roadquill1

Saturday, February 11, 2017

Day 11: Saturday, February 11

…So there we were…almost out of petrol on a very lonely stretch of outback backroad (thanks to the combined navigational skills of Siri, actually Googletta, the voice on Google Maps, and Tony) near a deserted town called Emu Flats…on the “hottest day on Australian records – a “catastrophic weather” day, as per ABC Radio. While we bounced along a one-lane ancient pavement, and anxiously eyed the fuel tank gauge, Googletta announced that “in 1 kilometer, (she pronounces it incorrectly to rhyme with thermometer) turn left onto Thingaroo Track.” I don’t recall the name of the “track” (it may have been “Goataroo Track” – lots of “…oos” in the “land down under”! And… I think that the word “divorce” may have been mentioned more than once from the passenger seat!

Okay, so though most of that happened, you may want to categorize it as fake news! Anyway, we made it to Kyneton, where we found petrol, and saved the marriage for another 40 years!
However…to back up a bit (but not through Emu Flats)…

Day 8: Wednesday, February 8
Nicki took us for a wonderful bike ride around the eastern parts of the Canberra Lake. We were able to join her thanks to the generous donations of road bikes from Caroline Pfahl, and Anne Johnston, two of Nicki’s “mates”. (Another good Aussie addition to my vocab.) After the ride we had a quick cool-off swim in Nicki’s pool, then headed out for a quick shopping trip to pick up an “Esky” (portable cooler for drinks) and some new sandals. After a home-made dinner, Sandy and I used the Airbnb and Booking.com Apps (recommendations from Bob and Jane Aspen, and Nicki) to book some accommodations along our planned route. 

Day 9: Thursday, February 9
Today is a challenge! But first, since the clouds have finally lifted after all this time with Nicki, she would like us to see Canberra from the top of Mt. Ainslie under blue sky. We do so, and say our fond good-byes to Nicki. And now to the challenges…I have to learn how to drive on the wrong side, once again, I have to learn how to deal with oncoming traffic in round-abouts, and…I have to find my way, with assistance from Googletta, and my Quilter…through towns with weird names like Cooma, Jindabyne, Thredbo, Khancoban and aiming for Corryong’s campground at Colac-Colac. AND…to add to the challenge, there is deathly silence from my driving companion for many kilometers (“KILL-o-meters”, remember!…I think she does!) as we wind down the mountains on the narrow, twisty road from the ski village of Thredbo to Khancoban.

Love, light and happiness returns as we reach wider, straighter roads. The cabin that we are assigned to at Colac-Colac is Spartan, but lovely, clean and cool. (However, I think that Pharoah must have rented it before us, because I found one dead frog and two live ones hopping around…the live ones, not the dead one, for goodness sake!)

Day 10: Friday, February 10
The run from Thredbo must have unhinged Sandy more than I imagined, because tonight, she has booked us into the Beechworth Insane Asylum. (“You can check in any time you want, but you can never leave!) No lie, and not fake news! But, once again, I get ahead of myself.

After a short tour of Corryong in the morning, we followed Googletta’s directions to get to Beechworth. We watched in horror as the outside temperatures climbed, and climbed to finally reach 42°C at our destination. Our destination was the George Kerferd Hotel, which, it turns out, is on the site of the Beechworth Insane Asylum which finally closed down in the late 1990s. Although it is only a short walk into town, the outside air would quickly have turned me into a very tough piece of chicken if I had tried it, so we drove in, found a place to park in the shade, and wandered around in lung searing air. We decided to hit the Brew Road brew pub for pizza later. Then, back to our room, and a swim in the pool. (This also had risks as wasps were hovering over the surface and dipping down for drinks.) Pizza dinner was great! Then back to the Asylum, er…Hotel where we wandered the beautiful grounds and checked out the amazing old structures of the asylum. On a brochure it described how it took 2 signatures to get into the hotel – oops, asylum, but 8 signatures to get out! Less than 1/3 of all inmates ever were released! 

Day 11: Saturday, February 11
We have returned to our starting point, almost. I went looking for 8 people who would help me sign out. They were all in the free breakfast room. We left Beechworth, which despite my silliness, is a very beautiful town with friendly folks like Gina Kromar at the flower shop.

The drive to Ballarat is beautiful – at least the way Googletta took us. Sandy was excited to see signs warning of kangaroos, koalas, wombats, and emus, but alas, though we had seen many on Thursday, (BTW they were all prone… “sleeping, Sandy!” – some more soundly than others…i.e.skeletal) today there were no sightings – lively or otherwise.
Our residence at the end of the day is a motel that could be straight out of the 1950s – except for the microwave, air conditioner and flat screen TV without rabbit ears. However, it is clean and comfortable, and totally in keeping with what was happening downtown where we went for supper: the Ballarat Beat Rockabilly Festival, complete with autos from the 1950s, folks dressed in period costumes, and loud street bands playing early rock!
And now I have reached the end, and I can hear the sighs of relief from here.
We hope that you are all well, and recovering from winter miseries! Much love to all!
The Quilter and the Quill (Sandy and Tony)
p.s. We found a quilt shop in Ballarat, but it was closed now until Monday! Aw darn!
p.p.s. Pics will be posted on Facebook and Instagram.