More correctly we are parked up in the muddy car park of the recreational reserve, surrounded by forest down by a creek, amid much birdlife who are probably unaware of us tucked up in the darkness of the bush. This place is private and will do for the might, but will not win too many brownie points.
Yesterday turned into a red letter day after all; snow fell on Mount Buller and Mount Hotham and our sixth grandchild arrived into the world, a little girl weighing a healthy nine pounds five ounces. Had we left Mansfield as per our original plan, we would have been somewhere out of the range of telecommunications, and Kit would not have been able to contact us to announce the exciting news. So in the end, the rain was a blessing.
This morning did not promise too much more on first viewing, rain having fallen through the night but the temperature was marginally better. Occasional drizzle persisted until after we upped camp and were doing a last minute shop in Mansfield, but as we travelled toward Bonnie Doon, the sun came out and only the tops of the mountains were left shrouded in cloud. Today we drove about this charming little settlement and read the history displayed on the information board. We learned more from the women in an Information Centre further south about Bonnie Doon when discussing lake levels during the drought years. They told us that Bonnie Doon had been particularly unattractive during those years and that properties had been sold by disappointed owners for a song, however now with the lake full, prices had tripled.
We continued on along the Maroondah Highway, travelling the same road as two days ago but in reverse, enjoying it no less. The wombat carcass on the road we had examined two days ago was still there but less recognisable, and as we travelled further, we now recognised many more, along with those of foxes and rabbits.
At Alexandra we parked up and walked up and down the street, unable to buy an Australian here; the plane from Sydney had not connected with the truck and so no one in the area would be receiving the Saturday paper until Sunday. We should be well accustomed to this by now.
A crowd of evangelical Christians were handing out tracts and giving away sausages sizzles; we declined the reading matter but Chris was unable to resist the sausage. It was so good, he was almost tempted to go back for another even if he risked being prayed over.
A visit to the Information Centre proved interesting; the two volunteers were happy to impart as much as they knew about the cycle rail trails, gems to watch out for in in Tasmania, the state of Lake Eildon, an impending 100 kilometre fundraising walk and anything else that came to mind. We finally came away with an armful of brochures and decided to have lunch before heading on our way once more.
The road from Alexandra to Healesville is just beautiful. Soon over hills just south of Alexandra, one then follows the Acheron River through a wide open valley, between the Black and Cathedral Ranges, and then climbs steeply over the Yarra Range through dense tall gum forest down to Healesville. This charming settlement is arrived at quite suddenly on the descent, views of the Maroondah Reservoir between the trees but difficult to access when towing two and a half ton. The town was buzzing with people, surprisingly so for a Saturday afternoon. However when we made our way to the Information Centre, we soon discovered that there was much happening in town this weekend, including horse racing, the labrynth festival and a concert of some kind. We were entranced by the place and just for a moment considered staying here in a caravan park, but then realised that they would all be booked out and if there was a space, it would be at premium rates. We decided to stick with Plan A, which was to head north west up the Chum Creek up into the Toolangi Black Ranges and find this camp noted in Camps 5.
Chris has tuned the television and we have reception albeit only a couple of channels. I am pleased about this because we are both keen to learn the results of the Queensland elections being held today. The media have already decided that Labour will loose and Anna Bligh can retire, replaced by the ex-Lord-Mayor of Brisbane. We have seen the media manipulate elections in New Zealand in past years; reporters should learn that journalism is the art of reporting what has happened, not what they think may happen. However after a new baby yesterday, interest and excitement in the election results today are rather overshadowed by our family news.
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