Day 29 Sunday

Open day at the studio and a small trickle of people, but those who came were enthusiastic. One lady suggested I visit the Buddhist Stupa(temple) being built beyond Eaglehawk, so in the afternoon I pursuaded Claire to drive out that way. It is enormous and remote -huge earthworks and steel frameworks with a giant bronze buddha lying sunbathing with a protective cloth on its face. The visitor centre was run by a very gentle monk from New Zealand who showed us around but proved to be camera shy.

On the way back I caught my first shots of kangaroos-which are as common as rabbits and regarded here with similar indifference-Brits seem bizarre when they jump up and down, but I did. The dive to Castlemaine was based in roseate sunset and the gums looked breathtaking. A farewell meal at the Railway hotel which keeps a simulcraum of Ned Kelly's armour by the bar complete with bullet holes. I eat a T-bone rib steak straight out of the Flintstones-best ever.