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Recently we spent a few weeks in Victoria to be a part of Kristy and Dean's wedding. While in Victoria we took a little extra time off and had a look around.
One afternoon we took a drive to Queenscliff near Geelong. The wind was considerably cooler than in the Top End however the scenery was great.
The sunset looking towards Point Lonsdale.
While at Queenscliff, one of the Spirit of Tasmania vessels came through the heads into Port Phillip Bay.
After the wedding we had the pleasure of looking after grandson Noah for a few days - Noah and Nancy getting some breakfast organised. This little fellow loves his fruit!
Noah and Aunty Laura.
Another day, Nancy and her sister Heather spent the day at the working gold diggings museum, Sovereign Hill in Ballarat. While they were there, I did a bit more family research. My great grandfather James McDonald was born at Linton Diggings near the current day small town of Linton, located south west of Ballarat. On his birth record his father John's occupation is recorded as a 'miner'. He and Isabella already a son named Donald. A local historian told me that they would have almost certainly lived in a tent as this was during the early days just after gold was discovered in this area - that would have been a challenge with two very young children! Below is the plaque remembering those early miners and their families.
Current day Linton Diggings.
While at Linton, I noticed another nearby small town to the north called 'Snake Valley'. That triggered a memory from many years earlier. After completing my commercial pilot's license in Ballarat my flight instructors provided some advanced bush flying training. This included landing on some bush airstrips and sheep paddocks - one being the paddock below near the small town of Snake Valley. I recall taking off over the church in the distance and feeling sorry for the people below as we didn't have much height by the time we passed over the church.
The above mentioned church - close up.
Spring in Victoria means paddocks of canola in full flower.
We headed for the Grampian Mountains. I had only seen them from the air and Nancy had never been there. Some kangaroos near Halls Gap.
The following day we decided to drive/walk to the summit of Mt William - the highest peak in the Grampians.
Just a few months ago Nancy had a very sore knee and was using a walking stick so could not have even contemplated this walk back then.
It was a crisp, clear, sunny morning making for a very pleasant walk.
A panorama photo looking south east.
Nancy at the summit.
A panorama photo looking west.
Looking south triggered another memory. Back in 1990 I recall doing some introduction to mountain flying training in the southern Grampians - crossing a saddle of a range, doing 180 turns in valleys etc.
All too soon our limited time in Victoria was running out, however I have a feeling we will return to this area again sometime - a beautiful place!
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