Geelong's foreshore has undergone some incredible changes in the years since my childhood trips to the Bellarine peninsular. Eastern beach is now a picturesque promenade filled with sculpture, friendly looking bollards an 1800s antique carousel and the new Skywheel (a huge Ferris Wheel). The sea pool has been reconstructed and there is now also a freshwater swimming pool for the kids.
Crying clown with Skywheel in distance
Brightly painted cages in a wispy clouded sky
Neon lights at dusk
Elaborately coordinated neon
A guard watches as the wheel spins
Trains
While in Geelong we also visited the Bellarine Railway and caught a steam train from Drysdale to Queenscliff and back. The original railway went all the way from Geelong and most of the land has now been converted into a bicycle path known as the Bellarine Rail Trail (Check the Rail Trail map). I had intended to cycle from Drysdale to Queenscliff meet the family for lunch and then put my bike on the train and enjoy the ride back with the kids. Unfortunately as with many of my solo mini-adventure plans this was not to be. Thankfully the ride was such great fun that it was well worth the trip both ways.
The train we caught was called the Klondite and was an oil-fueled steamer
I noticed this tandem bike at the Drysdale station and quizzed the girls about where I could hire one. Somewhere in Queenscliff I was told (forgot soon after). They were really keen about the ride and appeared to be having a great time figuring out how to maneuver a tandem. I was so envious! It looked like an easy and fun ride along the path and mostly down hill too. Maybe next time if I/we can get our act together.
Queenscliff Pier - always beautiful
Ferry Shed
Melbourne
From Geelong we headed back to Melbourne to visit family and seek out some of the natural wonders that can actually be found in the inner suburbs as well as the outlying areas.
A dinner to be remembered in Hurstbridge...
My sister and her partner were pretty keen for us to meet them on our first night back and told us they'd booked a table at a restaurant in Hurstbridge for the whole family and would be disappointed if we didn't turn up. It turned out to be a surprise wedding and by the look on my mothers face they managed to keep the secret until the very last minute. We were still in a state of shock when the vows were being exchanged!
Good on you guys! And congratulations on your marriage and for pulling off the secret of the year, (It's a hard job keeping a secret in our family).
A dinner to be remembered in Hurstbridge...
My sister and her partner were pretty keen for us to meet them on our first night back and told us they'd booked a table at a restaurant in Hurstbridge for the whole family and would be disappointed if we didn't turn up. It turned out to be a surprise wedding and by the look on my mothers face they managed to keep the secret until the very last minute. We were still in a state of shock when the vows were being exchanged!
Good on you guys! And congratulations on your marriage and for pulling off the secret of the year, (It's a hard job keeping a secret in our family).
On a patch of land at the edge of the Merri Creek in East Brunswick, below the hulking mass and metal framework of electric cable towers lies a sanctuary for the spirit called CERES.
Today CERES looks like a green oasis of environmentally friendly agriculture and a successful social cooperative. However the site was once a neglected urban dump. (see the CERES history page)
Today CERES looks like a green oasis of environmentally friendly agriculture and a successful social cooperative. However the site was once a neglected urban dump. (see the CERES history page)
The Caffe'
The bike shed. This is what I really wanted to see. It is a community based 're-Cycling' program. They collect old bikes and parts, sell them cheap and help people to fix the bikes they buy or learn to fix their own. It's a great idea and a fantastic way to mix cycling and community involvement.
A garden of mixed produce. (See the power lines overhead)
We made a trip out to Healesville Sanctuary where our little girl had a great time identifying and spotting all the animals she had previously only seen in books or on TV.
The highlight of the trip was the Platypus which she absolutely adores. We must have spent about 45 minutes just sitting in the darkened tunnel/observation area watching the platypus swim (It was quite hot outside).
The highlight of the trip was the Platypus which she absolutely adores. We must have spent about 45 minutes just sitting in the darkened tunnel/observation area watching the platypus swim (It was quite hot outside).
Another highlight for me was the Lyrebird. I absolutely love these birds. They are such unusual creatures. They're beautiful to watch; delicately moving the litter at the bottom of the forest while they look for food. Their ability to imitate is just too bizarre to be believed. The Lyrebird exhibit had sound recordings of the birds imitating other birds, machines and even human voices!
On our way back to town we took the long road through Toolangi and Kinglake. I pulled into a National Park for a bit of a look around where we discovered three wild Lyrebirds! They must be scrounging further out into the open because of the extremely dry conditions. We were absolutely amazed to see them so close to a public area and a bit worried that they'd be harassed by people.
On our way back to town we took the long road through Toolangi and Kinglake. I pulled into a National Park for a bit of a look around where we discovered three wild Lyrebirds! They must be scrounging further out into the open because of the extremely dry conditions. We were absolutely amazed to see them so close to a public area and a bit worried that they'd be harassed by people.
Male Lyrebird. One of the three birds we saw in Kinglake last weekend
Back to Geelong
Before returning to Darwin we made one more trip back to our family in Geelong and cooled off on the coast at Torquay. There were thousands of people there, all hoping to enjoy their own little piece of paradise.
Torquay surf beach at about 2:00 pm on Wednesday 10th January 2007
(Photo courtesy of my wife Samantha)
(Photo courtesy of my wife Samantha)
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