Hello to family and friends,
I hope that life is good for you all.
Back at the end of October after I last sent out a news letter, I drove from Bendigo, SW to Maldon and happened upon their annual Folk festival in Butts campsite a beautiful bush gully. You Beauty, I would pay and stay on for the fun. I picked a prime spot to park in the bush. I then climbed up Mt Tarrengower and to the top of the forestry tower from where I had an eagle eye view of the camp, the distant Grampians and the immediate countryside.
Maldon an old gold mining town of great character has 2 km of heritage listed main street shops and cottages. It was a picturesque spot. For four days the streets were vibrant with musicians playing toe tapping music and Morris dancers leaping gaily about. The atmosphere was fantastic. The bush campsite had several music tents using stacked hay bales as sound barriers.
I met many lovely people and chummed up with Vern and Deeanne for the festival. We danced to the old time bush band in the local hall with the 14 elderly band members playing tambourine, penny whistle, accordian and pianoaccordian, mandolin and banjo, brass and guitars. They were amazing and a few of the local men were quick to get me on the floor and teach me the intricate steps of the Alberts and other dances.
Moving South, I camped for a week beside Lake Colac where I cycled around the lakes beside lush green pastures separated by quaint rock fences and up Red Hill to the lookout. I found myself greeting the cows. “Hello girls”. They looked curiously at me! No wonder!
I worked my last stint with Alister in Coffee a la Carte at the Colac show.
I also cycled the rough steep forest rail trail to Gelibrand. Roaring flames in the bush frightened me for a bit until I found it was just the firemen doing a controlled burn. I had to detour around that area.
I went down to Lorne on the spectacular Great Ocean road where cliffs and mountains rise straight out of the Great Southern Ocean, my bush campsite for a few nights was near Wye River up a rough steep gravel track. Once on it there was no turning around so I planted my foot, straddled the gutters and 3.5 ton of low to the ground motorhome made it up to a delightful but isolated grassy clearing complete with grunting koalas for company.
On Gentle Annie’s Berry Farm in Penny Royal valley near Deans Marsh I picked raspberries and strawberries for 3 days. It was an absolutely gorgeous lush setting beside a running stream. I left there with stained fingers and lips, a kilo of plump ripe strawberries and cash in my pocket. The proprietors were a lovely couple.
Big Hill Track campsite, also above Lorne was like a mini league of nations as for 3 nights I chatted with Italian, German, French, Belgian and other backpackers. My bike pump came in handy to pump up the 2 flat tyres on one beat up combi van. The English couple then bolted hoping to make the nearest garage before the tyres went flat again.
I collected my son Mick in Geelong. How lovely to see and hug him. We cycled together near Colac, we camped for 4 days, 2 at Mt Eccles national park, a fascinating volcanic area. We viewed the volcanic lake and explored the cave. Koalas, possums, wallabies and roos and plenty of birds surrounded us in the bush as we relaxed and caught up on the last year. We are however still trying to remove grass seeds from our shoes and socks.
Off we went to Portland together to greet my daughter Melissa as she stepped off the bus and we set up our tents for the GVBR . We joined 4997 riders for 9 days of fun and spectacular scenery along the Great Ocean Road to Geelong. I was extremely delighted to share the cycling adventure with two of my three children.
Catching up with old friends and making some new ones was also good fun. We were proud to make it up over Lavers hill and enjoyed some great rolling hills but the first 2 nights were very soggy. On the first night I was sound asleep when someone fell across my tent at 3am flattened it and broke the pole. I think I over reacted, I copped some rubbishing later for waking up the surrounding area with my shrieks and yells. I spent the last couple of hours that wet night, sleeping on concrete tucked in against the only building nearby.
I also met up with Cynthia. We played in the same hockey team over 40 years ago. Incredible!
Portland was the first place in South Western Victoria to be settled and has many interesting old buildings and a very deep harbour. Nearby Cape Bridgewater was spectacular with rugged cliffs, a petrified forest and a colony of seals. All of this was backed by a great number of massive modern windmills whirling madly around and generating lots of power. I spent 3 days walking around the two places before heading north to Hamilton via Surry Ridge forest camp. It was a delightful peaceful clearing beside a creek.
I really enjoyed my 3 day stay with Bernadette and Lloyd in Hamilton. I first met Lloyd on the Margaret River WA Great Escapade ride. We enjoyed a great social weekend with their friends. They took me driving up to Halls Gap in the Grampians. Wow what amazing rocky mountains! We also cycled (as you do) and swam some laps.
I received sad news from Tasmania. My friend Rob who took me out on a cray boat last summer died suddenly. He was in his forties I think. I had really enjoyed his company if only briefly. It is the people in my life who enrich it so much. Goodbye Rob.
I have now crossed over into SA. I hadn’t thought of fruit fly and quarantine again so I stopped on the roadside madly chopped and lightly stir fried all of my newly purchased vegetables whilst squeezing oranges and lemons and munching my way through a small cos lettuce a Lebanese cucumber and a tomato.
I was taught to waste not want not and I wasn’t about to throw good food in the bin!
Mount Gambier Lake was an amazingly pristine blue colour and I walked around that volcanic crater and several others, Mt Schank included. Impressive! I’m so glad they are extinct nowadays!
Today the weather is disgusting! It is 38 degrees and there is a very strong northerly wind. Oh well, I shall just grin and bear it for a day. Tomorrow will be in the low 20’s again.
I shall be in Victor Harbor SA for Christmas so I wish you all a
Very Merry Christmas and a Wonderful Year in 2010.
