The Last Tsar

 I have read some heavy tomes in my day but this one weighs a tonne.  It concentrates in infinite detail on the leadup to the Russian revolution in Feb 1917, part way thru WWI.  The last Tsar, Nicholas II wasn't much of a leader.  The names in this book, of which there are at least 500, all take up a line of print, with one exception, Rasputin.  Has anyone ever noticed that this conman and hustler has a very similar name to that other Russian.  Another example is Vladimir Mitrofanovich Purishkevich who just happened to have murdered Rasputin.  All in all to some up the life's work of the author Tsuyoshi Hasegawa, the Russians back then were a mess and still are.

Dolphin Encounter

 We waited until later like 7:30pm to have a post prandial beach walk.  It was still hot but there were only a few people around.  It was also high tide which can encourage larger fish, like dolphins, to come in closer to shore.  We were watching the Sunset when dolphins started popping up right in front. The Sun was coming down from behind a cloud bank.  We could have followed them along as I could see them in the next bay but dolphins are fast.

Tassie Wave stirs the Pool

 I went across in the morning yesterday but after those storms the water was dark with grass. I tried again this morning as there was calmness and reasonably clean water.  This is the hottest time and when the water is warmer it starts to cloud with different growths.  I was swimming along nicely and I could see the Tassie boat passing and then 5 minutes later the Tassie wave floated me up a bit in that classic bell shape. That was fine but the bottom floor resting place of beach detritus really got churned and up it came up blacking out where I was swimming. Of course the answer is to be swimming out much deeper but I haven't gotten my proper sea legs this year.

Mad Dogs & Bike Riders

 IT wasn't exactly the Midday Sun that got us, it was more like the 4:00pm Sun. We were half counting on the storm to come as a bit of a refresher but all we got was a few drops.  Much later, we did get three hours of incredible flashing storm til about 11:00pm.  We  stayed at the top of MontPellier for two circuits out of the four.  We got so close to the action you could touch it, which has been an infamous problem in the past. There were a few hills on the way back to Geelong and that is when we were really starting to feel the wooziness set in. However just like the riders in the race we coped with ice packs down the front and back of the jersey.  Also stopping to rest in the shade by the river. In fact I left Debbie for a half hour snooze on the river bank while I retrieved the car and brought it back to her. That was the hottest ride I have ever done.

bring your own shade

Mansion Ruins

 Rest Stop

Sun & Moon Shot

We got the octopus tripod out again mainly for some night shots balancing it on a fence post.  Before that the Sun was dipping into an orange cloud bank.  It was a day of mowing, gardening  and house cleaning yesterday but we got across to the beach at 4:00pm for 90 mins.  The water temperature is refreshing.  I am still grappling with all the road closures and parking restrictions for this afternoon but it is always the case with these shows. Thunderstorms are now forecast for the exact time we are due on top at Montpellier.

The Ady

 Geelong Advertiser is an institution around here, not that we get to see it that often.  Debbie had her photo taken last week and immediately you new it was a winner.  We have been busy all week away from Geelong so could not get a paper until today.  As it goes, she is in today's paper and the photo dominates the page. I happen to agree with the opinion expressed, that Aussie Day has been previously targeted by a few with nothing much else to do but a lot of it has diminished since that last referendum.  Oi Oi Oi.

Year Ago Ride

One yar back we were on the Cadel Ride but instead of 60km today we settled on 15km this morning.  This coincided with Sarah Gigante riding in the women's however since she is in recovery mode this year, we will go to the men's tomorrow. I have hatched a plan to do it by bike but we will have to cross the route in two places and that could be a full stop.  We are trying for the Challambra Live Site which we have not been to but in this case riding between that one and the other site at the finish line is about 10km apart.  You can only try.

You Yangs and Cactus

coffee stop

next train project