Mar 11, Beechworth

Our Benalla hosts Bruce and Ann drove us to the Milawa cheese factory where we met up with the rest of the team and travelled with our new host to Mount Buffalo. We were sad to say goodbye to Bruce and Ann, but we're sure we'll see them again.

Jim Fiford is the president of the Beechworth Rotary Club and our host for the next couple of days. He drove us to climb Mount Buffalo. On the way we passed some really pretty wine country near MyrtleFord. This area had been settled by Italians who developed a tobacco industry and when that was stopped, turned to wine production. The tobacco kilns are still in evidence and are used for other purposes. 

Mount Buffalo has a lot of very stunning views. The road winds all the way to the top.

We had tea at the top with the group. It's an Australian tradition. 

There's was also an old resort to explore. It was still well maintained but a bit spooky. Like they just walked away from it leaving everything. Hopefully someone will come along to reopen and restore it. 

We travelled further up the mountain to a place called The Horn. Here was the first time we had seen any evidence of bush fires. You can see how much damage it does although some regrowth was already starting.

We were photobombed by a random person working on the repair of a transmitter station. Fun. Didn't catch his name.

On the way down the mountain we saw the remains of the burned out ski slope. It not likely to be rebuilt.

We also stopped at a giant rock called Leviathan. It was huge! You could walk right under most of it. Amazing. 

On the way down we followed a group of cyclists. We could not keep up with them. The total climb is something like 25 km at 5%. You can imagine their speed. There were lots of bikes riding the mountain. 

Once we got to the bottom, we stopped for a drink and snack at the Ringer Reef Winery. Very civilized.

After getting settled in with our new hosts Jim and Jocelyne Fiford we went out to the Rotary Club meeting for supper. Lots of fun and fellowship. This club has their own hall.

It was another great day in Victoria with Rotarians.