Farewell Bendigo, you have treated us well. Kept us safe and educated my family.  But yesterday we left for the last time, to start a new life in the sunny state to the north. No tears, no fanfare, no regrets. Just grateful that we are able to make such choices and have the confidence and opportunity to establish ourselves again in our new abode.

This day also signals the start of both a new phase of our life as well as an extended holiday that will be recorded here. So we set off, in warm weather, travelled via the various country towns of Elmore, Rochester, Echuca and Barmah. Stayed the night with our good friends in Cobram. Great hospitality and fresh country food. Now that was a gentle and relaxed start to this journey north. And then early to bed, early to rise …