Great fun riding our bikes along this boardwalk through the swamp at Nhill Vic and then around the lake edge.  Bikes are a great way to explore - especially flat country!

 
Peaceful view from a lunch stop at Canadian Gully Bushland Reserve sear Stawell Vic.

The Boat House in Daylesford Vic just called out for a photo (or 20) as we rode around this lake.  They served excellent coffee there and they also knew how to charge for a slice of cake . . .

Very hard to prise Rhonda from the Hepburn Bathhouse and Spa in Daylesford Vic.  We spent over two & a half hours here soaking up the mineral spring water goodness.

Check out these amazing flowers in the beautiful Botanical Gardens in Ballarat.  They are Schizanthus (or Poor Mans Orchid), originally from the Chilean mountains.  Schizanthus are actually related to petunias not orchids although their flower formation does have a very orchidy (new word) look!








Check out the difference 4 years makes - Lake Wendouree was almost dry when we came through Ballarat in 2006 and now . . .  it is just 500mm from overflowing.  These pics are of the same view:

2006 - you could walk across the lake

2010 - no walking across the lake this year so we rode the 6.8k circuit around Lake Wendouree.  It's time for boating again!











We're off towards Phillip Island tomorrow morning . . . . . so stay tuned and blessings to all who read this.

Rain, some ports, Adelaide & the Barossa

Just squint your eyes, peer into the distance and you'll see the longest timber (careful wording here) jetty in Australia at Port Germain SA.  Sadly, it just rained and rained here and did a pretty good job of keeping us in the van!  Oh, and South Australia seems to be the headwind capital of Australia - doesn't matter which way we've been heading there have been strong headwinds.  This is shaping up to be our "Headwind Holiday"

Beautiful buildings in the Barossa.  There is also a most amazing display and gift shop behind these front doors!

Rhonda and Maggi Beer's daughter in that Kitchen!  Rhonda really enjoyed the cooking demo and catching up afterwards.

Another magnificent building - Chateau Yaldara (McGuigans).

This is a huge boat entering the Loch at Glenelg SA - very tight fit and a very competent driver. 

Inner door opening - the boat must have been very close to the max size this thing could accommodate!  The driver even used a B&D Garage Door type remote control to operate the loch gates!  The whole process kept Spen fascinated.

We cycled for ages around Glenelg - up the beachfront and around these boats in the inner lake at Glenelg.  The bikes have had a real workout this trip and Toby loves to run along beside Spen's bike.

Back in coverage, got time so here's a catch up from Swan Hill to Arkaroola

Heaps of water in the Murray River & it's flowing quickly too!

Roadside flowers were everywhere around Murrayville SA

First time on a ferry for the van - height of the Murray River kept approach angles OK.

Great cycleway on an old train route around Clare SA called the Reisling Trail.  Toby turned into a "Tow-Dog" whenever Rhonda was in front - excellent when I felt like a rest!

The Reisling Trail led us past some lovely wineries and interesting places. 

The Prairie Hotel in Parachilna SA made a great lunch stop.  Rhonda thought her Kangaroo burger was delicious (Spencer stuck with the more traditional Angus - also delish!).

This driver sold his car 15 years ago & uses this 2 Camel-power wagon to get around.  We had a good chat - a very interesting personality to be sure!

Leigh Creek Coal Mine - almost daily, the mine fills a 2.8km long train with nearly 10,000 tonnes of brown coal bound for Port Augusta power station.  SA generates about 40% of its electricity from Leigh Creek coal.

Spen had fun playing in this old coal bucket dragline machine.  Great that big boys could get into it and check it all out!  Sadly, there was no key in the ignition.

Wild hops were introduced by Afghan cameliers who used them for fodder, bedding and much in between.  We understand that this plant has been declared an introduced species rather than a pest  because there's so much of it growing throughout the Flinders Ranges already!

Rainwater is pretty powerful in the Flinders (when it happens!)

Flinders road scene heading towards Arkaroola - beautiful!

Rhonda enjoying her coffee in the creek bed on the way to Arkaroola.

The turn-around point for the Ridge Top Tour - an awesome 4.5 hours of fantastic scenery and exciting 4WD-ing.  We can thoroughly recommend this adventure!









How's this for a Flinders Ranges scene?








Bollabollana Spring in Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary made a delightful morning tea stop!

We have been privileded to see so many different wildflowers growing in the Flinders after recent rains - we were told that the rains broke an 11 year drought here!

We saw heaps of Sturts Desert Pea growing by the many 4WD tracks we travelled today. 











Wow! That brings us up to date and congratulations if you have stuck witth the blog so far!  Best wishes nad blessings to all and we'll update again soon.

ECHUCA

A trip on the Canberra is just the way to see the Murray River (note the finessing fingertip control of the left hand!).  We were told by a (semi) reliable source that the Canberra was the last steam paddlewheeler built and is fast enough to have pulled 3 water skiiers in a demo run - impressive

Notice the sook (which one do I hear you say??). Toby the wonder dog was not keen at all on the tooting of paddlewheeler whistles!

UTE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD

There you go . . . . Deniliquin is oficially the Ute capital of the World and even has this Ute on a pole.  We've never seen so many utes from all over Australia.  We camped on the south side of the river & the main ute action was northside. The air display was excellent!

We enjoyed a most excellent Sunday afternoon bike ride through the town.  If you have good eyes, you will see Rhonda on the bridge.

Blayney is COLDD

Blayney made a great first stop - but was -4degC overnight (brrrr).  Great park & good for exploring Bathurst & Orange.  Enjoyed self-drive tour of Bathurst, the mandatory lap of Mt Panorama & heaps more.  Also caught up with Graham, a former neighbour from our Greystanes days.