The Hills are Alive

Spring has sprung and in Melbourne that means all the excitement of the Spring Racing Carnival. This year has had the whole racing community on tenderhooks with the horse flu saga but so far so good, all races have been run as usual and it is only a couple more weeks to wait for 'The Big One'. Tammy is coming to visit for two weeks so we will paint the town red once again. I have The Melbourne Cup tickets already, now we just hope the weather will be kind to us.

Talking weather, spring can be very unpredictable and this year has proved true to form with some great days followed by days when we are back in the grip of winter.

Spring flowers are always beautiful and the hills are alive with Flower Festivals, Open Gardens and lots of people just enjoying a day out. We decided to join them at the Tulip Festival in Monbulk a few weeks ago and drove up. Just as we arrived and went to get of the car the heavens opened and looked like it had set in for the day. Being the intrepid adventurers that we are, we stayed in the car and kept driving. Did you really think we wanted to get wet? We did find, and wander around Silvan Dam, which is a lovely park & picnic area. Then after driving up to the lookout at Mt Dandenong, where another torrential downpour kept us in the car and driving straight down again, we found a lovely old place in Sherbrooke where we had a cozy lunch in a dining room with an open fire blazing - all snug & warm.

The next week we drove into the hills again to re-visit the National Rhodedendrum gardens (we were too early for most of the flowers last year). This time we were in full winter gear complete with beanies & gloves & scarfs - you got to love Melbourne weather. But it was worth it. The gardens were ablaze with colour from all sorts of beautiful plants & trees. Mainly azaleas & rhodedendrums as the name suggests but lots of other varieties as well.

In contrast last weekend was just glorious, blue skies & sunshine so we decided to play tourist for the day on the River. We jumped on & off ferries and cruised along both up & down river learning lots about the way Melbourne has changed over the years. And that the Yarra really is an 'Upside Down River'. A great way to spend a day if you are looking for a little bit of rest & relaxation. And some great views of Melbourne.

As well as just cruising along these last few weeks we have caught up with some friends for dinner, found a couple of nice new restaraunts, and of course are still waiting for our Basketball team to have a win. Let's hope tonights the night for that.

So as October comes to an end and the excitement of November beckons, I say let the adventures begin

Untill next time...........

Ball games & Birthdays

September in Melbourne means Football Finals time and we arrived back just in time. Not that our team made it but it still doesn't stop you getting caught up by the buzz in the city. Especially this year as there were Victorian teams were in each stage of the finals. A nice change after the last few years. September became Septopia - The AFL final series. Federation Square was the focal point for special events during the month culminating in the Grand Final being shown on the big screen for those of us that couldn't get into the MCG to watch the big game.

Yes, we joined the hordes there on 'the last day in Sept' but decided to eat first to stay out of the wind for a bit longer and found that the game was being shown on the big screen in the cafe as well. So a couple of Reds later we were watching the Geelong Victory that excited most of the people there. The few Port fans who had come out to watch were very quiet - understanable given the score. A great afternoon's work, I think. Of course the party in Melbourne went on all night and continued in Geelong the following week - I guess they are still celebrating down there.

The following night Melbourne Storm completed the double by winning that other Football game in Sydney by beating Manly. We have not yet been to see a Storm game but will definitely put it on the list for next year.

The NBL season has started again in September so we have been off to watch the South Dragons play again. The first 2 games have not had the result we would have liked but I'm sure that most of you will be thrilled that we were beaten by the Perth Wildcats last Wednesday. Still it is early days yet and I'm sure the boys can improve.

September is also the Birthday month in the Harris household with Maree starting the ball rolling on the 3rd. We met Maree, Mum, Jarrad & Aaron at the Gee Bung Polo Club for dinner to celebrate. David's big '30' was next and when we rang to wish him Happy Birthday he was already on the way to spend 'his pressie'. Hope the party went well last weekend.

And then it was Bill's turn. We were joined by Astrid, Hans & Verity at Lilydale Estate, a winery in Seville, were we had a lovely long lunch, followed by further wine tasting at Morgans Winery just over the road. A good time was had by all. The following night Mum & Maree met us at Doyles in Mordialloc for the family affair - more good times had.

So with the footballs packed away for another season and the candles blown out once more we can sit back and think about what adventures October will bring.

Until next time.........

