Day 5 of 9, Overland, Sydney to Fremantle.

Melbourne is another city I shall be saddened to leave, particularly after having to be up and about since before the crack of dawn for a third time tomorrow.   I do think that I made the most of my second full day, ending my time here the same way as I started it, in the Crown Casino, the only place where I could  get a decaff latte in the evening! At one time, I might have been tempted to try my luck, but these days, I find the slots far too complicated, and if I was to win that fancy BMW on display, I might well be followed out of the place by “the heavies!”

I was getting dressed by around 6.10 this morning, determined that I should be in good time for my 11.15 steam train departure from Belgrave. 

I would walk to Flinders Street Station, which now seems to deal solely with Metro commuter trains.  I had an early breakfast after which I enjoyed walking to the station.  I caught a train at 07.52 hrs as far as Camberwell, changing on to an express bus to Box Hill, and eventually back on to a train for the 15 station service to Belgrave, now the end of that particular Metro branch. (Looking around this new mall, and for the loo, I let one train go and had around 25 minutes to wait for the next Belgrave train, at 09.15 hrs).

Although I had done this journey just once four years ago, everything felt fairly familiar, though without that feeling of deja-vue.

While the full trip to Gembrook was not running today, the one hour trip to Lakeside with around an hour and a half to look around made for a satisfying day out during which I took rather too much video for public interest!   I had arrived just over an hour before departure time, just in time to watch the 10.00 hrs to Lakeside chug out.  I was glad to be back, and of course, remain keen to return at some future opportunity.   (We’ll see!)

As I say, there is much video, some of which I plan to post when I’m more familiar with the required technology.

Although the train back was advertised on-board as direct to Flinders Street, this needless to say was incorrect, and the rail replacement bus service ran with extreme efficiency.

St. Paul’s Cathedral is opposite the main entrance to Flinders Street Station, itself a magnificent building retaining a steam-era ambience.

By the way, I am completing this blog while waiting for a bus in a garage café somewhere in the Adelaide Hills. It is now 18th March; I was on the Puffing Billy Railway on the 16th.

There was time to attend the last two-thirds of Choral Evensong, which was just as spiritual and lovely as the day before. I would learn, at that service, about a member of the choir school, a girl aged 17 who had died that morning from injuries sustained when the family car in which she was travelling was involved in a violent collision the previous Saturday. Also, somebody else from St. Paul’s had also passed away unexpectedly, either that day or recently. That particular service is available to watch/listen to on YouTube.

I wasn’t going to have a late night, as the following day, I would need to be at Southern Cross Station an hour before the 08.10 departure of The Overland to Adelaide, where I am right now, waiting two hours for the connecting bus to Cleland Wild Life Park. That should get me there at around 13.30 this afternoon.

Many thanks for reading, David, 18/3/23. on my way to Cleland Wild Life Park.