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May 2012

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May. 2nd, 2012

Vargo

Jeanie Johnston


Jeanie Johnston
Dublin, Ireland

One of Ireland’s most famous ships is the Jeanie Johnston which is moored off the Custom House Quay in Dublin along the River Liffey. It is a replica of the three masted barque that was originally built in 1847 by Scotsman John Munn in Quebec, Canada. The original ship was bought by the Tralee merchants John Donovan and Sons from Kerry County as a cargo vessel that traded between Tralee and North America for many years bringing emigrants from Ireland to North America and timber back to Europe. Her first maiden emigrant voyage went from Blennerville in Kerry to Quebec in 1848 with 193 emigrants on board due to the Potato Famine that ravaged Ireland. From 1848 until 1855 she made 16 voyages to Quebec, Baltimore, and New York. On average the trip was accomplished in 47 days and her largest number of passengers were 254. No crews or passengers were ever lost on board thanks to the captain James Attridge who would not overload the ship and made sure doctor Richard Blennerhassett was on board for every journey. In 1855 the ship was sold to William Johnson of North Shields in England, but during a 1858 trip to Quebec from Hull carrying timber became waterlogged and slowly sank – crew was rescued by the Dutch ship Sophie Elizabeth. This replica ship, is reduced in size by 30%, and is only licensed to carry 40 people. The replica was made from indepth research of the original, and took from 1993-2002 to build. It was constructed by a international team of young people who linked Ireland North and South, the U.S., Canada, and other countries costing approximately 16 million Euro (4 times the original estimate of 3.81 million Euro) which was paid for by the Irish government, Kerry County Council, Tralee Town Council, the European Union, the American Ireland Fund, Bord Failte, Shannon Development, Kerry Group, the Training and Employment Authority Foras Áiseanna Saothair and the Irish Department of the Marine, most of which later agreed to write off their losses. It was built with larch planks on oak frames and was altered to apply with current international maritime regulations by adding some modern concessions including two Caterpillar main engines, two Caterpillar generators, and an emergency generator that is located above the waterline in the forward deckhouse fully compliant to the highest standards of modern ocean-going passenger ships, with steel water-tight bulkheads, down-flooding valves, and fire-fighting equipment. The replica shiped sailed in 2003 from Tralee to Canada and to the U.S. She raced in the 2005 tall ships race and finished 60th out of 65 from Waterford to Cherbourg. The replica is owned by the Dublin Docklands Development Authority who bought it in 2005 for 2.7 million Euro. Today it is not in seagoing condition. Today she is primarily used as an Onboard Museum and evening venue.




Jeannie Johnson Tall Sailing Ship & Museum


Jeannie Johnson Tall Sailing Ship & Museum



 


 



 




 



