The Rainmakers
Sydney to Melbourne Stage 16 – Wed 22nd March 2017 – Traralgon to Leongatha (78 Km)
Weather: 13⁰C min – 21⁰C max, steady soaking rain most of the way
“None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm” ~ Henry David Thoreau
Call us the rainmakers … the rain just seems to follow us around! When we left Traralgon this morning there was steady soaking rain that continued for most of the 74 Km to Leongatha. It did not help much when the BP service station attendant at Mirboo North told us that it the first wet day they have had for six weeks!
About 20 Km after leaving Traralgon our route took us past Hazelwood Power Station which is in the news at the moment because it will be closing on 31st March 2017 (see Hazelwood Power Station closing). We risked getting the camera lens wet to get one photo of the power station, but unfortunately not Hazelwood Pondage which had an eerie mist rising from the warm water.
We stopped for our usual beverages at the pretty little village of Boolarra and took the opportunity of drying the inside of our rain jackets using the public hand dryer, not that it did much good because the rain continued to fall. Our plan had been to pick up the Grand Ridge Rail Trail at Boolarra, but with rain still falling we made the decision to continue along the quiet and safe C456 Route to Mirboo North and then the Strzelecki Highway (B460) through the scenic Strzelecki Ranges.
Tonight we are staying at yet another fabulous AirBNB hosted by a lovely couple, Barry and Christine, who welcomed us with a delicious freshly made pumpkin, carrot, and tomato soup followed by a cup of tea. You can imagine how welcome this was after such a hard day at the office!
