Wide open expanses of land and sky. Open paddocks of dry grass that go for miles. It looked like it hadn't rained for ages, which I know wasn't true. Trees that stand like soldiers in a row in the middle of a paddock out their on their own – shelter belts. Hay bales dotted the paddocks – the rolled up kind, not the square ones. Blue sky that is filled with fluffy clouds. It was such a great contrast of colours, with browns and green and blue. I found myself in 'mustard guts', my cousin's Hyundi Getz the colour of Keens Mustard, heading towards the Great Ocean Road. Well technically not the road itself, but a tiny town of Timboon which was pretty close. I was down for my cousin's wedding which was being held in Warrnambool.
After flying into Avalon and overnighting in Geelong, we hit the Princes Highway and headed south. We passed through towns like Winchelsea and Colac. Small country towns that look like they couldn't care less that the rest of the world had moved forward without them. That they were quite happy with their milk bars selling Big M's (THE milk drink of Victoria), old school clothing stores and parks with stone monuments to fallen local hero's. They had small compact red brick homes with rose gardens. We passed steel tankers, milk trucks and lots of cows – this was diary country
In the days leading up to the wedding, we spent hours on these country roads, too-ing and fro-ing between towns doing wedding jobs. The thing about living down here is that it is no big deal to travel for an hour or so to do anything. 'Ducking into town' might be half an hour drive but that doesn't bother anyone, instead it's just normal. It is beautiful country, so that makes up for it! Wedding is tomorrow, so fingers crossed for good weather.
