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.

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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.


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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.

Rye

Time to catch up with Grey Nomad friends who, for various reasons, are not on the road but taking time out in Rye. We spent Christmas 2012 with them and our paths crossed a couple of times in 2013





It took a couple of days, but the two little dogs seem to remember us, giving Brandt the "good morning" ritual.

Cheryl and I walked along the cliffs nearby








And then across to the other coast to Bay of Islands (not to be confused with the Bay of Islands in NZ or on the Great Ocean Road)














Another day we visited other beaches/bays




After the terrible storms of late the sand has been blown ashore. I guess that the concrete pads used to be at ground level?


This part of the Mornington Peninsula has many old Teatrees.


A view across Port Phillip Bay


Then around to Back Beach at Sorrento


Brandt, in the meantime continues to keep working on making sure the van and vehicle are ready for us to "hit the road"

The van did need a small scrub







The anode (in the water heater) needed to be checked AND replaced - the replacement is on the left. The one on the right used to look like the one on the left.




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