Exit Melbourne to Mirrool

Off to the airport at 7am and back with the tourist by 11am.  Headed off in the motorhome about noon, not bad.  Stopped for fuel in Frankston and put in about 8lts of unleaded petrol into the tank before I realized, about 3% no big deal, before filling the rest with diesel.  Lunch at Donnybrook and stopped overnight at Reef Hills Rd at Benalla, a National Park, with no facilities but a quiet spot well off the road.

Cooking tip for today: A smallish pinch of mixed herds in no added salt baked beans helps heaps.

Forecast for Benalla over night is +1, I'll miss the dog tonight! Actually went down to zero.

Benalla - Holbrook - Wagga
Stopped for coffee at Holbrook, nice, warmer and getting warmer, really nice.

Weather here in Wagga is really lovely, and very pleased to be here and on the road again, yeh!  Met Margaret in a C-class Winnebago, again, the cook, she was off up north today.

Wagga Wilks Park - Coolamon CP
Zero to start but 16 and clear sky is forecast.  Drove to Coolamon CP and was reunited with Chris and Marilyn.  I had first met them at Batlow and then again here last year. Will be nice to have power and be warm all night. Quiet day lazing in the sun.

Coolamon CP - Wagga - Narrandera
Feels like -2 in Wagga, according to the weather app, brass monkey!  Nice and warm in my motorhome.  Paid the guy at the newsagent for my powered site at the CP and a had a laugh with him. Funny fellow.  Then Wagga and met with my Super Fund manager, Chris, and had lunch with my brother Ged.  He gave me the stuff from Ted (dad), 4 prints of ships, a photo of Crusader and some medallions. Off to Narrandera and camped on the block.

Narrandera - Cold but clear heading for 17.
Up at 4am after reasonable sleep. Mowed the grass updated my music files. Had dinner at the pub and watched the state of origin, NSW Won 16/12. Good game. Only had 5 schooners of light. Ready to go tomorrow.

Narrandera - Mirrool hotel
Not far to go today so did some paperwork making sure I will have what I need to do a tax return.  Made it to Mirrool for lunch had a snooze before a few beers in the pub with Ben and pizza for dinner.  Ben and Claire are putting the pub on the market.

Thinking I will take a new direction to Brisbane this time. Via towns I have not been to before. Stopping at some places I've been told about, take a few photos etc.

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Holbrook rest stop and coffee shop

Rosebud and the house sit.

Rosebud one day to go for the house sit and yes I'm ready to move on.  Its been 5 weeks and the weather has not been kind.  What happened to those lovely still winter days I remember from when I live in Melbourne.  Yes folks its true, born in Melbourne, grew up in Melbourne, and it was nearly 50 years before I realized we were allowed to leave Melbourne.

Whilst here I have been looking after Brian and Carlene's little dog and walking her everyday come rain, hail or shine.  The poor thing has lost a bit of weight as I have been sticking to the meal quantities on the packets of dog food.  I'm sure she's been used to more but she's looking better for it.

In between nasty weather bouts I have done some lovely rides like Point Nepean NP, some back beaches, around the foreshore of Port Phillip Bay and Queenscliff via the ferry.  There really are some good places to ride and some nice spots to visit.

Also been able to catch up on some of the more serious maintenance motorhome things like cleaning and securing the house batteries.  Installing a new radio and sound system and some other wiring issues that have been bugging me.

Caught up with friends Carl and Barb, Bert and Jan who live around this area as well.  Good to see them its been quite some time.

Tomorrow I pick the jetsetting tourists up from the Melbourne airport and bring them home.  Then its wheels up for me, so to speak, I will take the toll roads (fastest way) out of here, heading north.

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 Sally visits me on the dunny every morning for a bum scratch

Point Nepean NP a great day out on the bike or walking

Great Ocean Road - Ferry - Rosebud house sit

Avoca
Had dinner with Les a pizza he's good a them, taught me how anyway.  ANZAC day went to the local horse races and had a good day out if a bit cold from the constant wind. I joined a punters club and did my dough, they didn't pick one winner all day.  But it was fun anyway.

Time to head toward Rosebud and the house sit. Headed to Lake Tooliorook a nice camp spot right on the lake and met Col and Wayne neighbours for tonight. Next stop Johanna Beach via Camperdown, Cobden and Lake Elingamite a small crater type of lake with lovely campgrounds protected from the wind, nice.  Johanna Beach is a National Park and well looked after. But it was very wet and windy whilst I was here and I don't have appropriate clothes.  Poor radio and no phone service so not lots to do.

The Great Ocean Road always a good drive but pretty special sitting up high in my motorhome with a really good view.  Can be a bit slow but hey what's the hurry.

Apollo Bay booked into a caravan park for a change and walked about town and then up to a look out over town about 11km in all.  Arrived in Lorne and it was warm and the wind has dropped.  Doesn't that make a difference?   On to Queenscliff after a couple of nights here.

Queenscliff.  Booked into the caravan park and met Marleen the manager and had a good long chat to her about the business. The park borders the footy ground so got to watch the local teams plan.  Lots of rain and wind and too wet to walk or ride to the shops.  Next day a bit better.  BGL a bit out of control doing lots of walking even in the rain.

Finally time to put Dora on the ferry.  Directed into a separate lane to the other vehicles expected we would go on last but actually went on first then off first.  No drama, easy, plenty of clearance to the side and overhead.  Quick trip over and headed off to see Brian and Carlene.  Got the cooks tour of the house and a drive around the area to see the highlights, well shopping best places, etc.  Home for 5 weeks should be OK.

