Ballarat and after Day 1

 We wanted to visit Ingrid near her birthday and decided that rather than spend a lot of time in Melbourne would explore some other areas.  With the Begonia Festival on in Ballarat we decided to make that our first point of call.  

Remembering the chaos of our first dealings with the Westgate Bridge we decided to try using Google Maps on my phone to navigate through Melbourne.  Some friends had named their satnav Sybil, after Mrs Fawlty.  This one isn't quite so bossy, in fact somewhat jolly and has ended up as Polly: street signs around Melbourne continue to be designed, and installed, by Manuel.

To our surprise we set off in drizzle, as far as Genoa.  Then it cleared up to be replaced by shock at diesel prices in Cann River.  Obviously United have decided some gouging is in order, because they can!  We took a comfort and bakery stop in Bruthen where Frances shifted into the RH seat.  So I took a few snaps.

This is a big church in Bairnsdale.

The next town along was Stratford.  Not surprisingly it is on the Avon River.  I wonder which was named first?
Soon after Stratford, Polly suggested a route to bypass Sale.  Having a bit of time up our sleeves we decided to test this out.  It was somewhat convoluted - without Polly I am sure we'd have ended up in Beechworth - but lots of traffic seemed to be following the route.  Possibly a Good Thing.
As we headed into the Latrobe Valley I was surprised to find a field of maize. Perhaps the valley is moving from coal to biofuel? 
We stopped for another comfort break.  Despite this sign the facility was open, although obviously, on the male side, subject to the attention of the local vandals and not the cleaners.
We got our act together and Frances (back in shotgun position) got a snap of this huge open cut mine.
On, on along the freeway.  The sky looked ominous for a while and ended up bucketing down.  I couldn't see the lane markers and think the traffic was down to about 60 kph for a while.
Then the rain stopped the freeway became a charged-way and we dived into a tunnel.  Then over the Westgate Bridge with Polly giving us the good oil, and on to the M8.  The only issue here was where some other road joined and 4 lanes had to fit into 2 lanes.  A small problem.
We were guided around Ballarat to our accommodation which is very close to Lake Wendouree.  After dumping our kit we went to the Lake which was full of young persons doing things in craft.
And a weed muncher!
The church, to the left, was the Jubilee Church dating from 1887 (which is pretty old for Australia).
Bird of the day was quickly sorted with an immature Great Crested Grebe.
Followed by several adults of that species.
We found our way to the area of the Begonia Festival of which this is part.

This large Swan is called Swanaghetti, referencing the famous runner Steve Monaghetti

Links to all reports from the trip.

Day 1 to Ballarat

Day 2 Around Ballarat

Day 3 to and at Ocean Grove

Day 4 Western Treatment Plant

Day 5  Zoo and WTP

Days 6 - 8 CBD and Home


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