Sunday, July 29, 2012
GOING HOME !
HaHa - the time had come and we duly followed our aforementioned route to the docks, parking on the Esplanade within sight of the Ferry ready to board at 4:30, tummy churning with excitement.
Had dinner, duly retired to our cabin, had an uneventful night, up at 6 a.m to be called to disembark, duly completed, amongst the first 25 vehicles, easy run through customs, we had been in that position a few other times during our unforgettable journey around our fascinating and huge country.
We had a nice breakfast, ready for the next drive, home, and the subsequent unpacking, obtaining a few groceries at Campbell town, arriving home around noon, and then as I said spent the next few hours unpacking, exploring our home, it was in the best condtion, thanks to our thoughful house sitter - Sally.
We are now settling back in a life of retirement and no travelling for the next couple of months.
Had dinner, duly retired to our cabin, had an uneventful night, up at 6 a.m to be called to disembark, duly completed, amongst the first 25 vehicles, easy run through customs, we had been in that position a few other times during our unforgettable journey around our fascinating and huge country.
We had a nice breakfast, ready for the next drive, home, and the subsequent unpacking, obtaining a few groceries at Campbell town, arriving home around noon, and then as I said spent the next few hours unpacking, exploring our home, it was in the best condtion, thanks to our thoughful house sitter - Sally.
We are now settling back in a life of retirement and no travelling for the next couple of months.
THE ROAD TO MELBOURNE
The time had come to position ourselves within easy distance of the ferry terminal for our trip back to Tasmania/Home and we checked in to Rockbank Caravan Park, just 30 klms north east of Melbourne.
At first we established the most comfortable and direct route to the docks.
Then we filled in a day driving down through St Kilda, the esplanade and explored the area generally.
The following day being Saturday we parked at Garden City and took the electric tram into the city, exploring, shopping, the ear muffs came in handy once again. We found a good Japanese Restaurant and could not resist having having a late morning tea of some of their goodies later we lunched there, do you get the impression, dear reader that we liked their food.
On the Sunday we tracked another Rundle family grave of J's grandfather - James Granger Rundle and his wife Katherine. We had lunch with David and Helen at their home and spent the afternoon with them.
On Monday David invited us to lunch at Crown Casino - a belated birthday present for John - and spent the rest of the afternoon exploring the Casino complex.
It was great to catch up that evening with John's niece Jane Rundle and spend the next 6 hours exchanging reminiscences of family history.
A long day overall.
At first we established the most comfortable and direct route to the docks.
Then we filled in a day driving down through St Kilda, the esplanade and explored the area generally.
The following day being Saturday we parked at Garden City and took the electric tram into the city, exploring, shopping, the ear muffs came in handy once again. We found a good Japanese Restaurant and could not resist having having a late morning tea of some of their goodies later we lunched there, do you get the impression, dear reader that we liked their food.
On the Sunday we tracked another Rundle family grave of J's grandfather - James Granger Rundle and his wife Katherine. We had lunch with David and Helen at their home and spent the afternoon with them.
On Monday David invited us to lunch at Crown Casino - a belated birthday present for John - and spent the rest of the afternoon exploring the Casino complex.
It was great to catch up that evening with John's niece Jane Rundle and spend the next 6 hours exchanging reminiscences of family history.
A long day overall.
CRESWICK
Here we parked amidst the leafy trees and lawns and were reunited with the rellies.
We had a lovely time, sometimes sitting around a fire, sometimes in the quaint camp kitchen, overall though winter had set in, but we acted as hardy souls (for the time being).
During the days we explored Creswick - watched a bike race - drove to Anderson's Flour Mill went on a conducted tour and increased our knowledge of flour milling over 150 years.
On our drive we saw 15 - 20 heaps of tailings, where in years gone by people had been looking for lead.
On one drive to Buningyong we went to a shopping centre for lunch, I bought a pair of ear muffs, they came in very handy in that wintry weather !
Another day we sought the Creswick Woollen Mill, the last mill of its kind in Australia, particularly loved the Alpaca woollen products, too exy for my purse, and decided the Alpacas hanging around in the paddock were not as attractive as 'Tony' who lives at Chris and John's farmlet.
All too soon the time was up and C and J had to leave, however on their way home they found the grave site at Bendigo, containing Thomas Thomas Rundle and some of the family.
We had a lovely time, sometimes sitting around a fire, sometimes in the quaint camp kitchen, overall though winter had set in, but we acted as hardy souls (for the time being).
During the days we explored Creswick - watched a bike race - drove to Anderson's Flour Mill went on a conducted tour and increased our knowledge of flour milling over 150 years.
On our drive we saw 15 - 20 heaps of tailings, where in years gone by people had been looking for lead.
On one drive to Buningyong we went to a shopping centre for lunch, I bought a pair of ear muffs, they came in very handy in that wintry weather !
Another day we sought the Creswick Woollen Mill, the last mill of its kind in Australia, particularly loved the Alpaca woollen products, too exy for my purse, and decided the Alpacas hanging around in the paddock were not as attractive as 'Tony' who lives at Chris and John's farmlet.
All too soon the time was up and C and J had to leave, however on their way home they found the grave site at Bendigo, containing Thomas Thomas Rundle and some of the family.
TRAVEL TO BALLARAT
Amidst lots of dark clouds, fog and driving rain we moved on to "Shady Acres" (sounded nice) - about 10 klms south of Ballarat, but the weather was not nice, we got wet parking on our site and spent the rest of the the day sheltering indoors.
We continued to hibernate - just making the odd dash to shop - for some days - then decided to take a day trip to Creswick to check out the accommodation, as we were due to meet with Chris and her John to spend some time together.
On the way back to Shady Acres John got advice to go to Public Records Office Victoria and there he found records of his Grandfather's teaching career, Inspector's Reports (favourable) a very satisfying start to the journey to find more information about his ancesters.
During our stay we explored more of fantastic Ballarat City, took photographs of their beautiful architecture, statues, parks and gardens.
After a windy, soggy week it was time to return to Calembeen Lake Caravan Park to meet with J and C.
We continued to hibernate - just making the odd dash to shop - for some days - then decided to take a day trip to Creswick to check out the accommodation, as we were due to meet with Chris and her John to spend some time together.
On the way back to Shady Acres John got advice to go to Public Records Office Victoria and there he found records of his Grandfather's teaching career, Inspector's Reports (favourable) a very satisfying start to the journey to find more information about his ancesters.
During our stay we explored more of fantastic Ballarat City, took photographs of their beautiful architecture, statues, parks and gardens.
After a windy, soggy week it was time to return to Calembeen Lake Caravan Park to meet with J and C.
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