Seeing the Shrine

 It has been a long time since we visited the Shrine and in that time some extraordinary development work has taken place that we wanted to see.

A whole series of galleries had been constructed under the Shrine that would take a week to view in detail. It was a very impressive construction.

Down By The Riverside

 With the Inchleys visiting from Sydney, we joined up with the Russells to spend a bit of time around Melbourne.  A trip on the Yarra was our first destination.  We started with coffee in spectacular surroundings.

Then onto the boat.

The weather was uncharacteristically perfect so we had ideal conditions for the cruise giving us fantastic views of the city and the Yarra.

Mothers' Day

 We had a great Mothers' Day on Sunday with the chance to see all the family.  Lisa, Mark and the boys called in early (with cake)  then Adam and Kate and family arrived (with cake).  In the afternoon, Brett, Cathy and the family called for afternoon tea (with scones).  Needless to say we went minimalist for dinner!

Winner Winner!

This afternoon, we had the opportunity to see Sophie in action with her basketball team and new coach. It was a grading game but the girls were in full control.  So much so they were able to engage in a little experimentation in the second half and they still pulled ahead.

Sophie was on fire with a number of spectacular goals from impossible angles.  She threw 10 of the team's 28 points.  It looks like she will have a fun season.

On the Trail to Tocumwal

 Last stop before getting back to Melbourne was to be Tocumwal on the Murray River.  We got in about lunch time and set up in the Bushland Caravan Park.  It is on the banks of the Murray and features trees and more trees.

It also features the biggest eucalypt gall I have ever seen!

Following setup we had a great lunch in one of the town pubs and a wander round the town - that took about 10 minutes.

 

The Murray winds past the town forming scenic bends and beaches that the locals use as bush camping locations.

Wandering West Wyalong

 West Wyalong is another interesting old town in the process of rethinking its future.  The main street has many buildings from the early 1900s that are still functioning.

The Royal Hotel has been completely renovated and only opened again a couple of months ago.  We had an excellent evening meal in their very elegant dining room.

The town has an abundance of parks and reserves.

Being the Shire of Bland, they have teamed up with Dull in Scotland and Boring in Ontario to develop marketing strategies.

The town is proud of its connection with the painter Russell Drysdale who painted a streetscape that is commemorated with an easel sculpture -

and there is other artwork around the town.

There are plenty of imposing buildings around the town that clearly catered for a larger population than live there at present.

Heading for West Wyalong

 We travelled about four hours through country that had been in drought until recently and is now reaping the benefits of substantial rainfall.

On arrival we set up in one of the parks ready to look around the town.

Last Night In Mudgee

 In celebration of our last night together we took a taxi down to one of the better pubs for a meal.

Mudgee Wine

 The morning has to start gently so we headed off for a coffee in the town.  It has been perfect weather for such activities.

Next came cheese tasting where we found some great new cheeses and then on to a local winery for a tasting.  Most of the wines were a bit too experimental for our taste but the more traditional shiraz will find a place in the cellar.

The area is perfect for red wine with vines planted on the gentle slopes and plenty of dry, hot weather.

Gulgong

 Today we investigated Gulgong, an old gold mining town to the north of Mudgee and one time home of Henry Lawson.

It is a town of well preserved old buildings (and a good coffee shop).

We caught up with a group of car enthusiasts heading for a rally at Dubbo with a number of magnificently restored touring cars.

We visited the close by "Hands on Rock" an historic aboriginal site that had been saved from the nearby coal mining operations.

The hand outlines were still visible on the protected rock walls.

Down the road was the Drip Gorge.  A National Park that preserved a beautiful valley that faced destruction from a proposed coal mine.

We discovered that one of the pubs back in Gulgong serves a great pork roast as a lunch special so no dinner tonight!

In place of dinner it was drinks on the patio and detailed analysis of the days discoveries.