Great last few days with the McLean's in Stawell.  Took Henry up to the gold mine to see the shift change.  Managed to get there just as one of the big dump trucks came up from underground.  Utes also came up and the drivers all waved and some tooted their horns.  Happy to be above ground!  Mark's technician Roe tapped some Yabbies (kind of like crayfish, or mini lobsters) and shouted me a few.  Boiled them up and had them with white vinegar as well as mayo and Worcestershire sauce.  Not bad!  Thanks Roe!  All in all it was a good last night.  Had several beers as selected by Mark as well as some home brews from Mark and Roe.  Very tasty!

 

Weekend of October 13 and 14.  Picked up the motorcycle in Ballan and then had a wet muddy, but absolutely fantastic ride Bron's parents place outside of Ballarat.  Took the back way and did some hills and nice curves through the trees.  Visited a waterfall where Henry and I had our picture taken.  Bron's Mom and Dad were great.  Went for a great walk on some of Bron's Dad's land.  Very beautiful and interesting.  Headed off to Daylesford, VIC and had lunch.  Then toured around Daylesford before heading to the Chocolate Mill outside of Daylesford.  Had a yummy red chili hot chocolate.  A nice combination of sweet, hot and chocolate.  Had a few chocolates too!  Henry, Bron and I enjoying the afternoon.  Thanks for the picture Mark.  Then a 2 hour ride back to Stawell via the backroads.  It was an excellent day!

Out for a walk in the State Forest on the outskirts of Stawell.  Peaceful place, good to contemplate life, the universe and everything.  This little fellow was crossing the road, stubby tailed lizard I think.

Lovely outing in the Grampians area.  Visited an old quarry site, aboriginal painting site, and stopped to watch a group or emus.  

Enjoying my stay in Australia.  My motorcycle journey begins soon.  I think I will model it after Russell Coight's all aussie adventures.  Enjoy.  Check out russell coight all aussie adventures episodes on YouTube!

Out for walk in the Victoria State forest by Stawell with Mark and Henry.  Henry was enjoying his icy pop and doing a few "Monos", which are wheelies.  Great trail and company.

View of Grampians in the far background and a lovely canola field.  Near Horsham, Victoria.

Stopped at grocery store in Ararat, Victoria for some groceries.  Picked up a case of Bundaberg ginger beer.  In Canada you get a nice surprise in your case of beer (perhaps a hat) or in your cereal (a nice plastic toy).  In Australia you might find something else....  I was emptying the case of ginger beer into Mark's beer fridge and felt something "furry" as I was pulling a bottle out and noticed this "little" fellow.  Mark was amused by my girly reaction.  Still gives me the heebie-jeebies and it happened two days ago!

An invasive Canadian pest standing next to an issue for Aussie farmers and ranchers.  There is a bounty on foxes and often you see their carcasses strung up on fence lines in the country side.

On Monday I had the good fortune of tagging along with my Aussie barley colleagues as they evaluated potential venues for the 2013 barley technical symposium.  We visited the famous Melbourne Cricket Grounds (MCG).  What an unbelievable venue.  Unfortunately, Canadian and Idaho bogans would likely not be admittted as MCC members.  Too bad Craig.

Top: Downtown Melbourne with Yarra River in foreground
Middle: Shot of downtown Melbourne from the wharf area
Bottom: Melbourne train station (Flinders Street Railway Station at the corner of Flinders and Swanston Streets)

Lovely days on Sunday and Monday, September 30 and October 1, 2012, respectively.  Sunday had a walk around myself and got some shots of the train station and downtown Melbourne from a bridge over the Yarra River.  On Monday I had the good fortune of tagging along with my Aussie barley colleagues as they evaluated potential venues for the 2013 barley technical symposium.