Werribee, Bendigo, Greens Lake, Glenrowan

A while since I posted! Long but pleasant drive from Halls Gap to Werribee. Still don't like freeways even though you can drive faster and there are two lanes - don't get to see the countryside! Turned off at Ballarrat and took the long tree-lined Remembrance Drive - and ended up in town so had a bit of a narrow detour to get through. On to Bacchus Marsh and down to the friends at Mt Cotterill that I stayed with last Xmas. Lovely to see them again. Spent a couple of days in Melbourne and was taken out for my birthday dinner by my daughter and grand children. Power off all day Sunday due to rain causing shorting on the dry lines - had to go out to get a proper coffee by mid-morning! Had the Garmin set to avoid toll roads and was taken all through the city past the Victoria Markets - on a Saturday. Finally ignored it and went sideways on to less congested roads!!!! Did do a bit of toll road on the way back - all of $8 but unlike last year I now can go online and pay. Decided not to wait and see if they took the money off my Visa - paid anyway! Got caught last year - a $2 toll with $15 late payment fee that then went to $23 - ouch. Posted to Perth then emailed to me so just missing deadlines each time!!!!
My young friend worked out how to turn my headlights off - ex mine vehicle. Nissan thought about 4 hours and several hundreds of $$$$ - he found a box under the dash and pulled a fuse in about 15 minutes! At least now I wont be changing a bulb every 9 months or so!
 On up to Bendigo. Spent 2 days with the friends I met at Tom Price 2 years ago. So lovely to meet people that you can catch up with annually and they still feel like old friends. Then to Marong to the Caravan place to get the fridge gas serviced. Stayed at the park there overnight just to make sure it was working, then on up to Greens Lake. Several of the nomads still there so great to catch up with them again. A thunderstorm with a splash of rain yesterday then dead calm for about an hour (happy hour time ) then wild wind for an hour or so from the other direction! Weird. Had 4 days at the lake then decided to head to Bright. Am at the Glenrowan CP to catch up with washing etc. This is Ned Kelly country. What a pretty area. Hills, trees, some green grass in amongst all the brown.

Went for a 10km drive then back to town. Enjoyed to the Kelly house museum. Loved the egg holder. The interactive show is closed all week so that is disappointing. Had coffee, spent 5 minutes walking the street - very commercial but I think the town would not exist if not for the Kellys!

Halls Gap - still!

Love this place. May leave in a day or so. The Jazz Festival was great - especially as I managed to get jobs in the Hall so was in air conditioned comfort for much of the time. So hot outside in the marquees.
I think there were 9 venues and 130 bands this year. Didn't get to see many of them as I was helping with registrations etc - and enjoying the company of some lovely people including the ones from Hamilton who organize it all. Very impressed with the sound man - orders all the gear for all the venues and has it sent from Melbourne (I think). He spends the day setting it all up then goes to each venue while each band plays just to make sure there are no problems. He said it has taken a few years to get the bands to trust him enough not to touch the mixers and the sound is great! The drums and pianos etc also come up by truck for each venue. What a major logistical undertaking it all is - well done to the volunteer organizers!!
The power to the whole of the town went out on Saturday evening - just after I had ordered a pizza for dinner. I managed to be fed - others would have to eat salads or the sausage sizzle up the road! The festival carried on with those who could play acoustically until it had to be stopped at 8.30pm for safety reasons so we all went home. Power finally on again about 11.30 that night.
Sunday morning was a shocker - wild gusts of wind from all directions sending great bursts of dust and sand all over the town. Consequently the hall was a very popular venue. Did not deter bands or fans though. The big bands were re-located to another hall because of the dust.
Came back the the park Sunday afternoon, had a nana nap before the evening's entertainment here - several musicians entertaining the campers.

