Queenscliff Vic Bairnsdale, Vehicle ferry, fog

Awake before the alarm. 6:15am. Stumbled out to the bathroom. Had to stand still and take a second look. All I could see was fog. It's OK, I found the ensuite, it was only 2 metres away.

We were booked on the ferry from Queenscliff to Sorrento at 8am, which for us means being there at 730. Luckily it was only 5 minutes away from the van park. Take a look at our trip to the ferry:

OK, yes this is Queenscliff. Where is that boat?

Down here maybe?

Oh, ok there it is, down there

Well, at least we found the right place. That is the ferry and he's at least 50 metres off course. Better do a hard right, then left...

Oh yeah, it's in here isn't it.

Out they come, lucky to be back on safe (couldn't say dry, could i?) ground

This is the view out toward the busiest shipping lane in Australia, through which we have to pass to get to Sorrento

We traversed the pond in the murky gloom, blasting our horn all the way. We saw nothing at all. After about 40 minutes the two deckies took up a position each at the front of the boat, walkie talkies in hand. Inching our way carefully forward until the shape of the wharf came into view. Safely docked, we were the first off and we hit the road to ward the east and traveled for two hours through the back blocks of the Gippsland area stopping at Sale for lunch and a rest. Soon after leaving Sale we  emerged  onto the M1, Princes Highway to you, and headed to our destination, Bairnsdale.

While unhitching the van, we noticed that one of the gas bottles was flopping about instead of being securely fastened to the chassis. Must fix that. Repairs effected, we went up to town to get some fuel and to stick our heads into St Mary's Catholic Church, which the lady at the park reckoned was pretty special. We've seen lots of churches around the place and this one looks very typical of the early 20th century churches, being built from red brick, but this one is quite extraordinary inside, being completely covered in murals depicting all the saints and perceptions of heaven and hell, a la Sistine Chapel. It was painted by a 'world famous' Italian artist   Francesco Floreani between 1931 and 1938. Floreani came to Australia from Udine, which is located in north eastern Italy. He had studied painting at Udine College and then later at the Academy of Arts in Turin. Ok enough history.

We took a little excursion down the Mitchell River to Paynesville (gotta love that name) and had a look at some of the boats tied up all around the place, but not before Judy almost trod on a nesting Swan!

Broody sawn. Paynesville, Vic

Boats. Paynesville Vic