I'm back!
Since being home from my trip abroad earlier this year, I've discovered that I really am missing my "blogging time" and also, I'm lacking a good excuse to have my camera draped around my neck without looking like a complete tourist in my own backyard (quite literally at times!); so I've decided to continue on the literary journey I began in Europe and share it with anyone who may be interested. The intent is to not only get my thoughts on paper (as it were) but to also get out of the house every weekend, come rain or shine, and see some of the beautiful country I'm so lucky to live in. With my trusty Nikon in hand, I plan to explore new locales and revisit old favourites ... all with the view to document my adventures. So here goes! ...
A couple of Saturday's ago now, the first after the end of financial year, was spent exploring the Organ Pipes National Park and Mt Macedon.
The Organ Pipes National Park isn't very far out of Melbourne, roughly 30 minutes north of the CBD (directly opposite Calder Park for any racing fans out there). The Organ Pipes themselves are basalt and were formed by lava about one million years ago ... that just blows my mind! I think we forget that we live on such incredibly old land sometimes. I know I do ...
It's a fascinating and beautiful part of the world and well worth the minor detour off the Calder Freeway to get there. There's another rock formation, called the Rose, which is simply stunning. And a little further down the track, the Tesselated pavement...
Be warned tho - don't dismiss the steep descent on the walk down ... the trip back up that hill is an effort! I'm really not that fit I've sadly discovered ... maybe I need to have a little more "Wii" time afterall ...
Next stop was going to be Hanging Rock in the Woodend/Macedon area, but it was already early afternoon by the time I got there so decided to save my $10 entry fee (per car) for another day when I was a little less late to rise & I went discovering the summit of Mt Macedon instead. The area around here is how I always think people living overseas would think of Australia - if it's not the red, hot desert or the pristine beaches with crystal clear waters, then it's the farming land with its rolling hill-sides and green, green grass with gum trees rustling in the breeze (or gale-force winds as the case was today) ... I must say, I do quite like watching cows ... odd, I know, but they're strangely serene.
So, after a little of soaking up the country-side, and before I got swept away by the wind; I went on the relatively short drive to the top of Mt Macedon ... and discovered that the higher you went, the windier it got!! (I know, der! Hey, I'm my mother's daughter some times, what can I say?!) And bloody cold. The sun may have been beaming down, but it sure wasn't generating any discernable heat! A cup of chai at the very quaint coffee shop/bistro/french-themed gift shop later, I strolled to the WWI monument not far from the summit. This Memorial Cross is only second in importance to the Shrine of Rememberance in the City and was built by Bill Cameron, a regular "joe", back in the 1930's in rememberance of not only the mates he lost in battle, but also to the hundreds of other men & women who lost their lives protecting our country. Did I mention how windy & cold it was up there?!?! And don't bother trying to use your mobile ... there's no reception at all. It's been a great day exploring ...