Jeannie Johnson Tall Sailing Ship & Museum


Jeannie Johnson Tall Sailing Ship & Museum


Jeannie Johnson Tall Sailing Ship & Museum


Jeannie Johnson Tall Sailing Ship & Museum


Jeannie Johnson Tall Sailing Ship & Museum


Jeannie Johnson Tall Sailing Ship & Museum


Jeannie Johnson Tall Sailing Ship & Museum


Jeannie Johnson Tall Sailing Ship & Museum


Jeannie Johnson Tall Sailing Ship & Museum


Jeannie Johnson Tall Sailing Ship & Museum


Jeannie Johnson Tall Sailing Ship & Museum


Jeannie Johnson Tall Sailing Ship & Museum


Jeannie Johnson Tall Sailing Ship & Museum


Jeannie Johnson Tall Sailing Ship & Museum


Jeannie Johnson Tall Sailing Ship & Museum


Jeannie Johnson Tall Sailing Ship & Museum


Jeannie Johnson Tall Sailing Ship & Museum


Jeannie Johnson Tall Sailing Ship & Museum


Jeannie Johnson Tall Sailing Ship & Museum


Jeannie Johnson Tall Sailing Ship & Museum


Jeannie Johnson Tall Sailing Ship & Museum


Jeannie Johnson Tall Sailing Ship & Museum


Jeannie Johnson Tall Sailing Ship & Museum


Jeannie Johnson Tall Sailing Ship & Museum


Jeannie Johnson Tall Sailing Ship & Museum


Jeannie Johnson Tall Sailing Ship & Museum


Jeannie Johnson Tall Sailing Ship & Museum


Jeannie Johnson Tall Sailing Ship & Museum


Jeannie Johnson Tall Sailing Ship & Museum


Jeannie Johnson Tall Sailing Ship & Museum


Jeannie Johnson Tall Sailing Ship & Museum


Jeannie Johnson Tall Sailing Ship & Museum


Jeannie Johnson Tall Sailing Ship & Museum


Jeannie Johnson Tall Sailing Ship & Museum


Jeannie Johnson Tall Sailing Ship & Museum


Jeannie Johnson Tall Sailing Ship & Museum


Jeannie Johnson Tall Sailing Ship & Museum


Jeannie Johnson Tall Sailing Ship & Museum


Jeannie Johnson Tall Sailing Ship & Museum


Jeannie Johnson Tall Sailing Ship & Museum


Jeannie Johnson Tall Sailing Ship & Museum


Jeannie Johnson Tall Sailing Ship & Museum


Jeannie Johnson Tall Sailing Ship & Museum


Jeannie Johnson Tall Sailing Ship & Museum


Jeannie Johnson Tall Sailing Ship & Museum


Jeannie Johnson Tall Sailing Ship & Museum


Jeannie Johnson Tall Sailing Ship & Museum


Jeannie Johnson Tall Sailing Ship & Museum


Photos are copyrighted and cannot be reproduced without permission of authors Tom Baurley or Leaf McGowan. Photos can be purchased via Technogypsie.com at Technogypsie Photography Services for nominal use fees. Restaurants, Businesses, Bands, Performances, Venues, and Reviews can request a re-review if they do not like the current review or would like to have a another review done. If you are a business, performer, musician, band, venue, or entity that would like to be reviewed, you can also request one (however, travel costs, cost of service (i.e. meal or event ticket) and lodging may be required if area is out of reviewer’s base location at time of request).


These reviews are done by the writer at no payment unless it is a requested review and the costs for travel, service, and lodging was covered – in which case, expenditure reimbursement will not affect review rating or content. If you enjoy this review and want to see more, why not buy our reviewer a drink to motivate them to write more? or help cover the costs they went through to do this review?













Current Mood: (calm) calm
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Originally published at Naturally Science & Lore

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Mar. 28th, 2012

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Sir William Colin MacKenzie (1877-1938)



Sir William Colin MacKenzie ~ 1877-1938: the surgeon, anatomist, philanthropist, orthopaedist



    From the Australian National Museum display: ” Colin MacKenzie was a Melbourne surgeon who studied marsupial anatomy in order to understand human anatomy. Like many other scientists, he believed Australian animals would soon become extinct. MacKenzie wanted to start a native animal sanctuary in Canberra to help with his research. It never happened, but he later founded the Healesville Sanctuary …”


“Colin Mackenzie” or “Bricky” was nicknamed as such for his red hair was a man of great repute in Australia especially as a benefactor, museum administrator, anatomist, and director. He was born on March 9, 1877 in Kilmore, Victoria, Australia. He was the youngest of six as son to his Scottish parents John MacKenzie a draper, and his wife Anne nee McKay. He educated at Kilmore State School and on to Scotch College in Melbourne where he graduated with honors in Greek on December 1893. He graduated from Medical school from the University of Melbourne in 1898. He was first-class honors in surgery, women’s diseases, and obstetrics. He studied in Europe in 1903. In 1908 he tackled the extensive epidemic in Australia of people suffering in need of orthopaedic skills. During World War I he spent three years in England at the Royal College of Surgeons assisting Sir Arthur Keith in cataloging specimens of war wounds for the army and helped bring out the new edition of Treve’s Surgical Applied Anatomy. At the same time he continued his studies of comparative anatomy of Australian fauna. MacKenzie dissected dozens of Australian animals to help him understand human anatomy. For example, he thought dissecting and examining the shoulders of a Koala might help him improve techniques for human shoulders in surgery. He became council member of the Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland. By 1918, he returned to Australia and converted his house at 612 St. Kilda Road into a laboratory and museum which he called the Australian Institute of Anatomical Research devoted most of his time researching Australian animals from 1919 until his death in 1938. By 1920 He had 80 acres of bushland at Badger Creek as a field station for his research. The facility was fenced, had a 6-roomed house for a curator, a cottage for visiting scientists, workshops, animal pens, and a staff of assistants. This eventually became the Sir Colin MacKenzie Sanctuary in 1934. His collection of specimens became world famous, and was gifted to the Australian goverment in 1924. He married his assistant Winifred Iris Evelyn in 1928. He was knighted in 1929 and spent a good portion of the remainder of his life in Canberra. There he served as a member of the Medical Board and by 1933 became the second president of the Canberra-based Royal Society of Australia. His health began to decay and he retired in 1937 upon returning to Melbourne with his wife. He died on June 29, 1938 of a cerebral hemorrage at his home in Kew and was cremated.








