Neil: Mon 4 Jan 10

NEIL: Mornington Peninsula (again)
We wandered back down to the Mornington Peninsula to visit the spots we missed a few days ago ... and to see the Rennison's at Pt Leo. This time I got to introduce Neil to Meagan and I hope the two of them get the chance to go somewhere together.

Point Nepean National Park.
Our first stop was Point Nepean, primarily because it would give Neil the chance to see how small the Heads really are ... and also because I just love any chance to visit there.


A ship going through the Heads ... the perfect way to see them.

It's so clear and big ... and I love wandering around the old fortifications and scrub. It's just so peaceful and clean.


The beautiful coastline on the Bass Strait side ... this is what makes it so perfect.

The downside to the day was the flies ... brought out by the brilliant sunshine. And they made a beeline to Neil in a way Horace is usually the only one to experience. They absolutely loved him ... and drove Neil crazy!


Neil trying out the Australian salute ... brushing away the flies that were driving him crazy.

There's such a diversity of things to do ... we wandered through the fortifications all over the national park ... including this spot where Horace took a shower in a spot that was once inhabited by army personnel.


Crazy Horace pretending to have a shower ... he's just a big ham!

And just before we left we walked through the bush from the gunner's cottage that wound its way past a cemetary and back around to the road.


My favourite photo of the day ... Horace and Neil wandering through the bush.

Point Leo.
It was nice spending a few hours with the Rennisons ... and Neil and Meagan hit it off really well. Either that, or Neil was pleased to see someone even remotely his own age and just couldn't stop talking! LOL


Neil and Meagan sitting on a random boat on the beach ... just because we could.


Wandering over the rocks at low tide looking for things in the rock pools.


Something slimy found by Neil in the rock pools! Ewk!

Neil: Sat 2 Jan 10

NEIL: Red Hill Market & Mornington Peninsula
We--Horace, Neil and I--wandered down to Mornington Peninsula to visit the Red Hill market and then to admire the view from Arthur’s Seat.

Red Hill market.
Horace and I have never visited the market before. I rang Tina and Mick a few days before we went to see if they were able to come as well ... because I had the wild idea of introducing Neil to Meagan, but they were busy with visitors and we didn't get the chance to meet up.


Horace and Neil taste testing locally made cider.

We didn't end up staying at the market for very long ... Neil is not the most patient person for wandering around. The market is absolutely huge, much bigger than any of the others we've visited recently, and I saw the nicest leather and fabric hand bags which I'm definitely going back to look at another time.

Arthur's Seat.
I really enjoyed Arthur's Seat again, especially as Horace and I were there so recently ... only last summer.


What else ... but a seat called "Arthur's Seat"? And waiting to take his turn after Horace and Neil was a little boy called Arthur.

This year the weather was so much nicer. The sky was a glorious blue and the water reflected it back.


You can just see the heads the ships pass through to get into the bay, and Bass Strait beyond.

And we could only just see the city way off in the distance.


If you click on the photo you'll be able to make out the city on the horizon, right in the centre.

We also took a wander along some of the walking tracks and made our way to another lookout to get a better view of the bay.


One of the few photos I managed to get one of Horace and Neil together sitting on the base of a rock cairn. Neil is not a willing victim ... unlike Horace!

Mornington Peninsula National Park.
Our last stop was the Bass Strait side of the Mornington Peninsula National Park ... and what's left of London Bridge, to be exact.

It was blowing a gale … such a change from the calm beauty of the bay, and all of us got a sand blasting from the wind whipping up the sand. But that doesn’t stop us … I always want to explore everything and I have to say Horace is exactly the same.


A short video by Neil of the beach ... and play this with sound. It shows exactly how wild it was.

One of the nicest things there was the wind surfer enjoying himself. And what a wind he got to play with … he was having a ball.


Horace watching the wind surfer ... and the wind surfer was having the best time.

And then we wandered down to London Bridge ... or what's left of it because the bridge has well and truly fallen down! But it was so nice there ... the water especially as it runs under the cliff and into the rock pools behind it.


A picture of Neil in his usual pose ... checking his photos. Most of the time it's the only way I can snap him.