Melbourne 3/5/12 to 9/5/12

We spent 6 wonderful days in Melbourne visiting my sister Kym and her family Rob, Anna and Jamie.

It was nice to have a break from the caravan as we stayed with Kym for 2 nights while Doug boozed it up with his buddies in town.  Doug and his mates have an annual boys trip to Melbourne which just so happened to coincide with our stop in Melbourne.  Who would have thought. Kym also looked after the kids the first night we arrived so Doug and I could spend some quality time together.  Which was lovely and weird at the same time, as first time without the kids in the van.  Rob made me a much needed bread board that fits over the sink that gives me more room when cooking in the van. Thanks Rob.  We really didn't do much touristy stuff in Melbourne as we were there to catch up with family. We did go to The Edge the highest building in Melbourne which has a glass room that goes out from the building to give you a great view of the city on all angles. 

 Doug took the boys to the MCG and did the tour while I got my much needed hair cut.  Now I look half decent.  Cousin Carmel was able to repair a filling for Nate so now he can eat lollies again.  Just kidding Carmel. Much appreciated. 

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Fun with the cousins - I think?

The Windsor Hotel in Melbourne. Actually we were just here to 
 use the toilet.

Our day in the city, which was obviously a bit wet.
Aah, Melbourne weather. 

Melbourne street entertainers.

Kym and I dressed up as Joel Madden and Seal for a friends 40th birthday party. Kym looks more like an Indian taxi driver though. 

More crazy fun with Anna and Jamie (cousins)

Here we are all together.  Fabris's and the Brennan's.

The Todds on the RTMT2012. Too much to explain here.

The before shot. There is no after shot just yet.

On Wednesday we had to catch the Spirit of Tassie at 7.30pm; but had to check out of the caravan park at 10.00am. We therefore had plenty of time to kill. We drove down to Port Melbourne and parked the rig on the foreshore. We then spent the day in and around Port Melbourne and St Kilda.  The boys thought they were at home with the beach and couldn't wait to get on it.   At 5pm we loaded up and headed on down to the pier and boarded the boat. Loading the car and van on board was an experience, with some tight turns and narrow aisles to negotiate. After that was safely done, a few drinks at the bar were required. We then checked in to our cabin and settled in for our trip across Bass Strait.  Nate and I had trouble going off to sleep.  Nathan I think because of new surroundings.  Me because of the rocking.

Port Melbourne. The boys couldn't wait to get into their boardies and get on the beach.

 

Scooting on the way to St Kilda 

One of the many yummy cake shops in St Kilda.  We just window shopped.

Lunch on the foreshore of Port Melbourne.

This is where the van sat for the 7 hours until we caught the boat 

The boat.

Not so squeezey.

This way to your room gentlemen. 

Dinner at "The Captains Table". 

Melbourne lights in the back ground.

Drinks for Dougie and I while kids in the cinema watching Tin Tin.

Not so squeezey - once again

This is where we slept.  Nate wants it known that Jacob was in the bunk above me.

Ballarat 30/4/12 to 3/5/12

We are currently in Melbourne and have just come from Ballarat where we spent 3 nights.  Visiting Soveign Hill on  2 days.  Boys had a ball panning for gold and so did we.  We actually managed to find some.  It did help that Soveign Hill puts gold flecks into the creek every morning ($200 worth) which I must tell you doesn't guarantee finding gold.  You need to learn the art of panning, which we all managed to do.  It's a bit hard on the old knees though.

We stayed at the worst situated caravan park yet.  It was right on a major highway.  Lots of b-doubles going past all hours of the night.  It also rained and we were under some trees, so drip drip all night.  Now I know what Doug's folks were talking about.  They are keen caravaners and forewarned us of staying on major roads.  The park did have a games room where the boys where back on the pool table honing some of their new learnt skills.

Very cold there.  We all had our beanies on and Doug and the boys bought gloves.  The city of Ballarat is just beautiful - again lots of history.  Lovely old buildings from the 1850's as it was built because of the gold rush.

The Sovereign Hill hoods

Nine pin bowling  - 1850's style

Distinguished gentlemen

Love a man in uniform

Learning how to make wooden wheels

Nate's first speck of gold 

Local resident Crazy Joe showing the boys how to use the Canadian Cradle 

Local school kids, except for 2 (try and pick them)

Historic streets of Ballarat

The impressive Her Majesty's Theatre

Halls Gap 27/412 to 30/4/12

Next destination is Halls Gap, a small tourist town in the Grampians. The town has around 500 permanent residences but there would be thousands of tourists there at any time. It's a town of mountain walks and log fires. We stayed at a park right in town, a nice park with plenty of wildlife (mainly birds and kangaroos) with the Grampians rising up immediately in front of us. The weather continues to get cooler with days in low teens and nights just above zero. A great thing about the park was we were able to have a camp fire - which we did every night. The boys had a great time collecting all the wood required and we would eventually have it roaring. We found as each night went on our chairs would move in closer and closer.

Each day we went on walks in the mountains which were spectacular in themselves. But then on the end of each walk you would come out to a lookout that overlooked the valley below. Some of the lookouts put you right out on the edge on a sheer cliff face. The scenery was quite amazing and it certainly is a spectacular destination. We really enjoyed it and could have stayed longer but not sure we had the stamina for more walks or the town had enough wood for us for another fire.

We also had a look around the outlying area and ended up in the township of Stawell where we checked out the "gift" site. Boys had a race along the track with the result still under dispute. Stewards still looking to sort out and bookies have not yet been able to pay. On the morning we left for Ballarat we called in to the Seppelt Great Western Winery and did a tour of the site which includes 3km of underground tunnels used for cellaring their best vintages. Finished with a sampling of some of their products then back in the car for a steady drive the rest of the way.

We have fire

And did we use it!?

Mackenzies Waterfall

Appropriately named "The Balconies"

And the view

View overlooking township from "The Pinnacle"

 

Livin' on the edge

"Grand Canyon" walk

Out on "The Pinnacle"

And this is how the boys got there. Vicki and Doug took the path.

Big fella got away well but faded fast

The neighbours

Seppelt Great Western Winery

Down in the 3km of underground tunnels used for cellaring

Mmmm..... would I need council approval to build one of these under home?

Cheers to a successful tour (it's cordial - honestly)