Weekend Wanderings

Hello again, as you all know Melbourne has been in the grip of the Spring Racing Carnival for the past few weeks. Cup Day this year was very different for us than it was last year. For those that didn't know we were there with BB and saw Makybe Diva create cup history. Also the weather was a lot different to this years return to wintry conditions. Even though my leg is well and truly on the mend we decided that the 'one bung knee' and the estimated crowd of up to 120,000 might not go too well together so we decided we will wait till next year to feel the buzz that a day at The Melbourne Cup brings. So what to do with ourselves instead?

Bill took the Monday off and so along with a lot of other people, created a long weekend. We headed off on Saturday morning to Heallesville where we joined Astrid & Hans for 2 days of wandering in & out of some of the great winerys they have up there. We had dinner that night at a nice Thai place and a great lunch the following day at Oakfords vineyard. (A few bottles of bubbles have managed to find their way home with us as well). We overnighted at a nice little motel right near the Sanctuary (must visit that one day).

After leaving on Sunday afternoon we continued up the Maroondah Hwy, over the Black Spur & through the beautiful Mountain Ash forests that make up the Mystic Mountains, and stopped overnight in Marysville. We had been there last year and it was so nice we decided we would have another look. The Jewel in the Crown at Marysville (for us) is a wonderful place called Bruno's Sculpture Garden. Bruno is an artist & sculptur who has made his garden into his own very unique gallery. His paintings & smaller pieces are inside but there are over 100 pieces (some almost hidden) throughout the wonderful natural bush garden. All the pieces have been inspired by people seen on his travels to many countries, others with a touch of pure whimsy. A truly unique experience well worth the drive for.

After spending Monday morning with the sculptures we then went on to Lake Mountain (no snow) to see what they had to offer. It is the closest skiing to Melbourne but is only for Cross Country skiing. Maybe I'll give that a try when I can get back to it. It certainly looks like a very different landscape to our mountains in NZ. From there we headed down the mountains to Warburton for lunch. The best homemade pies we have had for a long time. Maybe not as good as those at Kirrup, but I did say for a long time. From there it was only a hop skip & a jump back home as we had a basketball game to see that night. And what a night. At last we saw the South Dragons first win at home - Michelle Timms can't sing - let me tell you, but makes up for it with enthusiasm.

Cup Day dawned cold & damp, lucky we weren't going really, and stayed that way for the day. We saw some of the activities on TV but then decided we would go and see what was happening in town. Not much, other than a huge crowd at Fed Square, there to watch the 'Cup' on the big screen. It was all happening there but we decided we would come home to the warm. As you know history of a different kind was made again and it is all over for another year. Weather willing we will be there then.

So with another weekend upon us already I'll leave you now

until next time............