Miss Flora MacDonald & Elvis

Our stay in Ballarat seemed to pass in a blink of an eye as most days had since my arrival in Australia and we found ourselves heading back to Melbourne via a few side stops...that being Lavandula, Daylesford and Hepburn Springs.

Back in the 1850s both Italy and Switzerland were having tough times with bad weather causing crop failures and food shortages and also political and social unrest...then came the news of gold being found in California and Victoria...and the rest is history as we would say in the U.S. 

Lavandula barn

Lavandula is a Swiss Italian farm located just north of Daylesford first settled in the 1860s by Aquilino Tinetti.  He and his wife Maria Capriroli raised 13 children on this farm and for four generations the Tinetti family ran a dairy farm here.  Twenty or so years ago Carol White bought the property, restored the buildings in the Swiss Italian integrity and Lavandula was 'born'.

Walking up from the parking lot to the barn you can look out over part of the manicured grounds that resemble a European garden in all it's beauty.  As we came out from the barn we were gleefully greeted by none other than Flora MacDonald who was ready to accompany us as we strolled down to the gardens.

Some of the manicured gardens
at Lavandula

I imagine Flora greeted all of her visitors with the same gusto but I personally would like to think that we were being honored by her presence as we walked down the gently sloping hill to the gardens.  You see...Flora was the resident Cairn Terrier and I got a kick out of her having to 'show us around.'  She strolled throughout the gardens going in and out of the shrubbery until she found something that was far more interesting than us and headed off on her own leaving us to wander down by the pond where the resident geese were.

There wasn't much lavender left standing as it was already the start of autumn and you could see some red beginning to show in the leaves here and there on the trees and vines.  Even so it was peaceful to wander throughout the farm listening to the calm.  I could have spent the day there just because of the peace and quietness and would love to see Lavandula in the midst of summer or the high point of autumn and maybe some day I will but for now we had to continue on.

Stopping at Hepburn Springs is where I met Elvis.  No...not the 'King' but rather Elvis the schnoodle.  He was accompanying his mistress down to the springs where she said they came frequently so that he could get his fill of the favored mineral waters.  Quite like Flora MacDonald, Elvis had a great personality and I found myself starting to really miss Gertie my Jack Russell. 

We strolled along a couple of pathways before heading on to Daylesford where we walked up and down the main street wandering in and out of the many quaint little shops there and for a town of a little over 3,000 it was quite busy but it was also Australia's Labour Day weekend.  I don't think either of us was in a real shopping mood and after the quiet of Lavendula I was ready to move on and leave the crowds behind.  Ironically (which did not happen often on this trip) I was not in the mood to take photos so I've none to post of Daylesford.

On our way back to Melbourne we stopped to visit with Natalie's Uncle John and his family.  You knew it was going to be a fun visit when, as you are walking up to their house, we see her Uncle John blowing off the driveway and as he sees us he shuts the blower off and with great gestures yells at us to "piss off!" several times.  It seems we were a few hours earlier than they had expected.  Needless to say the afternoon was quite entertaining filled with much chat and a few drinks to boot!!  Too soon it was again time to say our goodbyes.

It was back to the Natalie's home now as most of our planned travels across Victoria were completed.  I was starting to get this little nagging feeling in the back of my mind now as reality was starting to sink in that I'd only a handful of days left of my great Australian adventure and I was not ready for it to come to an end but I needed to put those thoughts aside and enjoy what time I had left.

Until next time...wherever you are have a great day!!

If you would like to see more pictures of Lavandula here is a link to that photo album on Picasa:
Play slideshow
If you would like to see more pictures of the Lavandula geese here is a link to that photo album on Picasa:  Play slideshow

A little note:  As I finish this blog today I realize it has been one month since I left Australia.  It doesn't seem like this could be real but time has a way of rushing by and looking out the window seeing the falling snow outside I am definitely ready for an encore visit...wonder if Natalie is?! 

Out & About in Ballarat

Black swan & her cygnets

What to do after Sovereign Hill?  We found ourselves back to Lake Wendouree as I so wanted to get some pics of the black swans...bless Natalie's heart for putting up with me on this.  I nonchalantly walked up towards a black swan with three cygnets and thought I wasn't being aggressive but when she started to 'flare' her feathers to look bigger and I could hear this soft hissing coming from her I knew I was pressing my luck. 

