Hi again everyone.
Tuesday morning saw us back on the Metro heading towards Melbourne Central again. This time our destinations were the M.C.G. Stadium, Fitzroy Gardens and Cooks Cottage, and finally the Old Melbourne Goal. The guided tour of the MCG took about 1 ½ hrs and that was rushed. Being allowed to step onto the hallowed turf was quite an experience, but listening to all the facts and figures about capacity crowds, number of sixes hit, who hit them, who the bowler was, and on what day of what test, soon became a bit much for all of us. However we have done it and have the photos to prove it. The tour included going through the players changing rooms, preparation rooms and everything else they did before a game, as well as sitting in the seats they sit in while waiting their turn to bat. Cameron’s main comments were “Jack and Alex will be really jealous that I’ve done this”.
A short walk from the MCG had us in Fitzroy Gardens where the house that Captain Cook lived in before he started exploring the world, has been erected, after being dismantled brick by brick and shipped from England to Melbourne. The house and its gardens have been recreated as they were in Cook’s day and that was very interesting, except to Cameron.
From there it was on to the old Melbourne Gaol where Ned Kelly was kept and where he was eventually hanged. This was a rather eerie experience to go into his old cell and see the gallows as they were in his day. A very depressing place and one we were all glad to be out of. We also went into the court room where he was tried, and took part in a mock reconstruction of his trial.
Wednesday we drove into Ringwood to pick up our caravan insurance policy which we had had to have posted to Howards work as they needed a Victorian address. After that we stopped at a suburban shopping centre and bought some airbeds for use in our tent.
Thursday was a day of rest, spent lazing around our camp grounds. Today, Friday the 21st, (HAPPY BIRTHDAY KERRI, Sorry I can’t text you, no coverage, hope you had an awesome day, love you heaps) we went up to the HEALESVILLE Wildlife Sanctuary which is about 30 km north of GEMBROOK. About 100 acres of land set aside as, you guessed it, a Wildlife Sanctuary. Just about every Australian animal and bird is kept here. The highlights were the Platypus enclosure and a hands-on and flying display of some of Aussies largest flying birds, including several Cockatoos, Owls, and of course the wedge tailed eagle. The only downside was the lack of beer, and the heat, 37 degrees.
The above photo was taken by Cameron.
Saturday and Sunday we intend blobbing out here at Gembrook, and then on Monday we will reluctantly leave this beautiful spot hidden in the Dandenongs, and head north towards WANGARATTA and Ned Kelly country. Planning our trip has become a bit complicated because so much of Victoria is currently under water, but after WHANGARATTA we hope to head west towards the goldfields areas of BENDIGO and BALLARAT, but again that will depend on the flood levels in those areas. Time for another beer.
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