Yet More Rain!

No chance of the gardens drying out.  Last weekend we had over 70mm and there has been more since.  Looking out the back window it is beginning to look like a jungle.

Further evidence of the rainfall is the growth of a Begonia - another one that used to be in one of my mother's pots over 50 years ago.  We put it in the garden and it has never looked so healthy.  Pity the snails like it so much.

Sophie Pays a Visit

Sophie came to see us this morning.  She wanted to show us her dress which she likes for the warmer weather we are now getting.

Sunday Dinner

The team assembled at Lisa and Justin's for the evening meal on Sunday.  Cooper was making sure the footballs were ready for the occasion.

But the real business of the evening was the eating.  Lisa set us up with some delicious Burritos and Justin had produced a fantastic Amaretto Trifle.  It certainly trumped the Fish & Chips that we were originally going to have.

Beechworth

The Beechworth area has plenty of interest to keep the visitor happy.  We spent a few hours wandering their shops (in the middle of a thunderstorm)

On the Friday evening we did a "Ghost Tour" of the old Lunatic Asylum which, in it's time, was a huge facility.  It was approx one kilometre walk from one corner to the opposite corner and approximately 10,000 "patients" were carried out of the place for burial.  Empathy and humanity were in very short supply in this place

On Saturday, we had our evening meal at the Stanley Pub.  Another of the great eating places in the area.

Beechworth Wineries

The scenery and the wineries around Beechworth make the place a magnet for tourists.  Even if you are not tasting wine, the restaurants attached to the wineries really do themselves proud.  We purchased some Reisling at the Watchbox Cellar Door and then had some of their spectacular pizzas from their wood fired oven.

Later we went to the Warrabilla winery to try their magnificent signature wine - the Durif.  I had not tried Durif before but the Warrabilla version is a taste sensation.  No wonder some wine critics call it the best wine produced in Australia.  It is like a dense, velvety, fruity almost chewy Shiraz.  So the credit card took another hit.

Then on to Stanton and Killeen where Doug had to restock with 3 x 23 litre casks of their Muscat.

Beechworth - Albertines

Well we have just had a magnificent weekend in the Beechworth area and in large part that was due to the wonderful accommodation at Albertines B&B.  The weekend did not look promising as rain and thunderstorms were promised (and eventuated) but we had a great time in and around the rain. The accommodation was magnificent and the hosts Owen and Judi (right of pic) did everything to make the stay enjoyable.

The rooms had space and comfort -

as did the communal areas

And the breakfasts had to be experienced to be believed.

All this set in a wonderful garden.

This place certainly makes the top of our "Highly Recommended" list.

Junior Masterchef

Today, the cooking class was supervised by Granny in the outdoor kitchen.

The ingredients table was groaning and more materials were being gathered from the garden.

Getting their creations just perfect for the judges was a very serious business.

Although Lachlan took a more casual approach to the task.

Visit to Greg

Yesterday we went to see Greg in Echuca.  Following his fall and consequent broken collar bone, he spent time in rehabilitation in Bendigo.  He has now returned to Echuca but has moved to supported accommodation.

The Captain of the good ship WZO got us there in good order so we were able to spend a few hours with him.

 He has comfortable accommodation with great staff and has a door that enables access to a small external area.  It is excellent accommodation although he is virtually immobile as a result of the increasingly debilitating effects of his MS.

Tales from Toora

We are experimenting with quick and tasty meals that can be cooked in the van on longer trips.  On this occasion, the Chef de Maison used a camp oven on the gas as a heavy pan.  It worked well for a beef goulash.

Before departure today we went into the hills behind Toora which look out over Welshpool, Corner Inlet and Wilsons Promontory.

It was very breezy up in the hills but the locals make good use of the breeze with a 21 megawatt wind farm.

We had lunch at Loch on the way home.  The toilets in the town are worth a visit for their very upmarket graffiti.

Wilsons Prom.

When we go away for a while, we appear to be destined to view the scenery in and around the rain.  So it was for our trip to Wilsons Promontory.  It did, however give a dramatic edge to the environment.

  On arrival, the first order of business was ice cream.

Then all the Super Heros gathered at the river for a walk

Then back to camp where the boys spent time in the pool and spa.  Jack spent hours there.

Toora

We have arrived in the old town of Toora for a little R&R with the Garnett family.  It is an interesting old place with plenty of historic buildings.  This is the original bank - in original warpaint.

Of course there is always an old pub.  However the kids were more interested in the trampoline.

We had a wild storm pass over.  Seems every time we put the van on the road we bring rain to the places we visit.

We still managed a great meal in the van testing out the Cob Cooker - a little oven/barbeque that runs on a few heat beads.  It worked brilliantly.

History Through Plants

An interesting little piece of history.  One of the plants I remember my mother keeping when I was  teenager is this succulent that is still with us and thriving.  This makes it at least 50 years old.  It is wearing better than I am!

Play Time

We had some visitors this morning.  Lachlan and Cooper paid a visit and Sophie arrived after her ballet class.  She came in on a real high and had clearly enjoyed the whole thing.

Lachlan arrived in a hat that Cooper had given him so he was very reluctant to take it off but soon the construction started.

All builders have a few problems with their equipment and on this occasion it was the truck that kept breaking down and needing maintenance.

Kinder Time for Granny and Pa

Jack invited Granny and Pa to Kinder for the Special Persons Day.  We saw the Kinder in operation and Jack showed us around and helped us with our activities. (The Snake Book is clearly a favourite)

Then he helped Granny with her puzzle.

And did some art work for Mum.

And all too soon, it was time to go home.