The Big Koala Hunt

Since we have been here in Australia, Friday has been my favorite day of the week. That's really not a lot different than when we are in Canada, but Fridays here are really good. Friday is the day that we all jump in the truck after school and we head out to explore the area around us. We have found some great places, great food and friendly people. It's always a great adventure!

About two weeks ago we headed out on one of our Friday adventures to a place called Pound Bend. Pound Bend is a piece of protected land in Warrandyte State Park. One of Steve's coworkers told him that there were koalas in the park, lot's of them. Fabulous we thought! We would love to see some koalas. Off we went.

The park was beautiful, with the Yarra River flowing through. There are some really lush areas and some that are quite barren with just a little scrub brush under the trees. There are loads of trails to walk on, picnic and day camp areas and peace and quiet. We headed out along a trail that followed the river bank, keeping our eyes peeled, looking for the "many" koalas. As we walked we wondered where we would see them. Near the top of the trees? Out on a branch? in the crook of a tree where the branch meets the trunk? Are they out in the day? Dusk? We probably should have done a bit of homework first.

After walking for about an hour the girls began to complain about how far we had gone, their legs were sore, they were hungry. Yikes! Any koalas that had thought about making an appearance were probably scared off by the ranting. We decided to head back to the parking area, taking a bit of a different route. We cut through a small clearing part way down the trail.

Walking through the clearing we came across an old rusty piece of machinery. Out in the wild! Wow. Suddenly this became really interesting as we tried to figure out what it had been used for. It had a small door on either side that opened to cavities that looked liked they were used for wood burning. There was a small rocket shaped cylinder on the top. We decided that it probably had something to do with the gold mining that had gone on in the area in the 1800's. With the proximity to the river it seemed reasonable. We knew it was really old because it had a very established tree growing up through the middle.

Happy with our discovery we turned to head for the truck. You know that feeling when you are being watched but when you look up nobody is there? We had that feeling. Yep, we were being watched - by two very curious kangaroos. Yikes! Do they attack people? Are they more scared of us? Do we move? Slowly we started walking and as we did, the kangaroos started a very slow retreat, stopping to look back at us every few feet. They are funny creatures. Who would have thought that you could actually look elegant with feet that size? Kangaroos certainly are.

Silly koalas. We never did see any that evening but we were none the less impressed with what we had found. An ancient piece of machinery and a couple of curious kangaroos. Not we had started out looking for but still exciting. The girls climbed in to the truck chattering about it.

We have wondered over the last month or so why we don't do this more often when we are at home. Maybe we should start when we get back. You never know what you can find. I work this Friday but maybe we'll head out for a short drive some where. It's always an adventure.

The Big Koala Hunt

So far since we have been in Australia, Friday is my favorite day of the week. Although that's not much different than when we are in Canada. Friday here is different though. Friday is the day we go exploring. We jump in our truck and head out on the road to explore the areas around us. I have yet to be disappointed on a Friday here. About two weeks ago we headed northwest of Montrose. One of Steve's coworkers told him about a place called Pound Bend which is supposed to be a guarateed koala sighting spot.

Pound Bend is a small town in Warrandyte State Park and it is beautiful. The Yarra River winds through the park and there are many trails to walk on. There are picnic and day camp areas and, apparently, koalas. We walked for about an hour along the river keeping our eyes peeled for koalas, all the time wondering where in the trees they hide. Are they near the top, on a branch, in the crook of a branch where it meets the trunk? What time do they come out? Day time? Dusk? We probably should have done a little more home work on the subject before we went out.

After an hour the girls were starting to complain about how far we had walked. They were complaining so loudly that really, any koala that was going to show itself probably changed it's mind. I can't say I blame them (the koalas). The girls can be really loud when they are tired and hungry.

We decided to head back to the truck and head somewhere for dinner. That is our other Friday night adventure. Where shall we eat? We usually end up getting some takeout along the way home and sit outside somewhere to eat it. Anyhow, we head back to the truck and decide to cut through a clearing between the river and the parking area. We are innocently walking along when we find an old piece of machinery. Questions and guesses flew about it's original purpose. There were 2 small doors that look like they closed over a small wood burning area and a cylinder on the top that looked like a small rocket. It had obviously been in that spot for so long. How do I know that? The huge tree that was growing through the middle of it! The area was once part of the original area where gold was found and with the river near by maybe it had some use during the gold rush.

Satisfied with our examination of all things mysterious we headed once again for the truck. You know that feeling where you are sure you're being watched but when you look around nobody is there? We had that feeling. Yep, we were being watched. Two kangaroos, not koalas, but kangaroos were standing about 10 feet from us watching us examine the mystery machine. I have to admit it is a little unsettling to find this. Do they attack? Are they scared of people? Do we move? Will they move? We stood and watched them for a while and then slowly started walking towards the parking area. It turns out they are scared of us, as we watched them hop away. It did make our day seeing them. Finally some real wild life!

