melbourne and geelong

kite surfers in st kilda

i should technically put geelong first in the title, because we stopped there first. but well, i feel that most of my australian friends would be scandalized. i mean, geelong is geelong but melbourne! well, it's melbourne (pronounced mel-bun by aussies, who seem to forget there's an R in the word).

we stopped in geelong for the night after we decided to give the GOR the sack. free camping by the river seemed like a much better idea then expensive camping with thousands of others. and so it was. we pulled into a small park by the river and set up shop for the night. it was hot. very hot. 37 and humid hot. sticky, wish-you-could-take-more-then-your-clothes-off hot. and the mosquitoes were insane! so our night in geelong was rather unexciting as we tried not to melt in our (non-air conditioned) van. we were very nearly successful too...

when we woke, the debilitating heat had settled (sort of). we went for a bike ride around the river before the sun really came up and started sizzling again. (it didn't end up doing so in the end. i mean, it was hot but not unbearable. and not as sticky). geelong's river is small but nice. it has a lovely bike path following its length. and seems to be a mecca for rowers and fishermen.

we went into the city for the rest of the day- loitering at a wonderful cafe (called mr. hyde. i recommend it if you're ever in geelong) before venturing into the big city to visit with some friends who'd recently moved. and i mean recent. like, arrived the day before recent. when better to crash with friends then when they have no furniture or food i ask?

our friends happen to live only some 15 minutes away from st-kilda, a trendy little suburb on the foreshore. there were some looming clouds and high winds, so we didn't spend much time near the beach. but we did happen to catch the few hundred kite surfers gliding around the bay.

following a lovely evening with friends (with too much food, drink and tomfoolery) we headed into south melbourne for the south melbourne markets and some much needed breakfast. let me tell you, i only spent about 24 hours in melbourne but i like it. a lot. in fact, i'm looking forward to visiting said friends when they do have furniture and food (which really is the better time to visit, in my opinion). did i mention they live near a fantastic shopping centre?

we called it quits on melbourne only because our friend was starting work the next day and we didn't want to be a bother. also, their cat and i don't really get along very well. actually, not true. their cat loves me (which cat doesn't?) but her dander and i are at odds.

xo