kris downunder

We ride to Wangaratta to take the Great Alpine Road to Myrtleford where we have our fuel and coffee stop...After a nice cup of coffee the real work starts as we turn left to Happy Valley...what's in a name, they sure didn't missed it as you only get happy driving through this most beautiful valley with its Mt Beauty( no this is not a joke)

From Happy Valley it goes to Lake Hume, and on Murray Valley HWY to Tallangatta, a new modern town which appeared when the original town was drowned in 1956.

Th e road takes us to Corryong, home of the Man from Snowy River, Jack Riley a famous horseman that lived in isolation in a hut high up in the hill's .

He loved the Snowy Mountain country and enjoyed a social drink or two...It was after that Banjo Paterson spend some time together with Jack Riley in the Kosciusko Ranges he wrote the poem "The Man from Snowy River".

We 've now come very close to our goal, but first lunch in the Kosciuszko National Park to get strong for the last end....up to Cabramurra , Australia's highest village, the roof of Australia at 1488m....we've made it.

As there are no overnight permitted we drive on to Cooma and keep driving between 1500 m and 1100 m , with temperature that drop's to 12°

In a little village 40km after Cooma, Nimmitabel we find a local campground for the night...it is quite chilly, never thought to be cold that cold in Australiua....brrrrr

What to tell about the roads we drove today...hmmmm...heaven for every biker comes the closest ...

A lot to do today...fill up "Coco" , do some shopping for a few days , change a light bulb....but finally we're on our way through the Yarra Valley, also a vineyard region up to Healesville, to get on road B 360 to Taggerty, a road filled with high trees with some lovely views...From Taggerty it goes to Lake Eildon, the entance of the Victorian Alps with Mt Buller as alpine ski resort...we found a nice spot at the lake to have lunch and enjoy the lookout.

From there it goes to Alexandra,Merton, Mansfield and all the way to the top of Mt Emu to drop down again in King Valley, another wine region to find a wild camping spot at King River for the night...I'm the cook today and I served a Macaroni cheese sauce...

Tomorrow our intention is to reach Australia's highest village Cabramurra in the Kosciuszko National Park.

Around 10h00 we arrived at a big 4 holiday park in Coburg, 9 km from the city center, where we parked the Coco, Edda and Katrien .

With public transport , the tram...it took more than a hour to get to the city center...seems public transport is as worse as in Belgium.

Once in the city we delivered ourselves to the city to discover all its beauty and life....immediately I had a good feeling about this marvelous city

This is a city where I would come back, that's for sure...

As dinner time came closer and closer we walked along the Yarra Riverside to Restaurant The Wharf where Edda's son Florian works...

We knew Florian wasn't working , he spends holidays with his girlfriend in Cambodja, but after a little chat with the bartender we were taken care off .

A nice aperitif at the river, followed by a delicious meal with a lovely ambiance...

A evening walk along the river took us back to Elizabethstreet where we took the tram back to Coburg...time to get some sleep after a long day...

Once back on the Princes HWY it takes us to Port Fairie a historical port with some shipwrecks laying in the Bay.

Some further we cross quite a big city Warrnnambool...from there it goes on to the Great Ocean Road, a road that winds itself along the spectaculary Southern Coastline with all it's stunning views....We 've seen Childers Cove, Bay of Islands, The Grotto, London Bridge, The Arch, Loch Ard Gorge, and as top of the bill ...the 12 Apostles...way to much for one day...

I forgot to tell about the road itself...I was so lucky today to drive "Katrien" on the nicest road so far in Australia, one curve after another and hard not to stop for a view after each curve....just a perfect motorcycle road...

Normally the plan was to get to Melbourne...but we didn't make it and the road stops at Torquay a little town 90km away from Melbourne.

Tomorrow Melbourne day...

As we took our first turn out of Wellington Camping, a first surprise...the road ended and we had to cross the river with a ferry .

Off the ferry we arrived at the Coorong National Parc and Murray Lakes region, a vast unspoilked ecosystem withfreshwater lakes, wetlands, ocean...A place that really calms the mind, soothes the soul and appeases the senses 200 km off beach from Encounter Bay to Lacepede Bay, uninterrupted except when the mouth of the great murray River opens to the sea.

It is a place of tranquility,solitude and wonderment and as so far the best I've seen of Australia.

This all end's in Kingston SE...we continue to Robe that sit's in Guichen Bay, a perfect spot for Lunch.

After Lunch we hit for Mount Gambier and along the way we notice that it becomes more hilly and pinewoods are ruling the landscape, even more around Portland.

At Yambuk a little village just before Port Fairy the day ends at Yambuk Lake a lovely campground at the border's of the Lake...

Tomorrow ,Melbourne here I come....

Along small country roads we hit the Barosso Valley well known for its vineyards and winery's, it took us to a small village Marrabel where we had coffee and admired a rodeo statue...we're just a few day's late for the rodeo...what a shame.

Driving through Barosso Valley is fabulous and the pick of grapes just started, so a lot of activity in the vineyards and on the roads.

Actually , yesterday evening at our campspot we met a group of 5 young Italian boys that are working in the vineyards...they needed some cooking stuff for their pasta, so I proposed them they could use our cooking material if we get to taste their pasta...done deal and a half an hour later a plate of pasta was served "al dente" by Raphael from Rome and Alberto from Firenze...We had a good laugh with those chaps, they were wonderfull...

Once out of the valley we can feel the city of Adelaide, almost touch it so Coco brings us right to the center of the city where we try to contact Luc and Martin to meet up.

We had a nice walk in the city , to be honest I had expected a bit more from Adelaide but never mind...seen it,done it.

Time to move on to Wellington SA at Lake Alexandrina the nearest campingzone where we park Coco under a Peppertree.

Tomorrow the idea is to follow the Coastal Road to Mount Gambier and direction Melbourne, next city on our bucket list...

On the last picture you'll find a map of Australia with our progress, day by day,marked in different colours...enjoy

Some hours later we get ready to drive to Port Augusta with a first stop at Port Neilly and Lunch between Whyalla( steel industry ) and Port Augusta

After a walk in Port Augusta we continue to Port Pirie on the other side of Spencer gulf where we meet up again with the Motor home.

The Gps guides us further trough some winding country roads passing old villages , Crystal Brook,Gulnare, Yacka in the middle off farmer fields to end in Clare(Clare Valley, a wine area)

As the clock points 17h30 we stop at the local camping for the night.

I forgot to mention a important detail : In Trigg when we cdollected the Motor Home and the bikes we baptised them and gave them a name...

The Motor Home goes through life from now on as "Coco", the red bike "Edda Dust", the white bike "Katrien Vroom" , so today I drove Katrien, Luc Edda and Martin and Dorine Coco...

Tomorrow our first big city Adelaide, about 130 km ....Tonight on the menu Ratatouille