Cascade Canyon

 We found a place with a large carpark but not so many cars. There was a note I read that said very crowded at the weekend. Good thing this was a Monday however there is plenty of space along the 1.2 km stretch of river for finding a swimming hole. We spent time gathering supplies before we arrived so carried lunch with us up to the top where the main waterfalls and swimming hole was located. We had it to ourselves until a band of muscians arrived however we had a prime rock table in the middle of the river. I think they were looking jealously at our egg sandwiches and wild turkey cans. We stayed for an hour or so here but I could not see any sooty grunters. On the way back there were other spots to sit amongst the gurgling. A three hour 2.5km walk with lunch and a swim.

Camping last Century

 I found a letter from way back last century but I should go back a month earlier. There was a group going to Tassie and after some cancelations there were only two of us left to go however Nana Beryl had an issue with that. In the end another couple, Maree & Wayne Furlong, were roped in to come with us for a weeks camping and walking.  This was 1979, for when you check the date stamp on the envelope it was a year to the day that we got married a year later.  They were not confident at all with carrying all that you need but after this trip they were encouraged to go back a few weeks later. The letter describes the sorry state of walkers coming towards them with dire tales of mud and crud. They had no issue with turning around. Not sure if they ever got back to Cradle Mtn.

we are ready to go

We're not Cross

 It must be 30 yar since I have been to Mt Macedon, so we get up there and it's closed for maintenance, big time.  That also includes the Tea Rooms which have been closed for some years but will reopen at the end of the year.  We still found plenty of walking tracks, with a koala tree right near the car. We got the grandies to a lookout on a rough track for a photo as well as up to the Camel's Hump for another foggy view. Lunch was pasties and sausage rolls from the Lazy Baker and we were one of their last customers as the business was shutting shop permanently that afternoon. Back at the cottage the fire is now warming up and grandies are having quiet play.

Pelican Palace

I moved the walk off the roads and onto the tracks.  It was very high tide so the walk was on piled up sea grass and lots of it.  There was plenty of sand on our beach but approaching the Dell was tricky. You can get through from grass knob to grass knob.  Not quite the same distance as yesterday but almost.  The highlight was the pelicans, maybe 15 of them, just lounging around on posts and rocks. There must be plenty of fish in the bay if you can spend time contemplating your feather grooming in the Sun. 

No Sweat

 Not being able to use my arm has taken a big chunk of my exercise routine away. This is the morning routine which can get a bit physical with 40 repetitions of various manouvres.  Trying to grip bicycle handlebars is out for a while as well so that leaves walking or jogging.  Debbie has advanced her walking to 5km in length with sections of jogging included, so I am way behind.  This morning I tried her original circuit which is a road walk of 3.3km. We took it at a slower pace but road walking is not my thing.  I will be on the lookout for trails up to 5km.

The drop in temperature doesn't help my cause

Corks on Strings

Debbie's morning exercise routine involves some bench pressing at each seat along the way and the flies have become an issue.  Maybe we could resurrect the old corked hat idea. It is a rare thing to see someone using a bee net over your head while walking along. I doubt if you would see much and how hot would it be. If I had a corked hat and I saw someone else coming with another corked hat I might stop and compare notes, how many corks, how long are your strings.  We see a lot of things when you live in a glass house but two people crossing paths with bee nets has got to be out there.

Bee seen

Hamish takes a walk

We have been hit by a bug but are working our way thru it so far.  Hamish had a fairly good night and this afternoon we packed him off to PortArlington for a beach session. We ended up walking the entire length of the piers there, checking out boats, fishermae and a barge that was laden with stricken yachts being towed into port.  The Pier cafe was open so we sat for 40 mins for coffee and cake. Such holiday leisure. We also spent time analysing the Starship 6 flight. 

native starfish

Keperra

 Another 6:00am start got us to the Grandies in time for the breakfast mayhem session. We dropped them at daycare at 8:15am and then back to our room here for a snooze. Fine in theory, except for the renovations on the hotel exterior. New shutters requiring a scissor lift with the associated banging and grunting. We got out of there after an hours Pure Bookkeeping session and headed for Keperra Nature reserve. Don't try these walks. The tracks are just steep fire service roads. We did time our 3.5km circuit in between rain attacks.  There was a cold wind blowing so we ventured onto the opposite  side for a drink. Here there were a number of vicious thorned trees designed to wound. We stopped off at Huskk on the way back for lunch. The food was tasty but the cafe is surrounded by busy roads. 

