Left Geelong around 1pm and just had to stop off on the road at Bannockburn! Bannockburn is a small suburb of our home town of Stirling but also has a namesake between Geelong & Ballarat, Australia! I have included some photos of the shops in the town. We had some lunch in a small cafe and asked the locals about how Bannockburn had changed since we last stopped here probably 20 years ago. When we were last here all that was in the main street was a post office, a small grocer and a derelict hotel! Now there were plenty of little housing estates on the road into Bannockburn and the town had lots of little shops with a Safeway and Post office in the Mall.
The locals say its slowly built up and they actually had a Battle of Bannockburn re-enactment for the anniversary last year! Bagpipes and everything! Its a lovely wee town but nothing like the Scottish Bannockburn!
We drove on and next wee town was "Elaine"! Not much to see but managed to capture it on the GPS and one sign as we drove through!
The locals say its slowly built up and they actually had a Battle of Bannockburn re-enactment for the anniversary last year! Bagpipes and everything! Its a lovely wee town but nothing like the Scottish Bannockburn!
We drove on and next wee town was "Elaine"! Not much to see but managed to capture it on the GPS and one sign as we drove through!
Arrived in Ballarat around 3pm and found the caravan site no problem. As we booked into the Eureka Tourist Park we asked about the night show at Sovereign Hill and they told us we could book in with them for tonight if we liked! So we booked up for the sound and light show for that night and the old town the next day.
We setup the van and this time added the new additions we had for the awning! Wow its such a difference now with the extra poles and tie downs! Feels so secure and only takes 5 minutes longer to setup now we know what we are doing. Good job really because its forecast for a bit of wind in the next few days.
So for those of you who want to know about the awning - if you don't want to just skip this paragraph - here are some photos to show how we secured it. The Fiamma 45L is a very flimsy awning and only has folding arms under the canopy and flimsy legs which should attach to the caravan or can be used as legs(we used them as legs and they didn't hold up very well so don't recommend). Tommy has added 3 upright extending poles along the front, which he drilled 3 holes to attach them in the underside of the front panel of the awning. He then attached 3 guy rope hooks with pot rivets on the outside of the front panel to attach the guy ropes(a single in the centre and doubles at the corners), we have seen a specific part on the internet, which slides onto the front slot where the privacy screen slides on (not a Fiamma part) for the guy ropes but would only allow one on each end. He also purchased 2 extending arched poles which hold the fabric tight to stop flapping. Also added 2 end poles(which just fit into the end of the awning and against the back bracket on the caravan, no drilling required) and 3 clips to hold the fabric to these (Tommys own anti flapping kit). We also added some noodles cut to length onto the centre poles to stop any noise and on the ends to stop us banging our heads on the poles (thanks for that tip John). Makes a very secure awning!
We setup the van and this time added the new additions we had for the awning! Wow its such a difference now with the extra poles and tie downs! Feels so secure and only takes 5 minutes longer to setup now we know what we are doing. Good job really because its forecast for a bit of wind in the next few days.
So for those of you who want to know about the awning - if you don't want to just skip this paragraph - here are some photos to show how we secured it. The Fiamma 45L is a very flimsy awning and only has folding arms under the canopy and flimsy legs which should attach to the caravan or can be used as legs(we used them as legs and they didn't hold up very well so don't recommend). Tommy has added 3 upright extending poles along the front, which he drilled 3 holes to attach them in the underside of the front panel of the awning. He then attached 3 guy rope hooks with pot rivets on the outside of the front panel to attach the guy ropes(a single in the centre and doubles at the corners), we have seen a specific part on the internet, which slides onto the front slot where the privacy screen slides on (not a Fiamma part) for the guy ropes but would only allow one on each end. He also purchased 2 extending arched poles which hold the fabric tight to stop flapping. Also added 2 end poles(which just fit into the end of the awning and against the back bracket on the caravan, no drilling required) and 3 clips to hold the fabric to these (Tommys own anti flapping kit). We also added some noodles cut to length onto the centre poles to stop any noise and on the ends to stop us banging our heads on the poles (thanks for that tip John). Makes a very secure awning!
We just had time to get showered and ready for our show and we arrived about 8pm at Sovereign Hill for our meal. They take you through the mining themed town to the Hotel and we are seated on some long tables alongside around 50 other guests. We are between a mother and daughter from Melbourne and a French couple and have some great dinner conversation while being served by ladies in traditional 1900 dresses....
