Fun with friends......

After our weekend on the Peninsula it was back to work for another week.  Bill was off to the Gold Coast for a trade show and was not returning until Saturday afternoon.  This was not a bad thing as it gave me a chance to get stuck into the much neglected housework.  He arrived home on to a clean house and a quiet night.

The following morning we were up early and on our way to Chum Creek to visit Astrid and Hans.  We spent the next hour or so relaxing in the garden with a cup of coffee and Astrid's  yummy home made biscuits while we caught up on each other's news.

The other attraction in the back garden was the family of Bower Birds which had taken up residence there and were busy hopping in and out of the bower they had tucked away between the shrubs.  They are so interesting to watch and really didn't seem to bothered by all our attention.

Soon after it was back into the car and we followed Hans to our next destination.  We were having lunch at a new winery (to us at least) in the Yarra Valley.  Soumah Wines is a small vineyard with lovely views and delicious food.

Astrid and I had to taste the wine before we could make a decision on what we should drink with lunch and so decided on the Pinot.  A very nice wine though still young.  We brought a couple of bottles home to pop in the rack for a year or two and see how they develop.

Our lunch was delicious and so filling it was some time before we even braved the dessert menu.  We settled on a cheese and  chocolate platter to share and together with our coffee it was a lovely finish to a great meal.  

After almost three hours sitting around the big table in the lovely warm and sunny little cafe it was time to say goodbye to Astrid and Hans and turn the car around for the trip back to the big smoke.  We had enjoyed a fabulous day with good friends and as always it is great fun to try new wineries in the valley.  We didn't even contemplate dinner that night and settled for toast and jam some hours later.

Back to work on Monday and with Easter coming we just had to survive four days.  Think we could just about make it.  I got a surprise during the morning on Monday when I looked up from my desk to find some good friends from Perth standing there. Anne and Roger were in Melbourne for a visit and we caught up the next night for Happy Hour at the Novotel in Collins St.  It was great to see them again and we spent a couple of 'happy' hours with a glass of wine and some nibbles while they told me all about their move to Qld after many years in Perth.  They are loving it.

Back at home Bill had a visitor as well, Nolan was here from Darwin for work and they were having dinner 'Downstairs'.  I joined them a bit later for a drink and a coffee.  It was so good to see Nolan again and we had a lovely night catching up.

And then there were more visitors.  Suzanne and Bryce were getting married in May and her Family had arrived from Scotland for the big day.  We met them all for dinner on Thursday night at the Exchange Hotel in Port Melbourne and had a great time catching up with Ann and Benny again.  It was lovely to meet her brother Brian and his family for the first time and we enjoyed hearing all about their adventures since arriving in Melbourne.  The kids were looking froward to seeing a kangaroo but had not found one yet even though they had visited Werribee Open Range Zoo.  

Saying goodbye to everyone Bill and I walked back along the Esplanade to catch our tram home from South Melbourne beach. It was a mild night and we were hoping that the weather would hold for the next four days as we camping again.  Fingers crossed.

And so after a couple of friend filled weeks we were heading off to Chiltern and looking forward to lots of birds and bush.  I'll let you know how we go 

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

Stony Point to French Island........

After our two weeks at home we were ready to travel again and went in search of some new horizons to explore.

A few years ago while mooching around the Peninsula we discovered a ferry Service that went across to French Island.  Not knowing much about this place we decided that would  be our big adventure this weekend.

We left home on Friday afternoon, picked up the camper and drove down to our home for the next two days.  Stony Point Caravan Park is a lovely grassy little park right on the shore at Crib Point.  As we arrived the weather rolled in with us and it was a race against the rain and wind to get set up and stay dry.  Bill did a great job and soon after we were warm, dry and enjoying our dinner inside.

We woke the next morning to a fine still morning with blue skies and sunshine making it a perfect day for our island adventures.  After breakfast we walked down to the shoreline where we found lots of birds foraging in and on the mudflats while tide was out.  Bills eyes lit up at the many photo ops presenting themselves right in front of him.

We found the Ferry, bought our tickets and soon after were on our way across the bay to the island.  A little chilly on the top deck but only 20 mins so we stayed outside.  Across the bay we found more mudflats and lots more birds intent on feeding at low tide but we passed them to find out where we could go next.

The ferry from Stony Point is for pedestrian passengers only and with no car we were hoping to do the bus tour.  This was not to be as the bus wasn't  running this weekend.  We found the little information hut and checked out the local map and it was here we found that without wheels there was really nowhere to get too.

So where and what is French Island.  It is the largest coastal island of Victoria,  located in Western Port bay.  In 1997 about 70 per cent of the island was declared the French Island National Park.  With only about 60 permanent Residents on the island it is safe to say that it is a very tiny community.  French Island is relatively isolated and undeveloped. There are no mains water, mains electricity, or medical services on the island. 

There is one small general store and post office located on Tankerton Road about 3 km from Tankerton Jetty.   There are more than 40 km of gravel roads and tracks, which are quiet and ideal for walking and cycling.  Last nights rain did not seem to affect the roads and walking was quite easy.  The island is generally flat with the highest point being Mount Wellington (96m).

