Day 35 - Cassilis Park

 Today was the longest km of this holiday…280km.

Left Forbes around 10am and the route was Parkes, Yeoval, Wellington, Gulgong, Ulan to Cassilis Park where we are staying in a rest area.

Had morning tea along the road and lunch was Maccas at Wellington. We hadn’t planned that - made a wrong turn - saw Maccas and there was a park right outside - So - lunch.

First 2 photos are in Forbes, next 2 Parkes & last 2 Yeoval. The hat is a Banjo Paterson style hat. 

The head sculpture is of Henry Moore a famous British sculptor and is at Yeoval. Also the ute. 

Centre photos are at Gulgong & the final 2 near Ulan.

Only 237kms now to home so Wednesday it is…..

That concludes our holiday blog. Some statistics are:

Days :  36

Km’s : 4340

Fuel: 532 litres

Avge cost: $1.94 per litre (lower due to lots of use of EG Ampol app & 14cents discount)

Economy: 12.5 litres per 100kms

Avge cost per night:  $33.05

Our nightly cost is higher than we would normally have as we couldn’t free camp very much on this trip. We spent more time in van parks, national parks & farm stays. Highest was $62 pn even after seniors discount!

Thanks for coming along with us - until next time (which should be to Nth Qld leaving late June).

Day 34 - Forbes

Left Brewery Flat at 9am with first stop the other side of town at Narrandera’s painted water tank.

The old brewery near where we camped is included…

Then onto Ardlethan for morning tea in the van (no cafe or bakery)….

Ardlethan is said to be the home of the Australian Kelpie as indicated by the 2 sculptures above.

A brief stop in West Wyalong to give Izzy a drink and then onto Forbes where we are camped tonight alongside Lake Forbes.

Ken had to include a photo of the Bank of NSW!

There is a sculpture trail that runs from Forbes to Condonolin and the 4th photo is one of them (called Road Kill).

Also one of a goanna at Gum Swamp where some of the photos above were taken.

Photos around our camp & we did a loop walk this afternoon.

Tomorrow we will move closer to home so we can be home on Wednesday. Not sure yet which way we are going!

Day 33 - Narrandera

First photos were taken yesterday evening and at sunset.

This morning’s photos with the mural at Greens Hill where we were camped.

Then a short trip to Glenrowan where we had a devonshire morning tea…

 Next stop was at Corowa after we passed over the Murray River into NSW.

Lunch was along the way at Daysdale where some of the following photos were taken.

A brief stop then at Urana…

The 3rd photo is a horizontal windmill & the local sculptures were ready for Easter.

Then onto Narrandera where we are free camped at Brewery Flat just on the edge of town.

Tomorrow to Forbes.

Day 32 - Winton Wetlands

Left Lilydale at 9.30am & through to Yea for morning tea at the bakery. Most of that trip was through the Yarra Valley.

The water is Lake Eildon.

It turned out that the annual Arts Festival was on this weekend - so people everywhere - painters were doing flowers this year. Benalla has murals everywhere and we have taken photos a couple of years ago.

Tonight we are staying at the Winton Wetlands about 20km from Benalla.

They have an arts trail within the wetlands. We are camped just near the wetlands and the sunsets are supposed to be very good - will show you in tomorrow’s blog.

Tomorrow the plan is to try for Narrandera.

Day 31 - Lilydale

This morning drove to Warburton and first stop was morning tea. A beautiful little town alongside the Yarra River…

Then a walk alongside the river and it’s swing bridge.

Then a 17km drive up into the mountains. Along the way in the Yarra Ranges National Park came to it’s Rainforest Gallery. 

A nice raised loop walk with lots of steps - down to the valley & then up again.

A few km’s further was the summit of Mt Donna Buang.

Ken only went part of the way up the tower!

Then back to Warburton for lunch from the Bakery and ate alongside the Yarra.

