Back to Diary	25th June 1988	OZ 26th
Melbourne to Halls Gap	The REAL trip began today as we headed out from M. on highway 8. First stop was at Baachus Marsh in search of Werribee Gorge to do some rock climbing. Only trouble was that we couldn't find the place. The area was lovely, filled with orchards and horses (video). A site we soon got used to was that of the main road in each town being lined with trees which were planted to honor the dead (usually WII) - a tree for each boy/man who didn't make it back. These were called the "Avenue" and a few towns also had an arch (as in de Triumph). Stopped for lunch at Twin lakes in Ballarat. It was so windy and cold that we changed into the warmest clothes we had along. Too cold for me and I stayed in the car while the others fed the swans and ducks. A tram runs from town to the lake (video). At Hall's Gap we did a side-trip into The Grampians. On the way we spotted a flock of large white birds in flatlands that soon gave way to bush covered hills (video). While checking out Lake Bellefield (video) we ran into a fellow who was collecting rocks, which he said may contain gold. So Renee picked out a couple pieces which appear to have gold ore flecks (video). Hiked to see Silverband Waterfalls (video)and spotted the first of five koalas in trees right at the road's edge (video). Saw bright blue fantails and a big black bird with yellow ringed eyes in the car park (video). We tramped about for a couple hours doing the Delley's Dell track that followed Dairy Creek above the falls. Sweet smell in the dampness unlike NZ's bush smell (shaded by a canopy of treeferns with mosses and epiphytes on the trunks. One of the few places in the Grampians where there is a wet sclerophyll forest) (video). At dusk, as we drove back to Hall's Gap, kangaroos appeared everywhere. Filled car with petrol at 48¢/l (half NZ price). David bought an Aussie range hat ($5.95) and a patch. I bought much needed gloves. Attendant told us about the area and convinced us to stay the night rather than cross mountains in dark (audio). I don't know if there was much advantage as there was a heavy fog in the morning and we didn't see much. We were lucky to get last place at Pinnacle Holiday lodge - new place ($58). Gail made a spaghetti meal while Ne and I went shopping. Looked at the day's videos. Game of gin rummy.(video). Watched Hey Hey Its Saturday and "Rage", a rock video show, that was modern rap influenced but no reggae that fills NZ airwaves.	Silverband Koala Koala Dell
Back to Diary		OZ 26th