Photos are copyrighted and cannot be reproduced without permission of authors Tom Baurley or Leaf McGowan. Photos can be purchased via Technogypsie.com at Technogypsie Photography Services for nominal use fees. Articles and Research papers are done at the Author’s expense. If you donate below, you’ll help contribute to the costs of the research that provided this article. Any Reviews can request a re-review if they do not like the current review or would like to have a another review done. If you are a business, performer, musician, band, venue, or entity that would like to be reviewed, you can also request one (however, travel costs, cost of service (i.e. meal or event ticket) and lodging may be required if area is out of reviewer’s base location at time of request).


These reviews are done by the writer at no payment unless it is a requested review and the costs for travel, service, and lodging was covered – in which case, expenditure reimbursement will not affect review rating or content. If you enjoy this review and want to see more, why not buy our reviewer a drink to motivate them to write more? or help cover the costs they went through to do this review?













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Originally published at Naturally Science & Lore

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Mar. 25th, 2012

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The Venus Project: Sustainable Cities


A world of modern design, no hunger, no unemployment, no financial collapse, as visioned by Jacque Fresco in his “The Venus Project”. Very interesting ideas, concepts, and applications.





Current Mood: working
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Originally published at Naturally Science & Lore

Jan. 7th, 2012

Vargo

Yorktown Colonial National Historical Park

Yorktown Colonial National Historical Park * http://www.nps.gov/colo * PO BOX 210, Yorktown, Virginia 23690 *




Yorktown Battlefield

Another National Park of the Historic Triangle lies a small museum and visitor center where the staff will orientate you on the history of the Yorktown Colonial National Battlefield with dioramas showing scenes from life around the battle as well as welcoming you aboard a mock ship from the era. The Visitor center is surrounded by British defensive earthenworks preserved from the battles. There is a 16 minute film on the history of the battle presented within on the “Siege of Yorktown”. General George Washington’s military tents can be viewed as well as artifacts from the siege. After the visitor center, drive the self-guided driving tour around the battlefields for seven miles viewing American and French siege lines, visit the Moore House, and the site of the surrender negotiations ending the Siege, where the British army grounded their weapons in an elaborate ceremony. I’m a history buff, but I’m not much on historic battlefield sites and exhibits, so I can’t say it was one of the highlights of my trip but for the history buff of the era I’m guessing its worth a gander. The center and park was put together very nicely though the driving tour was confusing. Rating 2.5 stars out of 5. Visited 5/22/2008.










In the Spring of 1781 the American War of Independence entered its seventh year. Having practically abandoned their efforts to reconquer the northern states, the British still had hopes of subjugating the South. By trying to do so, they unwittingly set in motion a train of events that would give independence to their colonies and change the history of the world.









Powhatan’s Village – Across the York river is the site of Werewocomoco, an Indian village, that was Powhatan’s ‘chiefest habitation’ in the early period of the Jamestown settlement. Captain John Smith was a prisoner there late in 1607.


Jones Mill Pond


This old mill town and mill dam (now covered by the Colonial parkway) show on Civil War maps, and may have existed in Colonial times.





A Union Advance


On May 5, 1862, Lt. George A Custer (who is 1876 made hist “Last Stand” on the Little Bighorn River in Montana) led a detachment along the roadway here over “Cub Dam Creek” to occupy the Confederate works on the bluff immediately beyond. This manuever in the Battle of Williamsburg came as the Union Army advanced toward Richmond in the Peninsular Campaign.







