Finally, we are away. After two years of covid lockdowns, and four months of the longest and coldest winter I can remember, and two months of limbo waiting for George's redundancy package to come through, finally everything has fallen into place and we are away.

The plan is to head north as quickly as possible to follow the sun, as we had been wintered out. However our first stop was not far - just outside Ballarat where a friend of George's has a church which he is doing up also. They came to visit our church a few months ago, so we are returning the favour. We got to 'free camp' in their front yard, and even had a power connection.

Their church, though not as big, is much more elaborately restored than ours with much more attention to detail - claw foot baths, a fireplace and mantle, an Aga in the kitchen - not to mention nice churchy touches like a hymn board and a kneeling bench as a footrest.

Because it was not as large they had extended to the back with a kitchen / diner, then decided to extend to the side with extra bedrooms and bathrooms for family to visit, or to run as a B&B. We shared and compared various ideas.

At night we had organised to visit Kryal Castle, just out of Ballarat, for a medieval feast and entertainment. And a good time was had by all.

It proved a good thing overnight that we had power because it was so cold we had to run a heater and electric blanket.

After a luscious breakfast of waffles, berries and ice creams, it was time to head off. But that was easier said than done - as we tried to reverse out of the driveway we got bogged in the mud, and he needed to tow us out with his gutsy ute.

But after a slow start we got going and decided to drive as far as we could go. We had intially planned to free camp at the Big Strawberry in Koonoomoo, but decided we need power again, so maybe stick with caravan parks until it gets warm enough. So it was a long day of driving, an amazing pie at the Elmore Bakery, and settle in to the caravan park at Finley. A great park, right on the lake, and a bonfire to gather and chat with other travelers.

Georgy's bit

Saturday was a last minute grab all you need day and let's GO, GO GO.

It is the time you find out all what you forgot to bring or do so, this was no different. Half way to Ballarat I remembered that my new added box on the back has no new number plate and is very blanking the original one. Hope not to get fined for that. As soon as we reached Ballarat I had enough tools to relocate the number plates. The Drone was also left behind, Eva's camera connection but she is happy using her phone instead, and probably other things will be added to the list. The main thing is we are off and exploring.

Finley caravan park, what a gem, drive through site, power, camp fire and they give you eggs when you check in for your brekky. Awsome.😍