{"id":3827,"date":"2020-03-10T23:12:19","date_gmt":"2020-03-10T15:12:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/?p=3827"},"modified":"2020-07-19T15:11:46","modified_gmt":"2020-07-19T07:11:46","slug":"denmark-rescue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/index.php\/2020\/03\/10\/denmark-rescue\/","title":{"rendered":"Denmark Rescue"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Driving into Wilsons Promontory National Park, more fondly\nknown as \u2018The Prom\u2019, was like a flashback to being in the UK. Cows grazing in\nthe rolling green fields, a rugged backdrop decorating the horizon; had it not\nbeen such a sunny and warm day, you could have easily been transported. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We found a spot one dune away from the beach and set up camp\nready to explore The Prom over the next few days. Threaded with a labyrinth of\nwalking tracks, many needing an overnight camp, there were a couple of\nmust-sees among the list. The overnighters were something that we weren\u2019t considering\n&#8211; it had been a while since we\u2019d done much walking at all and there was a\nlittle persuading to be done with the 4 \u2018littler legs\u2019 in the family. Overnighters\nwere deemed a step too ambitious!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-1 wp-block-gallery columns-1 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/IMG_8569-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3829\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/IMG_8569-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/img_8569\/\" class=\"wp-image-3829\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/IMG_8569-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/IMG_8569-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/IMG_8565-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3845\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/IMG_8565-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/img_8565\/\" class=\"wp-image-3845\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/IMG_8565-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/IMG_8565-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>With this in mind, Alex and I already knew we were never\ngoing to get to the actual southernmost point of the mainland and see \u201cthe\nsign\u201d, like we\u2019d seen in the west and on previous trips to the north and east &#x2639;.\nAlex suggested taking the drone up and seeing how far we could go virtually,\nbut my little Mavic Air wasn\u2019t strong enough to make the distance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-3 wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200311_091117-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3799\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200311_091117-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200311_091117\/\" class=\"wp-image-3799\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"576\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200312_195322-576x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3847\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200312_195322-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200312_195322\/\" class=\"wp-image-3847\"\/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>With so many beautiful places, it was hard to know which\nwalk to do first, yet we managed to take in a few sights even with some lazing\naround. We had fun making sounds on Squeaky Beach with its white quartz sand, the\nkids splashing around in the cool water and being fascinated with the little\nsquirters as the sea levels ebbed and flowed around them. Around camp the local\nnatives were bold, we had one audacious wombat waddling around through the\ncamps in search of food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Squeaky Beach\" width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_WHM3B0Pf1g?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Lil squirters\" width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/XedoLnj1hGc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The walking boots were strapped on for the Lilly Pilly\ncircuit walk, as a contrast to the beach and coastline we\u2019d explored so far.\nStarting off through the stringy-bark forest, the gradual climb led us to a\nlush rainforest. There\u2019s a detour to a short boardwalk where the climate\nchanges quite abruptly and a large open forest becomes dark, ethereal woodland,\nI\u2019m sure there were fairies watching us! This initial half was apparently the\ngentle side of the circuit. As we continued on, the path became steep and the\nlittle voices became louder\u2026.\u201dhow much longer?\u201d, \u201clet\u2019s turn back, I don\u2019t want\nto do the circuit\u201d, \u201care we there yet?\u201d. There were no markers on the path, so\nI was keeping it honest with the ignorance this time. Reo\u2019s little legs were\nout of practice and he was not that happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-5 wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200312_112741-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3803\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200312_112741\/\" class=\"wp-image-3803\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200312_113710-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3850\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/?attachment_id=3850\" class=\"wp-image-3850\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200312_115450-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3851\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200312_115450-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/?attachment_id=3851\" class=\"wp-image-3851\"\/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the main attractions down here for us was another yellow\nboat ride. We\u2019d done one in Tassie taking in the sites between Port Authur and\nEaglehawk Neck and it\u2019s a great way to see scenery otherwise inaccessible. It\nwas also the only way we\u2019d get close to the most southern part of Australia\u2019s\nmainland!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Part of the excitement was due to our transport being an\namphibious Sealegs boat; picking us up from the beach and then driving down to\nthe water. Pretty cool. We were soon on the plane and skipping across the oblate,\ncrystal clear waters as the sun shone down to warm us up. We\u2019d chosen the\nperfect day to be out.