Saturday 30 April 2005
A cool start to this morning with the thermometer only
showing 10 degrees at 7:15am and the sky was overcast, however it hadn't
rained during the night. The girls had made up his mind that we would
visit some of the wineries around us in the Yarra Valley today.
We left the caravan park at about 9:45am and headed West
through Healesville and on to Yarra Glen. From here we climbed up into
the hills (mountains?) to the West of Yarra Glen and wound our way through
Christmas Hills and on to Sugarloaf Reservoir where we stopped for a visit.
This is obviously a popular picnic spot when the weather is warmer, however
we were the only people there on this cool morning. Whilst there we were
able to photograph some red parrots that were enjoying a feed of berries
from one of the bushes in the parking area.
After leaving the reservoir we made our way through Watsons
Creek and then visited the Memorial Tower on a hill at Kangaroo Ground.
This tower was built just after the 1914-18 World War to commemorate the
sacrifice made by so many men. To get to the top of the tower it is necessary
to climb many steep steps, however once up there the 360 degree panorama
provides views from Melbourne City to the mountains of the Dandanong Ranges.
Next we turned North through Panton Hill and Smiths Gully
before stopping in St Andrews to walk through a local weekend market.
It was very difficult to find somewhere to park because there were cars
in every available space prior to the town limits, in every town street
and on the road out of town. As there were things to buy, the girls were
off out of the Patrol before the 'Other One' could find somewhere to park.
Once he had parked up, he then had to make the long walk back to the market
and find the girls. It was a rather alternative type of market place and
the smells that wafted through the air were not all from legal incense
to be sure.... It was a little bit of a struggle to get the girls back
to the Patrol after they had been standing there enjoying the 'atmosphere'.
On leaving St Andrews we wound our way through some very
winding steep roads through to King Lake, then headed South along Melba
Highway as far as De Bortoli's vineyard. Here we checked out the restaurant
but found it was booked out so we were unable to enjoy their fine dining,
however the girls did sample a touch of the white wine before we moved
on.
Our next stop was at Henkells Winery where Judy tried
to wheel away a large wine barrel on a trolley but then she decided it
may not be cold enough, so we ventured inside the wine cellar and restaurant.
Judy then shouted lunch for us all, which was quite sumptuous. Prior to
lunch the girls test tasted a couple of white wines and liked the Muscat
Traminer so much they had to have a bottle with their lunch. In fact there
had been four bottles of it purchased before we left the restaurant....
It's a good thing that the 'Other One' was driving and only drank water!!!!
By this time it was time to head back to Healesville
and the caravan park so the girls could manage to sleep off some of their
earlier indulgences so they can start on the next bottle at 'Booze O'clock'.
We arrived back at the park at about 3:15pm and the girls took it easy
whilst the 'Other One' prepared the web site and other preparations for
the last night we have Judy with us on this trip.
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