Along the Silt Road

I WAS supposed to be somewhere else by now. Well, I am, but only just. The van repairs fell at the final hurdle, when the paint job on the repaired section bubbled and had to be stripped back and done again. Another five nights confined to barracks. Again, Ray the motel owner, came to the rescue and steered me to Eagle Point and the famous Mitchell River Silt Jetties. Two strips of built up silt like tendrils curling into the bay for 3 klm’s and best viewed from a LONG way up. What’s uniquish about them is one has a narrow dirt road that runs to the very tip. So you have the experience of the Mitchell River 5 metres to your left and Eagle Point Bay 10 metres to your right. Someone had improvised a fireplace at the very tip and what a great place for a BBQ!

Paynesville was just down the road and it was coffee time. Best known as the gateway to the Gippsland Lakes, it’s boats, boats, boats…and cafe’s. As a bonus, real sandy bay side beaches – thin on the ground on the Gippsland coastal strip. Finally go the call Monday morning. She’d be ready by lunchtime. All my sins and past indiscretions had been buffed away and at least one side of the van was looking all shiny and new. Thankfully the guys at Jayco spotted a broken suspension spring, the legacy of my emergency Broome fix, when all they had were six leaf springs and not the seven leaf as specified. Re- welded but a temporary fix, so back to the boys at ADP in Melbourne in March.

Stocked up back in Sale and then took a quick diversion to Rosedale on the promise of a free RV campground. And it was so. Just a short walk to a one strip village, an ideal lay-over to get re-acquainted with my domicile. Again no shortage of cafes, but just past the shops, the Victoria Rose Tea Gardens and Restaurant. Now, as you know, I’m not one to spruik eateries and drinkeries, but talk about a Victoria rose between cafe thorns! 

Wide verandahs, beautiful tearoom and a secret courtyard garden. I was only looking for a take-away before the 2nd hand shop opened, but stayed way longer than anticipated, in no small part due top the ‘pot’ of tea Angela delivered to my table. Had to drag myself away after three cups. A real treat in a small country village.

Sometimes a good shot is found in the strangest places. No trolls under this bridge but the architecture provided some interesting perspectives.

As you can anticipate, it’s about time for a big adventure. I’m off to the Victorian alps and then the Snowy Mountains for maybe up to two weeks. Wait for winter I hear you say?  A death wish not, I have. I do enough slippin’ and slidin’ on dry roads, and I’ve seen plenty of Youtube disasters. With a dodgy suspension it’s blacktop only, on a round trip that will bring me back the coast…eventually.