campervan3

Sat 19.01 - Absolute Scorcher! 38 degree celcius. We got picked up for our tour of the Barossa Valley Region at 8.30am after we hada bit of confusion over the time difference between Victoria and South Australia.

Our first winery was Chateau Yulana wherewe were taken on a tour, had a tasting session and then lunch, a very small one! We went on to Grant Burge winery, next door to Jacob's Creek (Claire and my favourite wine). Then on to Richmond Grove vineyard and finally to Tanunda town to the Bastow Winery. The Tour Down Under (the Aussie version of the Tour de France) was finishing in town so we got to see the stage finish and presentations. They'd cycled 150kms in 38 degree heat. MAD!!

It was back to Adelaide We didnt really get to see muchof the city. Back at Caravan site, we chatted to Norm and Maureen, originally from Carrickfergus and Tandragee. Theyve been out here for 40 years. He said the best thing about out here is that "they dont care whether youre a Proddie or a Fenian!!".

Sun 20.01 - On the road by 10am. We were meant to stop at Cleland National Park but missed the signpost so it was on to Ballarat, via Bordertown and Horsham. The journey was 597kms. Got caravan park rightbeside the main attraction in tow, Sovereign Hill. There was a goldrush here in the 1850's and people came from all over theworldto find their fortune.

Mon 21.01 - It rained all last night. After breakfast we went tothe Eureka Stockade Museum. In December 1854, the diggers of Ballarat rose in rebellion against the Government of Victoria. They were being unjustly treated, and had no redress except by violence. They set up a Republic, under the flag of the Southern Cross, on the slopes of Eureka, with Peter Lalor (an Irishman) as their Commander in Chief.

On 3rd December, a small army consisting of detachments of the 40th and 12th Regiments of the British Army, together with a number of Police, stormed the Stockade. Twenty-five of the rebel diggers were killed; a large number were more or less seriously wounded; 145 were taken prisoners and subsequently tried. The soldiers had fired on them without warning and the diggers had only defended themselves when attacked.

But, though the diggers were defeated, the people of Melbourne sympathised with them and demanded that the diggers of Ballaarat should be given votes, so that they might elect a member to the Parliament. On October 3rd 1856, the diggers of Ballaarat elected as their representative in Parliament, Peter Lalor, who had led the Rebellion, and who had lost his left arm in that tragic business. Leaving my topic for a moment, I wish to tell that Lalor remained in Parliament till his death in 1886. From 1880 he was the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, and on two occasions declined the offer of a Knighthood from the Imperial Government.

In the afternoon we went to the local art gallery. Very Boring but at least it was indoors. It rained all day. After that it was on to the Gold Museum. Loads ofthe stuff on show. Some very good audio-visual displays.

Tues 22.01 - Woke with wet feet. The tent had leaked a little. Went to Wildlife Park. Way better than the one on PhilipIsland. There were loads of Kangaroos. One in particular had a Joey in her pouch. So cute! Saw Koalas (Catherine got her picture taken with one.) Also saw lizards, crocs, possums, wombats.

Then it was off to Sovereign Hill. It was a replica of the town of Ballarat 1850's style complete with actors going round doing the goldrush thing. It was great. We were there all day. The higlight were seeing $50,000 worth of gold being melted down and remoulded, getting an old style black and white photo taken, and Claire been chosen to help one of the 1850's actors to demonstrate the latest explosive product for mining. Very funny. The explosion went off prematurely and Claire thought she had done something wrong. Priceless.

Fri 23.01 - Left Ballarat at 10 and stopped Glenrowan. This is where the famous Ned Kelly, Australion Outlaw of the 1870's was finally shotted and arrested.

His final words before he was hung were "Such is life".

We stayed in Albury. Chatted to Australian couple that were also on Ballarat Caravan Park. He was a Cop.Interesting Conversation.

Sat 24.01 - Drove to Bulli, north of Woolongong. Pissy Day. Drove over the Great Dividing Mountain Range. It was a very steep descent into Bulli, with loads of hairpin bends. Not the sort of place you want to drive a campervan. Nice beach but weather wasn't suitable.

Sun 25.01 - Drove the 2 hours to Sydney. Left campervan back and got taxi to Randwick. Got accommodation in the Perouse Lodge. Martin and I wnet for a walk to Coogee Beach and a few beers.