So, What else have I been up to since early August? I went on an overnight camping trip to Wilsons Promontory from August 2-4. Wilsons Prom is about 200 kilometers southeast of Melbourne and is the furthest southern point on the Australian mainland. Tasmania has the most southerly point in Australia's states, a point a bit over 43 degrees south latitude, or the American equivalent latitude of Manchester, New Hampshire. Now, Wilsons Prom protrudes just beyond 39 degrees south latitude, an American equivalent latitude of, say, Cape May, New Jersey. Wilsons Prom, however, resembles Cape May not at all and Acadia National Park in Maine quite a lot. Actually, I'll be honest - it is even more beautiful than Acadia. Oh, and at the Prom, I've finally gotten up close and personal with some Australian wildlife for the first time since I've moved here, which explains the opening graphic for today's blog entry. We'll get to the actual wildlife in a moment.

First, however, I'd like to show you some of the spectacular scenery.



Ooooh!



Aaaaah!



Oooh la la!

Remarkably enough, I had the entire park practically all to myself. Never mind that the temperature outside was over 50 degrees Fahrenheit and the sun was brilliant and warm.

This is still the dead of winter, like early February in the Northern Hemisphere, and Australians avoid the Prom this time of year. They say it's too windy and too changeable, too showery and too chilly. In the summer, you have to book campsites in advance on the weekends, and the beaches are crowded with people. I was happy to have the opportunity to experience this magical place in relative solitude.

Moving right along to the wildlife, I was approached by a portly Wombat on the first night and I stumbled upon what appeared to be a baby Wombat on my last day. Isn't it just the cutest?
Also on the last day, at a grassy clearing near the Visitors Center, I spotted a couple of Kangaroos grazing about. They like to graze in grassy areas, and I've noticed that the Australian parks tend to supply these areas close to some parking lots and picnic spots as more or less designated Kangaroo viewing areas, whether intentionally or not. No question, it's great for the tourist shutterbugs!

All in all, Wilsons Prom is a great place, and one I'll want to come back to again and again, in all seasons.

I'll certainly be keen on planning another trip into the Aussie bush soon.

P.S. Today's blog looks a little dodgy in Firefox and better in Windows Explorer today. Don't know why that is, but it happens. That Blogger doesn't format very well when you use a lot of pictures is a simple answer.

Okay, I took 18 days off from the blog. So sue me. What did you miss? Well, for one thing, there was snow in the Dandenongs back on August 10. The Dandenongs are a hilly range less than an hour's drive east from Melbourne. They rise to a height of about 2,000 feet at the ridgeline, which ain't too shabby, sort of like a taller version of Harriman State Park in relation to New York City. Snow in the Dandenongs happen about once or twice a year. It might happen again this week, according to the forecasts. Or, it might not.
Melbournians flock to the Dandenongs after a snow and, well, take a lot of pictures. It's a lot closer than driving to the Victorian Alps and the snow on the trees looks just as nice. It also gives people a reason to get a nice Devonshire tea at one of the many lovely teahouses and restaurants in the Dandenongs, like Miss Marples, pictured here. Miss Marples, as I recall, has Christmas decorations up at this time of the year, even though Christmas is not for another few months. Why? I guess it's just that the snow and chill is just so much more "Christmassy" than the summer heat, isn't it? Ah, the British roots of Australia still show, don't they?

Been a bit busy. I'll update the blog in a couple of days. I am going for a walkabout. More on that later. In the meantime, this is a good opportunity for you to drop me an email or a comment and let me know you're reading my blog.

I would like to announce the first subscriber to this blog. She is a twenty-something, married gal from the Lower East Side named Mel.

Hi Mel!

Cool that my first subscriber would have the same name as my new city's name for short as well as Tullamarine Airport (MEL).

In all seriousness, however, I would like to take a moment to remember that had he not died in February, my father would have celebrated his 82nd birthday today. I hope wherever he is, he is happy.