We spent last week in Echuca with my father, just for a change of pace for us and place for him.
Monday morning saw us hitting the road with the back of the van full and the dog forced to sit on my knee in the back seat. Needless to say she loved it!
After elevenses at Daylesford at a pavement cafe we sandwiched at Bendigo sitting beside the lake. Arrived at our house Campaspie Gardens around 2pm. After some exploring of our rooms and a look at the 2 acre garden leading to the river, we set off to suss out the town.
Drove around the port area and found out where the Paddle steamers departed. Did the necessary food shopping, then settled in at the house for a late afternoon laze. BBQ steaks and salad for dinner and a movie on the telly.
Tuesday saw us walking around the port from the wood turner's shed to the blacksmith. We were early for our boat trip so stopped for coffee at yet another pavement cafe. Funny how al fresco eating appeals when you have a small dog in tow!
We lunched aboard the P.S.Emmy Lou in fine style seated at the stern with vistas of river banks and houseboats on either side. The early part of the trip was taken up with chuckling at the names of the houseboats, particularly Titanic (no not really), although a couple looked more sinkable than others.
Lunch was pork and red wine sausages for father and I and duck risotto for Tony.
We enjoyed a crisp verdelho with the meal. By the time we were finished we had returned up the river and steamed under the old and new railway bridges. Father shinned up the stairs like a sailor (thankfully handrails both sides!) and we stood on the top deck for the final bit of the journey.
There was a very strong wind blowing that day and we had the fun of watching the engineer push us off the far bank where we had ended up during our final turning manouver. His chosen weapon was a twisted branch kept along the deck for just such occasions.
Wine was tasted and purchased at the Port Wine shop (not really it's name but we did taste and buy port!!)
After scrummy icecream cones for dessert we returned home where Pepper and Tony had fun chasing balls and father and I read for a while before tea.
Late start on Wednesday with some serious sleeping in . After a short wander in the port area we lunched al fresco at the Star .
We drove across the bridge to visit 2 wineries on the Moama side. Bought wine at both. Morrison's has a lovely restaurant that we planned to try for lunch the next day and Silver Fox had an interesting late picked verdelho, as well as brandy barrel port straight out of the barrel.
Wonderful dinner out at Oscar W's Wharfside
We watched the river fade from view and then admired the weeping branches with silvery gum leaves highlighted from below.
Packed up the car and decided to head for home. Lunch in Bendigo (al fresco!!!) then no stops to Geelong. Coffee at the Wintergarden, returned father to his place and finally home after a lovely but much too short Short Break