British Inner Defense Line: After Washington and Rochambeau’s allied armies arrived, Cornwallis withdrew his trioops from ost of his outer defense to consolidate his position behind these earthworks.



Surrender Field
On October 19, 1781, Cornwallis’s army marched onto this field and laid down its arms. This ended the last major battle of the Revolutionary War and virtually assured American Independence.


Second Allied Siege Line
On October 11, Allied troops began this second line within point blank artillery range of the British. The line could not be completed, however, because two small, detached British earthen forts, Redoubts 9 and 10, blocked the way to the river.</div>
</div>









Directory of the Deceased
Yorktown National Cemtery</div>








Yorktown National Cemetery * Yorktown National Historical Site * Yorktown, Virginia. I Passed the Union Soldier’s Burial Ground … laid out in avenues and enclosed with a Virginia rail fence .. each grave having a headboard neatly marked telling the hero’s name, his company, and regiment … In this lonely resting place, on the plains of Yorktown, sleeps many a noble boy, far from his home and kindred, with no kind friend to drop a tear, or sing a funeral requiem. ~ Bartholemew S. DeForest, 1862.

In the spring of 1862, war again scarred Yorktown’s landscape, as a Union army prepared to besiege Confederate forces holding the town. On the night of May 3-4, 1862 – in the face of Union siege artillery, Confederate forces withdrew from the area. Yorktown then became a Union garrison for most of the Civil War, and provided hospital service to wounded and sick soldiers. By war’s end, the remains of approximately 600 Union soldiers had been buried in the area between the 1781 Allied Siege Lines. In 1866, the cemetery was designated a national cemetery, and Union dead from over 50 field burial sites within 50 miles of Yorktown were re-interred here. Of the 2,183 burials, two-thirds of the remains are unknown. Only 747 are identified.




</div>







</div>



Photos are copyrighted and cannot be reproduced without permission of authors Tom Baurley or Leaf McGowan. Photos can be purchased via Technogypsie.com at Technogypsie Photography Services for nominal use fees. Restaurants, Businesses, Bands, Performances, Venues, and Reviews can request a re-review if they do not like the current review or would like to have a another review done. If you are a business, performer, musician, band, venue, or entity that would like to be reviewed, you can also request one (however, travel costs, cost of service (i.e. meal or event ticket) and lodging may be required if area is out of reviewer’s base location at time of request).


These reviews are done by the writer at no payment unless it is a requested review and the costs for travel, service, and lodging was covered – in which case, expenditure reimbursement will not affect review rating or content. If you enjoy this review and want to see more, why not buy our reviewer a drink to motivate them to write more? or help cover the costs they went through to do this review?













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Nov. 25th, 2011

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Wallaby: Macropus/Thylogale/Dorcopsis sp.


Wallaby

Taxonomy: Animalia; Chordata; Mammalia; Marsupialia; Diprotodontia; Macropodidae; Macropus; Macropus, Thylogale, Dorcopsis, Dorcopsulus, and Osphranter

Common Names: wallabies, wallaby, the forest kangaroo.

Localities: Native to Australia mainly in rugged timber and forested areas. Some relatives in New Guinea.

Description:

The Wallaby is strongly related to the Kangaroo as it represents about 30 species of Macropods from Macropodidae family. Informally it is a common term to describe any macropod that is smaller than a kangaroo or not given another name and can represent one upwards in size to six feet head to tail. Wallabies are small forest dwelling macropods known as “pademelons” and “dorcopsises” and referred to as “wallaby” as named by the Eora tribe near Sydney. They have long tales for balance and strong legs for jumping great distances. They are often grouped by habitat: shrub wallabies, brush wallabies, and rock wallabies. They often have more colorful coats than the Kangaroo. They are named after their size and their “hare”-like behavior. They are marsupials and pouched mammals. Just like with kangaroos, the young wallabies are called “joeys” and adult males as “bucks”, “boomers”, and “jacks”; while females are called “doe”, “flyer”, or “jill”. Groups of wallabies are called “courts”, “mobs”, or “troups”. They are herbivores that dine on grasses, leaves, foliage, and vegetables. They fall under much of the habitat, feeding, and predatory threat concerns as with the Kangaroo. They are attacked by man, wild dogs, feral cats, and foxes; like the kangaroo fend with its powerful hind legs. They are not their own distinct biological group but they do call into several categories. Most of the typical wallabies are from the Macropus genus where they are more closely related to kangaroos and wallaroos, except by size. Rock Wallabies however (from the genus Petrogale) are similar to the goats found in the northern hemisphere and well equipt for rugged terrain with modified feet for gripping rocks. The Lagostophus genus of the Sthenurinae family is similar to giant rabbits and have names such as the Banded hare-wallaby.