Apple Play Not

 The Clancy's are back from a Euro trip and after an hour of mucking around with Apple Play on a Samsung TV last night, this morning we tried screen mirror from the Iphone and voila we could see their photos on the large screen.  We needed some exercise so we did a coastal walk along the new path and looped back to the coffee shop before getting back. Julie has made a you beaut fruit cake which has been half devoured already and we haven't had lunch yet. 

city on the horizon

Inverleigh Bush

 We have managed to go outside today being a 5 hour outing including a pub lunch. The native bush at Inverleigh has become a favourite spot to wander so we walked part of it again. If you pick a Sunday then you will most likely have trail bikes to contend with, although we quickly melt into the bush land where they are not allowed.  Huge swathes of forest have been cleared of under growth in some sections.  There is a very nasty prickle bush that is mostly along the edges of the bush tracks but is spreading more each time we are there, so the clearance could be for fire protection and for native growth.  Some of these trees are ancient with branches ready to fall. The pub was not as busy so we got a table for two this time as previously we could only sit at the bar.

MapRunner

 I saw there was a short 60 min orienteering event being held at Ocean Grove.  There are a series of these street events every Winter and Summer. Some 20 yar ago I did the Summer version  and there are some big differences in the conducting of these events. For one thing you need to bring a smart phone or watch.  Your progress is recorded on your phone and a tally of scores is kept there as well. The biggest change is no actual controls to find or punch on arrival. When you approach within 10 metres of the mark, the phone beeps and you can move onto the next one. At least they gave us a paper map to navigate by. We dawdled in 10 minutes early for 28 points.  Mind you we had a fairly hefty lunch in the Dunes restaurant before we started. 

Our track

prestart instructions

Ulysses

 The big ticket item was ticked off yesterday but there is another elusive bug we can tick off today which is the big big Ulysses butterfly. What is it with the brightest of vivid blue animals around here?  We saw the butterfly on two occasions but were not quick enough to get a photo. When they are on a mission those butterflies move fast.  When we next spot one we will try to follow. Today we went walking thru some jungle areas but only on a short looping walk. Last year it was raining when we did this and there was plenty of heavy stuff today. No sign of casowaries.

Lacey's circuit

Guadalcanal

 We knew what to expect here after travelling to similar locations previously. The temperatutres are filthy and the environment is more filthy but that is the way it is done here. You finish with something then throw it in the ditch. We worked our way uphill to the heights of the American Memorial.  We were the only ones on the ship to do this. Navigation was ok amd we took some of the back blocks which were filled with friendly people with dirty habits.  The memorial is well kept. It is the cleanest thing in the entire town.  We wandered back down and made our way into the local market. Now they do not believe in tourist traps here. This is for the locals and the quality was basic. I cannot describe the smell, the number of bodies up against each other, in this space with fish, meat, clothes and sweat at 30 degrees.   All good fun and experiences.

Boondall Wetlands

 Last full day of Grand Sitting. If you want a non stop week of exercising including bending, lifting, crouching, walking and more bending and lifting then try Evie and Charlie for that time. We arrived at the Boondall Wetlands which has a very interactive indoor centre before you even start walking. You can fly, touch, smell, see and feel all manner of critters. We must have been 30 miond in there before we started walking.  After luncj we took Evie to the shopping centre where she could spend her dollarbucks that we hgave her for her birthday. She bought a drawing kit and a clock. We got Charlie bath baby just to keep it all even.

