Colac, Meredith Park

Headed off east then down to Ocean Grove, back roads via Barwon Heads and to Colac. Staying at Meredith Park beside Lake Colac. Grass, big trees, and a very strong wind in the afternoons but a pretty good spot I think. Went up to Beeac – nothing much there other than a small dairy, pub that does meals and a cop shop. No fuel. Chatting to a couple at park, then drinks with neighbours.

Sat 9^th

Left about 9.30 – to Apollo bay. Stunning magnificent forest of tall Gums, Ash  and Beech trees with heaps of pongas underneath – Otway National Park. Loved the drive. Pine and gum plantations in amongst the bush. A saw mill in Colac.  Climbed up and down, windy but so pretty, then a steep drop down to the ocean. Little houses tucked away in the bush, and a ‘retreat’, plus lots of cottages to hire. Had lunch at Apollo bay then drove to Lavers and on to 12 Apostles. Didn’t go to them – thousands of cars and buses – touristy place it seems! Seen the pictures as well. Also a lot of haze around so photos not so good today. Carried on to Pt Campbell. A little village chocka full of tourists also – kept going back to Colac!Nice way to fill in a day.

Very much a dairy farming area, and lots of logging trucks. Not sure what the cows are eating but it sure aint lush green grass! Heaps of hay rounds all over the paddocks everywhere, and quite a few trucks carting it so….  Fontera factories around here also.

Sun 10^th

Quiet day – repacked the back of the ute, watched movies etc. Boiled a beef topside roast in an oven bag in cooker on the trivet – worked ok with bay leaves and onion but needed salt as well. Quite a bit of water in the bag at the end also. Maybe flour for gravy?

Mon 11^th

 Said goodbye to the Daylesford folk then in to Colac. Caravan place re new door latch for van, did laundry, talked to computer guy about freezing problem ( said to download CCLeaner and clean registry so will see if that works),  new jockey wheel with bearing and grease nipple $25 – had to get whole wheel unit but just take wheel off to use. The one I bought a few months ago is splitting already.

Drove up to Red Rock and climbed up to the lookout at Alvie. Great views all round. Lake Colac is quite small compared to the saltwater Lake Corangamite.

Got an inline filter for water then back to van.

Creswick, Geelong

Had a lovely couple of days at Creswick.

The pool at the caravan park here is an old quarry I am told - no wonder there is such a high diving tower. 30+m deep. Probably pretty cold also - no one swimming!

Drove to Ballarat. Did a couple of hill lookouts, but didn’t go in to Sovereign hill – a tourist village/museum. Heaps of cars and buses. Lovely big lake in town – very popular I think – people running etc.

Came back via Dean, lunch at Newlyn bistro. Disgusting coffee and dumped the meat patty in the burger! Then a bit further north looking for the cheese place???? Passed a winery and up a hill that has had a fire over it. Also around the house and sheds at the base. Must have taken wrong road – no cheese.

Through to Kingston – little village but several km of lovely big old trees lining the road, and mown underneath. Avenue of Honour I am told. Potatoes growing everywhere here. Then back down to Creswick, fuelled up and another detour a few km out of town and back. Mature large pine plantations around. Certainly grow well at this altitude.

Mon 4th.

Off to Werribee – the long way. Went east to bypass Ballarat then down to Ballan, then towards Anakie over the Brisbane National park. 3 massive reservoirs there which supply Geelong. First earth dam built in 1870, then 1914 and 1918.

Turned at Anakie Junction and took back roads towards Little River. Got a bit narrow at times but all sealed and no traffic! Took about 3 hours – but who is in a hurry.

Tues 5^th

Left about 11 and drove to Big4 on Bellarine Highway. Took ages! Slow getting through the south end of Geelong and so much traffic. Should have stopped at Moolap Caravan Park – very close to Jayco – now have about 16km to go back there tomorrow. Very nice park here – big sites but $6 for a load of washing!!! And $45 per night! All new facilities and individual shower / toilet rooms so will enjoy that in the morning.

Wed 6^th

Up early – in time to see the fog. Everything wet and with dry cut grass what a mess! Lovely long shower in a chub so soaked the feet as well. Down to Jayco. Had a look at the StarCraft outback – new 2012 $47k. Very tempted until told that I would get $25k for mine as trade in!!!! Ouch. New seal etc done and all good.

Booked into Moolap Caravan Park for 2 nights $30 pn. Very basic! Had birthday  lunch in town with daughter at Winter Gardens - lovely. Will be sad to leave the area - has been a wonderful couple of months around here and such lovely people I have met.

Off towards Colac tomorrow.