Uses:
Hide, leather, meat, food, and medicine.


Culinary:
See our culinary and article about Kangaroo Meat here: http://www.technogypsie.com/reviews/?p=2218.


Medicinal:
The tender meat is very high in protein and low in fat (less than 2%), has a very high concentration of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) which is well known to be anti-carcinogenic and anti-diabetes, reduces obesity, and atherosclerosis.


Folklore and Magical Uses:
Traditionally it was used by the Aboriginees for meat, bone, and tendons. The scrotum was sometimes stuffed as a ball for the football game of “marngrook”.


Written and researched by Thomas Baurley, Leaf McGowan, Technogypsie Research Services. November 25, 2011.





 





 




 



 





 





 


 


 



 




 




Bibliography/Recommended Readings:




Photos are copyrighted and cannot be reproduced without permission of authors Tom Baurley or Leaf McGowan. Photos can be purchased via Technogypsie.com at Technogypsie Photography Services for nominal use fees. Articles and Research papers are done at the Author’s expense. If you donate below, you’ll help contribute to the costs of the research that provided this article.


These articles are done by the writer at no payment. If you enjoy this article and want to see more, why not buy our writer a drink or meal to motivate them to write more? or help cover the costs they went through to do this research?













Current Mood: (cheerful) cheerful




Originally published at Naturally Science & Lore

Nov. 1st, 2011

Vargo

Mesa Arch @ Canyonlands National Park





Mesa Arch



Mesa Arch



Mesa Arch Trail
Round trip hike: 30 minutes; 1/2 mile loop (0.8 km)
This short relatively easy trail leads to Mesa Arch, one of the most scenic and accessible stone arches in the Island of the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park.
Mesa Arch is perched high on the canyon rim atop a 500-foot vertical drop. The arch frames spectacular views of the LaSal mountains to the northeast, and Buck Canyon 1,200 feet below. Washer Woman Arch may also be seen from the overlook.



Mesa Arch





Mesa Arch




Mesa Arch



Mesa Arch




Mesa Arch



Mesa Arch




Mesa Arch



Mesa Arch




Juniper stump



Juniper branches and Mesa Arch area


Photos are copyrighted and cannot be reproduced without permission of authors Tom Baurley or Leaf McGowan. Photos can be purchased via Technogypsie.com at Technogypsie Photography Services for nominal use fees. Restaurants, Businesses, Bands, Performances, Venues, and Reviews can request a re-review if they do not like the current review or would like to have a another review done. If you are a business, performer, musician, band, venue, or entity that would like to be reviewed, you can also request one (however, travel costs, cost of service (i.e. meal or event ticket) and lodging may be required if area is out of reviewer’s base location at time of request).


These reviews are done by the writer at no payment unless it is a requested review and the costs for travel, service, and lodging was covered – in which case, expenditure reimbursement will not affect review rating or content. If you enjoy this review and want to see more, why not buy our reviewer a drink to motivate them to write more? or help cover the costs they went through to do this review?















Originally published at Naturally Science & Lore

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Monitor & Merrimac Buttes @ Canyonlands





Monitor and Merrimac Buttes


Monitor and Merrimac Buttes * Canyonlands National Park
Very prominent landforms within Canyonlands National Park that tower over 600 feet above the Navajo sandstone base. These buttes were named after the civil war ironclad battleships of the same name that they deeply resemble. The Merrimac (left) was the Confederate ship called “the Virginia” by the southern forces. The Monitor (right) was the Union ship sent to destroy the Merrimac. These are composed of Entrada sandstone.




