The Grampians, Victoria
Once back in Loch with Mave we set to and decided on our next tour, we wanted to take her to places she hadn't been before so we discounted The Great Ocean Road (GOR). We agreed to leave Loch on Saturday 21 March and visit the Grampians!
Before our departure we had a very excellent farewell BBQ with Mandy, John, Linda, Frank and Sarah (who was over from Manurewa).
After saying lots of farewells to our besties Mandy and John Boaler, Richard towed the caravan up a steep drive (using 4WD) and out of the property to continue on our way.
We travelled through the city of Melbourne and out towards Ballarat where we decided on an overnight stop. The next morning we ventured on to a small town called Halls Gap but unfortunately we didn't stop for provisions and the local store was the most expensive shop we had shopped in!!
Our campsite was excellent being surrounded by very high hills it was like being in a bowl and with so much wildlife Mave was over the moon with seeing so many Kangaroos, Emu's, cockies, rosellas etc... The Kangaroos would come and stand next to us while cooking on the BBQ in the dark. We could hear them bounding through the campsite and what seemed like them crashing into the fences but we didn't see any injured Roos.
We did lots of walking and climbing here our first trek was up to "The Pinnacles" this is the famous landmark overlooking Halls Gap. We were all very proud of ourselves 4km done! mostly up hill.
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| The view from the platform: Our campsite is just below the lake/dam wall |
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| Richard on his decent from the scary viewing platform |
Our second full day we had another nice trek to a place called "The Balconies", once again another high platform with the most amazing views. Along the walking track people had built some small, medium and big "cairns" there was literally thousands of them on the way to the Balconies.
Now back at the caravan this is what happens when someone decides to get the bread out!! Birds galore!!
After the escapades of Richard feeding the birds we decided to walk the dam wall which is just behind our caravan. Needless to say it was a bit chilly, but the wall seemed to protect the campsite from the wind. The wall was over 800 metres long so the walk was quite a brisk 2km nearly as the walk back to the van was about 400m.
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| Our caravan in the trees |
We had a wonderful 3 nights in Halls Gap in The Grampians and will definitely be back one day.
Mildura,Victoria/NSW
25th March (Helen's birthday)
We packed up early and set off for a long tow to Mildura still in Victoria but our camping park is in a place called Buronga and is actually in NSW the other side of the Murray River. We were looking forward to seeing the famous Murray River as Richard remembers studying all about the Murray/Darling Basin when he was a lad!! Plus we were heading to wine country. Driving through Mildura we passed many lovely looking homes with an abundance of land all growing fruit or grapes, it was just paddock after paddock full of different produce.
The campsite was just lovely at the side of the river where we saw houseboats, paddle steamers etc and so we booked in for 4 nights. Then had a bottle of bubbles to celebrate Helen's birthday.
The next day saw the three of us sightseeing once again we travelled passed wonderful estates that were just full of various fruit trees it was quite different to any other place we have been. After numerous wrong turns we managed to find and visited a Gem/Jewellery place called Woodsies (well, got to go there). The cups of tea there were a rip off but the items of jewellery was very reasonable and this being so Mave bought herself a beautiful Garnet and diamond ring!! (her surname is Garnett)
We ventured back into Mildura late afternoon where Mave decided she needed a hair cut so off to the nearest hairdresser she went. Helen, in the meantime managed to find some little diamond earrings in a very nice jewellers, so she treated herself to them for a well earned birthday present. Richard just hung around in the street, sat himself on a bench and looked at the internet on his phone. Discussions of what to do for dinner took place and it was agreed to visit the local RSL and very good it was too.
The next morning we decided we would go on the paddle steamer trip which was at 1pm. As you can see from the pictures the boat was called "Rothbury". It was a really good idea the weather was beautiful just right for a river trip. On board we were enticed by the lovely lady at the bar to try a glass of bubbles but once again we celebrated with a bottle and as Mave always says "It has to be done"!
We steamed down stream to and through Lock 11, apparently there was a series of Locks to be built on along the Murray but due to a down turn in trade not all of them were built. In fact looking back on our map I think Lock 11 is the last one.
After our lovely trip on the river we needed to replenish our drinks cabinet!! we knew the town had a "Dan Murphys" so we were on a mission to find the store. This done quite easily due to internet and "sat nav" help we were back at the caravan all stocked up with our alcoholic refreshments evening meal cooked on BBQ by Richard.
We decided that the next day, Saturday, we would visit the nearest Winery which is called "Trentham" for our lunch. We have always found that restaurants in wineries are excellent and this winery didn't disappoint, it is on our side of the river and in NSW.