Growing up one of my uncles had a gander that would chase you and I surely did not want to revisit one of those terrifying scenes cause I knew I could not run like the wind to get away...at least as kids we thought we were running like the wind.  So...I backed off as she herded her three babies to the safety of Lake Wendouree.  Even so I was able to get some pics of her and her babies...have to laugh over the feather stuck on the top of her bill lending her a comical look for an unhappy mother!!

As the Ballarat Botanical Gardens were across from Lake Wendouree we again found ourselves strolling through the gardens and also going through their little gift shop.  Sadly they were still setting up the Pavilion for the weekend show so we again could not go inside.

The Avenue of Honour

One of the things that stuck out to me as I was traveling was the war memorials to those who have served in the military for Australia in the different wars starting with World War I.  Ballarat was no different.  There is a 14 mile long tree lined Avenue of Honour with each tree representing an individual from the Ballarat area who has served and I am forever humbled at any war memorial in Australia or here and probably would be elsewhere too as I well remember the deep turmoil in this country during the Vietnam era.  I was just a kid then but I did not understand then nor can I now when anyone discredits one's service and sacrifices to their country (whatever country that might be) and am deeply moved by memorials...as it should be in my opinion as it is not my intent for this blog to become political by any means. 

Before we knew it the day was coming to an end and there is much more to see in and around Ballarat than what we got to but we weren't going to be able to see everything...that would take far longer than the month's time I had.  

Until next time...wherever you are have a great day!! 

If you would like to see more pictures of the Black Swans here is a link to that photo album on Picasa:  Play slideshow
If you would like to see more pictures of the Avenue of Honour here is a link to that photo album on Picasa:  Play slideshow
If you would like to see more pictures of Strolling around Ballarat here is a link to that photo album on Picasa:  Play slideshow


A little side note here:  Rob...thanks for a pleasant chat today about your travels in Australia...funny what we find out when we just strike up a conversation with someone standing in line at the post office.  I am envious that you got to spend a year there...a month was way too short!!

Sovereign Hill or Bust!

I hadn't stayed at a Bed & Breakfast before so I didn't know what to expect for the breakfast part...what a wonderful surprise!!  It was one of the best breakfasts I'd had in Australia and as breakfast is a favorite meal that I could have any time of the day I can be a bit particular...it may have only been eggs, bacon, potatoes and toast but it was scrumptious and I was now sold on B & B's...at least Alexandra House!

After breakfast we were off to Sovereign Hill which is an open air museum where you step back into the 1850s as you walk through their doors.  It is also the sight of one of the major gold diggings in Australian history and is linked to the richest alluvial gold rush in the world.

One of the streets at
Sovereign Hill

We wandered up and down the streets and through the 60 or so buildings built to replicate the 1850s with people dressed in period costumes, soldiers and a stage coach gracing the dirt pathways (streets) of Sovereign Hill...along with more than a few screaming grade school aged kids out on day trips.  Somehow I wasn't quite as enthusiastic as they were but I'm sure more than one of them was on a sugar high the excitement of the day found them running here and there and even trying panning for gold to find that next big nugget in the creek that ran through the site...even Natalie gave panning a shot but no such luck.

Despite the crowds of kids I enjoyed walking through the 1850s despite it being a bit warm that day...okay more than a bit warm to me but having come from winter in Minnesota to summer in Australia I seemed to always get a 'sweat on' even if Natalie kept saying it was a cooler than normal summer for them.  Secretly I was glad for it being a cooler summer...I would have melted long before this day.  I was sympathetic for the men walking around in wool uniforms depicting British soldiers and the others in multi layered period costumes for the 1850s.  Those wool uniforms reminded me of my marching band uniform back in the day in high school and it was 100% wool and just horribly itchy when you got hot...a memory that can still make me shudder!!  Anyways...

We walked through most of Sovereign Hill and listened to a talk on what life was like for the miners back in the 1850s and after lunch we headed out and across the parking lot to the Gold Museum where there was a wide array of collections around the theme of gold.  Some of the replica gold nuggets that had been found in mines around Ballarat were simply amazing in their size...one was around 99 ounces which was unbelievable and would be worth a staggering amount in today's market...if only Natalie could have found a fraction of that nugget panning...

There were more sights and sounds for the day after Sovereign Hill and the museum but I will leave that for another day...

Until then...wherever you are have a great day!!

