On to ....................

I know I bang on about it but we really do live in a beautiful country and Rural Australia is where you find the real gems. Anyhoo, had a wonderful stay at Murrabit, did lots of bike rides, met a great couple who are traveling in a double decker bus, visited the Murrabit Markets and bought some great fruit and veg, spent a couple of hours in the local pub chatting to locals and fellow travellers, day trips to Swan Hill,  Kerang swimming pool, what a life!  It would have been easy to stay in Murrabit for longer but after putting off our departure a couple of times we thought we'd best move on to more discoveries. That led us to Bendigo which has been another interesting stay.  We have set up camp on the unused footy oval of a little town called Sebastian, 15 minutes drive from Bendigo. It's a free camp and we were the only ones there. We could leave the van and do day trips into this bustling, heritage rich area.  We toured the Deborah Gold Mine, going deep underground and experiencing the life of the early miners. The old trams took us through Bendigo explaining the buildings and history. We had a picnic lunch in the botanic gardens and strolled through other parks and places of interest.
Rosalind Park used to be an actual goldfield with diggings and mullock heaps and it has been transformed into a beautiful shady city park.
After Bendigo we travelled to Ballarat and stayed just outside town in a free camp at Garibaldi, where a massive storm came through with thunder and lightning right above us.  A nearby tree was hit by lightning and then hail started belting down.  It was very hairy! Despite that, we had a good night and woke in anticipation of seeing Bettina, Gareth and Tyler that day.
I'll let the photos tell the story.

Next week we will start heading to Euston on the Murray River. We have been offered a job driving Almond Harvesters. It sounds good so will give it a go but like everything out here, it's all a bit laid back so we don't know what we'll find!!

having a go at Milking a cow (no, it's not real!)

  

going through the Pioneer Wharf at Echuca

Echuca Pioneer Wharf

note the timber drains

Our view at Wills Bend

This was a mural in a Cafe at Echuca (the Paddle steamer is called Adelaide)

Our bikes got a bit dusty on our trek along the River

A walk along the River before moving on to Kerang 

A beautiful bike ride at Murrumbit - before Peter got a flat tyre and a long walk home :(

One of the old lift bridges at Murrubit

Finally - getting all the dust off the car and van!

The main street on Market Day in Murrubit

We spent a day at the Kerang Pool

Just chillin'

How good is this rig?  We met this lovely couple at Murrubit

Sights you see while travelling this beautiful country

Bendigo

Peekabo - a brightly coloured pheasant

Peter the bird whisperer

another brightly coloured pheasant

This is one of five friendly magpies at our camp in Sebastian

  

All kitted up ready for the mine

A model demonstrating the showers at the mine (lucky he had a towel!)

On top of the mine shaft

On the tram ready for our tour of Bendigo

The tram Depot and Museum

Two trams passing.  Apparently the school kids used to spit soggy paper balls at each other as the trams passed!

heading up to the top of the mine far above ground

good views from the top

One of the trams we rode on in Bendigo

We spent four lovely days in Sebastian while exploring Bendigo and surrounds

They were really friendly and wanted to come in

The beautiful entrance to Sacred Heart Cathedral, Bendigo

Inside this magnificent Cathedral

My book club girls are never far from my thoughts

A soggy morning after lightning and Thunder the previous night

This Hall was a school from 1879 to 1943

Facing Death!!

Bettina and Gareth as they opened the door to us

Bike riding is sooooo glamorous

Off on our 25 km bike ride

Love these guys

Bettina and Gareth in front of the Golf Club

Wonderful dinner and company at Tyler's

Tyler's view from his apartment

Gareth playing his Sunday morning Golf 

He gave us his autograph after a top shot!

Bettina and Gareths house is on the golf course

picking goodies from Bettina's veggie garden

We camped out the front

Tina and i both fell off our bikes - at the same time - while taking a small ride to the end of the street!

We think she broke her toe :(