Morning Came the 16th Day

 This was our "train" day. 8am start and looked forward to a laid-back day. The train headed north to Hoppers Crossing, Sunbury, Diggers and down to North Shore Geelong.

 

 

 

It was easy to be captivated by the passing scenes of normal life. There's nothing like the rail line that runs through the middle of a town.

We sat and just looked, no distractiom or entertainment necessary. We sat in the dining car for most of the time....the stools were great window height and faced outward; it was like a big tv screen. It was smooth sailing until Ararat where there was a signal malfunction which created a one hour delay.

 No matter. By this time it was about 11am. Then came  Stawell, home of the Stawell Gift foot-race-  the oval is next to the station.

We knew to look out for Murtoa, a tiny place but famous for the Big Stick Shed. Only its size is visible here bit it"s worth Googling it to see the interior construction.

Passing through Horsham, the Grampians were visible in the distance. Then the wheatfields took over to Dimboola and Nhil. The stuble is still being burned here. If you look closely the actual fire is visible.

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After Nhil which appeared an active and "going ok' town the country is poorer, dotted with salt pans and lakes.  Anyone contemplating a road trip might consider the Wimmera.. with all their painted silos and towers. Places like Patchewollock and Speed.  Not reachable by public transport though!

Dusk descended and the focus was the setting sun

 

Yhere was just enough light at Murray Bridge to see the river and road bridge. It felt like we were getting close to Adelaide.

I didn't count on the Adelaide Hills! In the dark it was a slow,winding trip. One which would be good in the daylight I imagine.  We arrived around 7...at a different station to what I had planned- one with NO public transport so taxi it was to the airport. But that's the next story.

Atura Hotel at the airport-some of the most creative interior design I've seen in any hotel

The walls were concrete,the furniture 7 layer ply with decorative vent holes, the ceiling bare concrete with a huge yellow dot painted on (just visible above)

And the dark panel on the lower  wall extended into the drapes + a high class coffee machine! And so ended a very long day, every minute a fab experience.