We were awake early – so early I took these photos at sunrise just before we hit the road! The exit from our caravan park is onto a two lane section of the Warburton Hwy where the speed limit is 80kph. Vehicles turning right need to exit quickly when no vehicles are on the highway. This is a challenge with a caravan attached. We managed to turn onto a gravel area between the park and the BP service station as we planned to top up the diesel in our heater tank. Trucks blocked the driveway but we were able to easily turn onto the highway.
Our plan was to drive north to Yea, and not follow Google Maps which suggests driving through a lot of Melbourne suburbs. Sections of the road were blanketed in fog. I didn’t see a large pot hole until it was too late to safely avoid it, but luckily we didn’t suffer any damage to the four tyres that bounced through it.
Bluey had not eaten or drunk anything since yesterday morning, even refusing his favourite Greenies. The vet in Yea was able to see him soon after we arrived. She checked him thoroughly and concluded the most likely problem was gastroenteritis. I explained we were heading to regions with few vets, so she gave him three injections – antibiotics, antinausea and pain relief. I had been syringing water into his mouth to prevent dehydration, but he willingly drank water laced with a dash of my flat white! By lunchtime he was looking for food.
We drove through Seymour and onto Bendigo. I moved into a right turn lane without realising a tram was about to travel through that lane. The driver raised her hands in frustration and we made several gestures indicating we were ignorant Queenslanders who were very sorry! We didn’t stop to look around Bendigo but my navigator extroadinaire took a couple of pics.
There are several interesting towns along the Calder Hwy. We stopped at Charlton for coffee and a break. A large carpark is available for recreational vehicles at the Travellers Rest Stop. This agricultural town has many silos for wheat, oats, canola and barley.
We decided to stop overnight behind the Royal Hotel at Sea Lake. We unhooked leaving Anita and Tilly in the van while Bluey and I toured the painted silos in town and Lake Tyrrell, about 10kms out of town. This is a salt lake that looks pink in summer when there is little water. Each year 100,000 tonnes of salt are harvested from the lake. A circular platform allows people to walk just above the surface of the lake. Bluey licked at some drops of water but didn’t like the strong salty flavour.
We enjoyed our meals in the hotel bistro and returned to find a hungry Blue. After feeding him I lay on the bed warming my feet in Tilly’s cosy pouch.
Committed Travellers 