Day 7

Sue

After packing up all our gear we headed up to Russ & Gail's homestead arriving there a little after lunch time. Their daughter Erica introduced us to their extended family which includes two roosters, several chooks, a peacock, two whippet dogs and a terrier. Their house is so delightful, it was built in the early 20's as a post office. In fact, I am typing this in the old postmasters office. The house is so beautiful and full of character. Leading into the yard is an archway made of grapes and I have been stealing a few each time I walk under it. My favourite time has been meal time where we are all seated around a huge table and talking and laughing.

Russ arranged to take us to an emu farm. Butch and his wife Donna (the emu farmers) were very friendly and informative. We saw how they put the eggs into a carefully controlled incubator, then into a hatcher and when they were a day or two old into a holding cage until they are big enough to go into the regular pens.

Butch has around 150 emus. He had to round one up because it jumped the 6 foot fence and that was certainly interesting to watch. Emus seem to be very stubborn and are very, very strong! Emu eggs are a beautiful shade of dark jade green and we were given one (hollowed out of course) to bring home. Thanks Butch & Donna!

After the emu farm we drove to Dimboola and peaked in the windows of the shops. I found a Mickey Mouse lunch pail that was for sale for $110. (checking how much money I still have) I might have to go back and get that lunch box!

We came back to the house for a wonderful dinner of lasagne and wine. When dinner was over we piled into the back of Russell's ute and drove up to the top of a country hill to watch the sunset and the stars come out. Russ is very informative about the native plants and wildlife. We were all falling asleep in the ute from all the fresh air so we headed on back to the house.

Continue the Journey