If you would like to see more pictures of Sovereign Hill here is a link to that photo album on Picasa:  Play slideshow

To The Central Highlands We Go

Bench outside of
Alexandra House

With the dawning of another day our stay in Lorne had ended and we were off to the Central Highlands area of Victoria to the town of Ballarat.  It was a pleasant drive from Lorne to Ballarat taking just a little over two hours.  Natalie had found us a darling bed & breakfast to stay at for the next two days but we were a tad early to check in at the Alexandra House so we drove around Ballarat sight seeing.

We found ourselves driving around Lake Wendouree which is a man made lake in the middle of the town.  It was quite interesting to see a backhoe sitting out in the middle and found out later from Gerard and Bev (the owners of Alexandra House) they were dredging out rowing paths in the lake. The lake was refilling after prolonged droughts had caused it to dry up in 2006/07.  Lake Wendouree had never been dry before and actually had been the site for rowing events in the 1956 Olympic Games. 

Ballarat Botanical Gardens

About the first thing I noticed on Lake Wendouree was the black swans.  Natalie, on the other hand, noticed we were going by the Ballarat Botanical Gardens and stopped by one of the entrances for me to go and take flower pictures.  What the....??  That took me off guard cause she liked to give me a hard time about me forever taking pictures of flowers.  First I said no...then realizing that I was giving up a photo op, I headed into gardens.

Natalie eventually joined me walking through the gardens and it was a pleasant time.  Unlike Sydney or Melbourne's gardens there definitely wasn't an overwhelming amount of people there and though we were unable to get into the pavillion as they were setting up for their annual Ballarat Begonia Festival just walking the grounds provided me with photo ops. 

After wandering around the gardens it was time to go check in at Alexandra House.  So...off we headed to find Alexandra House...and of course Natalie's 'builtin GPS' was working and we were soon settled into our two bedroom unit.  I used to think I was good with directions, maps, etc. but I definitely met my match and then some with Natalie.  Sometimes I wondered if she felt like she was 'Driving Ms. Daisy' around?!  Bless her heart!!

Tomorrow we would be stepping back in time to the 1850s and the gold rush era of Victoria at Sovereign Hills.

Until then...wherever you are have a great day!!

If you would like to see more pictures of The Ballarat Botanical Gardens here is a link to that photo album on Picasa:  Play slideshow

3 Clues To Fine Dining?!

After all the driving we had been doing the past two days we gave ourselves a free day to indulge ourselves with whatever we wanted to do.  Well technically with all the driving Natalie had been doing but it is really hard to be a copilot especially when you can't read a map to save your life (at least in Launceston) and the elbow was a tad sore from having to change out the music cd from time to time.  Who would have thought the song 'Jolene' by Dolly Parton would be a staple in Natalie's cd collection?!  But it is indeed and on the way back to Lorne yesterday she provided an amazing array of vocal talent accompanying whatever song was playing at the time!! 

It was a misty and foggy morning and we had received quite a bit of heavy rains overnight so it really was an excellent day to kick back.  Natalie was off to the local spa for a pamper treatment in the early afternoon and I was amusing myself looking in all the shops until the mist decided to back off and I could wander up and down the shore of Loutit Bay indulging myself in some photography...I'm sure that comes as a surprise to everyone doesn't it?! 

Natalie and I met back up for dinner that evening and I actually was quite surprised she did as you could tell she had had a great pampering session and really should have just been in bed.  I was finally going to 'bite the bullet' and try kangaroo.  I had noticed one of the fancier looking restaurants had kangaroo on their menu posted for you to peruse and the place looked a bit upscale and Natalie had been asking when I was going to try some. 

Well I tell you...looks can be deceiving and to say the dinner was a success would be far from the truth.  When the waiter delivered our meals somehow we knew they were ready when we heard this 'yoohooooo' echoing from the kitchen and that definitely wasn't what one would have expected to hear in an 'upscale' restaurant.  That should have been Clue #1. 

I really do say 'upscale' with tongue in cheek...the waiter brought Natalie an entirely different pasta from the menu than what she ordered...Clue #2...and my kangaroo looked like only a portion actually hit the pan and the rest was left dangling off the side of the stove...can you say raw with a hint of warmth only?! ...and there you have Clue #3!!  Despite the unappetizing look of raw kangaroo I did eat some of it and can say I tried it but kangaroo hasn't  'hopped' onto my top 10 list of foods to try in Australia...at least not in Lorne again. 

