The worthy beaches of Beechworth

Rumor has it that the place inappropriately named because it's miles away from the ocean. Ha Ha - I get the joke (Kelpies do have a sense of humour - just not when it comes to sheep), however some bright spark decided to put a lake in the middle of a gully and lo and behold ! there are beaches here. Maybe not so much as one next to a sea but still sandy bits between the water and the land and therefore (considering the expense of putting the lake in the first place) pretty darn valuable. "worth" a lot - especially to the birds and the kids and the (breaking the rules) dogs off leashes enjoying them.

I got to run around the lake this morning after the slow start of Mum and Dad staying in bed until I nagged them to get up. I was bursting.

You would've been too if you'd spent 10 hours cooped up inside a kennel dreaming about splashing through the shallow water chasing ducks. So we hung around a bit whilst they had breakfast and enjoying the sunshine filtering through the overhead canopy whilst half the park packed up and moved out. The old vintage cars across the road sounded like trucks without mufflers as they warmed them up - just on the verge of stalling for about half an hour before they finally trundled off into the distance. The AP6 version Dad (and Grandpa before him) drove never sounded like that! The park ranger told Dad off because I didn't have a lead on - even though I was within my kennel boundary. "If I let one dog go off lead I'd have to do the same for all of them."... really? this guy obviously does not understand how well behaved I am.

Just to prove his point later on though when Mum and Dad were talking to my sister on their device I took off after a rabbit and disappeared from the kennel surrounds. The resulting panic for them was telling. That'll teach them to take their eye's off me (heh heh). I'm a Kelpie - never said we're consistent.

The run into town around the lake was great - finally got to expend some energy and poop along the way. They on their folded out bikes with me on my own legs. When we got into town we hung around a fine foods cafe where they got their caffeine hit, I got to pose in front of the the old buildings and then sit around whilst they consumed their bevies. Fine food indeed - this is one of the numerous places around the state that advertise they have the best award winning pies in the country. Either they are all making it up or there are so many awards handed out that everyone gets one. Possibly the award for the most expensive pies goes to this place (the categories are never mentioned) as we bought 3 pies and it cost $80. Back in the day, they dug gold out of the ground, nowadays they dig it out of the tourists pockets. Apparently they're good pies though - I wouldn't know because all I get to eat is the same old dried pellets (but I won't bother going there again...).

We ran home via the rail trail - I say "we", meaning I ran, they rode and didn't seem to spend anywhere near the effort I did. Neither did they keep stopping and sniffing all the fabulous scents that had been left there by my peers in order for me to do exactly what I was doing. They did have to stop and wait impatiently for me whilst I fulfilled my sacred rights in this matter though. I was having a ball and they didn't seem too upset - probably due to the lack of having to immediately be somewhere else.

Lunch (for them) back at the kennel was the aforementioned pies warmed with various degrees of success in the airfrier and we then drove back into town for the inevitable hang around outside the shops whilst Mum goes in. Dad told me this is nothing compared to being with her overseas, so stop complaining.  I put up with it for a fair bit but eventually started to get a bit antsy because there's only so many hair deranged people getting in and out of run down vehicles you can look at in one day. Regardless of the variety of scents they trail behind them. They are an eclectic bunch up here. Dad didn't seam to notice, but I did. I can't help it, I'm a Kelpie.

We hung around back at the kennel mid afternoon before heading back into town for dinner at the brewery. Apparently it's not possible to come to this town without doing this. So Mum says anyway. We were not complaining - I got to lie on the ground watching the plethora of young kids running ruckass around the place whilst fabulous pizzas, beer and wine were consumed above me.

Back at the Kennel (on wheels),  Dad & I went down to the lake where he captured the sunset on the Gopro whilst I captured balls which were thrown for my enjoyment in the warm glow of the fading sun. Now as I drift off to sleep in my nice comfy bed it seems a bit colder tonight, luckily Mum had spent the afternoon carefully washing and drying a blanket her mum had made and they'd bought another one during the day in order cater for the elements. Tomorrow we head off to another place - Dad says it'll be bright - I thought this place was perfectly luminescent. Can't figure it out. It's tough being a kelpie on the road..