What a great nights sleep! in an antique bed at Lorelles. She is such a beautiful person and so wonderful to open her home up to me and Dudley. We have breakfast and a cuppa tea – yes, that’s real tea in a proper teapot again before I pack Dudley, give her a huge hug and thank you for having us.
Now todays adventure takes us on roads not travelled by me before and to see items of the Australian farmlands transformed into glorious pieces of art. That’s right – The Silo Art Trail. I’d already collected one yesterday at Coonalpyn but the other five I’m chasing are in Victoria.
A mere 46km later in Rupanyup (pron. Rup-pun-yup) is the 2nd portrait in the series. Two children from the community are depicted. The detail is amazing and you can’t help but just stand there in awe of the talent of the artist that captured the pure essence of these kids.
Rupanyup Silos
You really can’t miss any of the silo art as they are all well sign posted.
Another 35km down the road into Sheep Hills for the most colourful of the silos in the series so far. Look I really cannot put into words how gobsmackingly amazing these portraits are. Their eyes seems to follow you where you go.
Sheep Hills Silos
These silos are not far apart and another 35km and you pull up in Brim right in front of the 4th silo of farmers.
The Real McCoy!! with battered hands and old worn hats are these men of the Australian land! You can see the “life” lived and loved engrained on their faces.
Brim Silos
It’s still reasonably early in the morning and the next silo is a decent 93km away in a town called Patchewollock (you can pron that one just as it looks). I did have to wonder on my here whether I was actually going to the right place. Talk about the road less travelled, this road is barely a cars width wide and has long haul trucks hurtling down it and not giving an inch for anyone else on the road…..it was a bit of a hairy ride at times.
We pass a sign indicating that there is some form of bird life in the area and to on the lookout for it. These birds are called Mallee Fowl and can apparently do some damage due to their size. Now considering I’ve had a couple of encounters and 1 strike, I didn’t want to test the odds so “eyes wide” it was. But what did give me a chuckle was this sign. A colleague calls me “Jolly” and yep look what I found! I have a cutting named after me. This one’s for you Smiley O’Gorman.
We make it safely though and pull into the carpark infront of “The Man of the Land” silo portrait (I don’t know if that is what it’s actually called but it’s what I call him). The stern face of a determined man who works the land day in and day out. Whadya think?
Patchewollock Silos
From here we dash off to Speed (yes, that is the name of a town) for fuel. I think because I took the road less travelled, I missed the town sign (assuming there is a sign). Only 91 here for you travellers – thankfully it was only a splash and dash and it is card only operated pumps. The road across to here is another road less travelled but we just take it easy and don’t actually have any traffic on this one.
On the way outta Patchewollock, we spotted one of those Mallee Fowl…..I can see now why they say they can do a heap of damage….look at the size of the bugger.
27km later and we arrive in Lascelles for the 6th and final silo of an older couple. He is on one side and she is on the other. Grandparents that have the wisdom of life etched in their faces that are so beautifully depicted by the artist. You feel like she (nan) is going to ask you to come inside and have a cuppa tea and scones with her. While he (pop) will steady the push bike for his grandkids as they start to pedal off down the drive.
Lascelles Silos
Lascelles Silos
The Silo Art Trail really “takes your breath away”!!! There are no words that can really convey the enormity of the power that each piece of art departs and each will affect you differently and others differently to you. A fabulous tribute to the land.
Along another dodgy back road cross country to come out west of Swan Hill. The road might be dodgy but the scenery is lusciously green waiting for the canola flowers to show their pretty faces.
It’s past lunch time and I really need something to eat. Swan Hill is the stop for fuel and lunch and then I thought I could push on to Wodonga to stay with friends.
However, after sitting down to have lunch, whatever energy I lad left in my body ran straight out my boots and I was knackered. I rang Karl to let him know I was pulling up for the day and spoke to my friends and arranged to stay with them tomorrow night instead. Rang the Murray River Motel on the outskirts of town and nabbed a nice room with off street parking and a good feed at a reasonable rate.
Oh, I finally bought an allen key that I could fix Dudleys spotlight properly instead of having it all cable tied and taped up. He is soooo dirty, I think it’s gonna take ages to get him clean.
So now I’ve almost caught up on my blogging with the exception of I think 2 days which I will fill in prolly when I get home and it’s time to hit the hay.
