Cloudy and showery this morning, forcast should brighten to 20degs today with sun tomorrow. Checked emails, Sandie is checking with Laurie as to whether their itinerary is doable. Went off to Cheeseworld at Allansford(free) had a look round museum and shop then treated ourselves to tea and coffee in the cafe before going to the cheese tasting, we both prefered the vintage cheddar, lovely. It seems this company is the largest and oldest surviving dairy manufacturer in Oz. Stopped off at Logans Beach on way back to camp, from July to October the Right Whales come to the area to calf their young. Back at camp picked up dirty clothes and went to laundry, found some really interesting magazines to read. when we got back to tent Colin did some tinkering and we found out there is some Greyhound racing tonight we are less than 100mtrs from track. After dinner went and watched one race, a bit underwhelming, nothing like Peterborough dogs,much much smaller and they race 8 dogs at a time.
15th January Sunday
There is a trash/treasure market today on the showground, went and had a look around, it is car boot sale/craft market, didnt buy anything. Sun finally came out after lunch but wind is still cold. Decided to do our food and fuel this arvo so we can get straight off tomorrow. Sent email to Karen to pick up fan belt from Rockies as over $50 here. Emailing Sandie about trip, she now realises their plans need changing, Colin also spoken to Laurie about them and he agrees. Had hearty dinner tonight of Mince, Onions Carrots and Spuds.
16th January Monday
Sunny, sunny, sunny, light wind. After lovely shower checked emails and Colin sent Sandie some info on how to save money on camping and fuel, also about not taking fresh fruit and veg across state borders(you'd never think you were in one country). We heading up to The Grampians today.
Left site just before 10am and stopped at Tower Hill Reserve on our way to Port Fairy, as we drove into reserve we saw our first Emus
within 50mtrs of us, they werent as big as i thought they would be. Tower Hill is a volcanic formation from an eruption over 30,000 years ago, they belive the last eruption was about 4-5,000 years ago. We climbed up peak to Tower Hill(it hurt and it was hot) and you could see the water filled craters and over to the sea
and Warrnambool, we were told about this place by the caretaker at the last campsite and was worth a visit. We drove onto Port Fairy, thought we'd go to the beach, but nowhere to park as such a nice day, so got back in L Rover and drove to Hamilton and picked up some maps of the Grampians, carried on the A200 and turned off at Cherrypool to our campsite along 20k of dirt road
to Mountain Dawn Campground on the Rocklands Reservoir. It has been a hot and dusty day. There are only 2 other campers here, but it could take a lot more. Had a walk down to reservoir, the water is coloured brown like at Bear Gully.We sat in the shade as has got really hot then had a cold dinner, can't be bothered cooking. Left windows open in tent when we went to bed.
17th January Tuesday
Warm night, lots of blue sky with high cloud this morning. Park Ranger stopped and told us TOTAL FIRE BAN in force today(not even BBQ's the wind is warm today. After moving photos onto computer decided to drive to Balmoral, mainly dirt roads and corrugated. It is a little town with a general store(selling cheep chocolate), hardware store and cafe next to a small caravan park. There was a little rest area with a big gun situated in a corner, but nothing to say why. We walked down to the historic Court House
but could'nt find the Gaol. Back to camp it feels hotter than yesterday think less wind, had a strip wash with water from solar shower(perfect temperature), it was so good, feel lots cleaner and not dusty anymore. Sat reading till bedtime, saw sun going down through trees turning the sky a lovely shade of red. Temp today 33degs.
18th January Wednesday
Bit of rain in the night, it is a lot cooler this morning. Packed up and left by 9am. Had a Kangaroo's cross the road in front of us on the dirt road, then back onto Henty Highway to Hamilton. On the road into town we stopped at the Big Wool Bales,
had a look around about the history of wool industry locally, there (Fokker Universal) starting a service from Hamilton to Melbourne, at one point due to goverment interferance he was unable to charge passengers, so he sold Oranges as tickets. it grew into an international airline(Ansett Airways) even becoming the official carrier for the 2000 olympics in Sydney, till the company folded in March 2002. It was quite a nice museum with a lot of memorabilia. we left museum and went out to Waterfalls Campground for the night. Weather now sunny and warm. A local old man came round to give us a leaflet about fire danger and told us if another man came round and told us he was a Ranger that he was an imposter, later on a younger man came round and advised us the old man is a one man crusade against campers. After a shower and a dinner of Skippy steaks had a walk to the falls, shame the water had dried up,
you can see by the rock formation it would have been quite spectacular.
19th January Thursday
Did'nt wake till nearly 8am. Colin onto Skype with Natalie about tobacco and there trip, signal not good. Left site 9.30. Before we left Hamilt on found a servo that filled our gas bottle $10 and let us fill up with water. Down the Henty Highway to Portland, it is on the coast and has a light house nearby at Cape Nelson
which we visited. Again a rugged coastline
you can see why they call it the ship wreck coast. Stopped at Yellow Rock
on way back to Portland, did'nt stop in town as could'nt find any free parking so drove to Surrey Ridge Campground in the Cobboboonee National Park, drove most of it on dirt road. We spotted an adult Emu with several babies on the road but as soon as they saw us they took off into the forest. A couple of german lads came onto site later on. Colin lit a fire which was nice except the wind kept swirling it round.
20th January Friday
FRIDAY FACT - Australia has 755 different reptile species, being the most in the world.
Airbed going down. Cloudy start and another late wake up, when I got up colin was talking to a chap who was checking the site for the Parks department, he was driving a 1976 short wheel base land rover (shortie), another person attracted by the vehicle, he stayed talkign for about an hour. After he'd gone had breakfast and Colin got his scruffs on and did some maintenance and moved an inside light to the back of the vehicle so we can see to cook when dark, Rose sorted out and cleaned the drawers, the cooker and front seat area, lovely shower later in day. another vehicle came onto campsite and put up a tent, another english couple who had been here since November but had bought a 4WD vechicle in Oz, they are hoping to be here up to 18 months by having 6 month multiple entry visa. Colin got the fire going and Rose made damper, whilst eating dinner damper in fire cooking. John and Ann joined us at fire with beer and we gave them damper - it was lovely with jam just like a scone. Good evening chatting.
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