Cruise the Bottom Lake aboard M.V. Lochard

Had to take a cruise on this interesting lake.  George and Pam gave us a great informative tour of the history and life on and around the foreshores of this lake.  This boat was circa 1910 and refurbished throughout in 2003. Oh, the stories abound of the folk around Mallacoota.

Showed us this beautiful 1st grade abalone shell.  Wow!

George threw chicken pieces into the water and this Eagle flies down and gets his feed for the night

Kites also like George to feed them so he has to take plenty out

The archway in front of this house tucked up one of the inlets of the lake is actually whale ribs!!
The family of this 200 acre farm only come to stay Christmas and Easter.  Have a single farm manager running the farm

Other stories - there is a private girls college in Melbourne has a farm up in the reaches of this lake where the girls are bought out to live for 8 weeks.  No phones, no family, have to tend wholly for themselves for the 8 weeks.  Make or breaking of them!!!!

Also a gold mine up amongst the hills only accessible by the lake.  

If any of you are coming down this way.  This boat cruise is a MUST to do in Mallacoota.

Free Camping for a couple of days

Willow Park beside the La Trobe River

Grazing Cattle beside the walk into town

After travelling through Bairnsdale and stopping to get Wayne's phone working again, we decided to head on through Sale to Rosedale where we had read about Willow Park.  This is situated 1.8 klms out of the historic little township so we walked over the stock/walking bridge and amongst the paddocks of cattle to see the history of the township.  By the time we settled in for the night there were about seven other overnighters in the park.

Interesting monument in the middle of town remembering Patrobas  the Melbourne Cup Winner in 1915 which was the first lady owner winner.  The horse also won the Caulfield Cup and the Derby all in the same year.  Very interesting reading all the historic signage all around town as we walked.  Great exercise for the mind and body in this cold weather.  Took the brollies as the showers are short and sometimes sharp!

Yes - We have crossed the Border

We crossed into Victoria yesterday and found Mallacoota.  What a beautiful quiet place to explore for a couple of days.  Getting up this morning, another blue sky and no we did not get the strong winds down here.   We finally got back on our bikes!!!  Pedalling around the foreshores of Mallacoota Inlet was a "dream time".  Stopped at Karbeethong Jetty and watched the fishermen coming and going with the pelicans waiting for a feed.  Carried on to the end of the track at Bucklands Jetty before returning back to the Mallacoota Foreshore Holiday Park.  Another GREAT day in PARADISE.

Bucklands Jetty with such calm waters for reflections.

On our way back past Karbeethong Jetty

Looking over the water towards the Foreshore Caravan Park and further out to the open sandbar

Reflections in the afternoon sunshine

Pambula Beach

Woke to yet another crisp, beautiful day so we took a stroll along the beach and listened to the surf rolling in.  What more could one ask for.  So mesmerising to sit on the sand dunes and just meditate.  Washing to be finished before we take a stroll through the Jiguma Walking Track along the cliffs around to the entrance to Pambula River.

Love to see the red colours of these cliffs

Looking down to the caravan park that we are at and north towards Merimbula. Lots of sea spray blowing through the bush.

Entrance to Pambula River

Yesterday we sat down to a late lunch and had several visitors!!

Eden - The Home of Old Tom

Another fine, sunny day so off we travelled down to Eden.  Wow - what a breathtaking view from the Lookout over Twofold Bay.  Looking south to the southern side lies Boyds Tower and the wood chip mill.  Boyds Tower is only a small part of  Eden's history which abounds with the traditions of the sea and New South Wales whaling industry.  The Eden Killer Whale Museum houses the skeletal remains of legendary "Old Tom", a killer whale that reputedly guided whalers to their prey.  The museum tells of Eden's whaling, Aboriginal, timber and fishing histories.

The fishing industry still remains today at Eden

This is only one of seven mosaic's telling the history over the years that surround Eden. 

Talking to other "Grey Nomads" up at the outlook, they pointed out the Seahorse Inn across Twofold Bay at Boydtown, so after calling into the Information Centre and getting more travel information for our Victoria ventures, we took a look at Boydtown before getting back to watch the Anzac league test.  Noticed the unfinished church high on the hill and the delightful Inn on the shores of the Bay.  This is the site of Ben Boyd's 1840s whaling town.  Since 1843 the Scottish entrepreneur's legacies to Eden lie in the National Parks north and south along the coast from Eden.

The lovely Seahorse Inn where one can get the best "fish and chips" meal.

Sapphire Coast

Merimbula township looks very interesting so we decided to unhitch the rig down at Pambula Beach and spend a day back having a look around Merimbula.  If only we liked oysters.  Down here only $6 for a dozen and plenty of outlets around this area.  I would say around 70 per cent of Merimbula Lake is covered in oyster leases as well as Top Lake and naturally they are plentiful.  So is the fishing by the looks of fishermen on the shores, cleaning their catches.  Loved seeing the Short Beach!!!!!!

These platforms and resting chairs overlook Short Beach

Bega Where The Cheese Is Made

We had our first free park for soo..... long it was quite an event.  When we pulled up mid afternoon the park was very busy with folk parked for lunch, meeting friends and just having a quiet time alone. We decided on our spot for the night and within an hour another caravaner pulled up and asked if we were intending to stay the night.  As we were, they stayed as well.  Upon getting up this morning, we also noticed an old man and his dog slept in an older ute!!
After chatting to the other caravaners we headed to the Bega Cheese Museum and Factory.  Very interesting to me as I was born and bread on a dairy farm back home at Dairy Flat, New Zealand.  Loved reading the exhibits and the history of the area before we sat down to lunch of freshly baked scones.  Wayne likes his date scones while I love my spinach and feta cheese scones.  (Must be the cooler weather that I am mentioning food!!)?

Just like the original building from 1860,s

Looking at the seperators  that we had in Dad's milking shed