On a days outing we headed down the Mornington Peninsula to Dromana where we came across some colorful beach changerooms. These rooms are located at all the beaches around here making a colourful splash on the foreshores. Continued on up to the lookout at Arthurs Seat where the chairlift was being tested prior to opening in a few weeks time. 12 months ago it partially collapsed causing a few injuries. From the top were terrific views over Port Phillip Bay and Mornington Peninsula but very windy. A few weeks later, a day after the chairlift opened, the wind caused it to be closed again as a chair was blown against a pylon. It was soon opened again but then they had a fire on the hill and it had to be closed again. It sounds jinxed!!

Melinda our niece at Dromana

We met up with Melinda (niece), Kristy (niece) and Steve (Kristy's partner) and had lunch at Brighton and later coffee at St Kilda with a visit to the newly refurbished Luna Park.

Heading out of Melbourne on a cold, wet miserable day we tried to stop at a red light but all 8 wheels just skidded thru the intersection. Luckily the driver waiting to go thru saw us coming and didn't go when her light turned green. The rest of the way across the suburbs was done at 40Kmh as our nerves returned to normal.

At Ballarat I decided to replace all four Goodrich All-Terrain tyres with a set of cheap ones. My size Goodrich tyre wasn't available till February and at a cost of $270. I needed two as we had an unrepairable puncture on the way to Ballarat. I've had to throw away five tyres since I started this trip and they have all only been partially worn so this time Bob Jane fitted four new Symex Tyres for $500 the lot. A lot cheaper tyre to throw away in the future. Other travellers we have talked to are also going away from the Goodrich due to too many punctures.

I spent a couple more days detecting for gold outside Ballarat but I could not add any more to my stockpile of 1 nugget.

Sandy at Sovereign Hill

We spent the day at Sovereign Hill and I panned for gold adding two grains to my Mitchel River collection of gold dust. They put two ounces of gold grains/dust into the creek every fortnight. The trick is to use the side of the shovel to scrape the concrete bed of the creek, picking up the gold dust. The rest of the dust in the pan I gave to a child next to me who was so excited to receive it. We spent the whole day looking around this 25 hectare outdoor museum. Carriage builders, Tinsmiths, Blacksmiths, Candlemakers and a Confectionery Factory along with the restored boilers, pumps and mine buildings gave us plenty to see.

We headed for the Brisbane Ranges National Park but not having been able to get any details from the info centre at Ballarat we missed it and ended up in the Steiglitz Historic Park and visited the restored Court House in this ghost town. The entrance and camping area to Brisbane Ranges was far away to the north east so we decided to give it a miss.

Geelong Bollards

Sandy and friends

Along the Geelong foreshore were over a hundred of these colourful characters creating an amusing sight around each corner.

Torquay is really the capital of Surf. The surfboard and clothing manufacturers headquarters are based here and there are heaps of surf shops. We strolled thru a few but didn't buy as the prices were so high and not really our style. At the main beach we went to there were plenty of people swimming and sunbaking while Sandy and I were still clothed in jeans, jumpers and jackets as it was only just nudging 20 degrees with a frosty wind blowing. These Victorians would die if it got to 40 degrees!!

World famous Bell's Beach surfing venue just west of Torquay. To the right you may be able to see around 30 or so surfers waiting for a wave. Terrific views for the spectators.

We decided not to stay at Lorne as the Caravan Parks were $45 a night (school holidays) so we tried to get into the Allenvale Mill site in Angahook-Lorne State Park but it turned out to be a walk in camping area only. It was so busy in Lorne I had to double park with the van in the main street while Sandy went into the Tourist Bureau to find another camping spot. Thankfully the parking inspector was nice and let me wait till Sandy came out.

While waiting for mail at Warnambool we camped at Flying Horse Inn caravan park beside the railway line. The campsite being only metres from the track made the trains sound very loud as they flew past. The funny thing was that everytime the locals (in the park) heard the train coming they rushed out of their vans and jumped onto a row of old pine tree stumps and waved at the train hoping for a toot in return which they usually got. There must have been about six stumps, full of people waving 10 times a day at the trains.

Californian Redwoods

In the Cape Otway Forest was this stand of magnificent Redwoods planted in the early 1900's.

Tower Hill was tempoarily closed due to a fire having been started there by persons unknown. This is a hill and lakes formed by a volcanic eruption 25,000 years ago. From the lookout near Koroit you could see down into the crater to the lakes and vegetation below, quite an unusual vista to come across. Further inland are many more volcanic lakes in this area.

We spent a few days in Koroit catching up on chores like the annual van service. We also washed the van and car, something that we do infrequently due to water restrictions. On Australia Day the caretakers of the park put on a Karoke afternoon but they were the only ones game enough to get up and sing. A nice clean friendly park, only $11 a night with a free washing machine.

The 12 Apostles

Between Warrnambool and Princetown the coastal sandstone cliffs have been shaped by the wild winds and seas of the Southern Ocean. Lots of lookouts along the way, most parking areas are being moved further away from the cliffs as they were getting dangerously close to the edge as the cliffs are eroding away.

The Razorback

The Bay of Islands - scroll right for more.

Port Fairy is one of the oldest seaports in Victoria and we had a cuppa on the wharf. A picturesque river with a small marina, boatyards and a fisherman's wharf. The town has a few small restored whaler's cottages as well as large historic residences. This area was heavily populated by the Irish when it was first settled so was aptly known as Belfast.

We stopped at Pritchards camp in the Lower Glenelg National Park where we saw an echidna, kangaroos, rabbits, possums and a heap of birds including a pair of Gang Gang Cockatoos. Both were covered with grey, white tipped feathers and the male had a bright orange/red head, a bit different to your pink and grey.

We stopped in at Picininny Ponds and had a look at the limestone cave/swamp. You need a permit to snorkel here but we didn't have one. Being so far from anywhere we thought we could take a quick dip and no one would know. But we decided not to and headed for Ewen Ponds where you can snorkel without a permit. Luckily we didn't wet our toes at Pickininni as on the way out we passed two Police trucks with recompression chamber and Police divers heading for the ponds. Boy would we have been caught out big time!!!!

Next month we will be in South Australia for a few weeks before heading to a couple of camp sites on the Nullarbor coast we have been told about.

Too Roo.

Vantrekkers

Peter and Sandy