Melbourne Scenes

Saturday 22nd, Sunday 23rd July.
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Melbourne (Dandenong)

Sunday, 23rd July.

We left Marlo on Thursday for an uneventful drive to Traralgon where we booked into a holiday park for the night.  While Mike had a snooze, I went for a walk but we were on the outskirts of town and there was little of interest about, though it was good to get some fresh air and exercise.  I managed to get back to camp just as the rain began to fall.

It was a late departure on Friday morning and we headed for Melbourne in bright sunshine, soon to be lost in misty grey skies.  We pulled off the freeway at Darnum for coffee and delicious carrot cake at The Stump Tea Rooms then continued on to Springvale where we hoped to stay for a few nights but, there was no room at the inn, so we backtracked to Dandenong and were easily able to book in and are about to spend our third night here.

Yesterday, we drove to Carrum and using our Myki travel cards, caught the train from Frankston into Melbourne.  We were well rugged up against the bitingly cold wind and for a couple of hours  roamed around the Queen Victoria Markets before hopping on a tram to Docklands, where we bought tickets to watch the Essendon/North Melbourne game at Etihad Stadium.  As it was our first time there, we decided we'd buy the best seats available but were informed that only single seats were available on level 2, so we bought general admission tickets on level 3.  As the game progressed, we could see that there were many unoccupied seats on level 2 so wondered why we were unable to purchase a couple of them....however, we had a very good view from where we sat, were very impressed with the stadium and were very happy with the Essendon win.  After the game had finished, we crammed onto a crowded tram to Flinders Street station and squeezed onto a crowded train for the trip back to Carrum.  The first stop was Richmond where hordes of football fans from the MCG game managed to somehow squeeze themselves onto the already packed train!  As most of the passengers appeared to be either Essendon or Melbourne fans (both teams had won their games), the atmosphere was friendly, so even though we stood for much of the fifty minute journey, we didn't mind too much.

We had thoughts of going to the MCG today to watch another football match but as the weather was unfavourable we had a slow morning, then drove to St Kilda using the Dandenong and Dingly bypasses...an easy drive...left the car in an undercover carpark and once again using our Myki cards, caught a tram into the city.  A short walk from Collins Street took us to the Causeway, one of many laneways in Melbourne where food is to be found, and we chose Gordon's Cafe to have some lunch, a choice which turned out to be a very good one.  Good food, good service from our French waitress and the cafe manager, not cheap but reasonably priced and somewhere we would happily revisit.  It rained for most of the time we spent in the city but we managed to stay dry by staying under cover as much as possible, roaming through other laneways and arcades, watching an excellent Japanese one man blues band and people cramming into trams to Docklands for today's game, then caught a tram back to St Kilda where we had coffee and f.a. cream cakes in an Acland Street cafe.  Back to the car park then and the drive to Dandenong, happy with our afternoon's outing. 

We're more cheerful and both feeling much better though still far from 100%...tomorrow we will leave Melbourne to take the most direct route home, hoping to return sometime as I have a soft spot for the city where I lived and worked for a year or so of my younger life and which Mike also enjoys visiting.

Pambula, NSW to Marlo, Vic. : 207kms

Wednesday, 19th July.

We keep saying "We'll feel better tomorrow" and on a couple of 'tomorrows' we have felt a little better but unfortunately, it doesn't last and we find it difficult to generate enough energy and enthusiasm to go out and enjoy what this country has to offer.  Unable to shake off the dreaded lurgy, we're both miserable and are considering renaming ourselves "the Glums"! 

Yesterday morning, as the sun was shining and we felt reasonably human, we drove south about 9kms to the Ben Boyd National Park, walked along a 1.5km loop track through the bush, stopping at a couple of viewpoints from where the ocean and cliffs could be seen and then returned to Pambula to stroll up and down the main street, calling in to an antiques shop for a look around and into the bakery where we bought a pie and a sausage roll to take back to the caravan park down the road and later, drove into nearby Merimbula for ice creams but....the ice creamery with 50 + flavours to choose from was closed.  Not impressed!  A little tour of Merimbula took us to the very fine beach and to the board walk on the shores of Lake Merimbula.

Having enjoyed the journey east and time with our family in Sydney and in Newcastle, our aim was to take our time going home, with a couple of days here, a few days there, going off the 'beaten track'  if we felt so inclined but after being on the road for 10 days, neither of us is enjoying it....all we want at present is to be home but home is still more than 3500kms away!  We're a couple of days away from Melbourne, will spend the weekend there after which we'll make our way west into SA and beyond.  The disappointment here is that we will miss catching up with Melbourne friends who are not yet back from their travels and I will miss out on a proposed little side trip to Launceston to visit my sister & brother-in-law.

We are now on the Snowy Mountain Estuary in Marlo, Victoria, having left Pambula and NSW this morning, stopping in Genoa at an excellent rest stop to boil the billy....half a dozen brightly coloured chooks appeared at the door to see what they could scrounge but succeeded only in having their photos taken.   The rain came as we left Genoa and fell steadily for 20 minutes or so, then there were light showers and the sun appeared a couple of times, though briefly.  It's very cold here and extremely windy at present...I did consider going for a walk but talked myself out of it, it's blowing a gale!   Happily, we have stayed here before so don't really feel we're missing out.

Batemans Bay to Pambula : 180kms

Monday, 17th July.

