13/4/2012 - Our 38th Anniversary - Had a lie in this morning and got a call from both Lee and Kirmy to wish us a happy anniversary which was lovely.  A nice start to the day.  We had a fairly quiet day just pottering.  Dave and Chris are taking us out to tea in Inverloch at the Captain's Lounge.  Val, Ray, Pam and Graham are coming too so that will be lovely.  We were booked in for 7 so got there just before. The restaurant was lovely, the service was spot on and the food was just beautiful.  We had a selection of 3 dips with toasties for entree and Pa and I had a Seafood Platter to share.  It had oysters, a whole fish and scallops on it.  No deep fried food or chips so it was great.  Then we all had lovely desserts which were to die for.  It was a lovely night, with good company and we were so glad they organised it for us. On the way home Dave had to swerve for a koala that was walking over the road.  That was the first one we have seen down here.

8 & 9/4/2012 - Easter Sunday and Monday - Dave and Chris are taking us on a 2 day trip sightseeing.  We are staying at Dave's cousin Robyn's place in Yarrum on Sunday night.  We left mid morning and went through Koonwarra, Foster and stopped at the Wind Farm at Toora.  It was a really windy and overcast day (pretty awful actually) but it was great to see and hear these great towers with their blades flying around in the wind.  They sound like jet planes taking off.  The views from up here were great too but we were all glad to get back into the car and the warmth.  Then it was on to Port Welshpool where a ferry used to leave for Tasmania but no longer does and on to Port Albert for lunch.  We met up with Val, Ray, Nev, Jen, Robyn and four other friends who were from Ballarat and all staying at Robyns.  We left the others after lunch and  headed up to the Tarra-Bulga National Park for a look around.  Tarra Valley was worth the stop and the walk.  It had some lovely little waterfalls.  We kept going and stopped at the Tarra Bulga Guesthouse and Lyrebird Cafe for a well earned coffee.  After that we headed back to Yarram and to Robyn and Charlies place.  They live on a farm out of town and have a great shed all set up with toilet and shower and a kitchen and huge big fireplace.  The fireplace was great because it was so cold.  We settled in for drinkies and a great roast pork and vege camp oven meal and more drinkies.  Pa and I slept out in Robyn's gooseneck van.  I thought it would be freezing cold but it was actually really cosy and warm so it was a great night with lots of laughs.  Next morning we were treated to bacon and eggs for brekkie and everyone decided to go into Yarram to the big once a year market.  It had been raining on and off all morning and of course when we got there it was raining.  We decided to give the market a miss and went back to Robyn's.  Had a coffee and waited for the others to come back.  They had braved the market and all the garage and clearance sales in town.  Val has never been known to miss a bargain.  We left them then and headed into Yarram for lunch.  The Yarram bakery has the best pies I think I have ever tasted and Pa treated us with a vanilla slice each for the road.  Mind you 2 would have been enough for the 4 of us but they sure were good.  Poor Dave had to drive while we all ate ours.  We made sure we let him know just how good they were though.  We called into Sandy Point at Shallow Bay and Walkerville Nth on the way back to Leongatha.  Thanks to Dave and Chris for a great couple of days.

6/4/2012  -  Quiet day at the van.  We went out to dinner with Dave, Chris and their friends, Bruce and Julie at the Chinese in Korumburra.  The meal was lovely.  The best chinese we have had for years.  We managed to get through quite a few dishes which surprised all of us.  We really needed to walk back to Leongatha though to walk it all down.  Great night.

5/4/2012 -  Spent the day cleaning the van out and repacking it.  Dave and Chris can finally get back into their caravan.  Pa found a leak in the shower last night and discovered this morning that when they put the new suspension under they shifted the waste pipe and broke the seal allowing water to leak in between the bottom of the shower tray and the floor.  He thought it was going to be a major job and would have to cut a piece out of the floor to get at the fitting but thankfully he could access it from under the van without having to do that.  So he spent the morning fixing it up and sealing it up properly.  All things he should not have had to do.  Had happy hour with Dave and Chris, tea and settled in for the night.

4/4/2012 - Left the Caravan Park in Kilmore early morning and are heading back to Leongatha.  Drove through Wallan, Upper Plenty, Whittlesea and Kinglake.  It was fairly hilly but better than we expected.  Seeing Kinglake and the areas around there really gives you an idea how bad it must have been when the fires went through.  There are new homes everywhere but some still have vegetation growing right up to their houses.  The trees are like a forest of dead sticks with new growth at the bottom.  They still smelt of smoke.  You could actually see where the fire would have gone through the area and you had to feel for the people.  It must have been a nightmare for them when it happened. It would have been so fierce. We stopped in Yarra Glen for Moko and to get some supplies for lunch and kept going.  Pa is finding the van is travelling really well with the new suspension and handling much better. From Yarra Glen it was on to Coldstream, Woori Yallock, Cockatoo, Pakenham, Warragul, Korumburra and Leongatha.  The road between Korumburra and Leongatha is very hilly with lots of sharp turns but the scenery is magnificent.  Lovely rolling green hills with lots of sheep and cattle.  Anyway we were glad to get back to Dave and Chris's.  We decided we will wait it out here till Easter is over and then keep travelling after that.

