But just outside town was a "must see" stop - Lake Boga Flying Boat Museum.
I know that Michael has always wanted to visit so there was no driving past.
It was a well laid out, interesting museum on a marvelous, perfectly round lake.
Then it was on to Echuca, which was very busy and after looking at one very crowded caravan park we went to the information centre to see what other options we had. We got a couple of leaflets but I suppose they can't "play favourites" so the lady could not offer anything like a recommendation We were sitting on the bench outside the info centre when a lady, who had been in the centre, came out and stopped to check if we had found what we wanted. She was a member of the public, who lived across the river in Moama - NSW. She recommended a caravan park, just over the bridge, walking distance from where we were. I found the leaflet for that park, found that it was one at which we get discount so rang up and booked it. Easy if you find the right person.
We were also told that the Moama Bowling Club does great $10 meals on Monday and Tuesday nights, and it's Monday today.
We lazed the afternoon away and then walked a short distance to the Bowling Club. Michael joined up as a club member, only $5, (to get the discount meals). Then we went to eat - there was a 45 minute wait for a table.
We were actually called after 35 minutes but when we ordered our meals we were told that we would have another 45 minute wait for the food!
After 50 minutes we found a waiter and asked how much longer - he checked with the chef who promised no more than another 10 minutes.
These T-bone steaks, chips and salads had better be good!
The food actually arrived 8 minutes later - a mere 58 minutes after we'd ordered it. If we hadn't spent $5 joining the club we would not have waited for a table in the first place. The food WAS good but maybe that was because after an hour and a half we were starving. ( Note to self: cook in the van, eat at a restaurant or pub, or get a take away.)
The next morning we went back into Victoria, through Echuca heading south for Melbourne. We travelled on a couple of roads away from the highway to avoid the heavy traffic but the condition of the back roads was so rough that we returned to the main highway.
We cut across country south of Heathcote to get to Seymour and then down to the little town Yea. We went past the military training grounds at Puckapunyal. When we got into Seymour we had a bit of a shock when as we turned right at a roundabout in the town centre there was a railway bridge right in front of us with a height limit of 3.4metres. Our height is 3.2metres - Phew!
Then we had a smooth drive into Yea. Another discount caravan park here so we were ready to relax before driving down to Melbourne tomorrow.
The next morning we sent to Marmalade's cafe in the town to get some cakes for afternoon tea with our friends down in Melbourne. (We would be staying a few days with them in the Eastern suburbs). We trusted the GPS to get us down into the city, avoiding freeways, toll roads and low bridges! It was all so easy.
Well I'm not sure if Michael would agree with that, the traffic was much heavier
than we have had for quite a while.
We parked in the street and after a welcome cuppa with Rhonda and Gary moved onto their front lawn. To get the van level we used our blocks of wood. The grass moaned under the weight and the boards sank down but we were happy, we were level.
We stayed here 7 years ago and the joke is that the lawn has only just recovered!!
It was so lovely to catch up with Rhonda and Gary and their family.
We first met Rhonda in 1977 when we were on the same ship. We were migrating to Aus and she was returning home after working in UK. We also met her in May this year when she visited UK and again in August this year when she was back in UK for a walking holiday. We don't see each regularly but went all out for three times in one year - a hat trick!!
We spent the first night catching up, all talking at once, but eventually did manage to agree on what to do over the next couple of days.
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