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-7 wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200311_112647-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3800\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200311_112647-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200311_112647\/\" class=\"wp-image-3800\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200311_121006-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3801\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200311_121006-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200311_121006\/\" class=\"wp-image-3801\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/IMG_8929-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3831\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/IMG_8929-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/img_8929\/\" class=\"wp-image-3831\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/IMG_8929-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/IMG_8929-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Wilson\u2019s Prom Boat Ride\" width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/8VwhuK2InNI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The jagged coastline is beautiful; weathered granite\noutcrops, battered by fierce winter tides and scorching summer sun creating\nspectacular rock formations. Cape Barron Geese were dotted over the coastline\nand isolated islands we passed. The aromatic aroma of the Australian and NZ fur\nseal colonies hit us before we saw them, and we were treated to playful\ndisplays of parents and their pups excited by their audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Salty Seals\" width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/dJf2UjY0r9Y?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Next on the agenda was the granite monolith of Skull Rock,\nso big you can fit the sails of the Opera House in the hole of the rock that\nforms the shape of the skull. Dusted with Lichen, it gives a warm orange glow as\nthe sun bounces off it, home to a Peregrine Falcon, the fastest bird in the\nworld. Another \u2018fun fact\u2019 is that it\u2019s the fastest animal in the world, <em>when\nin a dive<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-9 wp-block-gallery columns-1 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200311_123902-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3802\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200311_123902-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200311_123902\/\" class=\"wp-image-3802\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200311_123902-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200311_123902-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The weather was beautiful for the time we were at the Prom. On our leaving day, the clouds began to roll in. Before heading into The Big Smoke of Melbourne to visit Auntie Chrissie, we made one last trip, up to Mount Oberon. It was a fairly ambitious walk \u2013 3.4km <em>UP<\/em> \u2013 but it was so worth it. Rewarded with picture postcard views of the land clashing with the ocean to form the coastline, the vista across the Bass Strait and offshore islands was breathtaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-11 wp-block-gallery columns-1 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200313_104628-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3793\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200313_104628-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200313_104628\/\" class=\"wp-image-3793\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200313_104628-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200313_104628-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Over the last few weeks we\u2019d been reading snippets about a new virus called \u2018Covid-19\u2019 which was ripping through Europe, but so far, few cases had reached Australian soil. What seemed more amazing was the shortage of loo roll, pasta, flour and rice in the shops. The shops had been stripped bare, in some cases, of EVERYTHING! We were beginning to feel an apocalyptic apprehension!!! We went searching for loo rolls as a gift for Chrissie and amazingly won \u2018gold\u2019 at the 3rd shop we popped in. Normally we can&#8217;t get Reo to take his hands out of his pockets, yet taking them both into shops now, after constant reminders to keep hands in pockets and not touch <em>anything<\/em>, was like dropping a buttered piece of bread and it landing buttered side up, it was never going to happen. They stayed in the car from then on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-13 wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/IMG-20200321-WA0029-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3820\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/IMG-20200321-WA0029.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/img-20200321-wa0029\/\" class=\"wp-image-3820\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/IMG-20200321-WA0029-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/IMG-20200321-WA0029-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200316_114042-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3797\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200316_114042-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200316_114042\/\" class=\"wp-image-3797\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200316_114042-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200316_114042-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We arrived into Melbourne early evening and Auntie Chrissie\nhad tea waiting. Chrissie and I had planned a night out, so after eating we\nleft Alex with the kids and popped out for a drink\u2026. or two.\nThe last-minute debacle of the cancelled Grand Prix had left many sports\nfans and events hosts at a loose end, partying in the city; ironic really,\ngiven it was cancelled due to the risks of mass gatherings and the spread of\nthe virus. It was this act that brought Covid-19 to the forefront of our minds\nand re-focused our plan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-15 wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200313_151522-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3794\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200313_151522-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200313_151522\/\" class=\"wp-image-3794\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200313_204134-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3795\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200313_204134-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200313_204134\/\" class=\"wp-image-3795\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200313_204134-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200313_204134-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>I <em>may <\/em>have had a bit of a sore head the following morning and we spent the day walking in the park and visiting The Shrine of Remembrance. Another great schooling excursion completed, as we explained the significance to the kids. Sunday we met up with James and Paulette for brekkie and as the weekend wore on, we looked at our plans and questioned why we were hanging around a city when this virus seemed to be spreading pretty quickly in densely populated areas. Decision made, we left the city Tuesday and headed out towards Ballarat, with an increased anxiety about what to do next. In the 4 days we\u2019d been in Melbourne, Australia\u2019s count of cases had more than doubled, so we were certain that the best thing to do was stay out of populated areas and get over to the Simpson Desert to meet James, Lucy and Tom and stay remote. Continuing our secluded, wandering lifestyle was definitely the best approach. