Sally & MAV: Sale to Kyneton

Free camp at Golden Beach

May 21st
Beautiful day. Headed to Lakes Entrance today after driving back through Sale and then Bairnsdale, both very big regional centres. Stopped in Sale to have a look at the swing bridge, which swings from a central pivot and is the only one of its kind in Australia.

Swing Bridge at Sale

Lakes Entrance is a very pretty fishing town with lots of waterways. Walked the main street of the town and set up camp at one of many caravan parks.

May 22nd
Walked into town from the caravan park, about 3 km, and Mike met me after he had driven in and booked tickets on an 11.30 am lakes cruise. Then we found a café for brekky. Later, once on the boat we were dropped off in Metung for two hours for lunch at the Hotel and a walk around the village.

Thunderbird

The actual Lakes Entrance

Unloading the fishing boats

Then back on the boat for more cruising through the many lakes and some of their residential canal developments. Although interesting, the trip struggled to match what we had experienced in Tassie. The man-made entrance is very narrow and the tide rushes through. As we returned to the wharf a fishing boat followed us in, so we went and watched it unload. Looking closely at tomorrows weather as wanting a clear day to go over the Great Dividing Range. Some roads have been closed off and on over the past few weeks depending on the snowfall.

May 23rd
Wonderful clear day so we headed north west, up the Great Alpine Road which takes you to Mount Hotham and Falls Creek. The northern section of the Great Alpine Road is closed for road repairs however, so once in Omeo (middle of the Alps) we headed up the Omeo Highway. Interesting 'highways', it felt like we were back in Tasmania. Some narrow sections, major twisting and turning and the sides fall away to nothing. Even an unsealed section which amazes me for a highway, but they are currently working on it and have 12 km to go. Hardly any traffic, maybe 4 oncoming cars in a couple of hours!

Omeo Highway

Levelling the road so we could get through

Snowy peaks from the top of Omeo Highway

Weather was fantastic though which was a relief, as would not like to do it on a bad day. Long drive but lots of changing scenery, rolling hills, pretty green valleys, cascading rivers, dry brown alpine areas and snowy peaks eventually took us to Wodonga. A warm and sunny 17 degrees on our arrival. Going to be a cold night though, about 2 degrees.

May 24th
Very sad today as we mourn the loss of our wonderful friend, Carole. Strong, courageous, caring and dedicated. We will miss her no-nonsense approach to life, optimism and positivity so very much. A beautiful person. Sometimes life just seems so unfair!! Lost the desire for holidays and feeling the strain of distance. A teleport home about now would be good!

Despite heavy hearts we did a loop around past Hume dam to Albury then drove down the River Murray on the NSW side to Mulwala then crossed back into Victoria and through to Shepparton and finally Kyneton where we have a weeks accommodation booked at Kyneton Bushland Resort. Kyneton is in a great location, well situated between Bendigo, Ballarat and Castlemaine for lots of sightseeing over the next week.