Chiltern and Rutherglen

This morning we went to the heritage listed, gold mining town of Chiltern, loved by film makers.

We went for a walk around the town and there are seven junk/second hand/vintage/antique shops.  Only the first two were open.  The town must be very busy on the weekends.

  

Later we tried for a proper walk around Rutherglen.  We missed a few buildings, as we needed to stay under shop awnings because of the heavy thunderstorm.

"tin" lane nearby

Saturday was the drive home to a windy Sydney.  One of the tiny succulents has blown out of the pot.  Geoff had set the watering system so he could turn it on over the internet, but he only needed to do it twice.

We have had a great holiday, the car went well with the bikes on the back and we went well on the bikes.  Our mechanic was concerned the bikes would lower the car’s fuel economy and we should take them off.  We wonder what he would say about the boxes of wine, the plants and…and…

We had a lovely catch up with a niece and a brother and met many nice people who were happy to chat.

We can thank God for our travels and those little “coincidences” like driving down into the Ovens Valley full of smoke from fires all around and the next day it had cleared; we didn’t get information about one of our accommodations and a neighbour was there watering the garden and could let us in.

Rutherglen Rail Trail

start of the trail

The trail is fairly straight and crosses several roads with offset fencing for bikes to wiggle through.  We did think they could have been a bit wider.  

At the second road we turned right up a sloping dirt road for 700m to get coffee.  Hilary was reminded about a low gear she forgot she had.  We didn’t have to get off and push.  We had a coffee at Calico Town wines.

Back on the bike track, we stopped just before one road to let a low loader pass and the dust settle.  The truck turned into a paddock where a tractor was waiting to load bales of hay.  We guess it was a low loader as that was what the tractor could lift onto. 

We rode just as far as we felt like.  The temperature was 29˚but the humidity was low and there was a breeze.  We chatted to an e-tricyclist on the way back.  It was the first time he had been out since knee replacements.  But that wasn’t his biggest concern – we informed him he could buy padded bike pants.

After parking our bikes, we drove back to Calico Town for lunch.  We sate outside with a mezze and antipasto platter and wine and enjoyed the scenery.

Indigo shire Council is keen on recycling and has given each household a bench top bin and roll of green bags and a list of what goes in.  The bags are then put in the green bin.  Red bins are only picked up fortnightly.  At Calico Town, in the toilets the hand towels were – tiny cotton hand towels.

Travelling north

The day started with 5˚ in the tent.  The heater is good.

We stopped for coffee at Martin Street Café – open today.  We were quite underwhelmed.  The barista started to take our order while on the phone to his mechanic and kept interrupting us, he then turned the knob the wrong way on the grinder which made for a long wait and Hilary’s coffee was lukewarm.  We won’t be back.

We weaved our way back across the Macedon Ranges taking a different rout this time.  We passed lots of hay making and signs for wineries which were quite hidden as we didn’t see any vines.

When we’d had no info from the next accommodation, Hilary rang him – “this number has been disconnected”!!  When we got to Rutherglen, we knocked, walked around the building and were just trying the number on the board when a lady came up – “he’s in New Zealand and I can let you in”.  Rose Marie was extremely helpful [she sets up the house for the owner] and the house, on a one way lane is just lovely.  Bread milk, juice coffee are included in the three bedroom house with full laundry.  We will wash all those new warm weather clothes we bought.  We have a nice view over the lane of an old red brick house with steep red iron roof in an overflowing garden

We had seen one of these toilets in a sustainability show home, but not “experienced” it.  On flushing, the fresh water comes in through the tap over the handbasin.  We had thought it would be unwieldy, but it isn’t.  Water saving and space saving! 

Blackwood to Woodend

Tuesday temperature range 4 - 16˚We went 2km up the road to Blackwood, where a coffee roaster advertises. 

We got coffee at the Post Office/café/antiques/general store.  It took a while because the lady was very chatty.  She has no indoor seating [plans with council] so offered to do “drive through”.  If we sat in the car, she would bring it to us!  We looked at the antiques while we waited.  We moved the car into the sun to drink our coffee as the day was so cold.  After coffee we had a walk around the beautiful, tiny town with a lot of holiday accommodation. 

The Fire Refuge is on the end of the Country Fire Authority building.  We have seen a few signs.

We then went to Woodend, a larger country town with the most enormous wide main street – two lanes and bike lanes, then a garden and a parking lane.  They have a huge craft brewery and many repurposed buildings.

We had a look in the garden shop wondering what plants we could buy tomorrow before we leave.  They could go in the spare esky to travel home on Saturday. 

"wet" area in the dry garden

view from communal lounge

Out and about

We had a lot of wind and rain overnight.  There was a gale warning out for most of Victoria.  Today’s temperature forecast was 10 – 16, but didn’t rise above 14˚.

We drove to the small town of Trentham.  Apparently, it is used as a backdrop for a lot of films.  We didn’t pick the locations.  We looked at some lovely shops and chatted with shopkeepers, keeping out of the rain.  

coffee stop

unusual architecture

wall using recycled material

We drove to Lyonville to the picturesque pub to find that [along with a few other places], it wasn’t open on Mondays.  We enjoyed the walk to the old station.

see these flowers everywhere

We went back to the “Historic Red Beard” bakery with Scotch oven in Trentham for lunch.  There are only a few Scotch ovens left – they use a particular type of wood and cook in the heat of the coals.

In the afternoon, the sun was out so we had a walk in the Garden of St Erth.

No drinks outside today.

travelling on

We went to Sunday markets at the showground run by Rotary.  Geoff admired the range of tools and we both bought clothes for the temperature downturn on Monday. 

On the way out of Ballarat we stopped at The Amazing Mill Market and it was amazing.  We took an hour to go around looking at silver, crystal, china, pottery, tools, records.

We are now glamping at Garden of St Erth.

no bottle opener - fortunately we had a boy scout with us

Its raining!  The gardens which looked a bit flattened will look lovely tomorrow.

a little more of Ballarat

Hilary’s niece, Madelyn works for Ballarat Foto Biennale  They have just finished an exhibition in an old bank building which they recently purchased, and today we got a private tour.  

 

 The artist specialises in using the insides of old buildings soon to be renovated.  The artistic work was fascinating and we got a tour of an 18­60s building which had 1970s partitions and false ceilings added.  The building will be renovated for exhibition space and there will be artists studios and workshops in the building behind.

stove behind the false wall has been uncovered

We also saw one of their photography exhibitions in a nearby hotel.

laneway installation - umbrellas are changed according to the season

With Hilary’s brother, David we went to see the Avenue of Honour with trees for each serviceman and women from the area.  There are nearly 4000 trees spaced 10 to 12 metres apart.  We went 9 kms along the avenue to see tree number 1896 for Hilary’s grandfather.  Some trees did not thrive and had to be replaced. 

Ballarat town

Firstly, a bike ride around the lake via the Botanical Gardens, then a coffee shop.  We went to the library for a little family history research, walked through the historical precinct and to the art gallery.  Ballarat is on a steep hill.

weed and rubbish clearing

Botanical Gardens

sensory garden

Burke & Wills fountain on right

laneway art

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