Well, we're back in Victoria again, for what we expect will be the last time. Tomorrow morning is the Marchout Ceremony that will signify the formal end to Bryces training period at Bandiana, in northern Victoria. His next posting will be back in Queensland, so there will be no further visits to this part of the world, attractive though it may be. We arrived yesterday morning, and had to leave home at 0330hrs to be at the airport for first flight of the day.
With time to kill yesterday afternoon, we went and took a look at the Hume dam wall. The weir was letting water out in volume, and the lake is completely full, as opposed to 3/4 dry it has been every other time we've seen it until now, and follows considerable very recent rainfall. The other result of that rain was to ruin our initial plans to drive down from QLD, like I did last year when I brought Bryces car to him. Too many flooded areas in NSW to risk the drive, unfortunately.
Met up with Bryce yesterday evening, and gave him his belated birthday presents. One of which was the Selk Bag wearable sleeping bag (in bushland camouflage) I had imported especially from USA. Bryce had seen one of these worn by a British serviceman who, for some reason, went on a bush manoeuvres with his group.......in winter. Bryce was taken with fact he was the only one NOT freezing when in the cold wind at night. Now Bryce won't have to shiver either. I think he likes it.
With time on our hands again this morning, we drove to Yackandandah and Beechworth.
Beechworth has this old Service Station, that ironically doesn't sell fuel, and I'm still unsure if it's a tourist attraction or a real mechanical repairs place. If you are on a diet, or have dental issues, stay the hell away from the sweets shop in Beechworth. It is a sugar nirvana, that has anything ever made in the way of candy. I type this as I sit here scoffing chocolate coated ginger. Ginger is good for helping an upset stomach....and chocolate CAUSES an upset stomach, so the two should cancel each other out, right! We'll see in about 15 min.
Several weeks ago, Bryce was telling me about a CMP cabin he had seen sitting in the yard of an industrial property in Wodonga. Today I went looking for it.
Amazing where these things show up, isn't it? Apart from a few moderate sized indentations, this lil beauty should come up nicely, and it is quite complete.
Tomorrow morning, early, we are to be granted access to Bryces base for the first time, to attend the ceremony and take a tour of his training facility. Apart from the ceremony itself, no photos will be taken, but it will be an exciting time for us to see where our Son has been receiving his training for the past 18 months. When we depart the base, so will Bryce. Tomorrow is his final day there also. We hope to spend some time together before we all head off, Bryce to his first 'on the job' training, and us to airport for the journey home again.
Travelling down this way on a number of occasions since we first joined Bryce for his Recruit Marchout from Kapooka in January, 2014, we have had the great fortune and pleasure of meeting several of the MLU folks who call this part of our country home. That, and the humbling experience of seeing our own Son march with his unit in the parade commemorating the ANZAC Centenary in 2015, are the highlights of our visits down here.
Our special thanks go to Robert Pearce, who made a significant journey with his own Son, to be with us for Bryces Kapooka Marchout in January 2015. Rob then made the trip again the following day, allowing us time to actually introduce him to our boy. That made a special occasion even better. Thankyou Rob!