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-17 wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/IMG_9025-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3833\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/IMG_9025-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/img_9025\/\" class=\"wp-image-3833\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/IMG_9022-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3832\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/IMG_9022-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/img_9022\/\" class=\"wp-image-3832\"\/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019d headed to Ballarat to visit Sovereign Hill, an open-air museum depicting Ballarat&#8217;s first ten years after the discovery of gold there in 1851. We stepped back in time and walked in the footprints of Ballarat\u2019s early settlers. With new social distancing measures and restrictions in place of gatherings no greater than 500 due to the virus, all school excursions had been cancelled, of which there could be up to 1200 school children visiting a day, the place was like a ghost town. It was quite eerie. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/IMG_9440-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3841\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/IMG_9440-980x980.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/IMG_9440-480x480.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The town is large and there is so much to do and see, you need 2 days to explore the place. Perfect with the 2 days for the price of 1 ticket. The town is made up of typical-looking shops of the period, with staff and volunteers wandering round the site in costumes re-enacting life as it was back then, many portraying the behaviours and prejudices of the 1850\u2019s!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-19 wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/IMG_9280-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3837\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/IMG_9280-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/img_9280\/\" class=\"wp-image-3837\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/IMG_9275-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3836\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/IMG_9275-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/img_9275\/\" class=\"wp-image-3836\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/IMG_9393-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3840\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/IMG_9393-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/img_9393\/\" class=\"wp-image-3840\"\/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200318_121735-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3798\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200318_121735-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200318_121735-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Sovereign Hill Horse Carriage\" width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Y9Bg5cFw5gk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>With so much to do, it was hard to know where to start. Reo did. As soon as he heard the hooves, he <em>needed<\/em> to have a horse and cart ride around the town, just the like the prosperous town-folk did in the olden days. Over the 2 days admission, we saw the blacksmith in action, hammering iron on his anvil, popped into the theatre to take in a show, the Red Coats marched and gave their musket firing demonstration and we walked the streets of the town while the corrupt policeman patrolled keeping us \u2018safe\u2019 with his sword and musket (of which he gave us a rather loud demonstration!), he even roped Reo in for comedy value. Salaries for police were meagre in those days, 22 pounds a year, however, if you were happy to step on to the <em>other<\/em> side of the law, you could live quite a first-class lifestyle. Fines were common; 50 pounds for sly grog selling (alcohol for the uninitiated), 5 pounds for no mining permit and corrupt police took half of all fines, which would have added up quite considerably over a period of time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Hot Metal\" width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/i-hwbdpidpQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Red Coats\" width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Fclv1l9bYuY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Cops\" width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/UOla3N3iX98?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>With so few visitors now, people were generally good at social distancing, a lot of the time by default given the size of the crowds. If someone got too close for my liking, I pretended to cough, that soon gave me a bit of space! &#x1f927;&#x1f606; We saw the Chandler in action making his candles, their source of light both for home and the mines. One mine would use 1000 candles per day. They were made from tallow (sheep fat), which was really smelly and full of flies. 400-600 sheep a day would be slaughtered to be able to keep up with demand. 6, 8 and 11 hour candles were produced and the length of your shift depicted the candle you chose to use. Lexi &amp; Reo bought a candle each and then proceeded to dip it in dyes to colour it. Reo decided on a bilateral design, while Lexi chose a more elaborate pattern. