In America it is election day but here in Australia the nation holds its breath as horses race around a track on The Melbourne Cup Day. All across the nation for an hour everything stops and for Victoria the entire day and even the day before goes on holiday. So we took advantage of a long 4 day weekend and visited friends who work at the PROV and live in the goldfields and countryside of western Victoria.
First we visited with Paula and Cliff Collette who live in Sunbury. Beautiful countryside. They took us up to Mt. Macedon which was shrouded in clouds. Funny one side of the mountain valley had sunshine, the other side was cloudy. Beautiful rhododendrons in pinks, red, orange, peach, yellow, white colors everywhere. We then went over to Hanging Rock which had a lovely over look of the valley.
Cliff then drove us all around the countryside visiting small towns, stopping for Castlemaine rock candy, chocolate from the Chocolate Mill, and a favorite spot where kangaroos live in the wild. Along the road we also saw an echidna, looks like a porcupine and when it is scared it digs a hole underneath him to disappear.
We are most appreciative of Paula and Cliff for showing us their beautiful country side.
We then spent a couple of days with Carolyn and Cliff Broome in Ballarat and toured Sovereign Hill, a historic replication of the gold mining days. Toured a couple of mines and watched the re-enactment of the battle at Eureka Stockade.
Since Michael’s ancestors were here during the gold rush days and lived in the various towns between Ballarat and Bendigo and then settled as farmers in the surrounding country side of Victoria our visit gave us a better feeling of life in the mid 1800’s in Australia. Pretty rough. We did pan for gold and got a few tiny shavings of gold. Cliff showed the best way to pan.
We also got to visit a Free roaming Zoo where we got to feed kangaroos and emus and pet koalas and wombats.
Carolyn and Cliff were marvelous and their home, situated across the street from Sovereign Hill is a little paradise. Flowers everywhere. Thank-you to our friends in Victoria, Australia.
First we visited with Paula and Cliff Collette who live in Sunbury. Beautiful countryside. They took us up to Mt. Macedon which was shrouded in clouds. Funny one side of the mountain valley had sunshine, the other side was cloudy. Beautiful rhododendrons in pinks, red, orange, peach, yellow, white colors everywhere. We then went over to Hanging Rock which had a lovely over look of the valley.
Cliff then drove us all around the countryside visiting small towns, stopping for Castlemaine rock candy, chocolate from the Chocolate Mill, and a favorite spot where kangaroos live in the wild. Along the road we also saw an echidna, looks like a porcupine and when it is scared it digs a hole underneath him to disappear.
We are most appreciative of Paula and Cliff for showing us their beautiful country side.
We then spent a couple of days with Carolyn and Cliff Broome in Ballarat and toured Sovereign Hill, a historic replication of the gold mining days. Toured a couple of mines and watched the re-enactment of the battle at Eureka Stockade.
Since Michael’s ancestors were here during the gold rush days and lived in the various towns between Ballarat and Bendigo and then settled as farmers in the surrounding country side of Victoria our visit gave us a better feeling of life in the mid 1800’s in Australia. Pretty rough. We did pan for gold and got a few tiny shavings of gold. Cliff showed the best way to pan.
We also got to visit a Free roaming Zoo where we got to feed kangaroos and emus and pet koalas and wombats.
Carolyn and Cliff were marvelous and their home, situated across the street from Sovereign Hill is a little paradise. Flowers everywhere. Thank-you to our friends in Victoria, Australia.
1 comment:
What amazing adventures you are having! Thanks for the wonderful photos. I've put some of them up as my desktop background so it's almost like being there. Enjoy your new adventures in Sydney. Lots of love!
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