Day 1: Melbourne to Bordertown
Well today was my first day ‘on the road’ and what a journey it has been. Left Yarraville about 10.30am after staying at my daughter Amy’s friends Claire and James’ lovely Air BNB http://abnb.me/vESf7J6R9L for the night. Had a little farewell party to start the day with good friend Gabi arriving with delicious banana cake.
True to form, Melbourne weather started off rather dismally, and the rain followed me to Ballarat, where the temperature actually dropped to 7 degrees and it was starting to hail!! Visibility zilch!
However, stalwart Bluebird hung on grimly and performed superbly all the way to Bordertown despite being buffeted by really strong winds most of the journey.
Funny how you can get so used to being in the city and not saying hello to strangers … I almost did a double take when I got a friendly “Gidday” from someone today. Maybe it’s travel that changes people, or maybe it’s just being in more of a country environment, but I like it a lot.
The countryside changes considerably as the photo below shows in the Wimmera region – so dry and scrubby I thought it merited a photo.
Definitely worth stopping for a look were the painted grain silos at Coonalpyn – absolutely brilliant works of art.
There are two ladies travelling together staying in the cabin next to mine. They are driving a very large off road vehicle and are heading to Tasmania.
Went for a walk around Bordertown and it is pretty much deserted. I guess that it’s famous primarily for being the birthplace of former Prime Minister Bob Hawke!!
Discovered that both the ladies’ cabin and mine have very squeaky floors and strangely enough, we have both managed to set off the fire alarms! Mine went off just when I cooked a piece of toast in the toaster – so there was a great deal of getting the nearest chair into position and some ferocious stabbing at the smoke detector to stop the screeching!!
Loving listening to CD I purchased at The Peninsula Folk Club in Frankston by Suzette Herft https://www.facebook.com/SuzetteHerftMusic. Especially her song The Caged Bird Sings. Thank you Suzette, I’m so glad I got to hear you sing in person.
Next I’m off to Port Pirie …
6 Comments
Sounds like the adventure has well and truly begun Tina! Love reading your blog. Take care lovely xxx
Happy and safe travels I look forward to seeing your pictures and reading your stories
Oh Tina, love reading your blog, I now am yearning to travel Australia, your adventure is inspiring me on an inner journey too, so thank you.
Looking forward to the next instalment, travel safe.
Dear Thea, it is wonderful that you are feeling inspired. Just let that feeling grow …
Hi Tina , the silos look amazing. I think I saw them on Landline once – the kids were from the local school . The open landscapes are so appealing and so relaxing on the eye after the crazy city traffic. Thinking of you…. Pam X
Yes, the silos are actually quite breathtaking … the artists have painted a ‘trail’ of them x