Ned Kelly Statue Glenrowan

Replica of Ned Kelly's Armour

Mountains between Whitfield & Mansfield

Before Bonnie Doon

Pa cooking tea camp style (like the wine glass)

3/4/2012 - I have decided to go by date now instead of day as it is getting harder to remember how many days it has been!!!  Anyway we left the caravan park at Wangaratta about 9.15 and it is another beautiful day.  Thought we would go down to Glenrowan and check out Ned Kelly country.  We went through the Museum there and it was really interesting.  Even though Ned was really a thief you had to feel sorry for him and the events that made him what he was. We then followed the Major Mitchell Trail (the backblocks) down to Lurg, Whitfield and Cheshunt where there were lots of wineries, black Angus cattle and sheep.  Had lunch at Whitfield and as we were leaving got a call to say the van was ready so we went from Whitfield to Mansfield all the while still climbing up and down mountains.  Only got to 910 metres above sea level today (just think yesterday we were 1000 metres higher) Amazingly a lot of these mountains don't have any crash barriers on them and not a lot of shoulder so there are no room for errors.  Then Mansfield to Bonnie Doon where there is a huge lake.  The countryside all the way has been absolutely spectacular with lots of green rolling hills and valleys, beautiful cattle, sheep and some lovely old buildings and vineyards.  Then to Bonnie Doon down to Yea and on to Seymour where we stayed last weekend.  We fuelled up there and headed on down to Epping to pick up the van.  Drove in to Vanguard and there she was - our home and so much higher.  She had a whole new suspension on as well as a few little things we got to them to do in the interior and they had weighed her again and she was definitely 200kgs overweight for the old suspension.  After the run down from them we headed north  out of the rat race and on to Kilmore.  We stopped in Wallan at Coles and got some snags and baked beans for tea.  Got to the caravan park about 7pm and set up.  Our step doesn't work and keeps shorting out so something is wrong there.  Pa finally got the step to go down by wriggling it. At least it is down for now so it is not like climbing a mountain trying to get into the van without a step. (It really is a lot higher)  He will have a look at that tomorrow - we have run out of light. Then hooked up the hose for the water and had a leak under the van - they hadn't hooked up the water hose properly.  Lucky Pa knows the plumbing very well and he fixed it. (This trip round the Block has definitely not been boring) Anyway we cooked tea on our little butane stove and had our wine in our travel coffee cups.  This is what you call camping in your caravan and we reckon sausages never tasted so good. At least we have our bedding with us and some clothes so all is good.  On to Leongatha tomorrow to reload the van and give the car and van a really good wash.  Will head west after Easter.

Chairlift at Mt Hotham

Top of Mt Hotham

Cruiser at Mt Hotham (Notice mudflap missing)

Bright Yellow Line Markings

Avenue in Bright

Day 32 - Left Lakes Entrance about 8 am.  It is a beautiful day.  Today we are heading to Wangaratta which is north of us and north east of Melbourne.  We are trying to work our way back closer to Melbourne so when the van is ready we don't have far to go. We were able to by pass Bairnsdale and head to Bruthen and then onto the Great Alpine Road north to Omeo.  TheTambo River runs right beside the road so we decided to turn off at Barksheds Creek as there was a bridge going over the river. It was the sort of river you would expect Trout to be swimming in. We drove down a bit of a gravel road to the bridge and crossed over.  It was just lovely.  Pa turned around on the other side and I got out and took photos.  We headed back to the road and had a bit of trouble when we got over the bridge as the track was washed out.  Anyway we got out but ended up ripping a mudflap off.  So we only have 1 mudflap at the moment.  We kept climbing and passed through Ensay North and had Moko at Swift Creek at the friendly wood fired bakery.  Broke our diet and had coffee with a couple of matchsticks (iced flaky pastry filled with cream and jam).  With our tummies full we kept going and about 10klms from Omeo we were overtaken by a ute with chipboard on the roof bars.  As we had a strong headwind the chipboard was nearly doubled over on the roof.  Next thing it broke and headed our way. Thankfully Pa was watching and hit the brakes and the board missed us.  Thank god for ABS brakes. Kept climbing and about 20kms from Dinner Plains the road markings and guideposts changed from white to bright yellow (so you can see them in the snow)  Stopped at Dinner Plate for a look. It is obviously a resort.  All the houses look the same and all are built from weatherboard and are the same colour..  Still climbing to Mt Hotham Resort.  I'm sure this is the top of the world.  This is where all the chair lifts are and all the shops to get your snow gear.  The views were spectacular.  We are approx. 1900m above sea level.  It is windy and cold, approx. 17oC.  Amazingly there were lots of dead trees and dead tree tops everywhere which gave the area quite an eerie look.  After going down a really windy and I mean windy road we got to Harrietville.  Had lunch there and Pa checked the brakes as they were really smelly.  Front ones were 260 degrees and back were 180 degrees.  That is soooo hot.  Harrietville was a lovely town with an avenue of trees running right through the town.  On to Bright that has a Brewery right in town and also has a beautiful avenue of trees down the main street.  There is lots of accommodation in this area.  Guess it is an overflow area for the ski fields.  Would be cheaper than up on the slopes.  This area is so beautiful.  There are lots of Chestnuts and Berries for sale here and lots of wineries.  Went through Porepunkah.  They grow lots of hops here, maybe to supply the brewery in Bright.  We also noticed a lot of cyclists and bike tracks beside the road.  Think they take the sport very seriously around here.  Went on through Ovens and Myrtleford where there are herds of Black Angus (Alpine Angus) in the paddocks. On to Wangaratta and got accommodation in a cabin in one of the caravan parks.  Walked into town for some wine and milk (not drinking together) and came back to enjoy happy hour on the deck.  Got a call from Johnny from Vanguard to let us know the van will be ready late tomorrow afternoon so we will finally have our home back.  Till tomorrow.........