Monitor and Merrimac






Island in the Sky









Photos are copyrighted and cannot be reproduced without permission of authors Tom Baurley or Leaf McGowan. Photos can be purchased via Technogypsie.com at Technogypsie Photography Services for nominal use fees. Restaurants, Businesses, Bands, Performances, Venues, and Reviews can request a re-review if they do not like the current review or would like to have a another review done. If you are a business, performer, musician, band, venue, or entity that would like to be reviewed, you can also request one (however, travel costs, cost of service (i.e. meal or event ticket) and lodging may be required if area is out of reviewer’s base location at time of request).


These reviews are done by the writer at no payment unless it is a requested review and the costs for travel, service, and lodging was covered – in which case, expenditure reimbursement will not affect review rating or content. If you enjoy this review and want to see more, why not buy our reviewer a drink to motivate them to write more? or help cover the costs they went through to do this review?















Originally published at Naturally Science & Lore

Vargo

Canyonlands National Park (Moab, Utah)





Canyonlands National Park

Canyonlands National Park * http://www.nps.gov/cany/ * Canyonlands National Park * 2282 SW Resource Blvd. * Moab, Utah 84532 * (435) 719-2313
In the heart of Utah near the resort town o Moab lies one of North America’s most scenic desert canyon playgrounds known as “Canyonlands”. A pristine national park that presents a panorama of colorful landscapes and canyons, mesas, and buttes that have been carved out of the earth by the Colorado River and its tributaries. These rivers have created four districts – the Island in the Sky, the Needles, the Maze, and the rivers themselves – and this is what has become preserved as “Canyonlands”. Primarily desert terrain, a multitude of micro-environments exist within the diverse terrain in the park awaiting exploration. The canyons and rivers have been explored for the last 10,000 years by a multitude of peoples – from prehistoric occupation and artwork to Euro-American settlers and homesteaders to modern day rock climbers. The Green River, the Colorado River, neighboring Horseshoe Canyon preserve and change these districts. No roads directly link each of the districts even though they appear close on the map so it makes the park requiring many days to get a full glimpse of all the districts contained within. The top sites in the park are: 1. Island in the Sky; 2. White Rim Road; 3. Needles; 4. Maze; 5. Orange Cliffs Unit (Glen Canyon NRA); 6. Horseshoe Canyon; 7. Green River; 8. Colorado River; and 9. Cataract Canyon. Rating: 5 stars out of 5. visited 8/24/08.




Mesa Arch




Mesa Arch



Mesa Arch

Photos are copyrighted and cannot be reproduced without permission of authors Tom Baurley or Leaf McGowan. Photos can be purchased via Technogypsie.com at Technogypsie Photography Services for nominal use fees. Restaurants, Businesses, Bands, Performances, Venues, and Reviews can request a re-review if they do not like the current review or would like to have a another review done. If you are a business, performer, musician, band, venue, or entity that would like to be reviewed, you can also request one (however, travel costs, cost of service (i.e. meal or event ticket) and lodging may be required if area is out of reviewer’s base location at time of request).


These reviews are done by the writer at no payment unless it is a requested review and the costs for travel, service, and lodging was covered – in which case, expenditure reimbursement will not affect review rating or content. If you enjoy this review and want to see more, why not buy our reviewer a drink to motivate them to write more? or help cover the costs they went through to do this review?















