Blogs from Wangaratta, Victoria, Australia, Oceania

Today is a big day. 100kms from Shepp to Wang. The weather forecast is for a max of 18 and has favourable westerly winds up to 30km/h blowing all day which is the best possible conditions we could hope for. What could have been a slog just became a whole lot easier. There was also a prediction of up to 2mm of rain but we're hoping we can outrun it. We had planned for an early start and were up at 6am and left shortly after 7am. From the hotel we had a short distance to travel north and then turned east and the effects of the wind were felt immediately. This was going to be fun. Our fisrt stop for the day was Dookie, 30kms from Shepparton. We pulled in to the sleepy town and ... read more

I think I'm now on the toe of the foot of the last leg of this trip. Camping in the improbably named Wangaratta by way of Tumbarumba, Jingellic and Wodonga. You couldn't make 'em up. It's cool and blue down here. Well into autumn but not as we know it, Jim. Should be in Melbourne in 3-4 days if I can slow down a bit. The momentum is tricky to control after 10 months. Seeing a lot of 'skippy' out here but no Koalas yet. Oh, and a brace of black swans. Not commonplace on the Exe. That's all from Nick/Cyclopath ( in the Wangaratta public library)... read more

What do you do in Wangaratta? Well we chose to head south to Glen Rowan to check out The history of our infamous Bush Ranger, Ned Kelly. We arrived early enough to check out “Kates Cottage” and walk through the museum area and then did the walk around the areas that the siege and capture of Ned Kelly took place, and followed with interest the commentary about the interesting story. Fact or fiction or a miscarriage of justice or maybe corrupt law authorities, will we ever know? We found it very interesting and certainly felt that a lot more promotion of this small tourist town and some small innovative ideas we picked up on our USA trip, could create a wonderful visit, yet that aside, we certainly enjoyed the experience. After checking out the “what to ... read more

After a long days drive (with a couple of misplacements!) I have settled into a very cosy cabin in a lovely little caravan park at the base of the Warby Ranges. Yes Ned Kelly territory! Driving between Hamilton and Ararat was damp both on the windscreen and out in the paddocks; it was very exciting to see all the little wetlands and dams full and overflowing! Not so many birds on the wetlands only one or two had duck, swans or ibis. I stopped at Lake Buninjon just outside Willaura but there were only Great Egrets (6ish), Black-winged Stilt (4), Golden-headed Cisticola (2) that tested me from the shrubs and reeds and swan and ibis that flew over. A quick cuppa outside Ararat at a slightly (ab)used wayside stop with the weather warming up, broke ... read more

Day 103 We had completed most of the blog yesterday evening for publishing today, so when I got up at around 7.00 it was kettle on, then boot the laptop up, this gives me a good jump on the day before Caroline gets up. Caroline went to have her shower, however within seconds of going Caroline was back, asking for my camera, explaining that there was a big spider in the ladies shower room she thought it maybe a wolf spider, or something like it so wanted to take a photo. Showing me the picture I was not certain, so Caroline bravely went and had her shower and said when she approached it reared its two front legs up, which I think is just a defence mechanism. C: I have to say that if any of ... read more