Across the 90 Mile Desert

We essentially packed up our gear early and left Banksia Cottage.  To get our legs moving we walked around the Halls Gap Botanic Gardens.  It is quite small and run as a community project.  The weather was'nt great, although not actually raining, and I suspect the site would be great on a sunny Spring day.

What's behind the door?

The fuel price looked pretty good so we filled up, on a principle of supporting business in a small town.  I had an interesting conversation at the register: the staffer was a pensioner "helping out" as they seemed to have trouble getting staff, and the person who should be there had COVID.  

Then we set off following guidance from Polly.  The route up to the Highway dodged here and there and I am not sure would have been feasible without her guidance.  This next image shows the roadside veg and our first lot of roadworks. 

The Giant Koala at Dadswell Bridge looked pretty grumpy.

More road works and a large semi load of hay.

I had hoped to buy a pie for lunch in Dimboola since my last experience of the culinary delights of this town was as a member of the audience at the play at a performance (directed by David Williamson at the Pram Factory in Melbourne).  However the town has been by passed so we just saw signs off the highway. 

Further up the road Kaniva had a collection of colourful animals.  I suspect the colours on the dog have something to do with the expression on the sheep vis a vis the pig.

We hauled into Bordertown for a pie.  A basic item, probably rating 7 on the official scale.  They only had plain pies, and weirdnesses involving potato, left.  More Border Collie art!

Excellent silo art at Coonalpyn.

A strange and extremely annoying feature of the drive across the 90 mile desert (from the State Border to Tailem Bend) was the continual dropping of the speed limit from 110 kph to 80 for "new road surface".  Many of the areas went for kilometres and it was clear that the surface was "new" several weeks ago at best.  The workers were just too lazy to pull in the signs - or Mr Plod was using them to raise revenue.  Most people just ignored the signs which made the few who obeyed them a dangerous mobile road hazard.

We made it to Adelaide, and specifically the seaside suburb of Marino where we are staying with Frances sister for a few days.  Her house is set high above the ocean and gave some good views of the sunset. 

Tonight's beer was a Hazy Ale from Paper Scissors Rock.  Quite acceptable and what it said on the can!