We did take the third night free option offered by the caravan park and had another quiet, relaxing day in Batemans Bay.  We went for a short walk from the park late yesterday morning to Caseys Beach which is just across the road, then drove into town for a stroll around before calling in to a pub for a light lunch.  Back at the caravan park, Mike took advantage of the comfy couch in the guest kitchen/lounge and watched football on t.v. while I found a little spot in the sunshine to read my book. 
While we are still coughing a lot, we're beginning to feel better about life, the universe....and everything, though due to forecasts predicting below freezing temperatures for the nation's capital and the Snowy Mountains, both destinations have been excluded from our itinerary and we'll stay mainly close to the coast where it is a little warmer.
This morning, we left Batemans Bay for the drive south to Pambula, calling in to Central Tilba, one of our favourite little towns, for a meander along the main street to the cheese factory where we bought a couple of cheeses, then had coffee and f.a. cakes in the tearoom before continuing on to Pambula, arriving in the early afternoon.  After having had a late morning tea, neither of us wanted lunch but did enjoy some of our cheese, served on the Australia cheeseboard made for us by our Melbourne friend Mark....he and Mireille are currently touring in their motorhome in Scandinavia. 
We booked in for just one night but have decided to stay tomorrow night as well, weather permitting, Mike intends to go fishing and we'll do a little exploring of the area.

Shellharbour : 4th Night

Thursday, 13th July.

We are both still unwell and our energy levels are very low.  I am a little better than Mike in the health department and have been able to eat but he has eaten next to nothing in the last couple of days.  On Tuesday, we rustled up enough enthusiasm to drive to the supermarket for supplies, taking a detour on the way there to look at a couple of nearby beaches and Lake Illawarra and were exhausted by the time we returned to the caravan park, so sat in the sunshine and rested for the remainder of the afternoon.
Yesterday, while Mike slept, I went for a short walk along the waterfront, taking in the sunlight sparkling on the water and the nearby rock pool where two people were swimming laps, then did some washing and spent much of the afternoon sitting in the sunshine reading.  At about five o'clock the rain came and fell heavily for several hours but as the washing was already dry and put away, I didn't care!
We both slept reasonably well last night and did feel a little more human this morning so went driving through the Southern Highlands...a lovely scenic drive which was most enjoyable and a welcome change from all the inactivity.   A stop at the "Famous" Robertson Pie Shop was disappointing, for all the awards the shop has won, the pie Mike ate would not be given a 'Mike' award and my sausage roll was just average.  Nine kms out of Robertson are the Belmore Falls, we drove up the narrow road to have a look, taking in the valley view as well, then went on to Moss Vale, Bowral and Mittagong, stopping at a viewpoint overlooking Bowral before driving along back roads through gorgeous rolling hills and farming country to Shellharbour. 
At this stage the plan is to move a little way down the coast tomorrow.

Shellharbour to Batemans Bay : 170kms

Saturday, 15th July.

We've not been able to shake off the awful coughs which have dogged us for the past couple of weeks and Mike, in particular, has been hit very hard by the dreaded lurgy.
However, after 4 days in Shellharbour it was time to move on and we left shortly after 10a.m. yesterday to travel south along Princes Highway, enjoying the new section of the Berry/Nowra bypass, which I believe has not yet been officially opened.  We exited the highway at Berry to top up with fuel and would have stopped for a wander around this lovely little town had we found somewhere to park car and caravan.  As always, it was busy and the fact that we have visited on a few previous occasions lessened the disappointment somewhat.
After rejoining the highway, we continued on until about 40kms north of Ulladulla, stopping in a rest area for a sandwich lunch, then again about 30kms on for coffee in the Heritage Bakery in Milton.  F.A. cream cakes have lost just a little of their appeal recently (a temporary condition I'm sure) and we managed to resist temptation without too much difficulty, though I did admire the selection on display.
So we're now in Batemans Bay, having arrived early yesterday afternoon and booking in to the holiday park for two nights, with the option of a free third night.
We drove along the coast this morning to Moruya, about 30kms south of here and strolled through the  Saturday markets, enjoying the music of the "Thugs", a group of ukulele playing ladies of a  'certain age' plus one guitar playing gentleman, then up and down the main street...we've been through the town before but not stopped so it was an interesting little trip.  Our return was along the Princes Highway, stopping briefly in the little town of Mogo before returning to the 'Castle' (our caravan is a Windsor, hence the nickname) for lunch and a nap.
The sun has disappeared from view, replaced by threatening grey clouds so we're in for some inclement weather.

On the Road Again : Kurnell to Shellharbour : 96kms

Tuesday, 11th July.

After almost three weeks spent in Sydney, and having farewelled our family, we set off yesterday morning for the first leg of the slow journey home.  First stop Kurnell to collect the caravan from storage, and then on to Princes Highway, heading south.  The only other stop we made on the way to Shellharbour was at the Southern Gateways Centre where there is a restaurant, information, toilets, stunning views along the coast to Wollongong and.....a gelato emporium!  It was here that we bought a large scoop each of delicious ice cream, simply the best soother of all for sore throats!
For nearly two weeks we have had, and still have, the dreaded lurgy which we've not been able to shake off so a lot of sleep has been lost, as well as voices for a few days making for scintillating conversation, but we have shown a spirit of sharing by coughing in unison on numerous occasions.
We've booked in at the caravan park for two nights but may stay longer.  Since arriving early yesterday afternoon we have done next to nothing, both lacking in the energy needed to go exploring and there seems to be much to explore so we're hoping that rest and sunshine, of which there is an abundance at present, will improve our health and dispositions.  We're one row back from the waterfront here and have a lovely view, hopefully we'll soon be able to enjoy it and all that this area has to offer.