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Candle Makers\" width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/-QUEubxHkjU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-21 wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200318_144804-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3810\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200318_144804-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200318_144804\/\" class=\"wp-image-3810\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200318_144604-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3809\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200318_144604-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200318_144604\/\" class=\"wp-image-3809\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200318_144926-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3811\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200318_144926-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200318_144926\/\" class=\"wp-image-3811\"\/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>You can\u2019t visit Sovereign Hill without taking a mine tour; a tough job to have at the best of times, but certainly not one I\u2019d have one wanted over a hundred years ago. They certainly didn\u2019t have the little train we had to take them down!\u00a0 A shaft with a ramshackle cage, able to carry 4 grown men was their mode of transport. As with anything mechanical, things tend to break down every now and again, not so bad if you had to climb down the ladder to start work, but if it went kaput while you were on your shift, climbing the ladder up 1000ft (300m) would take a fit miner one and a half hours. The conditions down below were cramped, dark (apart from the light of your candle), noisy and smelly \u2013 certainly no OH&amp;S in those days. Apart from giving light, the miners heated their food by the candle, and if it burned more yellow than normal, it was an indicator of potential issues with the air in the mine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-23 wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/IMG_9383-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3838\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/IMG_9383-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/img_9383\/\" class=\"wp-image-3838\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/IMG_9391-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3839\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/IMG_9391-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/img_9391\/\" class=\"wp-image-3839\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200318_151255-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3812\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200318_151255-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200318_151255\/\" class=\"wp-image-3812\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200318_151255-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200318_151255-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>You even got to see what happens to it after the miners dug\nthe gold out of the ground. A demonstration is given on casting a $250,000 gold\nbullion. Even before Covid-19 and social distancing \/ good hand hygiene, there\nwas no passing this block around at the end the demo!! After hearing and seeing\nso much about gold, the must-do of Sovereign Hill is panning for the yellow\nstuff itself. $72,000 worth of gold specs are thrown into the river over the\nyear for panning! I got bored after sifting through a couple of bowls, but Alex\nwas dedicated and managed to find at least 5 specs of the stuff, I\u2019m talking pin\nprick size, certainly wouldn&#8217;t have bought us a roll of loo paper! &#x1f911;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-25 wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/IMG_9239-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3835\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/IMG_9239.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/img_9239\/\" class=\"wp-image-3835\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/IMG_9239-980x980.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/IMG_9239-480x480.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200318_160417-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3813\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200318_160417-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200318_160417\/\" class=\"wp-image-3813\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200318_160802-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3814\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200318_160802-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200318_160802\/\" class=\"wp-image-3814\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200318_160802-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200318_160802-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The kids\u2019 favourite demo was the lolly making. So much so we\nwent both days! A substantial amount of sugar poured into water to simmer down,\nwith a bit of colour and flavour and the children were running around high on\nthe effects for the next few hours. It really is a fabulous museum to visit and\n2 days of sterling home schooling \u2013 even if I do say so myself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Lolly time\" width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9sJ9wOJzu-8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We hung around camp for the next couple of days, mainly\nkilling time. With the new rules about social distancing and us feeling\nunsettled about everything going on, it was totally contrary to the lifestyle\nwe\u2019d been living, telling the kids that they couldn\u2019t just run up to the kids\ncamping about 50m away and play. Reo really felt it and continued to say how\nsad it was making him feel that he couldn\u2019t make new friends. Lexi &amp; Reo\nwon\u2019t listen to the news, so we can\u2019t have it on in the car, which meant Alex\nand I were continually on our phones in search of updates, for both Australia\nand UK. Boy, weren\u2019t the Antipodes doing well in comparison?!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019d planned a service for Minty and another house sit\naround the Mornington Peninsula which was going to give us space to cook all\nthe food we needed for our Simpson trip and prepare the car as we\u2019d be leaving\nMinty behind at a roadhouse. We began the trip back towards East Melbourne\nafter checking in with the house owners to see if they were still going away in\nthis constantly changing world, but as we were about 70km away from the city, I\nread a newsflash that South Australia (SA) were closing their borders on Tuesday\nafternoon (it was now Sunday afternoon). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If we did the house sit, we wouldn\u2019t be able to get into SA\nto make the Simpson, so we had to give our apologies to the house sit people\nand inform them we were pulling out. I really hate cancelling on people, but\nwith the current climate they were very understanding of our situation. We\ndecided to still get Minty serviced, then we would head straight back to the\nboarder before it closed. We checked with the mechanic that he was still\nworking, as non-essential businesses were ordered to close from the following\nday. All good on that front so we carried on. An hour later a call from the mechanic\nchanged everything for us. The WA Government had just announced they were also\ngoing to be closing their borders the same time as SA. