Day 10 - Boxing Day

An easy day at home today, first watching Toy Story 3 at home...I think we all teared up at the end...

..and then to Cinema Nova in nearby Carlton (this pic is of the public housing near where we parked) to watch the doco "Bill Cunningham's New York"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYqiLJBXbss

Hans and a 'choc top' local ice-cream you get in cinemas here in Melbourne...a bit of a local cinema tradition :-)

http://www.thechoctopicecreamcompany.com.au

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Choc-Top

Tomorrow, we set off to Beechworth for a few days. Weather is meant to be around 32°c and blue skies.

Day 9 - Christmas

Christmas day at the home of a friend of the family. I'd would normally explain that was the home of the mother of my wife's sister in law but that is getting unnecessarily complicated.

Great day, temp was about 31°c, not too much traffic getting there although Melbourne had some very bad storms:

http://www.theage.com.au/environment/weather/violent-storms-shatter-the-peace-of-christmas-20111225-1p9mc.html

We were far away from the storms on the Mornington Peninsula and enjoyed an extended lunch that went from about 1:30 to after 4:00.

Hans discovering the wonders of Aerogard insect repellent  http://www.aerogard.com.au/ and the Akubra.  http://www.akubra.com.au/

Day 8 - Christmas Eve

Even though Hans won't freely admit it, he went to an IKEA and survived! We had to do some last minute Christmas shopping and I needed a few bits from our friendly, neighbourhood Swedish retailer. Actually it is our friendly Dutch owned Swedish retailer...a quote from Wikipedia:

The groups of companies that form IKEA are all controlled by INGKA Holding B.V., a Dutch corporation, which in turn is controlled by a tax-exempt, not-for-profit Dutch foundation.

And then Gabby's son, James, suggested we go for a quick pint the local bar, the Pinnacle...

http://www.fitzroypinnacle.com.au/

Hans was quite thirsty...

And has now got the taste for Wild Turkey shots! :-)

http://wildturkeybourbon.com/

Days 6/7 - Melbourne

After Gippsland we spent the next couple of days back in Melbourne, Hans doing some remote updates to the museum project he'd been working on before he came out and I tidied a few things up before Christmas. 

It was also the first time Hans had a look a the city of Melbourne where we had a bit of a walk around Federation Square beside the Yarra River on Thursday evening. http://www.fedsquare.com/

Thursday night we also caught up with our Jean who Hans met when Gabby and I got married at the Fantadia Festival in Italy. We'll be going to Jean's place in Beechworth after Christmas. On the Friday I had a meeting at the Shrine (http://www.shrine.org.au/Home) where Jean works so Hans had a look around there and also at the Botanical Gardens next door (http://www.rbg.vic.gov.au/)

Day 5 - Lakes Entrance and home

Breakfast with my sister, Barb, after a quick punt ride (with my nieces partner, Marcus, at the helm of the point) to Raymond Island, home to about 300 people and a multitude of wildlife...

....we went looking for koalas...of which we DID find about 10 or so but we also found about 15,000 of Australia's hungriest and most determined mosquitos! Wow, Hans and I got absolutely swamped by mozzies. Back to Paynesville and a quick visit with my niece, Merryn, and her two kids Quinn and Asha.

Another day, another opportunity to have fish and chips by the sea....this time at Lakes Entrance.

Hans calculating how far 90 miles would be in km...The Ninety Mile Beach with about 11 people on it at this point...not a bad ratio

Europe has Roman Viaducts, we have the Stony Creek Rail Bridge...not in use! After this we found a great little brewery at Bruthen, the Bullant Brewery:  http://www.bullantbrewery.com   Then had dinner with brother John back in Bairnsdale

And on the way home a photo opportunity at Kilmany.

Day 4 - South Gippsland

Gradually ticking the native animals off the list...an echidna right beside the road.

Hans stalking some flowers.

View across Corner Inlet to The Prom.

A local fishing for flatheads (fish) at Port Albert. At least the sun was out!

Han's first fish and chips at Port Albert.

A building for sale...a renovator's delight apparently!

Driving up to Tarra-Bulga National Park near Yarram.

http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/explore/parks/tarra-bulga-national-park

The walk in the Tarra Valley. Hans was expecting a dinosaur to step out of the bush at any time!

Not far from here we saw a Lyre Bird running through the bush which is fairly rare for these reclusive birds.

A small waterfall at the top of the Tarra Valley walk.

Hans in the base of a 1000 year old Myrtle tree.

The entrance to the Tarra Valley walk. Ferns a plenty!

The suspension bridge in Bulga Park.

Bulga Park.

After this we had an early dinner at the Rosedale bakery and Chainsaw Gallery - true!!

We then went to Bairnsdale for the Secondary School's presentation night. My family give a science scholarship in the name of our brother who died of cancer 10 years ago. A night of many speeches, awards presented and 4 performances by the school bands. We stated that night with my brother in Paynesville.

Day 3 - Wilson's Promontory National Park

Our accommodation at the Fish Ck Hotel/Motel.

This is a Drop Bear Warning Sign. Hans was unphased and bravely agreed to continue despite the clear warnings.

Tidal River, the main camp area at Wilson's Prom. Wilson's Prom is the second oldest national park in Australia and the southern most point of the main continent. It's one of my favourite places on the planet but after recent heavy raisin most of the walks were closed.

http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/explore/parks/wilsons-promontory-national-park

The main beach at Tidal River is Norman Beach on Norman Bay. I twas about 22°c this day with a bit of a breeze. This little boy was still enthusiastic enough to run up to us and say "Hey" but nothing else! It was really cute. :-)

This is a trail left by a small shelf fish...remarkably it is in the shape of Australia..without Tasmania. Stupid shell fish couldn't even draw Tassie.

We walked to the end of Norman Beach and checked out the rocks. Mt Oberon in the background.

Tidal River.

Tidal River.The oranger is a kind of algae.

Tidal River. The dark water is from the tannin from trees.

Crossing Tidal River, Mt Oberon in the background covered by clouds.

Hans amused by the name "Lilly Pilly Gully". Try saying THAT after a few shots of bourbon.

A burnt out tree on the Lilly Pilly Gully walk with Hans wondering where all the fauna of Australia was. We hadn't seen much wildlife at this point. although it does tend to come out at dusk. By this stage we saw a wallaby, a snake, plenty of cockatoos, rosellas and corollas.

Squeaky Beach and a local.

Hans at Squeaky Beach obviously deep in thought that this is the place I want my ashes scattered sometime in the very, very, very distant future.

Squeaky Beach Rocks.

Hans wondering if we rate going to do any more walking today...his ankle was complaining to management at this point.

A diversion to Sandy Point...we both loved this sign! Also saw an emu on the way out of The Prom.

The road ended right on the beach! Never seen that before. There was one other vehicle there apart from us.

Hans pretending that the steering wheel is on the same side as Europe :-)

Support for the local football team in the Fish Ck Hotel.

And at the end of the day after a meal of Barramundi (a tasty white fleshed fish from the Top End of Australia) Hans knocking back a few deciding if he should watch the world darts championships or the greyhound races from Warrnambool. Tough choice!