So...after a disappointing dinner we called it an evening...we were off to Ballarat in the morning...can't believe I actually said 'hop!'  Anyways...

Until next time...wherever you are have a great day!!

If you would like to see more pictures of Day 3 in Lorne here is a link to that photo album on Picasa:  Play slideshow
If you would like to see more pictures of the Cockatoos in Lorne here is a link to that photo album on Picasa:  Play slideshow
If you would like to see more pictures of the Flowers in Lorne here is a link to that photo album on Picasa: Play slideshow

Nothing Short of Amazing...

Waking up on the second day we both found ourselves in need of more sleep.  I was ready to strangle a certain cockatoo that insisted on continuously flying by and screeching at the top of its lungs.  Natalie, on the other hand, was probably ready to strangle me as an open loft apartment type rental did not keep my 'soft' snoring at bay and she didn't get the best of sleep.  Who knew I was going to be the culprit who snored?  And I had tried my very best to dope myself up with allergy meds so that I wouldn't snore...best laid plans... 

I knew that when I was super tired I would snore but no one had really mentioned it before this trip...well...except maybe my niece did mention something to that effect when she 'kicked' herself out of her own bedroom to find a 'quieter' place to sleep in January when I visited.  Despite my weak protests I guess I was busted. Oh well...after finding another room for the following two nights for myself we were once again off on the Great Ocean Road heading to the Twelve Apostles.

Entrance to the Twelve Apostles

So what are the Twelve Apostles?  Well, first off there are now only eight standing but they are a collection of limestone stacks off the shore of Port Campbell National Park that have been formed by erosion from the harsh weather conditions that can be found there on the Southern Ocean.  Originally back in the early 1900s they were called the Sow and Piglets until in 1922 it was named The Apostles and eventually became The Twelve Apostles for tourism purposes. 

The Twelve Apostles

Rounding the corner past the entrance sign I wasn't quite ready for the immense grandeur and beauty of what I saw.  Oh sure...I'd seen pictures of the Twelve Apostles but seeing it in real life was nothing short of amazing.  You just wanted to drink in the beauty of the coastline and I felt a wave of peace come over me as if you were pouring a bucket of warm water over my head.  It was such a special moment as I felt truly at peace with my soul and it was a blessing...pure and simple...an irreplaceable memory for me.

Coastline along the
Twelve Apostles

I could go on and on about that day and even the rains that came in shortly after could not mar the peacefulness I was feeling.  So...I am going to leave it at this for today and let the pictures I took try and speak for me.

Until next time...wherever you are have a great day!!

If you would like to see more pictures of the Twelve Apostles on The Great Ocean Road here is a link to that photo album on
Picasa:  Play slideshow

Driving Down The Great Ocean Road!!

Start of the Great Ocean Road

I have gotta admit I was really, really looking forward to driving down the Great Ocean Road!  Much of the road hugs the coast hugs the coastline which is called 'Shipwreck Coast' and you can see the Bass Strait and the Southern Ocean along it.  The road winds itself through rain forests, coastlines, beaches and cliffs of limestone and sandstone. 

Building of the Great Ocean Road was started in 1919 by approximately 3000 returning World War I servicemen as a war memorial to those who had been killed in the war.  It took until 1932 for the road to be completed and became the world's largest war memorial and in 1962 the Tourist Development Authority to be one of the world's great scenic road and driving along the road they most definitely got it right.

Curvy road!

I was once again happy to let Natalie do all the driving.  The road was filled with curves and turns, even more so than Tassie had been...at least it sure seemed that way to me.  The one thing that seemed to be missing was the winds though I'm pretty sure Natalie would disagree...at least the winds were of a calmer nature than Tassie.

We drove all the way down to Apollo Bay the first day before turning back around and returning to Lorne where we were going to be staying for the next several days.  It was such a lovely day with the sun shining brightly for most of the drive.  The only slight down points were a couple of spots where we drove through smoke from controlled bush fire burns past Lorne but I was glad that they were controlled burns and not wild fires.

Looking towards The Pier on
Loutit Bay in Lorne

After a lovely day driving along the Great Ocean Road we got settled in and Lorne and decided to go to the Lorne Hotel and sit out on the balcony where we a bit of a view of Loutit Bay...not too bad of an ending to a lovely day.

Until next time...wherever you are have a great day!!



If you would like to see more pictures of the first day's drive down The Great Ocean Road here is a link to that photo album on Picasa:  Play slideshow