August 29

We are in the last week of our great adventure. On Monday friends from Deloraine drove us to the airport and we flew up to Sydney. We had arranged for a rental car so we picked it up and started driving to our hotel which is was near the Circular Quay. I was quite disconcerted as I usually have a map giving direction. This time it was different as Bruce lived in Sydney 40 years ago and seemed to know where he was going. I was doubtful but we arrived at our hotel with no problems. On Tuesday we walked down to the Circular Quay and caught the ferry across the bay to Manley Beach. On the way you go past the Sydney opera HouseThis beach is beautiful and a tourist town but not busy as it is winter nevertheless the temperature topped out at 20 degrees. We went on a long walk along the point and saw bunkers from WW II. We went back across the bay and went to a museum in the old court House. The museum was all about policing and notorious criminals. Sydney was quite corrupt for many years and was nicknamed Sin City. We decided to take the subway across the harbour bridge and go out into the suburbs. This was a full day! On Wednesday it was time to start heading south. Our plan was to drive down the coast but we changed our minds. As we started driving we realized that this was very congested and it was not an enjoyable drive so we decided to head inland. This was a good decision as we started to go through small interesting towns and could see canola as far as the eye could see. We stopped and spent the night in a community called Cootamundra. The next morning we went to a tiny community called Junee where we toured an organic licorice and chocolate factory. We were there at the same time as some grade one and two students so we had the simple tour. The licorice tasted awesome. We had thought we would go to Canberra but it was rainy weather and we didn't want to risk getting into snow so we stayed in the canola fields and headed towards Melbourne. We came to a small town called Glenroan that has taken on being everything you might want to know about Ned Kelly. Ned Kelly was a bush ranger who did a lot for poor folk and he became a folk hero. He wore armour to protect himself. One of the unusual facts about Ned was that he made a tin bucket into a helmet that covered his head and face. We spent the night in Benalla. This area has been in drought for several years but this spring has proved to be very rainy and lakes are becoming full again. Apparently some young children are seeing rain for the first time. Bruce had heard about some motorcycle races at a place called Phillips Island so we went on the bypass road around Melbourne and went to this tiny island. Imagine our surprise when we discovered that this island has four National Park Reserves and one of them is for penguins. Every night at dusk you can go and watch the Little Penguins (formally called Fairy Penguins) come to the shore. It was amazing to see the penguin parade. The penguins are easily spookeandtheslightest thing makes them return to the ocean. They travel in groups for safety as they waddle across the the beach. It really doeslook like a parade. Pictures can't be taken as the flash frightens them and distance sensing light can make them be disorientated. These penguins are a beautiful dark blue instead of black. The penguins are very noisy after they cross the beach and start to socialize with each other. Another national reserve is called Churchill Island. This is living museum of a settler farm. We had a great walk around the island. Another reserve is called The Nobbies. This is a place penguin live as well as seals. We saw a penguin in one of their burrows. The view from this location was breathtaking.
The fourth reserve is one for koalas. We got stiff necks walking through the gum trees lo0king for the koalas. We were able to find a Uniting Church today. They were a welcoming congregation and we enjoyed the service. In the afternoon we went to a private wildlife park. They had lots of Australian animals including a huge Red Kangaroo as well as many birds. We went back to the Penguin Parade tonight and I think we saw even more Little Penguins than the first time.








Tomorrow we return the rented car and prepare to head for home. The words from Psalm 121:7,8 come to mind. "Yahweh guards you from harm. God guards your lives. God guards your leaving, coming back, now and always."