The Long Way to Longford
Our tents are nestled under a huge tree, jumbled with other people's tents - owned by fruit pickers on working holidays. Our bikes are fastened, with a bike lock, to the same tree we are camped under. It was raining, big heavy drops falling on the tree, and we are not wet, we had managed to get all the way into Deloraine before the rain started to fall.
What to Do in a Day
Down a path toward the sound of rushing water is a small park, with a steam engine. The steam engine is behind bars, a sad place for an old, stately engine, but there it sits. A set of stairs lead up to the cab, every other area of the engine is blocked off, just in case someone gets hurt, I guess. The boys don't mind too much, they climb aboard and start to play a game; coal shovelers, drivers and brakes men.
From the park we hear the sound of running water, the river that runs past our campsite meets the falls here. It flows faster, over rocks and concrete edging, as the river drops away, down to lower waters. On the opposite bank we can see where the water was once directed toward a water wheel, there is no wheel now, just an old mill-house with odd painted weather boards. It seems a waste, in an older town, that there are old places that have not been fixed up and made like the older days.
We walk over a bridge, suspended over the flowing water. A small exercise park is entertainment as we challenge each other to do sit-ups. One, two, three. How many could the boys do?
A platypus? Perry the Platypus?
We are big fans of Phineas and Ferb, a television show about inventions, play, busting and mad scientists fighting an animal secret agent, Perry the Platypus. When I say “big fans” I mean we can watch that show an awful lot in a week, the boys love it, Adeline enjoys it and we all get a good laugh at the jokes.
One of the main attractions to the park we are staying at is that it is close to the river and in this river are platypus. Platypus that have “been bold” (as the caretaker says) and coming out between 4 and 6 pm, to feed.
On the way back from the park the boys walk along the river, trying to spot a swimming platypus. Excited whispers come from up ahead and Zeke is standing with his hand out, pointing at the water. Everyone joins him, trying to follow his pointing. Some bubbles float to the surface, and not too long afterwards up pops a platypus. It sits right on the surface of the river, and then dives back under to continue the search for food.
Back on the Road Again
Rolling roads greet us out of Deloraine, farm hills roll around us, flowing up to rounded peaks, covered in cows and brown grass. The roadside is lined with trees, green hedges and small houses. A butterfly floats in front of my bike, dancing upon the wind with fluttering wings, before moving off toward the trees.
The boys wouldn't have been grumpy this morning if they had realised how easy the road would be. Sun shining, gentle wind blowing behind us, hurrying us onward, along the back country roads. We are riding along the old highway, there is only a 30cm shoulder to ride on between the road and the grass, so we stay between two sides; as left as we dare, and as right as we dare.
Rolling Roads is the perfect description for this terrain. They are not heavy to ride, our wheels spin as freely as the sunshine, the tyres singing as the nobbles zip over the bitumen. We roll down a small hill, and over the top of the trees, in front of us, an old bluestone church stands, the top of the tower standing above the bright green leaves.
Lunch is enjoyed at a beautiful park, once the centre of town activity, archery, dancing and stalls at a market. A brilliant green mat of grass reaches all over the Villiage Green, a park and a tall tree keep the children entertained while Jacqui and Joash return with rolls for lunch, and a few bakery goods, in celebration for our 13th wedding anniversary.
The afternoon ride is wonderful. Sun shines heartily, warming our smiles and quickening the roads. We ride past more farms, hills, and are passed by a few drivers, who find is annoying being on the road.
Longford
We roll into Longford and find the caravan park. The owners are wonderful, giving us a few hints on places to see, and even offering to book is a table at the Country Club Hotel, for our evening meal.
With tents setup and the sun shining we head off for our evening meal. The hotel is full of racing memorabilia, stories and photos from when Longford was home to “Australia's fastest road racing circuit”. An old racing car, that we can see from the front of the building, was the perfect distraction while our meals were being prepared.