Bendigo, Creswick

 I survived Australia Day weekend at Greens Lake. Thousands there it seemed and DUST! Constant and sometimes very strong wind for most of the week I was there and with all the traffic there was just no escaping it.
Cars, tents, boats all parked along the lake edge. Surprisingly well behaved lot too - except for the people who dont care that others need to use the loo and leave some pretty disgusting messes there. At least all the rubbish seemed to end up in the big skip.
The swans, cranes and ducks all disappeared  pretty fast but were back again on Tuesday when the lake was back to just a handful of nomads.

Off to Bendigo Showgrounds for 4 days.  First thing was to clean the inside of the van and have a long hot shower!
I made friends with a lovely couple at Tom Price back in May. They have bought a motel in town and I had a wonderful 3 days with them. Was taken to Castlemaine (went to the Art Gallery - some really good and lots just so so), then lunch at Beechwood Bakery - delicious.  Drink at the Foundry then a very tasty steak dinner.

Next day off to Maryborough to visit their friends, and a quick look at the Railway station there. Such lovely old buildings in these ex-gold mining towns. and so good that they have been able to be restored. So often I feel there is just not the money to do that in some of these old towns.

 Day 3 - a bit of retail therapy - found a Mall! Then spent time doing spreadsheets for the motel.
A quick trip to the magnificent Cathedral was well worth it. I think Bendigo is a place I could spend more time in.

Saturday - off to Creswick to a Caravan park beside a Lake. Interesting drive though bush - big old trees very close together. Signs warning of 'ice, snow, frost!' Even 40km corners - 'Beware of ice'! Will go exploring tomorrow - passed cheese factory and wineries on the way in and some stuff I want to photograph. Will also check out Ballarat.

Greens Lake again

Sun 19^th

Small world. Bloke parked behind me has family still in my little NZ home town. He has been in Perth 30 years. Happy hour with them – they also downloaded my 8GB of books.

Thousands of cars going in to Werribee park precinct – big concert on all day. Backed up right up the motorway.

Father-in-law died – 102 & 4 months! What an amazing long life. Such a gentleman and always quietly helping others. To live that long and still be sound of mind is wonderful.

Mon 20^th

Left about 9 – back to Greens Lake via Bacchus Marsh, Lancefield, Heathcote. Another pleasant drive along the edge of a high plateau with National park to the west. Lots of round boulders on the hills. Vineyards everywhere. A lot of haze from the fires around Melbourne – even at the lake. Hot here – we are all parked under the trees now. Four lots of Grey Nomads. Generator will run aircon – just not on econo! Flies are going to drive me nuts! Those horrible little grass flies that have to sit on you and follow you around. I must be tasty!

Tues 21^st

Hot night inspite of cool wind but slept ok finally.  To Rochester for gas, diesel and a few groceries.  Back to reading again - change from watching TV but may need to set it up for the Federer - Murray game!

We hear that Greens Lake  is likely to be closed – cops and fire brigade sick of the nonsense and the mess, fights etc., - must be a small minority because no problems while I have been here, other than some dopey boat people. A facebook rampage was organised for New Year apparently.

And so it begins - Australia Day weekend. Thursday night an influx of families with boats etc. I moved the van so that we nomads have a circle of 'safety' - bit like the old west when the Indians were expected to attack! Friday - cool and very windy so may put a few off - she says hopefully.

Werribee South, Great Ocean Road

Having a week at a CP - filled the tanks, and catching up on repairs. Have booked the van in to get the Rubber seal around the slide-out fixed first week of Feb. so making progress. Have decided not to do the awning over it as well - another $600 and they look quite flimsy. I am told we are supposed to use a silicons spray on the rubber seal  to keep it supple!

Am enjoying long(ish) showers, and lush green grass. The permanent vans here are very tidy, and have pretty gardens. The beach here is not for swimming - the river mouth and boat launching area. So many people out fishing every day!

Drove to Wye River yesterday for lunch with family. Glad I did it as I wont take the van down that road. It is not the road so much - Gillies Highway is worse, but it is the other drivers and the buses that I would be worried about. Amazing how scared people are of the edge of the road - hug the middle line on corners on the very narrow places!

The sea was stunning although I suspect it may not be good for swimming in many places. Such busy little towns everywhere tucked into the hills.
Stopped at the lighthouse at Aireys Beach. Just had to ask a couple of Dutch girls why they were using a pointed stick and some kitchen spoons to dig a hole just over the safety fence on the point. They want to bury a box there for their children to uncover in the future and wanted to put it at a place that was easy to find!!!! Looked a bit confused when I suggested that it may get washed away from the rain pouring down the path and over the edge. Will take a long time to get a hole big enough - digging in to very hard ground!

