Sat, 8th Nov, 2014 Slaty Creek Campground, Creswick Regional Park to Hunts Bridge Camping Area, Lal Lal State Forest.

Warm night – already 20 degrees when we got up. Yesterday was Ballarat’s public holiday for their Show so a few more people have moved in. The lot right beside us came at midnight and were as noisy as can be. Kids screaming, mums yelling at them for about an hour – and you should see the speed people drive past here – no bush courtesy here.

Got up to screaming kids and yelling mothers. Steve headed off for one last go at detecting. I work on the blog, snuggy in my pj in the van, hiding from the lot next door. There was also 3 little yappy dogs and as many F words with every other word in the sentence and she was only talking about a cup of coffee!!!

Jon and Tash rang to hear about the Melbourne Cup trip. Great to hear from them both, they had a great trip to Sydney the weekend before. Brian has upgraded Jon’s work car so he is stoked.

I headed off for a walk along the Goldfields Trails – following the markers.

Walked to the other camp area – no one there now. Back to hill near camp and looked down where 3 more vans had pulled in. We are on the other side of the creek.

Found lots of lovely little flowers.

The trees split at the bottom and grow 2 and 3 trunks.

Followed the road which looked like it had been a 4WD track – they are blocking off a lot of the tracks.

Bracken fern and lovely yellow bushes everywhere.

Steve was back and we decided to leave after lunch. One of the little boys had fallen into the fire so there was a big commotion and lots of screaming – poor kid – Barry said he had a burnt hand and back.

Into Creswick then to Ballarat – the Show is in full swing though the wind has come up a lot and there is dust everywhere.

Past a brick chimney – saw a few others too, will have to check that out next time.

Saw the hill I saw on the train with the green pastures – it is Mt Buninyong. We stopped in the town and fuelled up. 12 weeks on and 7385km. Steve decided we should have an icecream instead of coffees as we never get a nice coffee and you are guaranteed what the icecream will be like. Yum.

Along the way saw lots of rock fences – the Kanakas must have been here – or the farmer found that was the best way to get the rocks out of the paddocks. Lots of hay around here.

Stopped at a road side rest area near Clarendon but decided to try the next one. Hunts Bridge Camping area in the Lal Lal State Forest. Along some dirt road but not sure where the Forest is. The little creek is actually called Moorabool River. Nice open areas so stopped down by the river and had a coffee by the water. Steve saw a fish – first one we have seen in any of the creeks. A lovely blue wren popped by.

Had my first go at giving him a haircut – not bad if I say so myself.

The van door decided to play up – we can get in but can’t get out. Mr Fix It got out the screwdriver and glue and we can open it again but he put in a string pull just in case. Will definitely have to get that changed in Melbourne.

The clouds came over and the lovely hot day got very chilly with the wind blowing. Then the sound of pitter patter on the van – just a light shower.

Quiet night. Off to my aunt Jocelyn and uncle John’s tomorrow in Mt Eliza.