Feb 2014

Feb 2013

Went for a drive to Reeds Lookout on Tuesday since the road had been opened that far. Then to Mt Difficult lookout  What a great view of Halls gap - did not see that lookout last year when here. Smoke visible from the Gisborne fires.
The road to the lookouts seems to have been a barrier to the fires a couple of weeks ago that threatened Halls Gap.

Loxton, Pinnaroo, Hopetoun, Halls Gap

Left the Burra Gorge and drove to Morgan- Caravan Park beside the river. Lots of families here and the Park is beside the ferry. Did the washing etc. Nice spot but headed off to go camping on Thurs and ended up at Lyrup. Lucky I only paid $10 for one night as the camp area is very small with low trees and the loo is way down the road! Very hot so had to run fan all day. Saw lizard on a tree – came out of the river. Tried to rain overnight!

On to Loxton then down to Paruna except I missed the turn at Loxton and the Garmin doesn’t tell me to turn around. Reprogrammed to Pinnaroo and carried on – then after 25km realised I was still going along the river.
Turned around, back to Loxton and on the right road. Paruna is a tiny place. Doesn’t seem to be anything open here. Pulled into a tiny community Caravan Park - $10 p/n but no internet so on to Pinnaroo. Grassy park with a dozen permanent vans for Asian potato farm workers.
Talking to a retired couple from here who have been camped for 2 months. The farmers lease a circle of land to potato farmers who put down a bore and crop the circle.
There is an animal park out the back -lots of birds in cages, roos, geese

$20 p/n powered so staying 4 nights since it is a long weekend. Swimming pool beside the park and an easy walk to town.

Wandered down the street - got groceries then meat from butcher. Switched on young man who will do well I think. The grocer got his meat yesterday and won't get more until Tuesday – will be out by tonight so the butcher is staying open all weekend also – and supplying the meat for breakfast in the park on Sunday. Nice little town, has a big soldiers hospital, green golf course, very tidy. Lazy few days – washing, housework etc.
Quite hot so inside mostly.

Got my headlight bulb replaced - again!!!! Fifth bulb in 22 months. I need to get the lights turned off - this mining thing is getting annoying when the bulbs blow alternatively! BUT - called into the John Deere place looking for a mechanic and they did the job for me FREE. It has cost me anything from $12 including the bulb to $20 plus the bulb to get this 5 minute job done! Should learn to do it myself but it is a tight space to get your hand in to and I think I would end up losing a lot of skin!

Thought about camping before Ouyen but a very hot and very windy day so kept driving. Had lunch break at Ouyen – seems a big modern town then through recent fire area. Several very old abandoned rail siding ‘towns’ on the way. Rolling grain country. Stopped at Lascelles pub for more cider! There is a Caravan Park there opposite the pub – but very small and right beside the road. Stopped at Hopetoun eventually. Checked free camp around the lake and found power points on grass. $15 p/n at Mallee Bush retreat. Emailed a friend to come here instead of Brim. 

We went in to town, had lunch at café and a bit of shopping. VERY hot day. Spent the next few days hiding in the van with the aircon going while the next heat wave rolled over me.
A few people coming and going.
 Water-skiers on the lake in the evenings. Lovely spot to stay. I am told the the whole lake had people camping around it over the long weekend. The back area is run by council and has an ablution block for free campers.

 The Bush Retreat is fun and a credit to the forward thinking town. Accommodation for 42 people in various interesting buildings. Have to bring your own linen and have the use of the main kitchen. You can hire the whole complex for $400 a night! All buildings seem to be air conditioned - a good thing when a couple of grain silos have been used. Interesting sloping roof on the kitchen block.

Next stop Halls Gap. Although the Grampians looked quite hazy I am told the fire is out other than damping down hot spots - there are still firemen in town. Nothing obvious from the road in to the town although I did drive through a burnt patch where the fire had jumped the main road out of Horsham. A sudden change in the weather from a heat wave to cold gusty wind and 'almost' rain has been a pleasant surprise. Looking forward to the Jazz Festival in the weekend.