19 Oct 2023

 Day Two - 19 Oct 2023

Started out relatively early today, again to beat the trucks along the highway that I had no choice about taking, though it was only for about 50 kilometres so it wasn't too great a problem. Started out sharing the distance with a very nice 1946 Ford Mercury Coupe, though it being an eight-cylinder and all it did leave me behind in no short amount of time. I did catch it up again though as it stopped to do the same thing I was heading for and that was to take a picture at the first Silo Art stop of the day at Walpeup.

Walpeup Silo Art - painted by Julian Clavijo and Camilo Delgado, featuring Harold Thomas Bell

The Walpeup Silo Art depicts Harold Thomas Bell, who in March 1917 at 16 years of age, lied to recruiters about his age and family history to sign up for active service in the First World War. He was attached to the Light Horse Regiment and he was killed in action in October 1917 and was eventually liad to rest in the Beersheba War Cemetery. LEST WE FORGET

Heading off again and now on to country backroads, which is just the greatest thing as the roads are usually in better condition than the roads in the west of Melbourne and there are virtually no trucks (again unlike the west of Melbourne!). So it was a comfortable cruise down to Patchewollock to the next silo and from there through Hopetoun to Rosebery and Brim for their two silos. A slight bit of mile retracement then back to Beulah to then head west for Rainbow, which is a nice little town with a few murals about, then on to Albacutya for more Silo Art. It's south then back through Rainbow Through Jeparit and Antwerp to the Arkona Silo Art and then head west young man, through Nhill (half way to Adelaide) and on to Kaniva. Leaving Kaniva and heading south for a while before back to the east and on to Goroke Silo Art and into Horsham for the night.

Patchewollock Silo Art - painted by Fintan Magee, featuring Nick "Noodle" Hulland

Rosebery Silo Art - painted by Kaff-eine

Brim Silo Art - painted by Guido van Helten

Albacutya Silo Art - painted by Kitt Bennett

Arkona Silo Art - painted by Sam Bates (Smug), featuring and invisible Roley Klinge

Kaniva Silo Art - painted by David Lee Pereira, featuring an Australian Hobby bird and Plains Sun Orchid

Goroke Silo Art - painted by Geoffrey Carran, featuring a Kookaburra, Magpie and a Galah

Horsham Silo Art - painted by Sam Bates (Smug), featuring Yanggendyinanyuk

There is a lot more information on all of these Silo Art pieces and in fact most of the current Silo Art and Water Tower Art and town murals on the Australia Silo Art Trail website.

18 Oct 2023

Well it's been a while between trips and posts so it's about time for a bit of a road trip. Over three days 18, 19, 20 Oct 2023 we'll be traveling around Western Victoria to see all of the Silo Art. I have planned a route for the best fit for me using the Australia Silo Art Trail site, though it does seem to be not entirely up to date it is the best source of data for the run. I am not using the suggested starting point as I think I have a better plan in mind, though to be honest, just because it makes sense to me does not mean it is sensible. Anyway...

Day One - 18 Oct 2023.

Started out relatively early, 5:30am, as I wanted to get underway and hopefully try to minimise the amount of traffic and trucks that I might encounter (only to minimise the disruption to them by my travelling at only 80km/h). This of course only worked well while I was on the dual-lane roads, once it was back on the two-way highway roads the trucks were a concern. The emergency lane sides of these highway stretches are quite wide though so it was easy enough to pull over into the lane and let the trucks go by. It is certainly much more relaxing driving on the quiet country roads off the highways though.

Anyway as stated I had made up a route plan for my trip and then suitably left the written version at home and the mobile didn't connect when I felt that I may have gone astray, oh well no matter. I did go the wrong way but that was okay as I saw more of the area and it was only about another 50-80 kilometres anyway, so no great concern at all.

The route today took in Charlton, Wycheproof (and at this stage, I went the wrong way), Nullawil, Sea Lake and then backtrack along an awesome back country road to Birchip, Woomelang, Lascelles, through Speed and to the day stop at Ouyen.

Nullawil Silo Art Featuring Jimmy the Kelpie, painted by Sam Bates (Smug)

Sea Lake Silo Art, Titled the Space in Between, painted by The Zookeeper and DRAPL

Birchip's Big Mallee Bull

There  are a few murals to be seen around the small town, though no Silo Art in town 

Woomelang has 7 painted mini Silos around town, unfortunately, I only saw two.

Lascelles Silo Art - painted by Rone, featuring Geoff Horman

Lascelles Silo Art - painted by Rone, featuring Merrilyn Horman 

Hotel Victoria at Ouyen