We chose the Rose wine after being asked go a taste at the cellar door.
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| Helen`s Murray River Cod |
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| Mave`s Kangaroo |
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| Richard`s Steak |
Trentham Winery is a very popular wedding venue and today the staff were setting up the main restaurant for a 5pm wedding. The couple would say their vows while facing the Murray River it all looked so lovely and special.
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| A beautiful request from the families |
On our way back to the campsite Helen bought some beautiful tomatoes from a roadside seller, many houses had vegetables for sale at the end of their driveways. It reminded us of the Bay of Plenty, NZ.
The following morning we packed up and left for a short journey to our next site for two nights at Barmera we would be next to Lake Bonney. We had to go through a border security where Bio officers went through the contents of our fridge...we were in a "Fruit fly zone" our tomatoes, capsicums, lemons, cucumber were confiscated it seems that fruit and veg that are grown above ground are taken and destroyed. Well so much for my gorgeous tomatoes bought yesterday!
On arriving at our new campsite office Helen spotted bags of Butternut Squash or butternut pumpkin they were a bargain at $5 per bag. Needless to say both Richard and Mave were overwhelmed by Helen's compulsive buy....we will be eating Squash forever!!
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| Sunset over Lake Bonney |
We walked into the small town but nothing happening, yet, the campsite would be very busy soon because of the Easter holidays. Luckily we have managed to secure a big spot in Victor Harbor but before then we will be in Maclaren Vale for two nights.
Our next journey south would take us through Adelaide as there is no Highway through the city we would be on normal roads. Apparently Adelaide is the only city in Australia that has no Freeway/Highway/Motorway through it. We did get in a bad traffic jam as there was a serious accident which burst a gas main. Once through we did get further south we managed to get on to the Southern expressway where we caught up some time. Maclaren Vale is a small town surrounded by hundreds of wineries, so, we know what we will be doing over the next few days!!
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| In the shade at McLaren Vale, great site |
Next morning up and out on a mission first Cellar door was Maxwell which was only 500m away. Next was just another 500m further which was called d'Arenberg.
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| Handling Soil d'Arenberg |
I should say at this point that Richard was the designated driver for our wine tasting session.
We managed a number of Cellar doors but listing them here will be a bit of a mission. Battle of Bosworth which was all organic wines. Here we met some lovely people from Aberdeen the gentleman bought a very expensive red wine which was very nice.
Coriole Vineyards was beautiful with a beautiful restaurant..
We did go back into town for a spot of lunch too and then started again Scarpantoni Estate Wines was very exclusive and we were encouraged to go into the Adelaide Hills region for a tasting....but never got there! Richard and I will be staying in the Clare Valley soon, so a little tasting will be done there.
Maclaren Vale is a beautiful area and we will be back here again.
We moved on to Victor Harbor on the south coast for the Easter holidays. Good Friday we walked into town and on took a trip on the horse drawn tram across to Granite Island this was so awesome.
Lots of walking along the 4km esplanade to the Bluff was undertaken and obviously a welcome drink at the Whalers Inn was in order.
We woke up to a dull day on Easter Monday the weather had been quite shocking through the night. Our neighbours had all packed up and gone! The three of us had our morning shower but when Helen was all alone in the van and sorting a food cupboard out she had the shock of her life....out from the cupboard and along the top of the door came the hairiest spiders leg she had ever seen!! she ran out of the van in absolute shock! No help was to be had.
Again inside the van Helen tried to do something but she was so scared and she is never scared of spiders!! Mave arrived and immediately retrieved a small glass from the cupboard and a piece of paper towel and lo and behold she caught it. Richard still missing Mave and Helen asked some other neighbours their opinion of the species, one said "a Tarantula"! the other man had no idea... Helen thought it was a "Huntsman" and another onlooker confirmed she thought Huntsman too.. Mave relocated the said spider to a nearby tree. I think Mave has a better photo but its on her telephone!!
Richard eventually turned up with our porta potty in bits, he had been trying to fix it! after much discussions about loos and spider we eventually decided to take a steam train ride on the Cockle train. This went from Victor Harbor to Goolwa, along the coast. Richard really enjoyed the steam experience and there were lots of reminiscences about our dear friend David (Mave's late husband) who was a steam enthusiast.
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| Bad weather rolling in |
7th April
Unfortunately it was time to say farewell to Mave at Adelaide airport. She will be travelling to Sydney and staying for 3 days near our daughter Jenni and then she flies away on her next adventure in Argentina watching the World Rally Championship.
Have a great time and we will see you again in your home country of Spain!! xxx