Silly koalas. They'll have to wait for another Friday adventure. Or at least until we can get to a zoo.

The Big City

The last two weekends we have taken the train into the big city. The city of Melbourne, Australia's cultural and sports capital. What can I say - it's fabulous! It is a larger city than Vancouver ( Metro Vancouver has a population of 2.5 million as compared to Melbourne's 3.8).
Heading across the Yarra River, up St. Kilda Rd, towards the Shrine of Remembrance.

Both days we have taken the train in from Croydon, which is the nearest train station to us. From Croydon it is about an hour into the city, an hour because it stops at every - single- stop - along - the - way. If we are lucky we can get a seat for the journey. The girls are always excited to take the train (we could probably just ride it for cheap entertainment on a Sunday) but then complain about the length of the ride. We get off the train at Flinders Street which is in the heart of Melbourne (pronounced Mel - bun by the Aussies). The first day we were walking through the station a girl stopped Steve, who was wearing a Canucks t-shirt, and said "hey, that's my team!". She was from Kelowa - small world! The station is great itself, very old looking, great architecture. From Flinders Street you can get anywhere. There are trams which almost every where you could want, buses and many things within walking distance. There are small tourist shops, fast food shops and a 7-eleven on almost every corner.

The first thing we did in Melbourne was head to the Shrine of Remembrance(http://www.shrine.org.au/). It is a memorial to the men and women who fought in the wars, those that came home and those that didn't. It is phenomenal. It is a huge monument surrounded by an equally huge garden. Every half hour there is a small ceremony inside the sanctuary where they pass a light over the Stone of Remembrance to simulate the sun passing over it. On Remembrance Day the sun passes over the word "love" in the inscription "Greater love hath no man" at exactly 11 am. The marble slab is sunk down in to the floor so that you have to bow your head to read it. It is a very solemn and humbling place.

We took a tram from the Shrine back into the heart of the city. Having been in some smaller towns in Europe, I was struck by how many of the smaller streets reminded me of places I had been in Italy and France. The kind of places where you feel like you are sitting in the middle of the road to drink your cappuccino. Generally you feel like this because you are! Despite paying on $5 for a coffee and a pastry you feel like you are the most cosmopolitan person around. People are walking a few inches from your table and cars are flying past within an arms length. I love it! A far cry from the latte I usually grab before I head into Save-on Foods to do the grocery shopping.

Having a snack on Degraves Street (above)

The girls were great little troopers walking along without complaint (OK - almost without complaint). It's a great walking city. They all managed to spend their allotted money in the souvenir shops buying small purses shapped like kangaroos and bracelets with jeweled koalas.

They couldn't get enough of checking out all the different stores and little kiosks.

The girls being goofy, trying to pose like mannequins.(above)

Last weekend we headed in to the city on a Sunday morning. The train is really cheap on a Sunday, only $3.10 for an all day pass that covers the train, trams and other transportation. It's a great deal. We spent the day at the Queen Victoria Market. The market is amazing. It's something you have to experience to believe, it's like Granville Island x 50. There are stalls selling clothing, fruit, sovenirs, shoes, purses, crafts,jewellry, meat, everything you could imagine. Steve bought a pair of Ugg slippers for only $25 (sorry Tanya). Great dealThe market is not open on Mondays so about 2 hours before closing the fresh food vendors start cutting their prices in half. We bought 3 T-bone steaks for $5.50 ($4.50 Cdn) for dinner that night. Delicious! We could eat like kings at those prices.








Brutus and the girls.

We walked around one corner only to come across 2 very large camels. In the middle of the Vic Market! A little odd maybe. For $8 a person you could go for a ride on the camels. Madeline was a little cranky but Brutus was more than willing to take the girls for a stroll. When they started moving I wasn't sure if Rhiannon was going to laugh or throw up. Her face was priceless, one of those "it seemed like a good idea at the time" moments. Kennedy and Alex were absolutely thrilled. Madeline and Brutus held their poker faces for the entire time.

Madeline and Brutus

We spent hours in the market and I'm sure didn't see everything. It is a shopper's paradise (Mom). I can hardly wait to go back. I have my eye on a couple of purses and Steve is holding out for a kangaroo skin hat. Melbourne is a filled with endless activities. We still have to make trips in to the aquarium, Cook's cottage, all the gardens and numerous other things. Every time we look some thing up we find more things that we would love to do. Although, Steve went to the Governer's House for lunch last Tuesday so maybe that should be the swan song?