Originally published at Naturally Science & Lore

Aug. 1st, 2011

snowman

04.17.11: Chronicles: Naked Flowers - Beaches and Roses in Melbourne








Travels Down Under:
Naked Flowers: Beaches and Rose Gardens


Sunday, April 17, 2011

* Melbourne, Victoria, Australia *
</b>

Early to rise, the first agenda that our trio had on their minds was fresh laundry. So a pitstop at the local laundromat was first order of business. Waiting for their loads to complete their cycles, Sir Thomas Leaf and the Queen of Science went for a latte' at the Down to Earth cafe while Sir Bluey Bee went on his own expedition for some supplies. After Chai and Laundry, the trio of adventurers were off across Melbourne, towards the nude beach for some sun and waves. Enroute, Sir Bluey Bee educated Sir Thomas Leaf about Vegemite. Prior, all Sir Thomas Leaf knew about it was from the Men at Work song "Down Under". Sir Thomas Leaf was also very intrigued by the various road art and displays along the journey. Before long, they were at Campbell Cove Beach. What they found was a small strip of a rocky beach with not too enticing water, shady looking guys lurking around, and not really the proper bathing environment. Water much too murky. They did get some sun when another beach-goer's dog wasn't constantly coming up and shaking off on them. They gave it a couple of hours, then headed to the Werribee Rose Gardens. Just in the nick of time too, as the trio of explorers discovered the gardens were starting to close. The historic mansion was closed, but were able to tromp around in the Rose Gardens a bit before being shooed out by the caretaker. With a full moon in the sky, the adventurers were soon back enroute for downtown Melbourne. Inspired by the deliciousness of Lentil as Anything, Sir Thomas Leaf and Bluey Bee were headstrong on eating there for dinner again. A wonderful vegetarian feast ... the travellers were satisfied. A fitting meal for brave adventurers soon to embark upon exploring the East coast of Melbourne. An early night, the adventurers all turned in for a busy day tomorrow ...









Remainder of the Story, Photos and videos below the cut:

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Jul. 19th, 2011

Vargo

04.15.11: Chronicles: Albury to Melbourne








Travels Down Under:
Journey through Victoria


Friday, April 15, 2011

* Albury, New South Wales, Australia to Melbourne, Victoria, Australia *
</b>

The weary adventures awoke in the mildew smelling dorm room of the Albury YHA, rolling out of bed, but with a restful sleep. Downstairs the showers awaited them, after which they made omelettes for breakfast while preparing for their journey onwards through Victoria. The women from last night, and two new girls, joined them in conversation during breakfast as they prepared to figure out their routes. As some new coastal route ideas were presented to them. They headed off shortly from Albury onwards towards Melbourne. Sir Thomas Leaf found the "Koala" crossing signs a bit humorous as they scanned the treetops for koalas during their drive across the countryside. They saw a few antique cars pass them by and upon stopping at a rest area, saw an old fashioned "meals on wheels" service vehicle with high prices for their meals so went on to their budget and made tunafish sandwiches. The lady running the cafeteria bus jumped to the conclusion that Sir Thomas Leaf and Sir Bluey Bee were "mates" and not in the Australian manner of "mate" but as a gay couple. They corrected her and she apologized for jumping to the conclusion. Perhaps it was Sir Leaf's floral shirt with pink. After the rest area, they proceeded on the road towards Melbourne. Within hours the humorous duo made it to Australia's Metropolitan Mecca of Melbourne. As entering they saw a Toyota van that had a car dealership sticker on it saying "Blood Toyota". What an Odd name thought Leaf. To get their bearing since they got a little lost, they pulled into the "free" wifi spot at a McDonald's to do some Google Earth for directions. Since Sir Thomas Leaf has boycotted fast food in his life as of late for health reasons, he always "cringes" when he enters such facilities. He took a peek at the menu to see how Australia's outrageous prices would be on dollar menu and meals - much to his horror they were quite pricey compared to the U.S. After gaining directions from the internet and from Sir Bluey asking kind blokes for directions, the adventurers were back on track to Lady Sciencequeen's flat in Melbourne. Sir Thomas Leaf was quite impressed with many of the street murals in Melbourne. They finally found their way to the flat, and was greeted with many smiles and hugs from Sciencequeen. After dropping the bags and social greets, the three of them headed off to "Lentil as Anything" - a fabulous Indian-style vegetarian buffet that's All you Can Eat price tag is to pay whatever you feel by dropping donation money into a pay box in a dark corner of the hallway when you enter or exit the establishment. What a innovative idea Sir Thomas Leaf thought thinking he'd like to make a seafood buffet at his and Wendy's future Mermaid temple someday. The explorers were greeted by a possum blindly climbing up and down a tree by their table. As they were quite satisfied with their meal, Sir Bluey Bee with his smoking charm, lured back a few Australian students to join in their conversations and for a photo moment. After Sciencequeen, Sir Thomas Leaf, and Sir Bluey Bee returned back to the flat, they had a nightcap, conversation, and games until they were worn out. Big day awaited them tomorrow.









Remainder of the Story, Photos and videos below the cut:

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