OH! OH! STOP! ROOS!

We went to Geelong today to look at more RVs and found two more "possibles". We are getting there!

On the way home we decided to make a side trip over to the You Yangs which is a Regional Park in the state of Victoria -- http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/1park_display.cfm?park=208. It is well known for its mountain bike trails. Unfortunately by the time we got there it was closed to incoming auto traffic and the visitor center had also closed. Trox took a short walk and found some super cool birds. Unfortunately most of his pics were too dark but get a load of this video!

We think this guy is a Galah 
(Eolophus Cacatua roseicapillus)

Cape Barren Goose (Cereopsis novaehollandiae)

Saw this guy -
New Holland Honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae)
 - at the petrol station

We also found an area known as the Serendip Sanctuary, another regional park -- http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/1park_display.cfm?park=182 -- which is a bird sanctuary but also has mammals and we saw ROOS!!!!!

OH! OH! STOP! ROOS!

This and That

On a quest for a Motorhome!
Our search for a motor home continues. As I mentioned in my last posting we went to Geelong the other day to visit a dealer. Trox got to practice driving on the left side of the road again today as we went to Ballarat. When you look at the map - we are staying at "B" in St. Kilda (a suburb of Melbourne). "A" is Geelong about 80 Kilometers (km) away and "C" is Ballarat about 120 km. We may just have found the RV we want today. Trox drove it and liked the way it handled and it is big enough we think we can "live" in it for a year but small enough we won't feel we are driving a behemoth down the little roads. We also looked at an RV about 20 km from here in another suburb of Melbourne. Tomorrow we may go back out to Geelong to visit some more dealers.

Signs along the highways

Driving down the highway today we saw some new signs (at least to us). We saw both Roo (kangaroo) crossing signs and Koala crossing signs. Also many of the freeways here allow "cyclists" (i.e. bicycles). There are signs all along that are for the cyclists not the cars. Very interesting. In addition we saw lots of "Powernap" signs. What we in the states call "Rest Stops" or "Rest Areas" the Aussie's call "Powernap areas". Some of the signs we saw included:

Eyes Tired
Powernap now!

Open your eyes fatigue kills
Powernap now!

Trouble concentrating?
Powernap Now!

Droopy Eyes?
Powernap Now!

Also saw a sign that read "Placarded loads must exit now". That one took me a minute or too before its meaning clicked in.

BIRDS!
AND! HEY! DOUG! We say flocks (literally multiple large flocks) of Cockatoos bedding down for the night. Was quite a sight to see 20 or so cockatoos on the median of the highway obviously coming in for the night. Also all over the fields near the highway. Pretty cool! Sorry I didn't get any pics but will try next time we see them.

Get the idea?
Australians call themselves Aussies
They cook on the Barbie
They call people who live on Tasmania Tassies
They don't watch football they watch Footy
I'm sure there are other exampies!

I got SUNBURNED yesterday! YEA!

We went to the beach yesterday (Sunday) to see the vendors all along the road. Found some really fun stuff including a cool hat. She didn't have the color I wanted so have to go back next Sunday to get the right one.

We walked in the sand and in the COLD water as well as up in the park area.

There were pony rides for the little ones and lots of other entertainment.

From where we started along the beach to where we turned back inland was about 2 miles.

Once we turned inland we found a nice little bakery/restaurant where we had a coffee and something for lunch. Sat there for awhile just vegging and people watching. As we walked some more we found people lawn bowling. Get a load of the costumes!

We then caught a tram that took us out past the University to the general Cemetery. By the time we got to the cemetery it was too late to really wander around as we were warned that they would lock us in. This was one of the most crowded "people gardens" I have ever seen. We'll go back as there seem to be some pretty interesting things to see.

Today we went out to Geelong (about 50 miles). We left the house well prepared with print outs from google maps and step by step directions. WELLLLLLLL google maps said to take the Princes highway off of the Princes Freeway. Ain't no such exit! We managed to get rather lost. Good thing we are both pretty good at reading maps and using our GPS. In addition Trox has a rather good feel for which is the "right" way (not ME!). Once in Geelong we found the place we were looking for - an RV dealership who has used motorhomes. Found one we liked but now we have to decide if the price is right and do we REALLY want to do this? Made it home with no problems.

Tomorrow we may look at some more but first we HAVE to go to the coffee shop and get Trox some coffee!

OH! Glorious SUN!

It has been warm the last few days and I'm back in capris and sandals! Still wore a light fleece shirt yesterday but may be able to shed it today! Hip hip hooray!

