Almost to Bendigo….

Hello my friends!

Well I had a great night’s sleep last night and woke up refreshed and keen to get on the road. First though I had a few chores to get out of the way. I had noticed Alex was really jittery when I walked him around the streets of Ararat the evening before so I figured he really needed a bit more fun before we left. No beaches in Ararat that I knew already LOL.. well maybe a park then. I had an early shower, washed my hair and cleaned the motorhome. We were both fed by eight so I decided there was no time like the present to carry out my plan for my pup.

As soon as he saw me put my bag on my shoulder he knew what was coming… I thought about taking the ball but Alex is nigh impossible to walk when I do, leaping in the air; doing his darnedest to get in my way, almost tripping me over and over again.. Maybe we could run together instead when we got to the oval I had seen the sign for the evening before.

Well the idea was good even if its execution was sadly lacking lol… Alex began just as he left off the night before. Even on the halti he kept pulling so hard I was almost lifted off my feet. I was really not a happy chappy by the time we got out of the caravan park. He had done his business.. well half of it on the road; when I cleaned that up he did more on the grass beside the bloody manager lol..I sighed and picked that one up too but by now my supply of doggy do bags I had with me were exhausted. Usually that is all he does so I had my fingers crossed. Nope, not today Sandy! Today it felt like he was gonna do everything in his power to be a right royal pain in the proverbial! Oh and he was, he was! Grrrrr I was sweating with effort on what turned out to be a cold morning, by the time we got to the first crossroads but I soldiered on. I figured he would calm down gradually and then we could enjoy our morning walk. Boy was I wrong about that! He pulled and he jumped and he was more skittish than a wild colt lol… arghhh … to top it off he did another poo right in the middle of a road! I had nothing to pick it up with and I felt really guilty as I walked resolutely on. By this time we were on our way back, you have never seen a more thankful person than me when heading ‘home’ I can tell you lol… Of course it didn’t stop there, he propped right in front of the bloody caravan park and piddled all over the road LOLOL.. well they won’t forget us in a hurry. Just goes to show you what he thought of Ararat eh?

Finally after having double checked I had gotten everything, refilled the water tank and turned off the gas, I clipped Alex in and myself and began the day ahead’s drive.
It actually was not a bad drive today. I fuelled up on the way out of town and visited the public dump point so now I had a full tank of diesel and an empty cassette for the loo! LOL definitely the right way around Sandy 😛 The countryside coming into Ararat had been flat, dull and dead to be honest.. a little distance out heading towards the Pyrenees Ranges it all changed. I was thinking I so preferred the coast, more alive and most definitely a beautiful balm for one’s spirit. Well now today proved that inland too has its breathtakingly beautiful spots! I drove on a road that was snug between trees; cool and serene indeed! What a lovely surprise package. Yes I had been to the Grampians before, many years ago but I do not remember coming to the Pyrenees Ranges before. The road was relatively flat, when it was hilly they were gentle long descents rather than sharp ones. Oh heaven. Such a relaxed drive! I did stop a couple of times to take pics but mostly I just enjoyed the scenery and the drive!

I was ready for a cuppa and an unwind though by the time I got to Avoca. Right on the edge of the town I spied a road that lead to a lovely picnic area .. it was really large and I figured here I could just open the door and let Alex loose with the ball lol.. oh yes! This boy was in seventh heaven. He did not even turn his head when a dog and its owners wandered closeby. All he wanted to do was play lol. He had a long go with the ball and I made a lovely cuppa; finally able to put my feet up so to speak without feeling guilty about Alex! We sat, or rather he lay lol, in companionable silence while I drank my tea. Feeling refreshed and ready to explore once I had finished, I locked up the motorhome and, with Alex once more on the lead, prepared to head into the little town to see what was there. Just as I locked the door, a lovely lady and her friend came over to talk with me. They had fallen in love with the motorhome and wanted to know where I was from and how I liked travelling in it. LOL I gave them a truthful account. After all there really is no negative to travelling this way! We talked for around twenty minutes and, after wishing Alex and I a safe and continued happy journey, the ladies resumed their walk.

We went into town. It was lovely, another old world place. There was Mount Avoca to drive to, which we did before leaving the area lol, and some interesting buildings. Its also the home of a three time winner of the Great Aussie Pie comp. Now I am gluten and wheat intolerant and I knew I shouldn’t, but I weighed up the aftermath against the adventure and chose to try one! No wonder they win awards. Their pies are to die for! I had what is known as a breakfast pie but oh my, no breakfast I have ever had has been as tasty lol..

After lunch we went to Mount Avoca, ahhed over the beauty and then got back on the road, heading for Castlemaigne. Again the drive was pleasant though we had for the most part left the Pyrenees Ranges behind now. Castlemaigne is just another city really so I kept on going. Around three I felt a bit sluggish again so it was time for afternoon tea LOL.. oh and a drink and a walk for Alex too! I pulled over onto the side of the road in Kangaroo Flats, around seven k’s away from my destination of Bendigo and had my cuppa, taking the opportunity to call my daughter and thank her for all she is doing and to make sure all is well 🙂 While there I decided to look for likely places to roost that might be in the neighbourhood as I really did not want to go into Bendigo at the busy time of the day. LOL would you believe I was just four hundred metres from a beautiful park? I started her up again and cruised my way down. Now here I sit looking out over a beautiful pond with heaps of ducks happily swimming in it, beautiful green grass and a lovely walking track for Alex and I to explore after dinner! Not bad Sandy hehehehe

Have a wonderful night all. I just know I am going to ..Blessings