This afternoon went back to Ron & June Weeks for a cuppa and catch up with some of their family.

The last photos were taken along the way today…

Leaving Melbourne tomorrow and the plan is to Winton Wetlands near Benalla.

Faye is happy to be now moving towards home!!

Day 30 - Lilydale

Today had a good sleep in and a quiet morning around the van.

In the afternoon went to Ron & June’s place again and then went out for dinner.

So the only photo of the day is of Ron & June and their 2 well loved dogs….

Day 29 - Lilydale

A cold day in Melbourne - especially in the wind. We drove to Ringwood where we met up with Colin & Pam Giles who live in Geelong. They came up by train but unfortunately buses were replacing trains on some of the line to Ringwood so they took an hour longer. While we waited the RSL Club gave us free coffees.

Had a lovely lunch at the club & the Giles were able to stay till 4pm so we had a few hours with them. They have been to Newcastle and have met all our family.

Tomorrow meeting up with Ron & June Weeks again.

Day 28 - Lilydale

Left Millers Farm around 9.30 and straight to Neerim South bakery for morning tea. 

We had a great couple of days with Darren & Kate and they would welcome us back anytime.

Then a nice scenic drive to our caravan park at Lilydale arriving 12.30. 

After lunch and a rest went to visit Ron & June Weeks who live in a retirement village near Lilydale.

We first met Ron & June on a trip to Canada/Alaska in 2000. Also did a trip to China with them and have kept in touch since then.

Tomorrow meeting up with Colin & Pam Giles who live in Geelong. They are coming to Melbourne by train.

Day 27 - Neerim South

A nice quiet night on Millers Farm…this morning went into Neerim South and had morning tea at the Misty Hills cafe.

Faye had to pat her black sheep first…

Then onto Noojee trestle bridge. This one has been restored so you can walk over it…

Then a few more k’s up a valley to Tooronga Falls. A bit of a walk to where you could see the waterfall.

Between that & the trestle bridge I think we have worn Faye out today!

So she deserved a nice lunch at the Noojee Hotel…

Then back to Neerim South for IGA & a drink for Izzy.

Tomorrow we travel to Lilydale in Melbourne for 4 nights before we start for home.

Day 26 - Millers Farm Neerim South

Left Inverloch at 9.30 and came through to Korumburra and although we had never heard of it they have a historic coal  mine site - Coal Creek mine. We debated whether to check it out & Ken won. 

Was worth the effort…

Some of the buildings are where they were originally and some have been moved from other areas. This was the actual mine site.

Then to Neerim South and we are staying on a farm stay a few kms from town.

Lots of animal pets around…

A lovely couple own this place and are so welcoming and showing us around. Staying here for 2 nights.

Some views along the way today…

Day 25 - Inverloch

A day down the peninsula east of Inverloch.

First stop was at Venus Bay & came across a painted water tank…

Then down to the bottom at Cape Liptrap…

How many seals can you count?

Next stop was on the eastern side at Walkerville South…

Walked down the beach to see the historic Lime Kilns which operated from about 1875 to 1926.

It started when no roads & the bagged lime was shipped out via a jetty (not there now) to areas for building before cement became prominent.

Leaving here tomorrow & heading north to a farm stay near Neerim South.

Day 24 - Inverloch

The day started with clothes washing & then to Post Office, Newsagency & Tourist Info.

The main activity was a trip along the Bunurong Coast to Cape Paterson. But just outside Inverloch was morning tea at the RACV Resort…

It is spectacular coastline & we did do some walks down to the beach/rocks which involved a lot of steps!

The first one was down to “The Caves”…

Then a little further along the coast is the “Eagle’s Nest”. Here are 6 photos all taken in different places…

After a quick look around Cape Paterson a short drive to Wonthaggi to have lunch at the State Coal Mine cafe and then a look around the historic site.

An interesting visit especially as Ken’s father worked in a coal mine all his working life.

Back to the van by 4pm.