I made it to Melbourne "Finally" after HOURS of flying!! Did a walking tour and a Yarra River Cruise. Now it is time to go get the bike and get "back on the road again".We are not in Kansas any more Toto! Actually I wasn’t sure where we were when we landed. I figured it must be another PLANET after 15 HOURS of flying. :=) I slept 5 hours, watched 3 movies and still had time to kill . It DID turn out to be Melbourne though which is a good thing since that was where I was headed. I planned a couple days here to recover from the jet lag and it was definitely needed. I did manage a walking tour and a river cruise though. I told Julia that I went to the Queen Victoria Market.

It is said to be the biggest open air market in the Southern Hemisphere. You can get ANYTHING! She thought it was great that I may be picking up her “shopping gene”. Didn’t have the heart to tell her I just stumbled on it while walking around and got out fast since it was VERY crowded. :=)
I also found an observation deck that was 88 stories high. The elevator only took 38 seconds to get up there. Very fast. It made a noise like a jet taking off as it rose. The view of Melbourne was excellent.

Later I took a Yarra River cruise that also had some great sites.

I am already picking up on the new language. I have used new words several times already. “No worries”, “Good on ya Mate”, “Yeahr”, and the two new ones I use most often, “Victoria Bitter Please” and “Carleton Draught Please”. :=)

I do have a HUGE problem though. I am going to DIE here I am sure. I continually step off curbs crossing streets LOOKING THE WRONG WAY!!! :=) Screeching brakes and blaring horns are a heart stopping reminder. Maybe I’ll get used to it BEFORE I die. Pray for me!!

Now it is off to Castlemaine to pick up the bike and start the “real” ride.
Many more pictures starting here if you like.
http://rickmcd.smugmug.com/gallery/4659871_pddif/1/364725295_iBnee
It was a very cloudy day so they didn’t come out too well. Sorry.
More Later. Rick