Day 7 - Geelong to Melbourne
We
did Geelong to Melbourne the wrong way. That is to say, rather than
using the conveniently provided freeway, we went the other way round Port
Philip Bay via the ferry and the Mornington Peninsula.
Mornington
Peninsula is another wine-growing area. But this time, we were very
restrained and took the opportuniny to see some if its other sights before
the serious business of sampling the local product. Patrick was made
to drive up the most winding road of the journey so far so that we could
take in its vertiginous viewpoints. And he hardly complained at all.
We
then found a botanic centre and sculpture park, consisting mostly of a
series of mazes. We set about completely failing to solve a series
of practical maze-based puzzles aimed principally at children. And
got lost. Repeatedly.
The
cafe there wasn't doing booze and the service was so slow that even the
normal tactic of getting up and walking out didn't seem to encourage them
to present us with a bill. But Patrick's Fat Bastard Special Steak
Sandwich was suitably impressive.
And
so to the vineyards. The first place we went to, Ryland River, was
so laid-back as to be virtually horizontal. They fed us their Port
and Muscat, then told us we didn't want to buy any of it because we could
get much better stuff in Rutherglen. So we still bought two bottles
of Chardonnay, and then headed off to the Dromana Valley winery, for more
of the stuff. This is the life...
On
arrival in Melbourne, the normal tourist thing of going up the the obsevation
tower at the top of its skyscrapers was done, enabling Mark once again
to take far more photos than the bandwidth would handle. A page of
a few of the views from the tower will follow once we get round to putting
it together.
Then
to the riverside, which has a fascinating ornamental fountain with a pattern
of jets which spray in a recurring sequence. Lots of kids were frolicking
in the fountain and getting very wet indeed.
After
some contemplation, Rupert declared that because he could predict the sequence
of jets, he could walk right across the fountain without getting wet at
all. So off he set. And about half an hour later, he had dried
off sufficiently for us to head off and find a restaurant.
11.00 p.m. Argor fantashtick Greek reshtaurant loadsa booze
luv thish city it's my besh mate.....
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