Day 44: Wed 31 Jan – Bendigo

 12-22 degC!! 

We awoke to a very cool day, without the aircon!  Subsequently, we only got out of bed after 7am, very unusual for us.  After a cooked breakfast, we finally got on the bikes about 9am when it was still only 15 degC, combined with a very strong headwind, it felt like it was well below 10 degC, but away we went. 

We did Bendigo City and the highlight was the Cathedral, followed by the Art Gallery as a second, but very distant second.  We saw lots of lovely old buildings from the 19^th Century as well. 

Morning tea was at Maccas as we knew the coffee would be good.  Lunch was Chinese and it was quite large.  We were home about 2:30pm, had a LLD/rest, went grocery shopping, and relaxed for the rest of the afternoon.  

Wendy’s photo of Sacred Heart Cathedral

Front entrance to Sacred Heart Cathedral

SHC Organ

The city’s old fire station

Outside the Bendigo Art Gallery (BAG)

BAG - Not a display, but made a nice photo

Brett Whiteley in BAG

Pano of Bendigo from half way up the Poppet Head

Chinese Garden and the Golden Dragon Museum

Outside the Golden Dragon Museum

Queen Victoria in Bendigo

Alexandra fountain in Bendigo

Bendigo Presbyterian Church

Greg’s photo of Sacred Heart Cathedral

Inside SHC

Old building in Bendigo

BAG

Bendigo City Hall

Conservatory Gardens, Bendigo

View from Poppett Head

Queen Elizabeth Oval grandstand

Poppett Head

Another old building in Bendigo

Day 43: Tue 30 Jan – Shepparton to Bendigo

 Drive: 135 km

17-13-22 degC 

It wasn’t until we turned the aircon off (set at 22 degC) that we realised it was quite a bit cooler than it has been.  We had originally planned to do a morning ride before heading off.  However, as it was raining, we decided a walk was the better option.  That didn’t eventuate either as it was still raining when we were ready to head out.  So, we had a leisurely breakfast, packed up and left Shepparton just before 9am. 

We intended stopping at Murchison for mornos, however, by the time we arrived it was raining almost cats and dogs, so we kept driving and stopped in Rushworth. It was still raining, but not so hard.  Coffee and snacks were had in the van and then we took a walk to stretch the legs.  Greg left before Wendy and by the time she caught up, Greg had finally found someone he knew – Mike Wellington – an old SIB mate, and his wife Helen.  After a chat we completed our walk and made it back to the van. Mike and Helen live just outside Rushworth and love the “village life”. Mike likes gold prospecting, so he’s in the right region. 

The landscape was still very flat with wheat and livestock the main activities. 

Our next stop was at the BIG4 Bendigo Ascot Holiday Park, where we were checked-in by 12pm.  A nice drive-thru site made for an easy set-up and we were soon having lunch, in the van as it was far too cold to eat outside!  Weird weather! 

After an LLD we walked out to the Bendigo Pottery site.  Wendy opted to view glass bead being blown – quite interesting but not nearly as amazing as glass blowing.  We moved onto the museum which was basically a very large antiques store. After a 3km walk we decided we’d had enough and headed home.  

Dinner was eaten inside with the windows and doors closed to keep out the cold wind.

A big difference - 38 deg to 13 deg C

Kiln at Bendigo Pottery

Bendigo Pottery

Beswick China in Bendigo Art Gallery

Sunset pano at BIG4 Bendigo Ascot Caravan Park

Rushworth in the rain

Greg and Mike at Rushworth

Wendy watching glass beads being blown

Day 42: Mon 29 Jan – Shepparton

 25-37 degC 

After breakfast we rode into Shepparton to have a look around and to get some exercise before it became too hot.  We took the scenic route as we wanted to avoid the main roads and found a lovely path through the bush which led us to Victoria Lake and then into Shepparton itself.  We were looking for a Maccas to have morning tea at, but the only two are on the outskirts of town, one North and the other one on the South side.  So, we took a walk through the Mall and found a coffee shop that looked OK and ordered.  Coffee was cold, but the toasted fruit bread was not too bad. 

Next stop was SAM – Shepparton Art Museum.  Now, you don’t normally find Wendy in too many art galleries nor museums, however, this one was OK, and it was small.  Half an hour later we were looking for something else to do.  By this time, Greg’s worms were starting to bite, and were going to find one of those Maccas stores, but they were too far out, so we went home instead, this time on the main road and it wasn’t too bad.  The road had a nice big verge and we felt safe.  After lunch, Wendy had an LLD and Greg just relaxed with his book. 

Whilst Wendy fired up the computer and logged onto work, Greg went for another ride and was gone for hours. He had got a bit lost, sort of on purpose as he reckons you find the most interesting stuff be getting lost?! 

 Aircon went on not long after dinner and we relaxed inside for a while before undertaking the nightly routine and sleeping.

Shepparton War Memorial

Sam – The four horseman of the 21st Century Apocalypse 2009

SAM – art, allegedly

SAM – Delinquent Angel 1961

SAM – Woman and Child – possibly the best piece of art we’ve

seen, ever! So very lifelike

SAM – unknown title, unofficial title – ‘Mr Piggy’

SAM - Plastic bubbles called ‘art’

SAM – Greg and Bugs

Outside Council offices – Educated Cow

Footy playing cows

Painted cow