Mountain biking on Easter Monday

Up and out this morning to try and catch a lift to Mount Buller. Waited for about an hour listening to a Chris Molyes podcast. I honestly didn't think I would get there, then a guy picked me up and arrived at the resort about 10am. Went into the shop to hire a bike for the day but they had lent them all out. He said to come back an hour later to see if I could have one if someone hadn't picked the rental ones up. So I went for a walk around then back to the shop where I hired a Kona Stinky freeride bike. Got about 10 runs in in the day and was totally zzzzzed afterwards and was great going up the ski lift. I managed to fall off acouple of times but i'll put that down to needing a grippyer front tyre.

The temperature was fantastic all day with great views as well of the great dividing range. Plus with it been the last day of the season there wasn't many people around and the lifts were dear quiet which was great. Got a lifk back from a father and son and flopped into bed when I got back after an amazing day

Mansfield

Over Easter I went to the mountains 2 hours north of Melbourne called the alpine country. Here there are loads of vine yards and it is the area that was affected by the forest fires in February. Driving through was amazing to see the size of the devastation.

Arrived at the hostel and got my own room which was great, went to the tourist information to find out about some buses to the Mt Buller mountain resort where there is mountian biking but there wasn't any available during the summer season and it was 50km away. This is the area where people in Australia would come skiing in the winter so there were plenty of hire shops which was interesting because it was 25 degrees here.

On Easter Sunday I hitchhiked to the Mansfield zoo to meet up with Dave and Virginia from uni, spent the whole day there and got a lift back with them at the end. When I was there they showed me around all the animals. Then there was feeding time where Virginia talked to the crowd about all the animals whilst me and Dave chatted and tried to make Virginia laugh. There was lions to feed as well as dingos and kangaroos that you could hand feed because they weren't in any cages.

Friday 13th

Way back in the middle of march I went to the Melbourne zoo to have a look around. Took me a while to get there as i got on the wrong train but after 2 hours I was in! It was quiet with it been in the week and out of holiday times but there were a few tourists and families there. The zoo was quite small as I'd imagined it to be bigger but animals can only take up so much space and my previous trips to zoos would have been when I was much younger and everything would have seemed bigger then.

I got my map and looked for the nearest big animal with teeth. That's the gorilla then! Had a good trek around and saw all of the native Australian animals including the duck billed platypus.

The weather was nice and hot today and the first time in about a month that i needed to put suncream on.

Nunawading Swiiming Club

A photo of me at the swimming pool i'm working at with ye olde bikeeeeeeee that I get to work on in the background

Swimming

After a week of voluntary work at the largest swimming club in the southern hemisphere I've got a job with them, YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEY! I help teach 2000 school kids a week learn how to swim during school hours and after school. The after school teachers are all around my age and most of them are at university so making lots of new friends.
I ride there everyday on a old bike that the bolts on the front wheel can't be tightened and are a bit loose so its interesting. Its only 20 minutes on the bike so nice and quick.

Australia vs New Zealand in one day international

In the afternoon and evening of Friday 6th February Australia played New Zealand in the one day international at the MCG. Australia lost by 6 wickets in the stadium that holds 90,000 people. There were 30,000 people in there minus the 3 streakers who got onto the pitch for some comedy banter!!!

Walking around Albert park

On Friday 6th February I walked around Albert park where the national aquatic swimming centre is. This great swimming pool was the stage for the 2006 commonwealth games, with an outdoor pool and a large grandstand.
This is the pit stops for the Melbourne grand prix, the course goes around Albert park surrounding the lake and many aussie footy and cricket pitches with a lake in the middle