Weird looking pigeon spotted in a church yard

We hit the Victorian Market the other day and got there just as they were closing up - we WILL get there early one of these days. You can get EVERYTHING at their markets.

SOME of the spices in the Indian market

We also found a really cool LITTLE Indian market that has spices like you wouldn't believe. It has been a long time since I lived in a big city and I've forgotten all the joys of finding little tiny places. We bought cinnamon and cloves and mace and chili powder and nutmeg from the Indian market and will go back to get more now that we've decided his stuff is nice and fresh and very good quality.

RV Show

We also took in an RV show to look at motorhomes. Trailers (caravans here) are very spendy and there is an unbelievable selection. I was pleasantly surprised that the motorhomes were not as expensive as stateside but there isn't as big a selection either. We're still looking.

And we just continue to wander around town averaging about 5 miles on my feet a day and many more than that on the trams/trains.

Buildings around city center



Do all China Towns look alike?



What more could one want - an American
Subway next door to a Schnitzel Bar
next door to a Chinese Rice and Noodle
Restaurant next door to a BYOB Japanese
Restaurant - FOOD HEAVEN!



Had to ask what the sleeves on the trees were for
since there are no squirrels or raccoons here.
Opossums



Dirt bike shop in city center



Tree is just beginning to flower - no leaves yet
and rest of tree is just sticks - flowers look like paper



HEY! PAUL! This guy is a mechanical engineer who
decided to quit and run a deli/coffee shop instead
---- best coffee i've found so far -----

Trox is on the mend

Trox (unit #2) has been sick but is finally on the mend. We have had a few "stay at home" days and a few "not do much" days. Yesterday was our first real "out" day and we took in one of the museums - well at least one room of it. We did join the museum so we are now official members of the Melbourne Museum and they have an IMAX and it is currently showing a bunch of stuff that will be fun to see including Avatar - which should be really good on an IMAX screen in 3-D.

Previously we went for a walk along the river and into the main botanical garden. It is HUGE! We got there about 30 minutes before it "closed" which actually just means the visitor center is closed and you can still wander around. Stuff is just starting to bud out with a few things in bloom. The wisteria around town is starting to bloom and is going to be really beautiful in a week or so and it smells heavenly. Today we think we are going to tackle the main market in city center.

Trox has been playing with how to add google earth stuff here to the blog and hopefully will get that running soon. It is supposed to be much warmer this weekend (in the 70s) and we are hoping to take in an RV show.

Our Tram to City Center

The Yarra River

This sculpture was along the river walk - that's
me leaning against the middle leg

From the bridge where we crossed the Yarra
to enter the botantical garden

My sherpa carrying both packs!

In the garden - looks like Forsythia but isn't

A family of swans
about 8 babies and 3 or 4 adults were present

Birds of Paradise are everywhere

City Center

Today was the AFL final game played here in Melbourne. I'm told AFL (Australian Rules Football - referred to as Footy) is a combination of Rugby, American Football, and Soccer. Not to mention that fistycuffs break out on the field as well. And, the playing field (at least today) was a Cricket field. Oh, yea, I forgot to mention that these guys play this game in short shorts and not-quite muscle shirts - NO protective gear. The two teams playing today were the Saints (from St. Kilda where we are staying) and the Pies (actually the Magpies from Collingwood which is another suburb of Melbourne). There was all this hype for the past week and even a parade with something like 300,000 spectators (that was yesterday). The official count for spectators at the game today was over 100,000 and there must have been at least that on the streets in front of big screen set up for viewing in the city center. When we got up today we headed to City Center where the game was being played to people watch. There were lots of people everywhere there was a television and we just kind of wandered around. We kept waiting for this huge party to break out since it didn't really matter who won since both teams are locals. Finally we asked who won the game trying to figure out what happened to the party - just to be told it was a "draw" and there will be another game next week! YISH!

On to more important things. City center is really interesting with lots of cool architecture and parks and shopping.

Things are starting to bloom

Not sure what building is but is part of a university in City Center

Public bath house - which means it is a gym & pool

Located in City Center - really nice!

The largest market - located in City Center - was closed
when we got there - we'll have to go back!

Riding the free tram around City Center

These bikes were available to rent just by putting your money in the slot
and taking a bike - or you can buy an annual subscription for $50 which
gives you a key to help yourself whenever you want.

Tower over Performing Arts Center

Bustling intersection at night - time to go home