We packed up our campsite the best we could trying to avoid getting too much mud in the van. After we left Daylesford we stopped at a chocolate factory along the road then called into Mount Franklin. This is an extinct volcano and a very pretty and popular camping ground...
Our next stop was Castlemaine. We had a short walk here ~ liked this very clever seat with the concrete cushion on it that actually looked very real...
Not long after that our peaceful morning turned into a very stressful time. We decided to go to Bendigo. That was fine until we suddenly realised we were heading right into the city centre with the van on and no idea where we were headed. Suddenly we were right in the middle of the city negotiating buses and trams and very busy traffic trying to find the information bay. We were hungry and after a phone call to the info centre, lots of swearing and 4 laps of the city centre we finally found a caravan parking bay that we just fitted into. It was right on the edge of the central town gardens ~ perfect spot for a late lunch and dog stroll...
We also took a walk to see the Sacred Heart Cathedral which was stunning inside...
When we were leaving central Bendigo we spotted the vintage caravan "Jellybean" which we have seen featured in the Vintage Caravan Mag...
I was keen to pay a visit to the Bendigo Woolen Mills and we were very happy that they were on our way out of town and easy to get to!! I had fun choosing some Autumn toned balls of wool for a new project one day...
We drove for a few more hours before reaching Echuca , crossed the border into NSW and set up in Moama. Next day we went back to Echuca and spent the morning wandering along the Murray River and exploring the port area and watching the paddle steamers. It would have been nice to go for a ride but have the doggies and fortunately we went when we visited with the girls many years ago...
After a lovely lunch at a local dog friendly café we came back to the van for a rest and some housekeeping which included bathies...
Later that afternoon we walked across the Muraay River from VIC to NSW and watched a lovely sunset...
Time to move on again. We called in to see the "Big Strawberry" at a little place called Koonoomoo. There was a café and a shop there that sold strawberry everything!!!...
Wayne and Sue had set up camp at Apex Beach and as we were virtually driving past the area they were in we decided to catch up with them and have lunch together...
Wayne took us for a ride in his boat up stream to Tocumwal ~ it was lovely and peaceful...
Sue had also spotted a koala in a nearby tree that had been staying there for a few days. He is my first koala I have ever seen in the wild (we don't have them in the wild in WA)...
We would love to have stayed on with them but are not set up to camp self sufficiently in our old van but it was great to catch up again.
We said our goodbyes (again) and moved on. It was very interesting passing a huge lake called Lake Mulwala. It is actually a manmade reservoir and a renowned fishery for native Murray Cod. It has a very eerie look about it with all the dead trees in it...
We stayed in Wodonga that night. Next day we travelled along the notoriously busy Hume Highway. We exited at a place called Holbrook as I had read there was apparently a submarine here even though we were hundreds of kilometres from the coast. And lo and behold there was!!! Its a complex story but basically after the submarine was decommissioned by the Royal Australian Navy Lieutenant Holbrooks family (who the town was named after) were able to purchase the submarine in his honour. At 90 metres long it is a very imposing display in the local park with a museum and café set up as well...
Next stop was a little town called Tarcutta. This place has a unique parkland on the side of the Hume Highway where the Australian Truck Drivers Memorial is. This special spot has a the names of hundreds of truck drivers who have lost their lives in accidents along the Hume Highway...
Thankfully we made it safely to Gundagai and set up camp under a beautiful shady tree.
We had actually arrived early in the afternoon so set off to explore.
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| Gundagai railway station |
They have had many floods in Gundagai and killing many people over the years...
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Another view (minus the bin) of 2 of the town bridges over a very dry river bed...
A closer look at the very old bridge from the other end...
Next morning after we had packed up we visited the iconic "Dog on the Tuckerbox" statue. I must say it was much smaller than I imagined and Lucy thought it was all a bit of a yawn...
We continued on our travels stopping at a little town called Jugiong on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River. It had the most wonderful quirky café there and a little fruit shop which were both very busy and well known to other communities in the area. We bought a little collapsible dog water bowl. We then drove onto Yass where we had lunch. We thought we had found a good spot to walk the dogs there but they got covered in these very very fine needle like prickles which wasted a lot of our time removing them from their feet and fur! We crossed another border and for the first time in our lives we entered the ACT...
We eventually found our caravan park which was a few km"s out of Canberra and actually back in NSW! After a well deserved cuppa we drove into Canberra to familiarise ourselves as it was a Sunday and thought the traffic would be easier to negotiate. It was quite amazing to actually see Parliament House for real after seeing it pretty much every day on the news. We parked underneath and went for a walk around. Lucy decided she needed to do a number 2 on the Prime Ministers lovely grass (yes we cleaned it up!)...
Peter waited outside while I went through security and had a quick look inside and asked about tours...
We then drove up to the Australian War Memorial and were surprised to see a service going on a late Sunday afternoon. It was very moving to hear the "Last Post" being played at such a special place. We later learnt they have a service everyday to commemorate a soldier...
We finished off the day with a lovely walk around Lake Burley Griffin ~ what a beautiful place to walk with a such a beautiful sunset...
And walking under the Commonwealth Avenue Bridges...
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