Hi All, Eric asked me to post my perspective of today. We are staying at Halls Gap in the Grampians and the bakery here is renowned for their vanilla Slices so after breakfast we decided to have a coffee and a vanilla slice. (Eric and I have a history with vanilla slices which goes back 35+ years)
I know I have posted before that Eric has never met a stranger (an admirable friendly trait really

. Well we met a couple who riding a Susuki DL1000, so naturally we had to chat. We had noticed a 'wing parked 2 spaces away which ws exactly the same as Eric's and as we were getting ready to go the owner came up and Eric and He started to talk. I think I put my jacket, helmet etc on 3 times...and one hour later said I am getting too hot need to go!!!
With Eric finally remembering we were on a cruiser,we slowly rode into Ararat on minor (but bitumised) roads. I took a photo of the eastern scarp of the Grampians, while Eric took a photo of the road and the trees each side.
Ararat is important in the story of 'European' settlement but from a largely ignored historical perspective. It was here that some Chinese men found some gold in a creek bed and this led to the Victorian goldrush in the mid 1800's. A Museum dedicated to accurately informing those who visit just how much impact the Chinese had on Australian society and culture. Some like to think Chinese/Asian immigration to Australia is a recent event but actually some Chinese are able to trace their heritage in Australia back further than some Europeans. The museum is an beautiful building. With all the roof tiles being especially made and imported from China.
Today was a lovely day and a good day to ride, although the morning started icy, by late morning it was a beautiful sunny day, perfect for outdoor coffees and good ole English devonshire scones with jam and cream! certainly broke the healthy eating plan... vanilla slices, devonshire scones and finsihing the day with a snack of a warmed, buttered hot cross bun! Who said life on the road is tough? Will upload a couple of photos and post. The first photo is where we ate the vanilla slice... in the centre of Halls Gap.... really quite a small rural community, the middle 3 photos are explained above and the last makes Eric look greedy... 2 coffees and a scone... but turn the camera around and guess what? take care from Vanessa