Going bush

  

On Wednesday day Billy & Lucy went off on school camp and I came home feeling a little flat. The dogs were jumping at the back door saying "take us for a walk!!" so I did just that. I took my camera along and decided to play  Vic's photo game at the same time. What an adventure we had.

This is where I started off. On a walking track that leads from the Twin Bridges to Lake Daylesford. It's a beautiful track, and very muddy after a big rain. The track leads you along one side of the creek and then back along the other side.

After walking a little ways it was time for a 180 turn and here I found a beautiful, green mossy patch, just like a fairy garden, with a mysterious tunnel or outlet. Perhaps that is where the fairies live.

I kept walking, all the while hearing bird song and smelling the freshness of the bush. Can you see the full creek flowing?

I passed this amazing stone wall. The Daylesford region has many such stone walls, someone told me recently that traditionally women constructed the walls, searching for the right stones in paddocks and by creeks.

Now for something blue. The sky was definitely grey, not a trace of blue. The gums were vaguely blue but not really. Hmmm....

Suddenly! Two patches of blue at once. This beautiful old rotunda, built around the 1930's when this little area was a hub of social activity. When Lake Daylesford was first built the Springs around it became a place of gathering, of community singing, swimming & socialising. Sadly now it is quite desolate, with just the hint, a whisper, of days gone by.

Max kindly checked out this pump, just to make sure it was actually blue. Thanks Max. (Never mind that dogs are colour blind..he is quite an exceptional boy)

Ok, left turn and 50 - 70 paces...

some amazing graffiti from 1940. Looks like a whole bunch of Arbuckle's

had some fun at the Springs. Wonder if it was Joy and her brothers?

Or maybe her sisters...her brothers may have been away at war. Isn't it amazing to see this writing, after so many years? I love the shape of the letters from that era.

Such a lot of history on this walk today.

Now I'm walking again and looking for a 7 or an 11. 

On a wall near one of the springs I find more graffiti,

and what looks like an 11, just above the middle heart.

Taking the first left I find another old building.

Time for a sit down while Daisy frolics through the green grass. I wonder what this little hut is/was for?

Choosing to walk straight ahead I can see it was once an engine room, a pump house of sorts.

And inside I find this guy, looking surprised to see me! 

It must get lonely sometimes, now that his working life is over. I hope as the sparrows

fly in and out, making their nests, that they bring him news of the world.

Now I'm looking for an archway, or something architecturally interesting...

and there it is! A lovely old stone bridge, made with crazy paving. Time to cross that bridge and head back along the creek.

After 20 minutes or so of walking along the twisting, turning track I suddenly see my car through the trees, on the other side of the creek. Can you see it too? I also realise that I have to cross this creek...and there is no bridge! Uh oh..there's no way around it but to walk across the knee deep icy cold water, in my boots and tights and trackies. Cold!!! Ahh!  The dogs hop in the back of the car & I squelch in and set off for home and a nice hot cup of tea. Phew, what an adventure. I felt like I had visited a fun park from the past, a pretty ghost town hidden in the bush. I loved walking through the tall gums, all alone except for the dogs and the birds, and the creatures that scurried & hid beneath the scrub.

Thanks Vic for inspiring me to go on this trek! It was a lot of fun. 

Oh and Daisy & Max say thanks too.

Happy Friday

When you live in a beautiful place there really is no excuse to be inside.

Recently I have revived my walking 'program' and have been loving the added bonus of being surrounded by amazing scenery, fresh air, blue sky & the sounds of happy birds.

I guess this is one of the reasons we moved to the country, and one of the reasons we stayed! To be in an environment that is so inspiring, invigorating but also soothing & serene, where cars don't dominate our lives, where there isn't a billboard for miles.

I know not everyone wants this, or are in a position to make such choices. I feel lucky & happy that we did and could. Our kids may not have some of the facilities of the city, or even of bigger country towns. And yes I do miss the different cultures of the city, getting to know people from other places and their experiences, the delicious food, oh & the trams! But I can't really think of anywhere I'd rather be, than here.

Yesterday Sunday & I went for a bush walk with the dogs, just at the end of our street. Max & Daisy had a ball, especially in the creek that runs along Doctor's Gully. Sunday threw stones into the water holes, chatted, sang, ran & jumped. We looked for things for our nature table and scanned trees for koalas.

This morning I went down to the lake, what a great way to start the day. It helped that the sky over head was a brilliant blue, after a week of cloudy days it was like heaven. I'm going to take you on a walk with me now, I want to show you some of the beautiful things I saw this morning.



First up I parked near the bridge that runs between the two lakes. From this bridge there are amazing, sweeping views of the water, quite breathtaking, especially at this time of year.

As we walk along, looking at shadows and the sun on the water, ripples and ducks, can you hear the sounds of cracking & chomping?

Yep, some gorgeous native birds having a feast of bright, red berries.

There must have been something pretty good in those berries as the birds don't seem at all bothered by people or noise & are super relaxed. I wonder what's in those berries, I might try some too!

I love the way they use their little clawed feet to eat. I'm not sure what type of birds they are, I've never seen them around this area before, have you?

It's such a beautiful lake to walk around, what about this view?

Lots of autumn colour, lovely old houses and pretty vista's.

And of course, geese!

I hope you enjoyed that little walk. It's so good for the soul isn't it? After feeling pretty crap for a while it's great for me to be enjoying these kind of experiences.

On the home front I didn't have much sleep last night as I was worrying, and sad, about Shorty the turtle. He disappeared from his little eating container, just as the kids were going to bed. Billy was so sad, we all were. We looked everywhere but no Shorty.

Good news though! After the kids went to school this morning I had another look and there he was! Under Bill's desk. Yay!!! So he is outside having a sunbath now to warm up. Phew. There is going to be one happy boy here after school!

Hope you all have a happy weekend, maybe you'll be out enjoying this gorgeous world of ours too xo