Malacoota to Melbourne

Friday January 27

And we are on the road again...on our way to check out Melbourne.  We stay overnight at a little lakeside/oceanside holiday town called Lakes Entrance - about 200 km from Malacoota.  The town is primarily a busy little strip of motels, restaurants and family activities (go-carts, minigolf, giant inflatables) that runs along the lake.  Lakes Entrance has a commercial fishery and all the restaurants we pass are boasting fresh seafood and catch of the day.  We are dying to try some of the local seafood but are worried about the potential chaos that sitting down for a nice dinner with two tired kids might bring (to ourselves and other diners) - we decide to wait to try a sit-down dinner until the grandparents come to visit.  We choose a fish & chips takeout (take away) spot that our guidebook recommends and it is absolutely delicious (more fish than batter, and very fresh fish).  Audrey thinks so too and gulps down a piece of gummy shark (her first fish experience).  On our way back to the motel we stop at a truffle café to pickup some dessert.  The café is displaying over 100 different kinds of truffles - our most exotic choice is the hot chile mango truffle - unbelievably yummy.  Audrey sucks on some watermelon for her dessert and we get a chuckle over how cute her big cheeks look vibrating away on top of the watermelon.

Life moves a little slower in Australia.  I don't feel like I'm constantly rushing like I was back home - trying to hurry to finish doing something before the kids need to sleep, eat, or are about to melt down...and I'm finding time to do things that have been sorely neglected for the last 3 years - like eyebrow plucking and daily showering...or savoring a cup of coffee in the morning!

But, there are definitely some struggles to travelling with children.  Having a mission to complete (like finding a place to stay, or finding internet, or something we need to buy) when travelling B.K. (Before Kids) just broke up the monotony that can occur when you have days and days with nothing to do - it's even a bit fun.  Now, a simple task can take the entire day and becomes extremely unpleasant when it's bordering a meal or naptime and the kids want to be doing anything else but the task at hand.  Even grocery shopping can be exhausting - trying to navigate a new grocery store, unknown brands and prices while keeping Rusty from running like a maniac up and down the aisles and Audrey from unleashing her 100-decibel scream - exhausting!  Audrey is bursting with happiness 99% of the time, but the remaining 1% is furious, blood-curdling and a bit frightening to us.

Saturday January 28

Next stop, Traralgon for the night (we can't pronounce it either) - mostly because of the cheap accommodation and it's the midway point to Melbourne.  We stay at another caravan park, but we prefer it to the last park as the cabins are much more spaced apart.  The amenities are fantastic.  There is a playground, swimming pool and a wading pool (which is the perfect temperature for Audrey, and that Rusty enjoys splashing us all in).  The piece de resistance, however, is what the brochure describes as a 'jumping pillow' and what Rusty thinks is more fun than yelling at turtles.  It's a 20 m x 8 m inflated trampoline bubble (for lack of better words).  The edges come right down to the ground and it's surrounded by sand.  Rusty is in her glory!!!

Taking a much needed rest

In the evening, the caravan park has a free sausage roast, and never ones to turn down free food, we head to the barbeque area to partake.  They have a little draw afterwards for various door prizes.  The first lady that wins a prize is in her nineties and insists on giving the host a kiss on the cheek in exchange for her free breakfast coupon.  This starts a bit of a trend.  The prizewinner draws the next number and I win the next prize.  I collect my bottle of tourist park Chardonnay (which I think is a pretty good prize until I have a taste) and am loudly urged by the crowd to also give out a kiss.  I oblige.  I reach into the hat to pull the next number. which turns out to be Clark's.  I feel a bit sheepish about pulling his number but the hostess is thrilled!  She comes charging straight for Clark, shoves me aside, and starts yelling 'right here handsome, right here' pointing to her lips.  Clark dodges to the left and right but can't avoid a big smacker straight on.  The crowd roars.  We finish off the evening with some entertaining readings by some local bush poets.

 Next stop...Melbourne!!!