Wye River is tiny but hundreds of people there. A swimming/surfing beach with life guards. Lovely cafe, and a very busy shop with fancy fresh bread. Caravan park on the beach was full. A Big 4 park there as well, and houses tucked up on steep hills among the bush.

Turned inland at Lorne on the way home and drove to Winchelsea through beautiful tall straight gums that smelled wonderful. Long climb up from the beach through bush and then out on to rolling farm land.

Mt Cotterill

A month since I last posted - my goodness!  After a lovely 2 weeks of free camping at Greens Lake I moved to Mt Cotterill and have been here ever since. A Grey Nomad I met at the Lake suggested coming to stay at his grandson's property - which I very gladly accepted as I had not allowed for the fact that it was Christmas and holiday time, and that all the CP's are really expensive now, and the free camps beside rivers and beaches are all full at this time of year!  I have been made very welcome, and am thoroughly enjoying having company, the occasional meal with the family - and a rest from driving. I have learnt about sipping port through Tim-tams, sampled some lovely old wines, fired an apple gun (we used oranges), and have seen in the New Year around a bonfire, with a free fire-works display all along the horizon on either side of Melbourne  in the distance.Amazing Artichoke Thistles here. We thought our Scotch Thistles were bad enough! Very pretty but....                                            

Went for a drive to Campbell Cove - apparently all the little building jammed together were boat houses which have now been turned into holiday baches. I didn't poke my head over the dunes to check but a sign did say 'clothes optional area' - nudist beach?

Have seen a fox a couple of times. First time it was heading away having killed all the chooks here - as we found out later! Fire engines on the road a couple of times - grass fires near here but nothing serious luckily. Helped rescue a Galah stuck on the barwire fence - had to cut the wire to get it off. It was then taken to the vet to be put down - had I realised that was to be its fate I would have suggested my assistant should have just wrung its neck. 

I had several days with my daughter in Mont Albert, and enjoyed a wonderful 'proper' Christmas dinner with her partner's family. Beautifully presented and delicious meal, and much hilarity trying to play songs on numbered whistles that were in the bonbons.

I have spent some time in Werribee  - Christmas shopping, and have had the ute 100,000km service done. No problems - just front brake discs replaced.

 Went to see 'Life of Pi' - beautiful photography and a lovely story -well  worth seeing. I think the 3D version would be amazing. Decided to buy a ukelele as well - and a book with notation for picking songs! Need to keep my nails short. Chords basically the same fingering as a guitar - just have to remember that G is C etc! Hard on the fingers after all these years of not playing.

Went to Point Lonsdale on Sunday. Crazy traffic - thousands competing in a swim event, plus the thousands who turned off at the adventure park on the way. Had not realised Geelong was so big.

Heading off to a CP beside the sea on Sunday for a week. Need to fill my tanks, clean the loo etc. Not sure after that - may come back to the farm if the weather/fire danger is still so unpredicatable. Did think of moving to Melbourne but at $52 per night... I dont think so.

Greens Lake, Mt Cotterill

 Had a lovely 2 weeks free camping at Greens Lake. Surprisingly easy thing to do, and made so much easier with such good company from so many members of the Grey Nomad website. So good to finally put faces to names. Glad to have the generator though just to charge the computer each evening even though I can do it with 12v. The water was usually still warm enough to have a shower in the mornings as well.

Went to Shepparton to the SPC factory etc, and had a lovely day at Echuca. Did the paddleboat 1 hour tour up the river. Love the house boats - should look into the price for a holiday on them. Saw one for sale at $250,000.

Had a very exotic lunch at Oscar W's - delicious,  not too dear and a great spot overlooking the river and port. Must go back the Echuca one day and spend more time I think - lovely old town.

Had fun taking 'artistic' photos while at the lake. Beautiful moon for a few days and great tips from another Nomad . Definitely need the tripod - have carted it around for years and not bothered using it.

 The guy with the boat turned up the next day so printed him a copy and then emailed several to him as well.

Left on Friday with the other Kiwis heading for Bendigo so that I could have a small fan installed in the fridge outside vent to improve circulation on very hot days. Unfortunately their ute battery was not charging so we stayed at the showgrounds there overnight.

Finished the fan on Saturday morning and we headed towards Melbourne. There was no diesel in Bendigo and surrounding areas due to a refinery problem, so arranged to drive the 140km to a friend at Mt Cotterill. Managed to get fuel at Gisborne, so will be OK for a while as I will stay here a few days.

This will be a good base for exploring the area - I see several wineries on the way in also.

Great driving yesterday on the Calder Highway - and with a very strong tail wind I was cruising in top gear most of the way, even up the hills. First time I have felt a little bit of sway from the van though - it was VERY stong wind. Was hot all day until a sudden cold change blew through about 5pm last night. Might be more like NZ down in this part of the country?