DAY 6 : FRIDAY : GARDENS AND
100 ACRE WOOD

                

A beautiful clear morning - how lucky we have been with the weather! We enjoy the usual big breakfast with the variety including ants in the muesli! We go on the Garden Tour this morning; the bus picks us up at the Lodge. At our second stop, a large group of old people get on the bus! - including a whole group of widows from Gympie. We visit five 'gardens' including Camelot ...

... and another pretty garden set in the jungle – the name escapes me.

The beautiful hibiscuses are found everywhere ...

I am interested to see the hydroponics set-up at the local nursery.

Another special visit is 'Music Valley' near Bloody Bridge. The name was changed from its original but less pleasing 'Murderers' Glen'. The gardens are strongly tropical here with palms (Kentia and banana), and all more green than colourful. I chat up three of the widows over morning tea at the golf club, where this table top provides some amusement.

I tell them I am a widower having a fling with 'that widow over there'. One of them is quite taken in, and is surprised later to discover that Marg is my wife! We enjoy light lunch in town, and then have a 'finishing off' afternoon.

We first drive Selwyn Pine and J.E. Roads – just to finish off the 'main roads traveled' on the map. A couple of nice surprises: an unexpected view of Phillip Island from a point a little way up into the National Park, and then an unexpected high view of the coastal cliffs near Cascade.

We then drive to explore 100 Acre (Wood) and Rocky Point calling in to Headstone Point for a nice view south towards Rocky Point.

In fact we have no great expectations about the Wood or Rocky Point. How wrong we are! The wood has wide mown (cow-cropped?) paths between stands of Norfolk Island pines and other trees.

At the point lie a dozen rocky islets with the wild sea pounding in on them in a maelstrom of white foam and conflicting currents.

And we nearly missed it! Back to Burnt Pine supermarket for some supplies before heading back home.

I realize I haven't mentioned the many golden orb spiders and their webs which can be seen everywhere. Public conveniences here have been universally clean, tidy and nicely painted, compete with paper towels and soap. Very pleasing!