A wintry kind of Springtime

After our week in Bali Melbourne's return to wintry weather was a little hard to take. Arriving home at the end of October we had expected that the sun would be shining as Summer was almost upon us. With the Spring Racing Carnival in full swing I think that all the racegoers were hoping for the sun to shine too. Having just arrived home on Sunday and worked the next day, I took advantage of the Cup Day holiday to catch up on some much needed rest. This was our first year without Tammy & Paul coming to visit and it really did not feel like Cup Day. The right decision to stay home I think as it was a very cold, windy & damp day. We did watch the race at home only to see Bill's horse (from the sweep) come in last. No real horses this year so I have included the sculptures we took last year out the front of the Racing Museum.

The sun finally decided to show itself as the week wore on but it wasn't until Saturday that there was any warmth in it. We were still under the winter quilt and needing the heater some nights. I know we all like to pick on poor Melbourne's weather but this year it seemed there was just cause. Just before we went away Lake Eildon was getting close to 100% and they had opened the spillway at the weir. Hans & Astrid rung us on Friday night to see if we wanted to join them on Saturday for a trip to the lake. Of course we couldn't wait and drove up to meet them at Healesville for lunch. Thanks Astrid, the smoked salmon rolls were yummy. After lunch we all piled into the car and Hans drove us up the Black Spur and over to Alexandra where we stopped for coffee & desert before heading over to see the Fraser Camp grounds where we visit them each year.

Driving in past the rangers office we saw a sign that said earlier that day the water level had been at 99.9% but with all the rain running into the lake I'm sure it may have even made the 100%. It certainly was an amazing sight to see water where only last year we were sitting around the campfire. Now the water is only about 6ft away from the fireplace. We drove around a lot of the campgrounds and already there were lots of people taking advantage of the beautiful day and the water. Boats, jet ski's & fisherman were all in their element enjoying this most wonderful place. We walked along the edge of the lake to the point before heading back to the car and taking a drive along the skyline rd. This road gives you an overview of the lake and some of the bays you just cannot see from ground level. It is truly a spectacular sight.
We stopped along this road for a picture and so as to get a higher aspect we pulled into a drive that was up on a hill. Soon after the owner came down to leave and we moved to let him out. He stopped and chatted to us for a while and then invited us up the drive to the top of his property to see the really 'spectacular' view. It is a 360 deg view looking over the many bays, The Cathedral Ranges, the Acheron valley and miles beyond. The property is a 'Land for Wildlife' refuge and though we didn't see any of the many creatures that call it home we did see many little birds enjoying the spring blooms on the trees. Saying goodbye & a huge thank you we continued our drive over to the Dam wall at Eildon to see how high the water was there. The spillway had been closed again so we didn't see it flowing over but the weir looks full to me. The wall had been extended a few years back so it can actually be at over 100% before it overflows.

From Eildon we drove back to the Black Spur Inn at Narbethong where we relaxed over dinner and a nice bottle of red wine. The old pub has been licensed since 1863 and has succumbed to two bush fires during its exciting history but managed to survive the great 1939 bushfire and acted as a refuge for the local community. History repeated itself once again on "Black Saturday" 7th February, 2009 when the Black Spur Inn was spared by the great firestorm that destroyed almost all of the nearby areas. It really is a 'must do' place to visit, one for the drive up the Black Spur and two, for some of the best food around.

A leisurely coffee back at Astrid's and then it was time to hit the road for the drive home. Thank you so much for a wonderful day and we can't wait to come and stay with you at the lake in January. And we'll bring our own bed!

Sunday was a lazy day with me catching up on chores & Bill trying to get on top of all his Bali photo's and now a new lot of Eildon pictures. Not sure how well he went but at least it kept him busy for the day.

The sun shone for the next week and while the days were lovely the nights were still cool but at least it looks like Spring is trying to emerge once more. We are off to Perth next week so hopefully once we get back the weather will be sorted.

until next time......