We are then asked to walk down the street and meet in an auditorium where we watch a very engaging movie about how the miners uprising came about. We are then taken out and into awaiting diesel driven trams to take us on a 10 minute trip up into the hills behind Sovereign Hill town and climbed out and into an outside(but covered on 3 sides and overhead) theatre where we view an amazing sound and light show telling the full story of the miners! Incredible! We then have a short trip back and its almost 11pm! Had a great night and to round it off Tommy got to see the last Tennis match before going to bed!
Next day we are up early and showered and ready for 10am as its a beautiful day for our daytime trip to Sovereign Hill!
Its a wonderful day out for all the family, we loved it... walking up the dusty street avoiding the horse & carriage tours, looking into the authentic tents and mines, then onto the shops selling saddles or bread or Lollies from days gone by. Visiting the Blacksmith shop and seeing him making brackets, fire pokers and horse shoes, visiting the bowling alley - not like they are now - you have to reset the pins yourself! Into the bakers to watch them putting the bread in the big ovens, visiting the photographers parlour where you can change into old world clothes and have your picture taken. Visit the Gold museum and see the giant gold nugget. Take a trip down the Gold mine in the underground train..... pan for gold in the stream running through the miners town.... just awesome to watch everyones faces when the soldiers march through town or they catch a lady walking down the road in costume and say "Afternoon madam", or the Policeman shouts "hey do you have a license?" when you are panning for gold..........we visited the saloon for a beer to listen to the band playing, took a trip on the horse & carriage, we panned for gold(thats me in the blue top & floppy hat, and yes Mum I had shorts under it!) and Tommy even found a spec(you can see it glistening in the sunlight on his hand) of gold!. The Gold mine trip is a must, its scary how they lived and worked in those days!
We absolutely loved it and am sure anyone visiting with or without kids would thoroughly enjoy. We spent all day there and only left as they were closing around 5pm! Just had some soup for tea and watched the tennis as we were so worn out!
We are then asked to walk down the street and meet in an auditorium where we watch a very engaging movie about how the miners uprising came about. We are then taken out and into awaiting diesel driven trams to take us on a 10 minute trip up into the hills behind Sovereign Hill town and climbed out and into an outside(but covered on 3 sides and overhead) theatre where we view an amazing sound and light show telling the full story of the miners! Incredible! We then have a short trip back and its almost 11pm! Had a great night and to round it off Tommy got to see the last Tennis match before going to bed!
Next day we are up early and showered and ready for 10am as its a beautiful day for our daytime trip to Sovereign Hill!
Its a wonderful day out for all the family, we loved it... walking up the dusty street avoiding the horse & carriage tours, looking into the authentic tents and mines, then onto the shops selling saddles or bread or Lollies from days gone by. Visiting the Blacksmith shop and seeing him making brackets, fire pokers and horse shoes, visiting the bowling alley - not like they are now - you have to reset the pins yourself! Into the bakers to watch them putting the bread in the big ovens, visiting the photographers parlour where you can change into old world clothes and have your picture taken. Visit the Gold museum and see the giant gold nugget. Take a trip down the Gold mine in the underground train..... pan for gold in the stream running through the miners town.... just awesome to watch everyones faces when the soldiers march through town or they catch a lady walking down the road in costume and say "Afternoon madam", or the Policeman shouts "hey do you have a license?" when you are panning for gold..........we visited the saloon for a beer to listen to the band playing, took a trip on the horse & carriage, we panned for gold(thats me in the blue top & floppy hat, and yes Mum I had shorts under it!) and Tommy even found a spec(you can see it glistening in the sunlight on his hand) of gold!. The Gold mine trip is a must, its scary how they lived and worked in those days!
We absolutely loved it and am sure anyone visiting with or without kids would thoroughly enjoy. We spent all day there and only left as they were closing around 5pm! Just had some soup for tea and watched the tennis as we were so worn out!
