April Afternoon

Temperature was around 23° but very little breeze this afternoon.  The beach was empty and the water clear so we tried the new snorkel fins which were harder to work probably, due to their extra size.  Will need to get used to them.  The water is still warm and there were four different rays to observe. The wildlife show continued when a Spider wasp stung a huntsman twice its size but could not carry it back to the mud nest. Eventually it flew off.

speeder

Outside view

Inside view

Clifton Rider

We have gotten onto the bikes for the first time from the new location.  Only a short 10-12 km ride to break back into it.  We rode as far as the train station then came back into Drysdale for coffee at the Bungalow.  There is a lot of traffic on the main road thru there which may be a Saturday morning thing. The TV man has been this morning and resurrected our signal. The outgoing people took  a small powered booster that was needed for the internal signal to reach around all the required outlets.

The Bungalow Bill is paid on leaving

Another first - the first morning run and rubbish pickup

Cliftonians

If you've walked to the Dell then you've become a Cliftonian.  Our mineral pool was filled in this time but the ground there was still bubbling.  Our balcony is proving to be sunset city.  We tried the Drysdale Pub for the first time and gave it the general thumbs up.  Megan the waitress was telling us about her trips to Pascoe Vale.

Sunset Nibbles

Barefoot Dell

Sentinel

Port Arlington

Drove down to one of the old haunts being Port Arlington.  The foreshore camping ground is nothing like what the Clancy's used 50 yar ago.  It was good to see exactly where the ferry docks at the wharf area. Looks like a coffee stop with potential at the bottom of the hill.  Tim went for a decent swim to blow out his cold.

Blue Sky Day

Never Ending Coffee

We have had some more overnight visitors and many coffee and tea stops.  This time we were picked up from the Dell lookout after we had a quick look at the shallow pool we dug the day before and the mineral yield is much better now.  The water is clearer and the pool scoured. This time we drove into Drysdale for a coffee fix at the Bungalow. They have a unique Tea Service there where chunky tea leaves are placed in a strainer inside a glass pot with an electronic timer. When this sounds off, the tea is cooked enough to remove the strainer, allowing the tea to be drunk direct from the pot.  The apple crumble is good too.

Piano Time

Conquering the Dell

Tea for One

Clifton Tea

Had another beach walk towards the Dell. This time we were prepared with trowels and bottling equipment.  Conditions need to be right to spot the gases coming up from the sand not to mention a beach clear of salt water at low tide.  There was a rock bank sticking out but the best action was right there making it harder to dig a hole. Our bottle was a bit long but after the silt had subsided the bottle could be laid so the flow went in. The taste was mineral with a hint of sea grass and notes of urchin.

Should have used a Torpedo Bottle

Mineral Water

We had our first low tide walk to the Dell this morning and the minerals were in Spring.  There are multiple places to observe the bubbling nature of it and it is possible to scoop a taste off the beach. We also had our first overnight guests last night so the new house is in full swing and the upstairs shower seems to work just fine, as does the billiard table which got a good workout.

Composition

Sea Grass Walk

Bubbling Tide