Well the trip did not start out the way that we had planned. While visiting family in Geelong just before Christmas our newest daughter, Aurora, became unwell and ended up in hospital. She was released just before Christmas and was not able to fly back to Katherine. As a result David flew back while Anthea stayed in Victoria with the children. David sorted out the house in Katherine in packed the caravan and then drove through the centre as quickly as possible to get back to the family as quick as he could. So instead of starting our trip in Katherine and enjoying the trip down we are now basically starting the trip in Victoria.
We were initially staying at a little AirBnB in a outer suburb called Drysdale. However, we then moved the Caravan to Anthea’s aunt and uncles property. This has been a fantastic time as it has given Jasmine and Isabella time to bond with a part of the family that they have not had as much contact with. They are smitten with their uncle Phil and are often found following him around as he checks on his large model train collection. They have also made butter with Auntie Jan and had fun painting artwork for the fairy garden.
While here we decided to make a trip to Soverign Hill. It was cold and wet on the day that we went but it was a fantastic day. The girls loved getting the chance to learn about life in the olden days. We all got to try our hand at old school bowling which was quite the experience and more difficult that it looks. Jasmine and Isabella were able to try writing with an old pen and quill with ink pots on the desk. Jasmine did quite well, but Isabella decided to try her luck with finger painting, did not work as well. We also tried to pan for gold but did not end up finding our fortune.
Sovering Hill Police Officer discussing life of the times 
Isabella getting ready for the musket firing 
Pie eating contest at Soverign Hill 
Pie eating contest at Soverign Hill 
Pie eating contest at Soverign Hill 
Soverign Hill main street 
Soverign Hill Main Street 
Enjoying our free pies (visited on world pie day) 
Aurora enjoying a sleep in the pram 
Isabella geting every last morsel of pie from the bag 
Soverign Hill General store 
Learning about life in the Gold Rush Days 
Soverign Hill Main Street 
Red Coats Demo 
Red Coats Demo 
View from the top of the old mine shaft tower 
View from the top of the old mine shaft tower 
Boiler that generated the steam to drive all the engines 
Boiler that generated the steam to drive all the engines 
Workshop that ran on steam engine and belt drive 
Gold Rush era bowling 
Gold Rush era bowling 
Gold Rush era bowling 
Gold Rush era bowling 
Jasmine trying out olden days bowling 
Jasmine and Isabella learning about school in the Gold Rush era 
Jasmine and Isabella learning about school in the Gold Rush era 
Jasmine and Isabella learning about school in the Gold Rush era 
Soverign Hill School House 
Looking for our fortune 
Looking for our fortune
We also decided to take a short trip to Warrnambool for a few days for a bit of exploring and to catch up with one of Anthea’s friends. We visited Tower Hill and met some Emus and had a lovely walk through the bush. The girls were thrilled with looking for berries and loved meeting the emu’s, except the one that just appeared behind Jasmine and scared her. There was also a bush fire appeal concert on so we got to experience some local music with local playgrounds. Anthea then took the girls out on Lake Pertobe for spin around in a motor boat which they all thouroughly enjoyed.
We came back to Phil and Jan’s place for a few more days to get some servicing done on the car and do last minute preparations for the trip. The next stop is to the Yarra Valley to see the Elton John concert and then we are up to Swan Hill for about a month. Not entirely sure of the plan after Swan Hill, we will just make it up as we go.
Look forward to updating everyone with the next segment of travel.