FRIDAY 20 FEBRUARY   TORQUAY TO HEALESVILLE   216kms.

The moving on routine gets easier each time. We were quick and efficient again today. Like the traveller yesterday, had to take great care getting out of the site. No one claimed the forgotten door mat, so it is ours. Will be a good one to have outside, in front of the portable step.

We were in Melbourne by late morning. Made our way through lots of traffic, via Carlton, Eastern Freeway, Springvale Road to Wantirna, the location of my choice of caravan park for our stay here. Found it was full – and it did not look all that attractive, anyway – a concrete jungle.

Checked my RACV caravan park book and thought that one of the two parks at Healesville would be convenient enough for us. But John remembered a park at Monbulk and wanted to go there, so we continued on out the Burwood Highway and through the Dandenongs to Monbulk. The park was unspeakable – grotty, gloomy, full of ferals; I doubted they even took tourists! Even John admitted it was not what he thought. It was no wonder that I had never even heard of its existence, and had not been able to find it in the RACV book!

He agreed to try Healesville. From Monbulk we went via Seville, where we bought lunch rolls, which we ate there, then Woori Yallock. By this time, John was getting impatient and his leg was hurting. Found ourselves on a long downhill stretch of road – he had not slowed at the top or changed down gears and by the time we reached the bottom, were doing well over 100kmh! Very scary – and a lesson in that. Obviously, there are some driving techniques still to be learned.

Badger Creek Caravan Park at Healesville had room for us – a good powered site in a very picturesque park, with lots of trees, and the Badger Creek running along one boundary. It is still flowing quite well, even at this end of the dry summer. $16 a night, with the 7th night free. I will like it here. The amenities are clean, roomy, but I am not sure about the piped music though.

Did a basic set up as the afternoon was getting on, and we had plans for it.

Drove home where we were reunited with the pets again. Dropped off some surplus gear, like the extra number of tent/awning poles. Had a chat with P and K. Thence to John’s bowls club, where he checked out coming games.

Bought fish and chips for tea, in Healesville. They were too greasy.

John discovered he could not get any decent TV reception. As we are surrounded by hills, this is not surprising!