Posted 10:36 PM by MelanieandSteve
We wanted to do internet today in OZ since we don't know what quantity or quality of I-cafe's exist in Asia - we leave tonight (actually tomorrow at zero-dark-red-eye a.m.). Mel, being Mel, is feeling a little bit stressed by the deadline and is packing like frenzy, but she's excited to go. Steve, being Steve, is calm and collected and enjoying some of the fun equipment purchases we've made for our treks. You all, being you all, are important enough for us both to take a little time out to let you know where we are.

HIGHLIGHTS SINCE LAST BLOG OF 1/30 (In Aussie Dates)

GOODBYE BONDI - HELLO BLUE: Bondi Beach was a great place to get ourselves together. After a final walk along the Bondi Coogee Coast together, off we drove to the Blue Mountains (named for their blue hugh in the mornings caused by Eucalyptus oils permeating the haze.) We camped one night and found ourselves in the lap of down-home-luxury when Jaclyn and Michael took us in (more on that.)

DIFFERENT COUNTRY, SAME FRIENDS -- JACLYN AND MICHAEL IN OBERON, JENOLYN CAVES, OBERON PLATEAU HIKE:
--JACLYN AND MICHAEL IN OBERON: We met Jaclyn in Spain last year and celebrated St. Patty's w/her day at a pub, complete with bright green Court Jester hats for everyone. No pinching. Here, we met with Jaclyn and her fiance Michael in their home country. They couldn't have been more welcoming - and generous. We met, we toured, we ate, and we hiked, and then we went to their cabinny sweet home. They treated us to a feast of a Chinese dinner, and in the morning, Michael called in late to work,and BarBQ us a splurge of an egg and sausage breakfast. We had a great time with them both - as follows.
--JENOLYN CAVES: Convenient that Jaclyn and Michael live near the famous Aussie caves, and even more convenient that they hadn't been there yet (at least not in 15 years). So all together, we took in the expansive Lucas cave complete with all the best mites and tites, shawls and collumns, as well as a complete inner-cave cathedral with a stalagmite for a pulpit.
--OBERON PLATEAU: The benefit of having friends in the know - Jaclyn and Michael had a favorite hiking place where we reached intensely steep cliff top plateaus that made us dizzy to look over the edge. The mountain expanse went as far as the eye could see, carpeted w/Gum and Eucalyptus. We bega to understand why early explorers believed this land was not penetrable. The Wallabies don't seem to think so - we saw possibly the most handsome wallaby yet.
--THE MAIN NOT-TO-MISS BLUE MT STOPS: Feeling like our hikes the day before had given us a good taste of the Blue Mts, we headed out of town, but first taking a few brief stops as the most talked about destinations:
----1) THE THREE SISTERS AT ECHO POINT: gorgeous view of 3 pinnacles in the cliffs. Aboriginal folk lore says these were three girls who were turned to stone by the medicine man trying to stop them from marrying against tribal rules. The same three sisters are also believed to be the three stars of Orion's belt).
----2) GAVOTT'S LEAP: one of the best viewpoints of the range - vast, huge, and adorned with the waving veil of Bridal Veil Falls.
----3) HYDRO MAJESTIC FOR LUNCH: On Jaclyn's recommendation, we headed to this pauche hotel with a cliffside view and brought ourselves a picnic to enjoy in their back yard.
----4) CAMPING: Of course.

JERILDERIE: Ned Kelly raises his steal covered head yet again. This town was a lot like Glenrowan, where we stopped earlier and learned what a falseley-accused-hero Ned was. Only this town sees Ned differently. Here, he murdered people, and he's a bank robber, kidnapper, and cold blooded killer. (He basically kidnapped the whole town). But they still don't miss the opportunity to celebrate his story, and this week was the Ned Kelly Festival. We learned a bit more about this Aussie Legend, and got back on our road to Melbourne.

MELBOURNE - :
--THE WORK SIDE: This time, not a destination for touring. We've spent our time getting ready for our trip to Asia. Lots of Travel-agenting - Travel-Insurancing - Travel-supplying... Tonight, we begin the Travel-ING.
--THE SOCIAL SIDE: We took time to visit with two friends we had in the area and that made this work week special:
----MICHAEL C: Michael's and Mel's family are close church friends. He happened to be visiting Melbourne at the same time as us. Mel probably hadn't seen Michael in 10 years. Long enough that when we met on the street corner, we didn't recognize each other. Of course, Michael was 9 the last time she saw him. We had a great lunch with great conversation, and more things to talk about than the lunch hour allowed.
----ERIC H.: We met Eric in Berlin last year when travelling through Europe - a friend of Darlene and Stefan. Since then, Eric's work transferred him conveniently along the paths of our travels into Melbourne and we wouldn't miss the opportunity to see him again. We met with him and several of his friends at the Soft Belly Pub and enjoyed an evening of great conversation.

STEVE'S ANTI-TERRORIST TACTICS?: Could it be anti-terrorist tactics that explain why Steve looks different almost every time you see him? Steve got a curly perm and looks awesome. Mel got a cut, and looks a lot like, well, the same.

MEL'S HIGHLIGHT (beginning of light) OF TODAY: simultaneous sunrise over sydney skyline and full-moon set on the opposite side of the world on this morning's jog. Great last morning in Aussie.