From there onto Blackwood, Trentham and Woodend where we had lunch. This was a long weekend and also a large Bike riding weekend, from road racing to cross country racing to mountain racing.

Lunch at Woodend with Tony, Elsbeth & Lois.

From Woodend we headed out to Hanging Rock, walked around the bottom of the rock but you don't get a good view as trees hide the whole area. A wonderful picnic area.

Hanging Rock

Next stop Mt Macedon, great drive up the mountain with picnic spots all along the road and the view that meets you at the top is breath taking. We had a lovely walk in the bush to reach the Cross erected as a Memorial for the fallen Australian soldiers in the war. The view was amazing and we could see all the way to Melbourne and Port Philip Bay.

Mt Macedon War Memorial Cross

View from Cross ( Melbourne and Port Phillip Bay in background.)

It was a wonderful day and thanks so much to Tony and Elspeth.

MARCH 4

Today was a trip to Geelong and then to Queenscliff on the Bellarine Peninsular. We caught the ferry and cross Port Philip Bay to Sorrento. Had lunch and then caught the ferry back. It was a perfect crossing, so calm.

Port Arlington Jetty

Unloading Ferry

Queenscliff wharf

Melbourne in the haze (whats new)

Passing Ferries

Docking at Sorento.

From the Tower at Queenscliff

Ferry Terminal at Queenscliff from tower

MARCH 5

Packed up today and Tony and Elspeth invited us for our final night tea.

MARCH 6

headed off to Stawell today, lovely trip and good caravan park by the lake. Stawell is at the edge of the Grampians and is where the Stawell Gift is run every year over the Easter Weekend.

Ararat Town

BENDIGO TO BACCHUS MARSH

FEBRUARY 23

We are parked about 10 mins away from Bendigo city so off we went to check out the town. The roads in the town are very confusing and not only does the train stop roads going through one has to contend with tram lines as well.
We have a swimming pool close to the van so very welcome on these hot days.
One of our neighbours is from Mandurah and believe it or not they are Kiwis from Timaru. The husband was very sick and had to go into hospital so we looked after their little dog called Oscar. He was delightful.

Oscar

 FEBRUARY 24

Off to the markets at the showgrounds, lots and lots of stalls although there are many duplications but we still had fun poking around.
Carol, Deena and Carlie came for a BBQ tea and we had a lovely time, laughed and laughed. Deena is still at school and Carlie is at TAFE doing a beauticians course. Lovely girls and Deena and Mike had a lot of fun in the pool.

Carlie, Carol, Deena and His Majesty

FEBRUARY 25

Went to the Bendigo Pottery, nothing there that really took my eye but some lovely expensive pottery on sale.

FEBRUARY 26

Rained last night so busy dodging puddles while we packed up.
The Bendigo Woollen mills beckoned me so after a trip around all over the place a consultation with the GPS gave us clear directions where we wanted to go.
Had a lovely wander around the shop and discovered lots of new yarns and lashed out and bought some Bamboo yarn to make a vest. It is so soft and light.

FEBRUARY 27

Off to Bacchus Marsh, weather much cooler, great to travel in. All the way south we were on a gradual rise until we reached the Macedon Ranges. Wonderful bush and very hilly.
We turned off at Gisborne and headed west through State Forest, very hilly and the bush was fantastic with the sun shining through the trees.

On the road to Bacchus Marsh

Mt Macedon ranges

Coming into Bacchus Marsh from the north.

Parked the van and contacted Tony and Elspeth, invited us for tea. Great to meet Elspeth and we had a wonderful evening.