How to avoid Melbourne traffic on roads less travelled.

The original 1917 SPC factory (Shepparton Fruit Preserving Company)….

…. and the newer plant across the road.

The Big Cherry at Wyuna (Older image from Wikipedia)

We had hoped to start the day by seeing a different kind of fruit – the The Big Cherry at Wyuna but it is now hidden in a property well off the road behind a locked gate. I hope he is happy there; his previous existence was sitting on top of a pile of chocolate and cream. Yes, life was tough in the gateau.

In the Shepparton Mall was the work of Vincent van Bo-vine.

On the way out of town…. there’s more! Over 90 of these bovine beauties are scattered around Shepparton. This one is Daisy the Cow.

This one Water-moo-lon.

Sacrebleu!

Horny helmet!

This cow didn’t want to be in the exhibit but succumbed to pear pressure.

And last but not least – we found Wally!

Lake Cooper outside Corop

The lake is so big, the bird life seem to prefer the middle.

Hardhead ducks

Swallows

Extensive reed beds were around the lake in places.

Wheat

Bendigo is a large country city with many grand buildings.

The Big Lotus in Bendigo – you can’t have a big flower like this if you haven’t botany.

More Big Flowers are nearby.

We must be near the Chinese garden…

Grand entrance

A place of solitude. Bendigo has a long history of Chinese culture dating back to the initial gold mining days.

Bushland at Bendigo Regional National Park

One Tree Hill at Bendigo Regional National Park

Chocolate Lilies – thousands have been known to flower at One Tree Hill

Salmon orchid

Onto Carisbrook, another family history town of mine. This log jail dates back to 1852.

This was Clarkson’s Farm – no, not Jeremy’s, but Henry’s – ouside Carisbrook on the Victorian Goldfields. Henry is a family ancestor of mine who lived in this area in the 1860s.

(Older image from Wikipedia Commons)

I had high eggspectations in seeing The Big Hens at the Happy Hens Egg Farm outside Meredith but they have been removed. They were on display around the cluck but sadly no more. How fowl of them.

A late drive into Geelong after 380km today.