4 x 4 to Jim Jim

The next morning we joined 3 other people for our 4 wheel drive adventure to Jim Jim Falls. It took about 2 hours of driving on roads like corragated iron to get to the car park were we set off for the walk into the falls. An easy walk into the halfway mark and a beautiful spot to stop and admire the waterhole - just asking to be swam in - but this time definitely not allowed as crocodiles do inhabit the area. We were advised here of the difficulties of walking in the rest of the way and as 3 of us had possible handicaps - dodgy legs - we decided to sit by the water and admire the view (away from the edge, of course) while the others - we had combined with 2 other groups in the carpark - went the rest of the way. Once there only one person took advantage of the crocodile free water (uphill again) and swam. The falls generally do not run in the dry season but there was still some water trickling over. Back at the car park we jumped into our cars again for the trip out where we stopped at Garnamarr camp for lunch. We also got to taste some real homemade aussie damper by the old bush guide who lived there. Yummy.

A little time to relax by the pool in Cooinda and then around 4.00pm it was back on the bus for the trip back to Darwin. A stop at the Bark Hut Inn for dinner and then it was non stop to the Mirrimbeena Hotel which was to be home for the next 2 days to finish our Top End adventure.

Back in Darwin we played tourist with a look around Fannie Bay, Nighcliffe & East Point. Lovely coastline with beautiful views over the harbour. On Friday we went to the Territory Wildlife Park. We got up close and personal with some of the animals we had seen over the last few days. The park is excellent and very easy to get around with a train doing regular trips to get people from place to place. The flight deck where you watch the big birds of prey being handled by 2 guides is great and the birds just magnificent. One of them just a little bit edgy when it saw Bill's Tripod. It doesn't mind cameras but apparently hates tripods. No-one knows why. Still he moved on to another bird that didn't seem to have the same reservations about his equipment. The crocodile in the wetland area was very big and with just a sheet of glass between it & you it gives you a nervous moment when it begins to move. The Sate Govt run the park and it is really worth a visit when you are in Darwin.

So with our time in the sun at an end it was time to head home once more, filled with memories of all the amazing places we have seen. Australia truly is an amazing country.

Once home (in the cooler weather) the washing waited - the one bit about holidays I don't like. Bill went back to work on Monday and I went the following week. More time to plan our next adventures back on home soil.

What have we been up too since then, you'll have to wait until next time....................

Billabongs & Plunge Pools

Breakfast at 7.00am, and then it was back on the bus for a drive to Anbangbang Billabong, a beautiful wetland on the way to Nourlangie Rock, where the early morning birdlife was a real treat to see. From there we had just a short drive to Nourlangie Rock where we spent a couple of hours learning about the Aboriginal Culture through the many examples of Rock Art. Nourlangie Rock is an important site and has been preserved for us to see with a series of boardwalks so you can get right up close to the art. We climbed up to an area beside the rock called Gun-warddehwardde Lookout which had more great views of the Arnhem Land Escarpment (in the distance) over the wetlands and Nourlangie Rock.

Back in the bus to our next stop which was Maguk or Barramundi Gorge as it is also known. We changed into our bathers here before we headed off on a 30 min walk into the Gorge. Along the way in, following a river, there were signs warning that swimming was probibited due to the possibilty of crocodiles. Our walk took us up and over many large boulders & rocks and at the end was the most wonderful pool at the bottom of a waterfall. While the 'Crocodile' signs were still here we were advised that it was highly unlikely that they could get over the rocks to make it into the water. Hmmm - should we buy this tale or not? We did and before long we were all swimming in this little piece of paradise and loving it. Of course it then took another 30 mins to walk out again, on the bus again we found that no-one had been eaten by the crocs so it was all systems go to head off down the four wheel drive track again to find a spot for lunch followed by a short visit to the Warradjan Aborignal Cultural Centre.

From there it was just a short ride back to our camp at Cooinda and we spent a lesuirely afternoon at (and in) the pool. There is also a newly opened nature trail going from the back of the campsite through the mangrove/forest area and coming out at a boardwalk beside the Yellow Water Billabong which we cruised on yesterday. Our guide told us not to get to close to the edge and don't stay still for too long - comforting thought eh! Still not sure if he was joking. Anyway we did the walk and got to the billabong in one piece and in time to see the sunset over Yellow Waters. Once on the boardwalk beside the water we saw a few crocodiles just gliding by. They are so silent and almost invisible - very scary.

Another yummy dinner and a spider free night and it was off to dream of tomorrow's adventures, see you then ......