Saturday 24th January was the annual Ballarat Beer Festival! How convenient for us! Got up early and got the chores done and went for some breakfast in the town. We had noticed on some flyers that there were bands on from 11am but sounded like heavy rock so waited until around 1pm before venturing into the Beer festival. It was all very organised, you were given a plastic glass which was in a stubby holder specially for the glass with a ribbon for around your neck. You had to buy vouchers for beer and then pay for beer tasting or a pot of beer using the vouchers. If you wanted something to eat, they were also bought with vouchers. Tommy worked his way around the different beer tents at fist just sampling and then when he found his favourites having a pot here and there. He paced himself as we had until 8pm before it closed and had a few waters in between. We ate dinner at one of the food vans selling Mexican food and sat in the shade to eat it. The temperature was up in the 30's and it was best to stay in the shade so looked for a spot in the huge beer tent in the centre of the park. We just happened to get a seat on a bench at a big table and started chatting to the people who sat down beside us. They were a family from Ballarat and their family from around Melbourne who had got together for the Beer Festival. They were great company and we had a great laugh with them all. When it came to finishing time, Kerryn and Dave asked us back to their house for more beer and Pizza! They are such a lovely family and we felt honoured to be asked back and included in their family get together.
I drove us to the address they gave us which was just off the lakeside in a beautiful estate, which just happened to run parallel with Stirling Street (the name of the town we lived in, in Scotland) . Their neighbours were also with them and they joined us along with Kerryn's Mum & Dad, sister and brother and partners. We had a great laugh with them all and enjoyed our pizza in the backyard. Kerryns Brother is the base guitarist in an AC/DC revival band, but didn't get to hear him play! It was 11.30pm before we knew it and had to leave but we want to thank them for making us feel so at home and including us in their family, even if it was just for the evening!
I drove us to the address they gave us which was just off the lakeside in a beautiful estate, which just happened to run parallel with Stirling Street (the name of the town we lived in, in Scotland) . Their neighbours were also with them and they joined us along with Kerryn's Mum & Dad, sister and brother and partners. We had a great laugh with them all and enjoyed our pizza in the backyard. Kerryns Brother is the base guitarist in an AC/DC revival band, but didn't get to hear him play! It was 11.30pm before we knew it and had to leave but we want to thank them for making us feel so at home and including us in their family, even if it was just for the evening!
Woke on Sunday at 10am! Turned over after having some fun and promptly went back to sleep! It was 11.30 before we got out of bed! Thoroughly knackered!
Got our chores done though, washing, cleaning the toilet, sorting stuff around the van and went for a wee trip around the city to look at the lake. Early night for me but Tommy sat up watching the tennis.
Australia day morning was freezing so we showered, put on our jeans and jumpers and went to look for somewhere to have breakfast. In the cafe we found a paper saying there was an Australia day concert and fireworks at the lake, so made our way back to the caravan site and had a quiet day waiting till the concert started.
Got to the park by the lake around 7.30pm, got ourselves a coffee and scouted around the concert and the park for a spot to sit and watch the fireworks. The bands are a little heavy rock for us so we just enjoyed walking around the lake foot path watching the birds and Black swans begging for food by the waters edge. Found a spot and Tommy went for the chairs from the car and luckily brought a blanket too. Its freezing by now but got our wind cheater jackets on and the blanket around our legs to keep us warm. The spot we found is in amongst the brush on the side of the lake and every space is filled with people lying on picnic rugs or sitting in camp chairs like us waiting for the fireworks and trying to stay warm and out of the wind. As the sky grows darker the voices build around us as it gets busier and busier, in the end just before 9.30 it sounds like a million penguins squawking! Pictures below and also a couple of videos on the YouTube site. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvDENa9DFsHOoOXrFpJC3IQ
Got our chores done though, washing, cleaning the toilet, sorting stuff around the van and went for a wee trip around the city to look at the lake. Early night for me but Tommy sat up watching the tennis.
Australia day morning was freezing so we showered, put on our jeans and jumpers and went to look for somewhere to have breakfast. In the cafe we found a paper saying there was an Australia day concert and fireworks at the lake, so made our way back to the caravan site and had a quiet day waiting till the concert started.
Got to the park by the lake around 7.30pm, got ourselves a coffee and scouted around the concert and the park for a spot to sit and watch the fireworks. The bands are a little heavy rock for us so we just enjoyed walking around the lake foot path watching the birds and Black swans begging for food by the waters edge. Found a spot and Tommy went for the chairs from the car and luckily brought a blanket too. Its freezing by now but got our wind cheater jackets on and the blanket around our legs to keep us warm. The spot we found is in amongst the brush on the side of the lake and every space is filled with people lying on picnic rugs or sitting in camp chairs like us waiting for the fireworks and trying to stay warm and out of the wind. As the sky grows darker the voices build around us as it gets busier and busier, in the end just before 9.30 it sounds like a million penguins squawking! Pictures below and also a couple of videos on the YouTube site. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvDENa9DFsHOoOXrFpJC3IQ