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 Apollo Bay lookout - Looking west

 Looking east

The Ferry Queenscliff to Sorrento

Fishing weekend

Narrandera - Morundah

Easter.  Went into town to watch the rodders lap the main but got bored and headed down to the Morundah Pub.  Set up camp in the main street across for the pub.  Had a few beers at the pub then made a pizza for dinner before going back for a glass of wine.  One of my best pizzas, yum.

Morundah - Tocumwal
Killing time until the fishing club fishing trip weekend at Mulwala.  Where better than Tocumwal, wrong!  Never seen so many campers here at the town beach.  Hopefully some or most leave tomorrow.  Met Rinehart my neighbour for tonight, nice bloke.  Moved a few meters upwind to avoid the dust and met Diane a new neighbour.

Tocumwal - Mulwala
Headed off early and stopped for a swim at Barooga.  Dump and provisioned before booking in the caravan park on the lake.  Nice, the fishing club is picking up the bill.  Cold night just 3deg but had power and the heater works just fine.

11/04/2012
One year ago today.  Thinking of you my dear.  Rode around town and out to Kiffins Res about 20km in all.  Blood Glucose getting out of control must focus.  Boozing with the fishing club guys is not helping.  Strung a couple of AFDs together and stayed on diet as well.

Mulwala - Wagga
Three monthly blood sample taken at Calvary Hospital then set up camp at Wilks Park.  Walked a couple of km around town checking out the shops.  Met Roy and traded good campsites mostly north from here. Saw the Doc about blood analysis results.  Better than expected but he didn't like the upward trend I assured him I knew how to turn it around.  Eyes, no change, but not worse so that's ok.  Its easier to control BGLs in Maroochydore than the Riverina that's for sure.

Headed off as my commitments have been met. Carrathool, Swan Hill, Terrick Terrick National Park I'm the only person here and probably for 20km, quiet total darkness at night.  Some nice walking and rock climbing to done but hard to stay more than a night.

Aysons Res, I think I've been here before ;)  Heading to Avoca to catch up with Les and Hannah.

Exit Melbourne - Narrandera and the flood damage

Rye to Lancefield. Cloudy but no rain. Left about 10am stopped for fuel, about noon, at Bunkerhill. Feels good to be on the go again. Went via the freeways and toll roads, an easy drive, now I need to pay the toll. Toll $26 Citylink and $14 Eastlink. Had a few beers and talked with the locals at Pyalong pub, they suggested the truck show, why not! So on I went. Stopped over night at Lancefield at the American Truck Show at the sports oval. Interesting, different.

Lancefield to Toolleen. Overcast bit of wind. Had coffee and a walk around Heathcote before heading to Toolleen and stopping at the rest area across the road from the pub and had a few beers in the very friendly pub, nice.

Toolleen to Elmore - Aysons Reserve near Elmore. Warmish night light breeze. Rode to town and back 25km return nasty headwind on the way in. Did the 8000km service for Dora, lube, oil and filter changed and topped up the oil in the generator, didn't quite fill it when I did the last service. Fitted a 12v outlet beside the bed to charge the phone at night.

Elmore Aysons Res - Tocumwal beach. Checked over the AC and found a wire broken that would account for the compressor not cutting in, good-on-you Bruce the auto electrician that serviced the air-con gas recently. But alls good now. Left about 10am stopped at Rochester for coffee then lunch at Undera on the detour to Shepparton due to the residual water from the flood.Arrived at Tocumwal to find Roy, the caretaker, had only just returned after the water here subsided. Apparently it reached the dunny block footings. Met Greg and Elaine neighbors at Toc tonight who are former bike shop owners from Brisbane and John travelling in a Winnie Esperance he is from Shepparton just taking a short break.

Tocumwal beach. Rode around town, watched a bit of the local footy, not much happening quiet day. 390km on the bike now. Met David and Helen former motel managers notably Annies in Maroochydore before Annie (and her separated husband) took it over. They are looking to do relief work as they travel.

Tocumwal Beach - Wagga Wilks park. Cool night clear sky looking good. Headed off about 10am stopped at Urana for lunch then reached Wagga about 4pm. Still lots of water around and grass covered flattened fences more and more coming closer to Wagga. Wilks is no worse for wear even looking better with its new lake in the middle of park, complete with ducks, nice. Met Ian, Chris and Crystal (dog) neighbors for a few nights. Ian a former bus company manager and Blainey pub owner, now a geocacher is fighting cancer with Chris looking after him.

Wagga Wilks Park - Narrandera. Said Goodby to Ian, Chris and Crystal. Drove to Narrandera with airbags at right pressure, that's better! Must check them regularly. Did some shopping. Note to self: stick to the shopping list then we won't end up with 4 packets of the same sort of biscuits! Did some bindie spraying, seems to be working but need to be here more often to maintain a program. Rocco made and fitted a wood crate in Dora's battery bin. All looking very professional!

Narrandera. End of daylight saving, that's good. Popped in to see Ken and Brab.  Ken told me the forecast flood level was 9.0 but at Gillenbah he says they had 9.2 or more. He is busy getting it all back online but that will take to the end of the month. Three of relocatables are a write off and the 2nd house has moved about 500mm off it foundations. Their house is also a disaster but they are working through it now. Looks like the motel next door may not open again, that's no great loss in my opinion.