Grampians here we come

Tuesday  29th
It was late afternoon when we got the call to say the car was ready for collection. New replacement sump only arrived that morning and what with lunch breaks, tea breaks etc it took the best part of the afternoon to fix, so we didn't leave for Dunkeld until after 4pm. Only 100km down the road it still took the best part of 2 hours to get there. Kept stopping to check the wheel nuts and was very reluctant to travel more than 80kph. But this site is at the very edge of the Grampian mountains and ideal for touring. So a very full day ahead for us tomorrow. Lots to see and do and plenty of walks. Reckon we should be ultra fit by the time we get back to the UK.

Our view.

And the lake by the site.

Arboretum

Walking the circle

Don't ask!

Wattlebird

Grounded for now.

Monday 28th
The news not good. Seems we have somehow cracked the sump. Not sure when but some of the speed bumps are not car friendly. The Ford rides very low and too many times we have scrapped the top even going really really slowly. Looks like we are grounded for the moment as a new sump has to be ordered.

To stop us going stir crazy we found a Botanical garden about a 1k walk from the side. For a change, we had wall-to-wall sunshine but the temperatures were still on the low side. The wind was still blowing in straight from the Antarctic keeping the chilly conditions but even so, we both set off devoid of any warm jumpers, made of sterner stuff us Brits! We came across a street named after us. Shame they can't get the spelling right!

Very calming and tranquil was the gardens and a few hours were spent relaxing and people watching. Not sure when we will leave so may not have a post for tomorrow.

And a few more birdies,

White-faced Heron.

Goldfinches are also here in Australia

Rainbow Lorikeet

Oh dear...another problem.

What does one say about things happening in threes? Well, two things have now happened, and we do not want a third!. Yet another set back as the car has developed an oil leak....from the gearbox unfortunately and being a 10y ford automatic it has a sealed unit, so we are unable to access it. It was the large and distinctive oil spots staining the grass that alerted us to it, and we had just reversed to the ball hitch as well. Unsure if it was from the car I drove forward and sure enough another splodge of oil on the tarmac. Damn, damn, damn!!! (the language was a bit stronger than that!)  Another night had to be paid for, good job the site wasn't full! Anyway, not much else to do today other than go for a walk. Found a great place about 1 km away called Lake Pertobe so more wildlife today than anything else. Tomorrow we need a garage who can look at it for us. Fingers crossed it's something simple to repair.

Crossing the line at Warrnambool station

How's that for graffiti.

And the wildlife,

Australian Fife canary and European Sparrow 

Myxomatosis was introduced into Australia in the 1950s Seems it is still affecting the rabbits.

Looks like this youngster has it too.

Another Fairy Wren. Almost as common as our blue tits.

White-faced Heron

Red Wattle Bird

New Holland Honeyeater

White-Browed Scrubwren

It is either a Brown Goshawk or a Collared Sparrowhawk. Both look almost identical.

it could be a Brown Thornbill

Musk Duck

Garden Skink

A Moorhen