The Farm

Just returning to the previously mentioned Werribee Farm now known as the Western Treatment Plant. The name changes were part of the new look Melbourne Water and its new determination to sever any links to the old MMBW.  That was over twenty yar ago. I spent many a day dealing with Surveying then later, IT issues in that office. In those days there was a full complement of staff. The oval was the scene of football, meat pies, holden cars and Fosters. The latest plan is to make the office vicinity a housing estate.

So much hair

It was 60 yar ago

 The Diamond Wedding Anniversary doesn't come around very often so its a good thing we had a diamond on the front of the card we bought.  In 1955 the seminarians were in full flight at Werribee Mansion and were churning out theologians by the church full.   Of course Philosophy wasn't only studied on that side of the Werribee river. There was many a thought and attention put into the delivery of "gems of wisdom" to the other side of the river at the Werribee Sewerage Farm.  I digress.
 The Seminary wing is now a hotel which we used to full advantage to celebrate the big 60. We had messages sent from the PM, the GG and the Queen herself.  Such fame.

Spa me the ache!

The Spa is back in action. The daily exercise routine has not been without its aches and pains. If I recall correctly this was a new years eve vow to get at least 5000 steps per day which so far has happened  each day.  However we are waking up areas of the body that have lain dormant. There are currently arm and leg issues so its HydrotheRapist to the rescue.  Summer is long gone although we are still in the extended Indian phase with plenty of beach days.  Nevertheless its back to the black art of spa maintenance.

heavy maintenance needed

Water bills are expensive

North Wind in March

Spent a warmish afternoon at Port Melbourne. The never ending upgrade by the Port authority is still plaguing beach goers this year. At least the vagrants have moved on not that there is anything wrong with holidaying on the cheap.  Except someone I know has grown accustomed to the 5 stars and I don't mean the Southern Cross. As illustrated below the observation deck is coming along and should provide some good views of passing traffic.



Water Dance with Dawn

Dawn Princess

Cheviot Tunnel

Went for a ride on the Great Victorian Rail Trail today. At 121 km it is the longest in Australia from Tallarook to Mansfield.  I frequented the area around Yea for some years while the North-South pipeline was going in.  I spied out the route of the line before it was smoothed and  graded and some bridges installed. Not to mention many rogaines in the area as well.  Today we started in Yea, did the climb up to Cheviot and down the other side to Molesworth. Doubling back means we rode 37km.  The Peppercorn hotel does a good steak sandwich. Breaking this trail into manageable parts will work such as Tallarook to Trawool and Cathkin to Alexandra.

Cheviot

No trains today

Retirees Ramble No 7

Yes those rambunctious roaming ramblers have been at it again.  The venue this time was Morley's track well spotted and vetted by Munster.  The trail is of a 9 km length involving a few undulations from Dom Dom saddle and finishing down the spur at Fernshaw the site of an old gold mine town. Nothing there now except a toilet block and a picnic table. Of course the Team Sarcomere crew know Dom Dom saddle intimately and a few memories were had of the changeover between runner and cyclist at the start of the Black Spur.

Team Sarcomere on Mt Buller 5:00am 1998

Trees on Morley's Track 2015

Combie vannin

Did a mid week visit to Port Melb beach yesterday. Couldn't help noticing the "Backpackers with Wheels" mob invading the area.  I know how it works, as I spent three weeks driving a van down the WA coast.  Word gets around about where you can park on the cheap.  Let bylaws be bylaws! The local council here are so thoughtful.  Plenty of car parks but also the barbecue with a nice beach view and don't forget the change rooms with showers and drinking fountains.  Everything an itinerant could ask for.

Just walk around

Carpark Camping

Bird's of a feather ...

Yes this edition of the Barwon Groove is brought to you by the birds, Cockatoos that is, an invading Black Cloud of noise. ROBOT can also report that 12 Plovers are alive and well and at least two chicks have been spotted from the previous breeding cycle, despite the dog walker this morning who we confronted about her bird chasing dogs and she assured us that her dogs only went after seagulls. OK then as long as they swallow them whole I said!

Plover and Son

Black Cocky

Purple Mermaid

I have another edition of the recent El Nido snorkelling. There was a viewing of a longer film where it was suggested an accompanying sound track would add to the film.  I spent some time trawling through a copy of the "Finding Nemo" DVD looking for the "Under the Sea" section.  After I watched the DVD and the bonus DVD, I worked out that I had the wrong film, it being on the "Little Mermaid". So I got it from ITunes and this is the new clip.

Watt the ...

Spent some money servicing the road bike so I gave it a try just now.  A short 17 km in the sunshine however some bits fell off whilst coming back along the river. Not to worry, your local community bike maintenance shed is located in Pipemakers Park just down the way.  This is a self help facility and it has all the spare parts and tools you might ever need.  A quick rummage through the bolts box and I've screwed things back on using their tools.  Also noticed the James Watt chugging along the river. This must be the world's smallest and slowest Steam Boat. But it does have the obligatory whistle. I guess when James Watt invented the steam engine he was more into industry than boats but he would have liked this one.

The James Watt

Summer's End

I would rate the summer just gone as mild in terms of lack of really hot days. There may have been one day over 40 but overall no bushfire emergencies and maybe a couple of total fire bans.

http://data.giss.nasa.gov/gistemp/graphs_v3/

This is a graph from NASA showing temperatures since they started recording them in 1880.  It throws a lot of doubt onto the whole global warming thing. If you can trust this graph there are 4 time frames of around 30 yar each. Two show temperature going down and two going up and no increase in temperature this century.  You would think the last 15 years would be the most accurately measured and no sign of global warming there.