Catalina Museum, Lake Boga

The Catalina Museum on the banks of Lake Boga is full of memorabilia. The lake is the secret location where the flying boats were repaired during the Second World War. Lake Boga was chosen because of its relatively isolated location and also because the lake is almost perfectly round, which meant that the flying boats could land from any direction that the wind dictated.









The bunka has been restored and shows the communication system of the day. This was an area highly security conscious .









The generator room was seldom needed so one end was used for resting and they also set up one side as a mess.



And of course they needed a toilet.



Back up top in the main hall is SO much stuff. The thing that took my eye was the size of the Catalina









When the lake was empty a few years ago, volunteers took the opportunity to locate and recover anchor blocks, which are now placed in the grounds. (In fact with the water level low boaties were hitting them and damaging their boats. It was also dangerous for skiers.)

I recommend this museum.

Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Heading North

Having left Dalyston and just as we were at Pakenham, Brandt said to ring Jules and Billeeee (grey nomad friends) who were at Seymour. We duly booked in to the same caravan park as them, and of course did a short stroll up town to take a look at some history,


the old log lock up,


and some war memorabilia.









Two days later it was on to Greens Lake, where it was beautiful on our arrival



However, it was rather unpleasant when we woke the next morning.

So on to Echuca with its Thong Tree



Of course there were many opportunities to cruise the river.



It intrigued me that dogs were welcome on a cruise. Don't know if they travelled free or not.


A pile of wood ready for the paddle steamer


Have often thought I should take a photo to show how bad the floods can be.
Amazing how much water must fall to put the river in flood.

Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

SouthWest Gippsland

We spent a very pleasant 3 days with Michael and Barbara at Dalyston


They took us for a drive around the coast and to Eagles nest, a rock that has kind of been weather beaten and now has the remains of the eagles nest


On the horizon one can just make out the hazy outline of the most southern point on mainland Australia. I asked Brandt to see if he could zoom in on it with his camera but he misunderstood me and zoomed in on Eagles nest . By the time I discovered this it was too late to get the photo I wanted.


Then it was inland for more scenery


I believe Gippsland is a good area for dairy farms.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Spray Point

In the morning Brandt checked the bearings and brakes on the caravan





That done, we went to Spray Point. The photos will tell why it is so named












During this visit to Rye I have often said that the coastline here reminds me of The Great Ocean Road






It is absolutely beautiful here

Then it was back to fixing the electric brakes by soldering broken wires back together.






Thanks for the help Brian.

So, with mixed emotion we left Rye and went to visit Michael and Barbara.

Almost a Tourist again

Saturday, we three girls went for a drive. First stop was Arthur's Seat.


Part way up the hill to Arthur's Seat are a couple of lookouts. The above is looking South


I am still experimenting with the camera. For this shot I put it on manual focus with a wide aperture.


Hopefully, I can photo shop Arthur to sit beside me on this seat.



We went across to Flinders with the aim of getting some custard square (vanilla slice) from the shop that was in the Guinness book of records for the largest - Brandt had a piece from there in 2012. Unfortunately, the shop is under new management and NO vanilla slice to be found.
So the next stop was Cape Schanck. The photo above is of part of the track we walked.


And the above photo is a reminder of the steps that I was tricked into walking down in 2012.


After church on Sunday (following lunch at a place called "Buckleys Chance"), we took a short bus ride to Fort Nepean at the tip of the Mornington Peninsula.


The view across Port Phillip Bay.



A walk through some tunnels


The ruins of a gun


Many visitors walk around the grounds


I M continually impressed with the beauty of the coastline here.











The above is a photo of a photo showing Fort Nepean as it is today.








We finished the day with a quick visit to beach 16. Above is Cheryl's photo of Lizard Rock. It is much better than the one I took from the beach in 2012.



And of course the obligatory sunset to finish the day.