Julia Creek, Richmond, Hughenden, Charters Towers and Townsville.

Back to Four Ways stopping for smoko. On to Cloncurry for provisions and fuel. Ducked under the water spouts in the water park for a wash. On to Julia Creek quick stop then looked for rest stop. Maxwelton, not much here but it will do.

Smoko and walk about at Richmond and then a cold shower at Hughenden and lunch.

Quiet in town? It's show day in Hughenden and it was show day the last time I was here. On to Homestead rest stop for the night. Good reviews but just OK, I think.

Cloncurry to Hughenden the shire councils do not encourage camping road side, it would seem. I respect that and what the locals think about who stops where etc. But can't help wondering if they are missing out on commerce, tourist spend?

Stopped in Charters Towers to make some phone calls. Reid River rest for lunch. Townsville provisioned at Woollies Fairfield Central and the BP servo across the road will be tonight's sleep spot. Tobruk swimming pool, on The Strand, for laps and a hot shower. The Strand and Pallarenda are fav daytime hangouts.

Parked up on the Esplanade and watched a very disappointing game of NRL on Kayo. The Storm went down to the Cowboys, played here in Townsville. I had toyed with the idea of going to the game but last minute plans foiled. Glad I didn't  get there. Looks a really impressive stadium a huge upgrade from 1300smiles. 

Maxwelton sunset.

Richmond.

Silo art - love it!

Morven Charleville Augathella Blackall

 Morven - Blackall

Stopped in at Charleville and the IGA, stocked up. Turned north on to Augathella. Realised I had been there before and didn't like it then either. Stopped for lunch road side rest ~50km north near Nive. Checked a few other rest stops but finally continued on to Blackall. Free hot shower was the incentive and stopped in the free camp in town. First night without power, expecting ~5deg in the morning. See how we go. 

Silo art.

Windmill goes round and round
legs go up and down
wheels go round and round, nice.

Grenfell

Headed towards Forbes to do some BlazeAid for a bit. Stopped at Grenfell for a break and took advantage of the dump point facility at the free camp near the old railway station.

Just up the road, silos, and like most silos in NSW and Vic covered in art. No complaint from me they look great and if it encourages people to visit the town, all the better.

So yep, had to snap the photo.

To see more silo art click the link "SiloArt" in the DISPLAY BY LABELS in the panel to the right.

Grenfell Silo

Weethalle - Silo Art

Directly north of Narrandera and via Barellan is Weethalle. Just a small town, as most are, but big enough to think of painting their silo about 12 months ago, nice job too. Very popular these days. Draws the tourist. They just need to convert the visits into revenue for the town.

Stopped for the night at Tullibigeal, just a bit further north. Great free camp with (donation) power, water and hot showers. Just me and one other tonight. A route less travelled it would seem. Except for me, I've been here a few times. The quiet town and the quiet roads appeal. Easy, just cruising. Might have seen half a dozen cars today, in 170kms.

Before leaving tomorrow a walk through the Co-Op general store is always interesting.

The sad part is that Weethalle is the last of the Silo Art, it's a southern thing apparently. 

Weethalle Silos.

Tungamah Silo Art

It's on the way north, in a zig-zag sort of way. Tungamah. Nice little town. Nice little free camp on the Boosey Creek. And best of all - Silo Art.

One of the volunteers at BlazeAid Terang, a Tungamah resident, at dinner one night mentioned he had a painted silo in his town. So here we are checking it out. A Kookaburra and Dancing Brolgas no less.

The Lions Park is right in town and is available for free camping so yep that's where I stopped. Just me by the creek, nice, nice spot.

Goorambat Silo - Barking Owl

Here is that better shot of the Barking Owl at Goorambat.
Click this link to hear the bird call.

Jimmy D - www.graffixcreative.com

Rochester - Silo Art.

Lived in Melbourne for 50 years and toured the state extensively during that time, getting about is easy. Victoria is a compact state. The good things come to mind travelling about. Like the crisp mornings and clear, still, windless days, in central Victoria during winter.

Woke this morning to -1deg. Ice on the ground and crunching grass. The landscape is frost covered but the sun is bright. Driving in the early morning sees golden pasture one side of the valley, frosty white the other. It won't last long.

Stopped at Rochester, yep another silo. This one in the final stages of completion. Ambushed Jimmy DVate (the artist) and had a chat. Got his business card and his website: www.graffixcreative.com He also did the Barking Owl on the Goorambat Silo, my fav.

Not finished yet.

Viewed from the park next door.

On The Road Again - Fyansford Silo Art

Much deliberation as to which way to head from Terang but as usual it comes together eventually. Silo near Geelong, at Fyansford, was hard to pass up.

After negotiating the ring road around Melbourne went on and stopped at Broadford, at the Bowling Club in the Lions Park, been here before. Nice quiet spot even with the trains.

The silo at Fyansford is interesting in that the viewing area has been fenced off. Must be an issue with public liability insurance or the like. Anyway, still an acceptable view through the fence.

Rosebery, Lascelles and Patchewollock - Silos

Six silos sites complete the trail with between 30km and 50km between sites. Rosebery, Lascelles and Patchewollock are the last three today.

I arrived in Patchewollock, my camp for the night, just in time for gridlock with a very large funeral procession headed out of town going to the cemetery. Later the pub was hosting the wake. A big night in a small town, always interesting.

Rosebery

Patchewollock

Lascelles

Lascelles

Brim and Sheep Hill - Silo Art

Picked up a brochure detailing Silo Art in this region of Victoria - Silo Art Trail. The Silo Art Trail has its own website, Gmail, and Instagram (@siloarttrail) accounts.

Seems this all started here in Brim in 2015 and continues to gather momentum. At each silo, several other cars or caravans are there. It's a weekday and it's a miserable day. Silo Art viewing appears to be very popular at the moment!

The Trail.

Sheep Hill.

Brim.

Rupanyup - Silo Art

Time for a break from the fences, it's been 7 weeks. So a road trip is the best way known to rejuvenate enthusiasm.

Headed north via Ararat, Great Western and Stawell bypassing the Grampians National Park; a bit cold for camping. And on to Rupanyup.

Rupanyup is a small town with pulse, in the Yarriambiack Shire. The pulse they are referring to are crops of lentils, chickpeas & beans. They also have a painted Silo and that's what attracted me.

It would seem the next big thing for a town to have to attract tourism is not a big banana, or this case a big chickpea, but a big bit of open-air street art. You don't get much bigger than a grain silo as your canvas.

Rupanyup is no different from other small regional towns being bypassed commercially. Is it now too easy to drive to the big town and spend your money in the big multinational chain stores? 

Depicts local youth.

A railway station without rails.
Now owned privately and currently for sale.

In this group, only the pub remains open.

No trains in this town since 1983.

Goorambat - Silo Art

Diverted off the Hume Hwy to take in a bit of Silo Art at Goorambat and Devenish in rural Victoria. Just in time to see some of the last touches being applied at Devenish. Both were well worth the detour. This is a better 'big thing' for a town to invest in don't you think?

Goorambat

Devenish