Daylesford

It took me a while to get the spelling of the Victorian country town correct, located 1.5 hours drive to Melbourne's north west. Day-les-ford.

Phyllis is about to turn 22 and I offered him and Kosov a day coach trip along The Great Ocean Road for his birthday. It was problematic as Kosov works most days. Phyllis asked if we could visit Daylesford. I looked at overnight accommodation for one night and the price seemed ok. I decided on two motel room accommodation with double beds, and I used Booking.com as I would be able to cancel almost at the last minute should Kossov's work situation change. 

What were given were like caravan park cabins. They weren't flash, but clean and comfortable with everything you might need. The shower test succeeded beyond my expectations, with lovely hot water at high pressure in a huge shower. And, this was the first time I've stayed in any similar accommodation that had a tv screen of a decent size. 

It was an enjoyable trip. Phyllis connected up his phone to the car and played his quite boppy music on the way up. We stopped for food along the way at a truck stop (UK: Services).

On the way home Phyllis and Kosov were arguing. 'Phyllis, please put on some nice smooth and calming music.' He did and they shut up.

While my phone needs my fingerprint on its screen to operate, it can take photos without my fingerprint, and Phyllis likes my phone because of the high quality photos it takes. So, he kept using it to take photos. 

Here are heaps of photos, with some commentary.  

Albert Street was pretty with a few trees showing autumn foliage. Note the high mound at the back of the town, the Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens.

Pity I didn't take the photo before I messed up my cabin.

Phyllis demanded to go shopping. He does love shopping. We were in a second hand shop, a rather cool place. 

Some of the historic buildings in Daylesford are great. We dined at this hotel the night we stayed. I made sure our accommodation was within walking distance of the pub, so I could have a drink or two. 

The food was fine and the staff very competent. There was a table of about fifteen men dining together, a gay group I expect. Generally I did note some obviously gay male couples, all older. But female couples of wearers of sensible shoes dominated. 

A rainbow post and a bed of petunias oddly still in reasonable condition at this time of the year. 

They later returned to the shops and Phyllis bought a cashmere wrap for $25 and wrapped it around himself for the rest of the day and the next. He became quite adept at throwing it over his shoulder. However, I am doubtful about the $25 wrap being cashmere wool. 

Genuine Tudor.

The pussy cat seemed quite static. 

Once back at the cabin, there was an interesting tv show about fashion designer Jenny Kee. She is quite old now, but still designing interesting clothes.

My cabin had a charging pad clock. It worked well.

There were a few really nice homes nearby. I took a walk. 

Cool chimney design.

This home looked gorgeous, say late 1940s or early 1950s. By the numbers of chimneys, you won't be cold. 

A better photo of Wombat Hill. Kosov wasn't ready at check out time, 10.00. He is eating chicken, Phyliss proclaimed. The night before after we were back at the motel, they returned to the supermarket and bought bought a Bachelor's Handbag for Kosov to consume for breakfast, and he ate the lot. 

We drove the short distance to Hepburn Springs, a town famous for its mineral waters, of great benefit to your health. Apparently you bathe in the waters and drink it. 

There were several mineral water pumps, all stained with iron. The waters were supposed to taste different depending on which pump they came from. They all tasted slightly like vile soda water. We all spat the health beneficial waters out from our mouths. The park land was nice, with a number of short or long walks leading away. 

Here for $$$ you can have a mineral water spa bath, hot or cold and massages with essential oils. Yes, we did do that when Ray took me to area for my fortieth birthday. Nowadays, I suppose the business would offer mineral water colonic irrigation.

Right, up to Wombat Hill, sitting above Daylesford.

It was lovely but there wasn't really a good view of the town below.

The area around and the tower itself were closed for renovations. That's ok, I had no intention of climbing the tower, as I had done twenty seven years ago.

A winged wombat, be afraid.

There was hardly a breath of wind, so the bubbles the mother produced from the machine were amazing, as they just sat in the air. 

I took this photo, then Phyliss demanded my camera and away he clicked. 

The begonia glass house was terrific, and Phyllis snapped away.

Phyllis didn't know how to pronounce the word gazebo and nor did he know the name rotunda. He knows both now.

As we descended back to town, I stopped the car on the steep hill and ordered Phyllis out to take this photo.

Then it was to the beautifully peaceful Lake Daylesford. 

Kosov was disappointed to not be able to see fish in the clear water.

It was time to head home but on the way we stopped off to see Sailor's Falls. The infrastructure was terrific, with a steel stairway down to the valley floor. I didn't go down the stairs as somehow I would have to get back up again.

However, the weather has been very dry, and so the falls had run dry.

So that was our brief time away, and we enjoyed it, well I did. I think they did.