Day 39 - The Merri Creek

Today after breakfast I headed off to Brunswick to mail some Thank you cards and look for a dress for the Whitley Annual Nautical Cruise (WANC) the kids call it the Booze Cruise though. It's next Thursday night, but I don't have any nice winter dresses or anything that would pass for one. So I stopped at Saver's and picked up an eight dollar plain black one and was proud of my cheap find. After Brunswick I headed out to ride along the Merri Creek Trail. I found a website describing some of the trails in the area, after reading a description of the path online and being on the trail last Sunday I felt like this would be a good one to try. It was a good ride with a lot of hills and interesting areas to investigate. The weather wasn't being awesome and I got rained on a bit and I think this also ruined my chances of seeing any amount of lizard life. There were definitely some parts of the trail that made me nervous; some areas the creek I passed were coated in Graffiti and near the end there was a point where I couldn't see a house anywhere, just warehouses and construction. I guess because of the weather and it being a Friday there just wasn't as many people on the trail. I made a note to do the trail on a Sunday if I did it again. I actually rode all the way to the trail head and ended up above Fawkner (wherever that is) I decided to take the bike trail that runs along the railroad tracks home so I wouldn't get smashed on the highway which was a good idea but unfortunately they were doing some construction so I ended up having to walk some of it. I'm not sure how far I ended up riding but I think it may have been my longest ride yet since I didn't really leave the bike as often as my other explorations. After I got back to college had a nice nap, shower, and dinner I went to the very popular Cafe night hosted by the GLO (religious group of students from the college, I'm not sure what it stands for but I think I am going to go Chapel this week and check it out). Basically the night was an open-mike night and everyone in Whitley was invited to come share their talents. Besides the excellent entertainment GLO provided milkshakes and many MANY baked goods! So after a comfy night of bean bags chairs and music I headed off to bed after quickly packing a bag for my fieldtrip.

The Merri Creek Trail, the water was a bit less muddy up this far and buffers were impressive along most of the path

One of the many path bridges along the creek

This is either a young male or a female of one of the fairy wrens, the breeding males are awesome, i've seen some but haven't gotten a good pic yet cause they are so fast. I just like this one cause the bird looks like she might beat me up if I don't get out of her bush.

A female Hardhead duck - I whistled and got a whole little flock of fowl to come over - guess they thought I had bread

This is a Red Wattlebird, they are everywhere and loud! However no matter how quietly I stalk they always know I'm there - I will get a close up eventually. Meanwhile here's one after something in this tree...

The Coburg Lake Park reach of Merri Creek

A pair of Hardheads

The dam at Coburg Lake - so ideal for herps but alas!

A symbol of Australia, at least on the postcards - the Laughing Kookaburra ( i about crashed the bike) Here's what they sound like: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0Op4PZzwwU&feature=related

A White-faced Heron

The upper reaches of Merri Creek (no houses anywhere!) - I think those slaps will make excellent herp scoutin area when it gets warmer

my new herp of the day - Black Rock Skink (i think) - I couldn't get to him fast enough, I hesitated because of the high grass, I need to get some chaps or something...

All the Whitley-folk watchin Cafe performances...

Some my friends singing "Sweet Caroline"

Jammin'