Time to pack up and leave Adelaide behind us.

Thank you South Australia, it’s been a fabulous experience.

Ballarat, my hometown, was our destination.

An early start was in order, given we had a booking at a local restaurant that night with my eldest son and my ‘inner circle’

After the mandatory coffee pick up we headed off.

Keith was our first stop. Our friend Noel had recommended Henry & Rose for breakfast.

Not sure there was much else in Keith but it didn’t matter, H&R was well worth the stop.

Nice food, great staff and a very tempting gift shop.

Unfortunately, or one might say, fortunately, I couldn’t purchase a single thing.

Tempted though I was.

Truth was we couldn’t see out the back of the hire car.

Due to my bags I’m thinking.

Horsham was the next stop. And more food.

Noel had also recommended a cafe there but it frankly didn’t hold a candle to H&R.

Given we were so close to the Grampians National Park, MoD suggested we swing by.

I was a little reluctant at first, I just wanted to get home, but eventually I came around.

We were so close and it would be a total travesty to deprive the New Zealanders of this very special place. MoD too. Turns out he hadn’t seen it either.

So we headed off to Halls Gap and decided we would climb to The Pinnacle for the best view.

The Cultural Visitors Centre were able to tell us the walk up and back was 4.2km.

Phhh, we rode 45km yesterday, 4.2km is nothing 😜

What they failed to tell us was that it was a fairly significant climb over those rather interesting grampian rocks.

And that it would probably take 1.5 hours (although it took us one hour ten).

And that maybe we should have taken some water.

And less clothes.

After a fairly sweaty, and heavy breathing climb to the top (from me), all was forgiven.

The views were spectacular.

And well worth it.

Pulled into Ballarat about 6.30, just in time for a drink at our besties Julie & Gary (who were kindly putting all four of us up) before we headed off to The Boatshed on Lake Wendouree to catch up with the rest of my nearest and dearest. My people.

Tomorrow it’s back to Melbourne for a day before Doug and Annabel leave our fair country.

We are staying an extra day. ANZ changed our flights…..

The Princess will have to wait a little longer to see us.

Although I am thinking we are the ones who can’t wait to see her?

She is our spoilt only shared child after all.

Our dog sitters do seem to love her. They sent us this video.