Well the intention today had been to drive in to Stawell and ride out along the Grampians Rail Trail back towards Halls Gap, but circumstances conspired against us – a longer than anticipated hike up to The Pinnacle in the morning, a late arrival in Stawell for lunch and finding the town much larger and more spread out than expected.
Instead we decided to start heading back towards Melbourne straight after lunch, but to stop in Ballarat for a lap of Lake Wendouree. Turned out to be a great idea, nicely breaking the drive from the Grampians to Melbourne, and an enjoyably fun family ride around the lake on a Sunday afternoon.
Relive 'Circum-whatsit the lake'
Water birds everywhere, seeming endless groups of coots and Black swans milling around and eating bread thrown by tourists. Plenty of other ducks, including what I suspect was a pair of Musk duck, although in both cases they were too far away for a definite ID. Cam thoroughly enjoyed leading us around, swerving off onto the most minor gravel or stoned-paved path and finding every last inch of track to follow – I was concerned at one point that we might overshoot our lap and start on a second, paying more attention to the immediate path in front of us and not where we in the overall setting!
A great break and a fun ride, the Grampians Rail Trail out of Stawell will have to wait for another day.
