Day 7 Saturday 16/9/2023 Daylesford to Newstead, sunny 6 – 21

The last 5 vans pack up and head for home, but not us, we’re having another night away before hopefully tackling Melbourne’s traffic on Sunday. We all have our theories on the best routes and when to take them.

Last night there was a strange alarm sound. I got up, dressed hurriedly, and went outside to investigate. The noise seemed to be coming from a long way off. The stars were beautiful and as I hugged my braless bod the neighbour came over, similarly poorly attired, and we chatted and star-gazed together.

At Hepburn Springs we take the road north to Newstead. A small town draped in blue and white ribbons. The Loddon River bridge is festooned with balloons, and it seems that the Newstead under-11 girls have taken out the netball grand final and everyone is pretty pleased!

The RV camp is about a kilometre out of town at the old racecourse and folks have been working hard trimming boughs, sowing grass, and removing dangerous trees. The camp is looking a treat and there are about a dozen caravans here. The corrugated iron bathrooms are neat and tidy and cleaned twice daily.

We park behind a chainsaw sculpture which I wrongly assume is a farmer and a sheep that has been badly crutched. But no, it’s a sheepdog that has lost its tail leaving a gaping hole in the wood. While I sit sketching the sheep / dog Woody walks into town and after lunch we stroll back into the pub for a cool drink and some pumpkin for dinner.

While the roast vegetables and chicken pie cook, we sit outside watching the light play over the paddocks. We leave the door open until quite late as it is a mild night.

Accom: $10.00

Towing Kms: 32Kms whoa, that was a big drive.