11/01/2009 - Walk up Mt Taylor

I was starting to get a bit restless at home today and wanted to see a bit more of Canberra than just the river. So Snagrom, Melski and Page took me for a walk up Mt Taylor which is one of the nature reserves in Canberra (and only 5 minutes from their home). It's a lovely hour and a bit walk up and down the hill. Snagrom said that there is always lots of wildlife and flowers to be seen. Apparently, as with most nature reserves, you are almost guaranteed to see kangaroos lounging around the place. In that respect I wasn't disappointed. Alas, I have no photos to prove it on the blog as the one Melski took turned out horribly =(.


On the way up the top we saw bluebells aplenty and a pair of big wedge-tailed eagles flying about overhead. On the way down we saw yellow button daisies, melaleucas, and wattles in flower and kangaroos (and the infamous rabbit) along with all the fitness freaks sweating it out! I think Page now appreciates her Daddy a bit more - I only got dropped and left behind once. Just imagine if her Daddy did that to her!



I was impressed with the view out over the Tuggeranong Valley, the Woden Valley (where Snagrom and Melski live) and out towards the City and Black Mountain Tower. I can imagine that it must look lovely in autumn when all the exotic, deciduous trees are in full colour (if there was good rain in late summer/early autumn). The view over the Brindabella Range is also apparently quite impressive when there is stormy weather on the way.




So all up, I had a wonderful "walk" up Mt Taylor and feel that I've seen a bit more of their countryside.


Last week of January - Bye bye Australia!

Well it's official. My sleeping bag has been bought and I'm heading back to the United States of America to visit Rogue Slayer! Goodbye hot weather and hello winter again! Thanks for the hospitality Snagrom, Melski and Page. Don't let Page get too upset that I'm moving on!

New Year's Eve (31/12/2008)

Well I arrived safely in Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory (Australia) on New Year's Eve. Thanks for the great Christmas excitement Kaos and Southn!

I was expecting a big bash and instead I heard the sound of snores and crickets at midnight! No fireworks on television or anything. Still I guess it was nice to have some peace and quiet after all the wedding excitement.

The only fireworks I ever saw and heard were the ones coming from Snag's computer. As I popped out of my mail bag I noticed on the computer in front of me a whole lot of very comely girls wiggling their (how do I say this?) booty. Apparently the TOG Guild Wars division was doing a get well/New Years card for Madpiper. I hope he likes it 'cause it certainly got me a bit hot and bothered! However they also did a slightly more sedate one from everyone (not just those cheeky elementalists who want to set everyone on fire!).

(Click on the picture to see the whole thing. The blog cut the pictures in half.)





New Year's Day (01/01/2009)

New Years day I went with Snag and Page (Snag's little almost 2 year old girl) to Kambah Pool. Apparently the Murrumbidgee which is tributary of the Murray River (the main south-east river in Australia) is good for swimming. We met up with Snag's family of two sisters and husbands and kids for the morning. I have to tell you that I was a bit worried about the appearance of the river at first but after dipping my toes in and seeing Snag's family cavorting about I decided to brave it. The water was wonderfully warm and the sand just gorgeous. I even got to see (albeit from a distance) a wombat wondering around on the other side of the bank.





Kambah Pool again (06/01/2009)

Well Page had a playdate with some little friends. So we trooped back down to Kambah Pool again. It was a 36 degrees Celsius day so it was perfect to spend that time down by the river. Page's little friend Liam didn't even try and eat me! I've seen how Page loves sucking on her toy rabbit's ears and tail and I have to say I'm a bit worried that it could be my fate too if she gets hold of me unsupervised....


The Cotter playground (10/01/2009)

That was my last real activity for a week or so as Melski got sick and sent the household into a bit of panic. But he's almost all better now. So to test his endurance out we went down to the Cotter River playground for a bit of fun and a very short walk. I had a wonderful time getting a ride of Page's new trike, going for a swing, a slide and even a ride on a kangaroo! I got to hear some black cockatoos and see some normal ones. I also spotted magpies, currawongs, crimson rosellas, wood ducks, and some little fantail birds. What a lovely lot of colourful birds Australians have!