Steve Gunnell

Friday was local attractions. We went up to Bagley's Breakaway and had a picnic lunch. Had the first try of my home-made cheese, not exciting but seemed quite fine with a texture like haloumi. We saw plenty of Spider Orchids at the top of the breakaway. Then on to Biliburning Rock where we found a solitary Donkey Orchid. We clambered around for a while and then came home. Dinner was pizza from the community club.
Saturday was off to Dalwalinu for the agricultural show. I expected to be visiting a lot more of these after retirement but this is the first since late 2019. Nice little show, not as big as the last time we attended, probably 7 or 8 years ago. Good photography section.
On the way across we had to drive carefully until we got to Kalannie because the petrol pump at Beacon was out of service and we were down to 2 bars on the fuel gauge. No problem though. Kalannie has a brand new IGA Express so it isn't all dead. 5 Bedroom house for $150,000 anyone?
Coming back we checked out Xantippe tank and it's extensive rock catchment and then on to Petrachor rock. No orchids found but plenty of tadpoles in the rock pools. Then back to Beacon. Chicken Kiev at the community club ... almost no locals present, they were all down at the district Footy semi-finals at Nungarin.

Inki, the drama queen, took the car ride to the cattery in his usual dramatic fashion. However once we got there he was suddenly sitting forward in his cage, calm as you please, waiting to be carried into the luxury resort.
We were then able to pack in peace without gratuitous pussycat assistance or having to load the car while keeping watch for escapees.
There was an uneventful drive, punctuated by a stop for pies at Baker's Hill, to our cabin for the week at Beacon.
Today was a drive down to Bencubbin for morning tea ... except KC's Cafe was closed due to a power outage because Western Power is replacing a pole in town. So we continued on to Mukinbudin and sat down at the cafe there. Then, off to various spots near the town to see some gnammas and a good spread of everlastings and spider orchids.
Weather is mostly fine and pleasant but the wind can show teeth when clouds cover the sun. We have managed to book for a 4 hour wildflower trip next Monday with included lunch.