One of the things the island is known for is that any cars there seem not to be registered.  We are not sure how this works but most of the cars we saw that day were real bombs and all without number plates.  This old truck from the Top End was probably the winner in the dilapidated stakes.  Not sure if it still ran.

Once we had our bearings we walked the 3 km to the General Store where we had coffee, saw a koala strolling across the lawn and then turned around and walked back to the jetty.  We had discovered that with no way to get around we may as well head off and catch the next boat back to Stony Point.  

We had half an hour to wait on the jetty and Bill filled in this time photographing the many birds making the most of the turning tide.  We have since found out that you can take a car over by barge from a little place called Corinella near San Remo.  Perhaps next Spring we'll try that.

We enjoyed the trip back across the bay,  returned home for lunch and then went down to the shore where we spent a couple of hours with the birds.  The Pelicans just love the fish cleaning tables and as we arrived there was a huge group of them waiting patiently for two fishermen to throw them some scraps.

The large Pacific Gulls were fun to watch with a mix of adult (white) and juvenile (Brown) birds.  Both the same size but such different colours.  And of course plenty of seagulls too.

The caravan park is right next to the Crib Point Station which is the end of the line, right across the road from the Jetty and boat ramps.  We saw a few tourists getting off the train for a walk in the sunshine.

We enjoyed our day and soon after Bill had the barbie on and was cooking dinner.  I did the salad and drinks!

A lovely sunny Sunday morning gave us the opportunity to relax over breakfast before packing up once again.  We drove the few km around to Somers and spent a few hours wandering around the Coolart Wetlands.

After our picnic lunch on the lawns it was time to leave once more and head for home.  Once there it was time to get ready for the week ahead and plan next weeks adventures.

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

Hometown ramblings.......

After our last two weekends away it was time to stay at home again.  With no particular plans we started our Saturday with a lazy morning at home over breakfast and the papers before heading out to the city for lunch at Lorca's in Centre Place.

As it was a lovely afternoon we decided to walk home along the river and here we found some of the Grand Prix action outside Crown.  These two gorgeous Yellow Ferrari's  had caught the attention of the passing traffic with everyone stopping for a photo op with them.  I just let the cars take centre stage.  

Later that afternoon we jumped in the car and went in search of a new birding site we had read about in a recently purchased book.

 Banyule Flats is not far from home and soon after we were wandering along some lovely walking tracks.  We passed lots of people walking dogs, riding bikes and playing sport but did not see too many birds.  Wrong time of day obviously but we'll try again another time.  

We drove home from there around the Main Yarra trail and found the whole area to be very pretty and certainly worth some more time there.  We finished our day with dinner and a movie at home.

The next day Bill surprised me with Gold Class tickets to the lovely Rivoli Cinema in Hawthorn.  We saw Tracks which is a wonderful movie based on the true story of a young girl in the '70's who walked across Australia from Alice Springs to the Indian Ocean WA alone with just 3 camels and a dog.  At one point she had to have an Aboriginal guide as she was crossing sacred grounds but the rest of the time she was alone.  A really fascinating story.

The old Art Deco cinema is just beautiful having been renovated and decorated maintaining it's original grandeur and charm.  So nice to see something kept and not knocked down and a high rise monstrosity replace it as seems to happen so often now.

Back at home we prepared for another week at work and wondered what next weekend would bring.

Bill was away during the week and I enjoyed a night out with some of the girls from work.  We had dinner at a lovely Turkish restaurant on the banks of the Yarra opposite the Convention Centre.  Webb Bridge looks nice at dusk but not too many people crossing in the rain.  Shame it was such a wet night but inside was warm and dry and the food at Byblos was very tasty.  

With Bill home for the weekend we had another slow start to Saturday and then walked up to the South Melbourne markets for some shopping, had lunch at Bunyip Cafe across the road before coming home for a quiet night in. 

Sunday morning we were up bright and early as we were meeting friends for brunch at the Fairfield Boathouse.  This lovely old building started life in 1908 as a boatshed, picnic, camping and refreshment  area.  Boating and canoe carnivals were popular but over time it deteriorated, fell into disrepair and finally closed in 1980.  After five years of being a shelter for squatters and possums it was renovated and reopened in 1985 and has taken pride of place in Fairfield Park and is now a beautiful cafe on the banks of the Yarra.  

Sitting on the balcony on a glorious Sunday morning just watching life on  and along the river was such a lovely way to start the day.  Lots of people passing by walking, jogging, riding, rowing and just generally enjoying a lovely autumn morning let us all enjoy the few hours we spent there.  Good food, good company and a gorgeous morning - what more could you ask for.

Saying goodbye to Grant and Merilyn we had a walk down to the bridge we had been looking at all morning.  This is a footbridge crossing the Yarra here at Fairfield and it has the best view of the old boathouse from the middle.

Walking back up to the car we came across the Fairfield Amphitheatre and loved this beautiful old bluestone construction. The views from here are wonderful taking in the boatshed, footbridge and river.  

Back at home we had a quiet afternoon and evening and all too soon the alarm was telling us it was time for another week at work.  One day we will not be ruled by this tyrant clock and I can't wait!

Until next time........