Coffee in the country

It was a perfect Sunday, plenty of warm sunshine and petrol in the car. So warm that most people drove to the beaches so Colin and I drove in the opposite direction and into the country. It was a good choice, there was barely a car on the road!
We stopped and purchased bananas and avocados from a grower and pulled over to take photos of the magnificent scenery and wasted our time in a manner we both enjoy.

 A canefield that has been harvested allowing a clear view across to Mt Warning. A mountain named by the explorer Captain Cook because he felt that it would serve as a warning to shipping about a reef that was off the coast of NSW.
When we saw a couple of railway carriages through a gateway and a sign indicating that coffee and cake were available, we stopped

The Cafe cum craft gallery is called the "Red Rattler" however the red paint has faded in the weather and looks a little drab. We drove the car down the drive and parked in the huge carpark next to this signboard.

There was no chance of a rail motor passing since there were no rail tracks! The sign added to the fun atmosphere though.
I poked my head around the door of the first carriage - both were linked with a timber board floor and shade sales - and this carriage was filled with nick-knacks of every description. Paintings adorned the walls, stain glass light catchers hung from everywhere and if anything could be hand crafted and sold, it was here.

Being quite capable of creating my own craft and not wanting any more I moved on down to where we could order a coffee. While waiting for it to be made I poked my camera into the second carriage - this one had been set out as a dining room - there was even a piano (playable) in the guards compartment at the end!

We did enjoy our brief visit to the Red Rattler, the coffee was good, the staff happy and pleasant and the carriages fun to visit.

With plenty of memory still left in my SD card I was impatient to move on and find more subjects to aim the camera at!
AJ

Hanging Rock and Maceton hills

Kathy had taken a day off work so she could have some time with us (Sue, Keith, Colin and me) so in two cars with Bob driving one and me the other, we drove out to enjoy the sights around Gisborne. Firstly we stopped briefly in front of the house in which Bob and Kathy used to live and then drove through some beautiful mountainous lanes with huge trees and flowering agapanthus (blue and white) decorating the sides of the roads, until we reached a restaurant at the top of Mount Macedon. A walk from the restaurant led to a mighty cross that towered above the trees and overlooked the amazing view over the valley below.

The gardens leading up to the cross were planted with hydrangeas and these were the strongest blue that we had ever seen on this plant.

 The avenue leading to the Cross

Hydrangeas range from white through to pink, to purple and to blue, depending on the alkalinity or acidity of the soil.

 Keith capturing the blues of the Hydgrangea

On one side of the gigantic cross was embedded a huge bronze sword. Having taken a couple of photos from the approach to the cross I almost didn’t look up when I reached the other side so I almost missed seeing it.

After our walk we undid all the good we had done by eating two of the largest scones with jam and cream that we had ever had! Of course it was necessary to have a little more exercise to make things right again so we drove on to “Hanging Rock” – the same place that was the inspiration for the book and movie “Picnic at Hanging Rock”. Once there we really had some exercise! The sun had come out so it was a lot warmer – the morning was cool enough for jackets. The scenery was stunning. I enjoyed walking up the steep steps and taking photographs of the amazing rock formations.

 We all have different degrees of fitness so it was only Sue, Keith and me who reached the “Summit” and the “Eagle” – Colin and Kathy made it as far as the “Hanging Rock”

before returning to the café at the base of the outcrop to order iced coffees for everyone.

 This is the formation known as "Hanging Rock"

The views from the top were spectacular between the rocks. It was well worth the extra exertion! 

 Here is another view in a different direction.

The grass is rather brown at this time of year (summer) so these same view would look so different in three months time when all is green and lush.

AJ