Around Melbourne

A day of high temperatures is predicted for Melbourne ( the locals pronounce it Melbun) so we decide to a make relatively early start and take a river cruise down to the old settlement of Williamstown. It was in fact the earliest settled part of the Melbourne area. 

The first step is to get to the quayside below Federation Square just across the river from the Melbourne Arts Centre. 

The Arts Centre.

The trip down the river gives a very different view of the city and it is improved for us by the cooling breeze that usually accompanies any water journey. 

Eric is all smiles on the boat's roof.

He does need to be warned that some of the bridges are very low and the paint scratches on the roof are from encounters with the odd bridge when the tides are high. 

One of those low bridges - this has wire 'sculptures' along it.

And another - with Melbourne City behind.

Melbourne skyscrapers from the water.

A rather nice fish sculpture on the riverfront.

Making our way down the Yarra.

These were flats we think - are all the panels random and different?

Condo style living with a boat park rather than a car park!

Gradually leave the inner city for the more industrialised docklands areas.

A scary view of a Chinese cargo boat, that luckily was being helped into position by the tugs.

At the Williamstown  harbour we see two Sea Shepherd boats that look really mean in their modern camouflage paint jobs. 

A short walk from the marina brought us to this rather surprising sight. 

Wrong Continent?

A wander along the shoreline gets us views of a couple of new species

Crested Tern

Superb Fairy Wren in the scrub

The old houses along the Esplanade are typical of the area, though many are being replaced by modern buildings, which are not always what I would call in keeping with the theme of the area. 

Plaques on the street provide some info on the various houses, though the first raises a few eyebrows, a rogue comma may mean you have a ship for a neighbour. They are often the worst kind. 

The whole beach foreshore is designated as a reserve though lacks much of interest, except Eric of course!

Eric's poor spelling gives him the wrong idea about what's to be seen here. 

His intellect is better associated with a plan to leapfrog all these bollards

A unique take on how to negotiate the row of bollards using a time warping technique he says Dr. Who told him about (we are sceptical).

Just further along is Williamstown main beach which, as would be expected on a day when the temperature peaked at 34degC, is pretty well attended. 

Given the heat we decided to travel back into Melbun by train (they are air conditioned ) rather than via the river. After a little stroll in the main shopping district we came upon a band (Woodlock) playing in Burke Plaza. 

We even handed over cash for their CD. 

It was then time to head back to Glen Iris though unfortunately it was rush hour and the train was fairly full. 

Then it's a bit of telly followed by some blog update time before bed.