After leaving Bathurst we decided to make our way to Melbourne. We chose the inland roads and drove through all sorts of towns (most of their names I could never remember without looking at the map!) - heritage trust towns, alpine village towns in the Victorian Alps and some rather run down, dying country towns. It is very obvious to see the difference. The heritage trust towns have mostly been well preserved and have become tourist magnets though charming, the alpine village towns have ski shops and chain hire shops everywhere and the dying towns have had all industry dissolve into nothing where most shops are for sale and houses, sheds and fencing are all falling apart. Rather sad!

We also visited The New England National Park in which has the highest point in NSW. We embarked on a rather testing walk but after Chris becoming short of breath due to a bad chest cold and me pulling my back muscles because of a million steep steps we hobbled back to safety!! It was probably a good move as there was no-one anywhere except for an 80 year old pair of lovers that we met at the start of the walk!!

The one good thing that had happened in the recent weeks prior to us traveling through the area was the RAIN!! It was everywhere. Most places hadn't had rain for years and years. Fields, rivers, creeks, parks and often roads were completely flooded. In one small town we had to reverse our caravan back as we couldn't cross a road. Luckily that didn't happen very often. We made sure we asked at tourist info centres which roads were open or not.

The rainy weather created beautiful scenery, picture postcard mountains, hills and fields. We would have needed a very fancy camera to capture the views. Every now and again we stopped at a heritage hotel to have a coffee or a roast lunch.We often meet the owners who are trying their best to make their businesses work. We also love the fireplaces in the small hotels as the further south we we go the colder it gets. Thank goodness we packed our electric blanket that we managed to retrieve from the bowels of the caravan!! Our small fan heater we bought for $12 works like a bomb too!

One of the prettiest towns we stayed in was Bright. So many people had told us not to miss it. It is in "Alpine country" and is known for its rows and rows of English trees with their leaves in autumn. As it was the beginning of spring we saw them in their bare winter dress which certainly has its own beauty. Also in the town are masses and masses of blossoming fruit trees. The flowering shrubs everywhere are also absolutely beautiful - a gardeners paradise - especially coming from Perth where shrubs are often so difficult to grow.

We were very glad to have chosen the inland route as it really is very beautiful. At another time we will explore the NSW coastal regions. The country NSW roads are mostly good - unlike Queensland roads.

Back to a big city again. Hopefully we won't get the grumps!

(For my own reference some of the towns we passed through: Gundegai, Tumbarumba, Corryong, Tallangatta, Wodonga, Rutherglen, Yackandandah, Mount Beauty, Myrtleford, Glenrowan)