Linga Longa in ...........

After settling in at our camp at Yarrawonga we met up with the Crisps and shared an Italian dinner at the Mulwala Ski Club. 

The next day we played the Lakes Course of the Yarrawonga Golf Club. Someone let Jim do the scoring even though he is known to be inventive with the scoring system. Perhaps the handicapper needed to be aware that he hasn't played in the last 3 months and his partner was going to be wayward, to say the least. On the other hand Joan was off to a flying start and we didn't catch she and Eric all game. Not to worry, "Its just a game," they said. I didn't find the water, but if there was a bunker on the fairway, and there always was, I seemed to be in it. This is the first 18 holes I have played in at least 12 months, so I needed a rest by the time we'd finished. So much digging in the sand! Suffice to say Jim bought the first shout.  

We bought supplies on the way home and then shared a tandoori chicken dinner in the camp kitchen at our caravan park, followed by a few hands of Up the Creek. Eric, card shark that he is, won the game. Since he is always the most reluctant player I wonder was that a cunning, strategic move by the rest of us? The nights are cool but the facilities here are top notch so we were very comfortable. 
12/10/19
Need drives new discoveries and we now know how to operate the reverse-cycle air con in our van. Might need to get a little 12v one for bush camps ahead. Didn't need to contemplate these ideas when we did the trip to Broome. We woke to steady rain and hope it is widespread for the farmers to our north.  Not weather for golf today but that's OK as we had planned to visit Graeme and Villa in the morning. Graeme lived with my family when i grew up in Dixon's Creek, he was the teacher at the local primary school and the only eligible bachelor in the whole district. Despite my father's best efforts he remained so for the next 8 years, acting as my other older brother, until he met Villa while preparing to join the missionary service in New Hebrides. He married before they left and they have had a wonderful life together but Graeme now has a number of complicated health issues that have slowed him up, it was wonderful to see both of them this morning. 

With Jim and Joan we drove out to Rutherglen and had lunch at Wicked Virgin, the business run by Graeme's younger brother John; they have a vineyard, olive grove, provide accommodation and cater for meals. We enjoyed a delicious lunch of shared platters accompanied by matching wines in the sunshine. 

We had begun with an ambitious list of at least 3 more wineries to visit but after that glass of wine in the sunshine, we decided we reconsidered and were happy with just one more. 

Stu and Carol Daly were already settled into our caravan park by the time we returned. This is another couple who we shared those years with in Butterworth and who make up that precious fabric of memories that we share. They have with them their dearest friend Jazz, a chocolate labrador, who cannot be left behind. We shared a lovely dinner and another game of cards in the camp kitchen. 

13/10/19
We began today with a walk along the southern bank of Lake Mulwala. The wind off the water was chilly to begin with but once you got into the more sheltered wetlands area it was really pleasant and there were plenty of birds keeping us company. Then we all went our to Byramine Homestead, built in 1842 by the famous explorer Hamilton Hume for his sister-in-law, Elizabeth Hume and her nine children after her husband was murdered by Bushrangers, in Gunning. What a courageous woman she was. The homestead was originally nestled within the Yarrawonga Run, a station that was 85,000 acres of sheep and beef. The land was whittled away but even today the homestead is surrounded by one of the largest vegetable farms in Australia. 

There is now a brewery and cider house operating on the property, they make a very nice ginger beer and lemon, lime cider. We shared a ploughman's lunch platter and Keith joined us, having driven up to join us from Monbulk. Keith and Maree left Butterworth and Eric replaced him on staff. Keith and his family were members of the wider group who always camped with us on the banks of the Murray at Quicks Beach when we lived in Cobram. Over the years there have been so many stories told and retold that most of us forget the fact that we only met once we returned to Aust. 

On our way back to town we dropped into Rich Glen Olive Estate to sample their range of gourmet olive oils and related products. To tell you the truth I was more interested in the fabulous garden installations as I had eaten such a good lunch already. 

Then in the evening we shared dinner. The food never stops! Keith pulled his car up beside us and camped in the back.