Walhalla

Another bit of my "Bucket List" was to ride the Walhalla Train. As a youngster at school our hiking club had a weekend around Walhalla, and the old train line was mooted for restoration.

A group of dedicated enthusiasts have restored the line to the Thomson River.

Alan & Alys drove down to Paul's, and with Mum in tow off we went.
Mum, Paul, Alan,Alison & Alys "all aboard".
This magic little line meanders along Stringers Creek to the junction with the Thomson River.

In its day it was considered one of Australia's greatest engineering feats.
Give or take a few there are 35 bridges on the line back to Erica.
Mum had a lovely day.
The town itself has undergone some careful & loving restoration.....
The "Three Stooges" ! ??
Judy & Peter (more of them shortly) had at one stage thought of buying this building to restore.

Windsor house is now a B & B, and in need of a little more TLC. Peter later told us that it went for $82,000 !!!!!! Hmm.
The Rotunda has been restored to it's former glory & was the entertainment centre of Walhalla in the late 1800's
You never know what you'll find as you walk along the main street. This looks like a lovely old Kombi.....
Looking down into the town it's hard to imagine 4500 people living in this area!
On the way out of town we stopped at the Thomson River bridge & walked out onto the rail bridge. There had been a land slide under one of the last bridges & the train couldn't get into the Thomson Station.
A beaut day was had & a great memory has been enhanced......

Xmas 2011

Boxing day was with the twins. Mario was cooking dinner for us but he couldn't find his Tahini....I think this sign was Kitty's motto.
Next stop was my brother's place in Gippsland. He had arranged a family get together with his side of the family & Mum. Layla (the littlest one) is the first female Dewsnap in over 63 years.

Brisbane

We'd had a phone call for help from Brisbane whilst in Adelaide.

So our 4 extra days in Adelaide were gone, then we had two days in the Grampians followed by a rush to Melbourne.

Next morning Alison rode the Tigers' back to Brisbane. (No thats not her getting out of the SAAB !!!)
Meanwhile back in Warrandyte of I went for my walk along the Mullum Mullum Creek & found this little bit of early motoring history.

I had lived in Warrandyte when I left home at 20 & never new this was so close.
I eventually got to the confluence of the Yarra & Mullum Creek. The rain had them both flowing rapidly.
Next morning I went upstream from the park & was taken by this little number.
This little fellow turned right as I pushed the shutter. I should have had the Nikon !!! At least it wasn't a picture of a "birds bum" as Alison calls them.
I had most of my nights with A&A while Alison was in Brisbane.

Alan has been feeding 2 Kookaburras for ages, I suggested that she was so tame he could probably get her onto his arm, next thing......
She didn't mind me with the camera either....

Seppelts

Another one on the "Bucket List" was to see the tunnels at Seppelts Great Western.

So off we chuffed early enough to get there for 10 am. opening.

Guess what happened to our heros?
"Sorry but we don't do tours on Sunday!"

But a quick look down the original shaft was the best we could manage.
Beaut display though.

Alison was very quick with "well we've come this far we better have a taste!"

Good Girl, it's never too early for some bubbles!

No wonder I love her!!!
The original homestead. No how can we get back here during the week????

The Grampians

We stopped at MacKenzie Falls these little beauties were in abundance.There was a lookout from above, but the thought of a shot like this was too much temptation, so down I went.
Now the problem with going down is that you've got to come back up !!!
My knackered old knees ain't what they used to be !!! But the pain will soon be forgotten!!!

The view from Booroka Lookout was superb, but the wind & weather was a coming.

Looking out over Halls Gap from Reed Lookout with Lake Bellfield in the background.
The Balconies also offered magnificent views, shame about the weather.
A long lens & a bit of cropping & hey presto, I just love this sort of photo.
Just as well there wasn't a sign like this at the other side of the road to cross the Grampians, or Miss Worry Wort would have had more kittens!!!!!!!!

Heading East

Just after Tailem Bend, we stopped for coffee.

And on the side of the road, every town should have a Tank ! Was this for the Grey Nomads they didn't like??
We had planned to camp at Rocklands Reservoir, at the western side of the Grampians but didn't like the spot & went back to Cherrypool reserve on the Glenelg river.
We were lucky enough to stop by a tree with a pair of Sacred Kingfishers.
A chance to try out the newish Nikon, hmm not bad!! but a really long lens would be better!!
Up bright & early next morning & off to the Grampians, I couldn't resist this old farm house with the mountains as a back drop.

Adelaide

Up for a quick visit to Ingrid & Eberhard'sNow has this chook had a "bad hair day" or what??

She & her pals roost up by the dining room window, for protection from the local fox.
Ingrid & Eberhard discussed the fact that we have known each other for 38 years ! Mine Got!!!

Ingrid's Christmas decorations for this year.
I don't THINK Jess has anything to worry about !! ??