Well, how about that hey! The year is well under way now and we head into the second month. Gee, it wont be long and we will be looking for Christmas trees again :)

This update still finds me in the Wangaratta area, North East VIC.

Firstly, I will start off with the weather report. The month started hot, very hot and on some days, you could have cooked a nice roast meal in a camp oven without the fire, just left the pot in the sun. Yep, hot is a good word. Day temps ranging from mid 30c to mid 40c and the mid 40c was seen on many occasions. The 4^th of the month actually saw 49c with moderate Nth winds all day and a Extreme fire danger warning throughout the area. I kept checking my weather apps on the phone all day and had the warnings turned on to let me know if I needed to put my fire plan into action. I have it all set for a 40km radius. Nights were a little cooler and ranging from high teens to mid 20c. Fans in the aluminium tent got a good work out over night as did the aircon during the day, although I did try and not turn it on until early to mid-afternoon but on occasions, I had to sneak it on around midday. Very little rain again and the area is so dry, it wouldn't take much to go up in smoke and I tell you that for free. That all said, the 5^th had a big change in temps and they hit around 5am that day dropping temps to mid ', nice indeed. We also had a light drizzle of rain now and then until around 3.00pm when it got a little heavier and was continuous for about two hours. First decent rain for some time. A good soaking rain too. No where near enough though, two hours is hardly worth talking about.

Did I mention the 49c temps? Thats good cos we had more of them and I mean MORE, yep not one but quite a few in the second half of the month. Yep, that's HOT. Struggling HOT in fact.

I am still waiting to see that specialist but an appointment has finally been made but a wait is needed so I am still grounded to a point. I have managed to go for a few drives as the car is nice and cool and gives the aluminium tent aircon a rest until early afternoon. My drives take place mid-morning to just after lunch time. I have some lunch then head back to the van and pool then enjoy the aircon until after dinner then just before bed hit the pool again, niiiice!

I heard about three small towns not far form Benalla and heading sort of to Yarrawonga area, all northern VIC. That have Silo Art.  First port of call was Goorambat, this was my first experience of seeing Silo Art, I had seen a water tank with art in the middle of nowhere that you might remember I put a pic in one of my updates but silos are different, they are bigger.  Goorambat had some Silos painted and looked very nice indeed. Not only those but as well even, I noticed a sign on the fence opposite pointing to a church with a mural inside so headed to check that out. The local Uniting Church has this beautiful Mural on the back wall behind the altar, it looks very nice indeed. Such a tiny old church that they have made very interesting.

Next to call in to visit and not far down the road was Devenish, they had two silos painted in the theme of Military Nurses, then and now sort of thing. Very nice indeed, In fact VERY nice. They also had a little poppy tribute set up and that added to the experience.

The last port of call was Tungamah, probably around an hour drive north west of Benalla. Again, two silos painted up to look very nice indeed. But not my favourite.

Ok then, what was my favourite? Go on guess? Yep, the Military ones back in Devenish. I don't know, they just hit the spot.

The three places including the church back in Goorambat had donation boxes set up, so a donation was placed in each one from me. If it contributes only in a small way to put a coat of paint on a window or maintain a sign, I feel good about it. Well done to the three very small towns with nothing much else there.

One thing you notice driving around these small county towns is the number of what were local shops all now closed or up for sale. Also, how dry the areas are, very dry indeed. OK then, I know that was two things, sorry.

A two-hour return trip from Benalla saw a very pleasant morning had and all from the cool Collie, well until I got out to take pics that is. Lunch was enjoyed in a nice pub at Benalla then back to the Aluminium Tent.

The month continued to move along until Australia Day arrived. I am normally and have been at Greens Lake, North Central VIC every year for the last 6 years but this year was not there and boy, what a difference that was. Instead of hundreds of noisy happy campers and fires on total fire ban days armed with boats and anything that can float I had only a few other vans near me and a 10.00pm noise curfew. Quite a few noisy kids though so actually gave the pool a miss during the Saturday and Sunday but managed to get my late-night dip in around 10.00pm. Although I did have to share the pool area with two Micro Bats who decided I was a good target and were swooping me, little buggers. I sorted them out though and went back to the aluminium tent and got my wide rim hat and had that on. Just in case. The people camped next to the pool thought I was silly at first but they too found out why. Not in the pool though but around their camp site. I reckon the bats must have thought I was intruding in their time as the pool really closes at 10.00pm but the manager gave me the OK to use it as long as I didn't do bombs into the pool at that time of night as would be noisy. Yeh sure! Me do bombs? Dont they want any water left in the pool?

Australia Day done and dusted saw many people depart, including the kids so pool time again. Kids! Yep, they have now returned to school after the loooong break. That along with no public holidays for a while finds things back to normal, mmm, whats normal though? Its now time for the Grey Nomad travellers to hit the highways and byways again.

Speaking with some of the mums and dads of the kids that were around they all say the same thing, the school holidays are way too long and even the kids get bored before school starts.

I'm not bored and enjoy my Grey Nomad lifestyle but things come to an end and that is what has taken place with this update, finished so until next time, take it easy everyone and keep safe out there.

Some pics below as usual.

DOUG