Am I speaking to Batman

learning to fly

Port Fairy Old Town

This cottage backs onto the Moyne River. We spent late afternoon sitting on the jetty and spied our old lawyer friend two doors down in his backyard.  They rented us our first ever office space for BACS Bookkeeping in Lincoln Rd. We knew they had moved here but were never sure where.  Last night we squeezed into the Merrijig Kitchen by taking the last two seats at the bar.  This was good but pricey food in a very old Inn.  It was on the opposite corner to the Customs House where we stayed one time last century.  Back then the Merrijig was a private house and the Customs House you could stayin. Now it is switched around as the Merrijig is now a restaurant and the Customs House is a private residence.  

We walked this morning thru the Botanical Garden and the caravan park where chainsaw sculptures are everywhere.  Crossing to the beach we went as far as the Battery station then turned inland to the Moyne River and followed the yachts back to the foot bridge. From here we went into town for a bakery coffee stop and a wander around the shops. All up it was a 5km walk.

from the jetty

Tree Whale

Merrijig Bar

Fitzroy Island Walks

We did two walks on Fitzroy Island both of them steep. There was no attempt to lessen the grade. In the case of the tower it was war time and no time to finesse so they went straight for the site.  As for the top of the island, the National Parks Service also used a direct approach and put in many rock staircases to get there.  The view from the top included a view of the tower below and some sand cays out on the reef. 

Summit Lookout

There doesn't seem to be a name for the highest point here, so let's call it Mt Fitzroy.  We were originally heading for this yesterday but the driving wind put us off.  This afternoon we bought our sandwiches and the champagne bottle with hopes of a mountain top picnic.  This is a tough walk and steep but not as steep as yesterday.  The clouds parted and we got 360° views of mainland peaks behind us and coral cays out to sea.  We found a spectacular rock platform to sit on for lunch about half way back down.  The best place on the island for lunch.  We made it down for an afternoon nap around three and avoided a huge downpour. This had the effect of completly emptying the pool area including the swimup bar, so we helped ourselves to two pricey cocktails in the pool.  

On Top

Walking Adventure

Update two for today is about the walking. The  rain came in solid but we are here and now and a year ago we did not do any walking on the island.  We waited til midday but the rain was still drizzily.  The walk up is the steepest road I have seen, as opposed to climbing, like on Lord Howe. We had bought our  sandwiches and drinks and headed off. The road was put in during war time for the construction and the  grooved concrete is for traction.  We saw a woman in her eighties very slowly stepping back down.  Now there was 10 broken bones in the making.   Once on top the visibility was limited. The actual facility was more than a lighthouse. It was an airport tower with obvious radial viewing sectors for spotting Japanese aircraft.  We did not stay long.  There was no lunch spot anywhere along the way as the one spot we stopped at saw green ants starting to bite.  So we went all the way back down where someone  had taken chairs from somewhere and left them under a sheltering tree on the beach.  Lunch was still a wet affair and after 30 minutes the rain was now driving in under the canopy.  Time to go back to our room.  Two bedraggled bikini girls were hobbling along with us, one with cut feet and the other trying to keep the clothes dry by not wearing them. 

Historic Inverleigh

We have had this town on the radar for a while. It was established in 1854 so there are lots of blue stone around. We had planned on a sit down lunch at the bakery as they advertised an impressive spread on their web site. But we keep forgetting about the pesky distancing problem, so they are surviving on take away.  We had some steak & mushroom at a very polished tree trunk nearby.  We walked this off down by the Leigh River which eventually runs into the Barwon.  Highlights were the Federation Suspension Bridge, the Gaol Cell and the Craft shop.  We finished off with coffee at the Pub, which used to be the Cobb&Co station. 

Lots of tables but no chairs

used to be the Pub

tree table

Used to be a house

used to be a wind mill

Used to be the one cell gaol

Craftiwork