Since the last update on the way to Melbourne we spent a very enjoyable couple of days in Melbourne and then headed off in to the unknown with our Toyota Hiace van. 

First stop was at Stewart and Jenny Matheson's farm at Winchelsea where we were made to feel so welcome it felt more like home, it took two days to get us sorted out but in that time we had washed everything, been introduced to "real"Kangaroos on the surround to the local water resevoir for Geelong and watched "the clipping" go on in a rather more organised way than I remember from Seafield with only four people clipping 800 ewes (Two clippers, two sorters and two very keen dogs) over two and a half seperate days due to rain.

We then headed off to the ferry to Tasmania and spent the following week driving around Tas.  First day was a bit of a downer with rain following us all the way along the north coast to Stanley.  On Day 2 we had blue skies and a lovely drive down to Strahan (pronounced Strawn by those in the know!).  There we earned our silver badge by spending the night in the fresh, without being in a Caravan Park.  The view was magic across the bay to Strahan itself and out to the west and sunset. The Milky Way was alive like nothing we had seen since being in the Kalahari.

The following two days took us to central Tas and the farm that one of my ancestors started back in 1830, a land very different from the one he had left in Assynt, in the very north of Scotland.

We were welcomed there by the present owners, Richard and Heather Pitt and spent a very informative afternoon learning about the land and the history of the farm, Glen Dhu.

Hobart was next and then back up to get the ferry back via a diversion into the Evandale where we watched the Australian Penny Farthing championships and a Pipe band that will be competing in Scotland later on this year.  Pony rides were also available and lots of local bits and pieces added to the lovely fair weekend feeling.