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We immediately turned around and started a mad dash to the west, with a plan to then go north and find some warmth. The Simpson was off. We had a quick call with James and Lucy to commiserate. The only rationale in this manoeuvre was that we didn\u2019t want to be stuck in Victoria for winter. It would be like being stuck in the UK for winter (minus snow) in t-shirts, shorts and flip flops! Typically, we\u2019d got rid of our warm weather gear, who needs that in the tropics of Aus?!\u00a0 We had 2000km (~1250miles) to drive in 48 hours to get us to the border. Mission accepted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200323_073347-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3815\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200323_073347-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200323_073347-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We crossed over the Vic\/SA border before stopping for the night. With the time zone change we gained an extra 30 minutes of sleep which was welcome. On the road again just after 7am, we had a long drive ahead of us. We felt like we were in some kind of movie, sneaking over to another state, it was a really strange feeling. The world felt suspended; news was changing hourly, reports from overseas of the thousands of cases a day spreading across Europe, it was like watching a thriller from afar. What was even more worrying was that this was just the beginning. Doors just kept closing; international flights from certain countries, state borders, what would be next? <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/IMG_9726-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3843\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/IMG_9726-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/IMG_9726-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Alex and I kept changing as driver every few hours to keep\nus fresh. To entertain us on the 1000km plus journey that day, we did a bit of schoolwork,\nsang along to songs, played eye spy and the kids got a week\u2019s worth of movies. By\nthe time we stopped we\u2019d driven nearly 16 hours and were 5 hours away from the\nWA border.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Up and ready to leave early again the next day, we detoured\ninto Ceduna town, grabbed a couple of coffees and set off. Lexi then decided\nshe needed the loo, back to town. &nbsp;Alex\nthen decided he needed some bait (to keep feeding those fish) and off he popped\nto another shop. Tic tok went the clock on the countdown to the border close\u2026.\nI could already feel my stress levels rising and we hadn\u2019t even left. As we\nchewed up the kilometres, we noticed more and more rigs on the road, both directions.\nPeople fleeing to their own safer places. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-27 wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"767\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/org_08306c4d509a7461_1585014894000-1024x767.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3816\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/org_08306c4d509a7461_1585014894000-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/org_08306c4d509a7461_1585014894000\/\" class=\"wp-image-3816\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/org_08306c4d509a7461_1585014894000-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/org_08306c4d509a7461_1585014894000-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200324_112822-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3804\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200324_112822-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200324_112822\/\" class=\"wp-image-3804\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200324_112822-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200324_112822-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>It felt a little like the Whacky Races as we crossed the\nNullarbor, with cars overtaking trailers, trailers overtaking caravans and\ncaravans overtaking road trains. It was comedy value. We were making good time when\nAlex pulled off to look at the Bunda Cliffs. I wasn\u2019t flying my drone last time\nwe passed them, so he wanted me to take some pictures. Not really my priority and\nthere was a bit of a <em>discussion<\/em> on \u2018tik, tok, what about the border\nclock?\u2019. I got him his Insta shots and we continued on our way. I will admit,\ntensions were high, cross words were said and it was a MASSIVE relief when we\nfound ourselves at the end of a 30-vehicle line, all queuing to get into WA.\nWe\u2019d made it; 3 states, 2000km in 46 hours, with less than an hour to spare\nbefore it shut!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Race 2 WA\" width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/m8pYYufbgRI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The biggest surprise was when we got to quarantine, no\nofficer was wearing PPE, not even gloves. I was really surprised given all the\nhype about hand washing and potential cross contamination with them checking\neveryone\u2019s cars. We crossed the border, parked up and blatantly walked back\nacross to the SA side to have a shower in the roadhouse. It really felt like we\nwere refugees. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"769\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/IMG-20200324-WA0026.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3821\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/IMG-20200324-WA0026.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/IMG-20200324-WA0026-980x736.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/IMG-20200324-WA0026-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Feeling tired, lost, overwhelmed and scared, we parked up at\nthe beach unsure what to do next. We just needed to decompress from the last\nmanic 48 hours and we\u2019d think about a plan tomorrow. Lethargy set in and we\nspent a couple of days isolating ourselves in the middle of nowhere, literally,\npostulating on what to do and where to go. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As we scrolled through news and posts on social media (amazingly we had great reception in the middle of nowhere), they only served us with a sense of dread. Not only were state and territory borders closing, WA was closing its intrastate borders too. There was no way we could get north as planned and reading some of the horror stories from other travellers about local towns not serving them if they didn\u2019t have a WA reg plate or in some towns, even proof of a local postcode, it looked like we could be in for a challenging time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-29 wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/org_93136af5759544d5_1585274588000-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3817\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/org_93136af5759544d5_1585274588000-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/org_93136af5759544d5_1585274588000\/\" class=\"wp-image-3817\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/org_93136af5759544d5_1585274588000-980x653.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/org_93136af5759544d5_1585274588000-480x320.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"767\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/org_81e54f37f3f82966_1585125098000-1024x767.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3825\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/org_81e54f37f3f82966_1585125098000-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/org_81e54f37f3f82966_1585125098000\/\" class=\"wp-image-3825\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/org_81e54f37f3f82966_1585125098000-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/org_81e54f37f3f82966_1585125098000-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200327_065641-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3806\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200327_065641-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200327_065641\/\" class=\"wp-image-3806\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200327_072526-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3807\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200327_072526-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200327_072526\/\" class=\"wp-image-3807\"\/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Clearly, I\u2019d been channelling my inner anxieties, as after a\ncouple of days hanging round the beach, two guardian angels came to our rescue.\nThe Roaming Reesons, who we\u2019d met early in on our trip last year, had a farmhouse\nin Denmark and kindly offered if we\u2019d like to stay there for lockdown. Erm, let\nme think about that for a <em>nanosecond<\/em>\u2026.. YES PLEASE! Such a generous\noffer and a real lifesaver for us. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We finished the Nullarbor with 2 very hard days of\nschooling, Lexi (day 1) and Reo (day 2) and made it to Esperance with no dramas\n(that is if you ignore Alex taking Reo out of the car and threatening to leave\nhim by the side of the road if he didn\u2019t stop being so rude!). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After working out the logistics of getting the key, we had a week before realistically we\u2019d be able to pick it up from the post office. Even with a whole layer of tension now removed, we were still apprehensive as we passed towns, wondering if locals would be out with pickaxes and spades ready to run us out of their neighbourhood. As it was, locals were friendly and shops were quite well stocked, apart from your essential pasta, rice, flour, bread and bog roll aisles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-31 wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/org_4af38d62f0c60719_1585443440000-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3824\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/org_4af38d62f0c60719_1585443440000-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/org_4af38d62f0c60719_1585443440000\/\" class=\"wp-image-3824\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/org_4af38d62f0c60719_1585443440000-980x653.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/org_4af38d62f0c60719_1585443440000-480x320.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/IMG-20200330-WA0036.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3822\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/IMG-20200330-WA0036.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/img-20200330-wa0036\/\" class=\"wp-image-3822\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/IMG-20200330-WA0036.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/IMG-20200330-WA0036-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/IMG-20200330-WA0036-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Parcel Tongue\" width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/kXZbT_TVCl4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>As we continued our next 1400km stint to get to our safehouse, we stopped at some lovely beaches, returning to one we\u2019d stayed at previously. We spent the days walking the coves, swimming in the sea, fishing, reading, playing Uno and talking Parseltongue to snakes. Life wasn\u2019t bad. With the $50,000 threat of fines for crossing intrastate borders, we needed to make sure we were in the right region the day they closed. Luckily, this was the day the key was supposed to turn up. Reception was patchy at camp, but just as we were leaving, Alex received an email from Australian post saying that the letter (containing the farm keys) had been automatically redirected to our home address in Sydney!! OMG \u2013 what?!?! After a few panicked phone calls, the Denmark post office realised it made no sense to send a letter to the other side of Australia that had been clearly earmarked for local pickup and hung on to it. Phew. With key in hand and farm located just out of town, we unlocked the front gate to our sanctuary, for how long, no one knew. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20200331_135730-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3819\"\/><figcaption>THE KEY!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Driving into Wilsons Promontory National Park, more fondly known as \u2018The Prom\u2019, was like a flashback to being in the UK. Cows grazing in the rolling green fields, a rugged backdrop decorating the horizon; had it not been such a sunny and warm day, you could have easily been transported. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":3823,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":""},"categories":[12,10,13],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3827"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3827"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3827\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3872,"href":"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3827\/revisions\/3872"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3823"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3827"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3827"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3827"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}