Australia. Return to Melbourne

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Return to Melbourne
Fortunately the laughing ferry steward was off duty today. I don't think I could have endured another crossing with his dour face. We had a cheerful lady instead. The train was waiting for the ferry so Sugan caught it to meet friends in Melbourne in the afternoon. The rest of the group, 9 now from a full complement of 12, rode north to Frankston following the coast as much as possible, which took in a really pleasant boardwalks through the mangrove swamps for several miles. Unfortunately we got behind some pensioners on blunderbus bikes on the boardwalk for about a mile at such a steady pace I nearly fell over. There was no way to overtake without causing them to do a headstand in the swamp so I was on my best behaviour and puffed and blew behind them until they got to a kissing gate where we jumped the queue whilst they put their hearing aids back in. We passed through Hastings but unfortunately the Penguins were otherwise employed so we missed seeing them outside the cafe. The roads got quite busy as we got nearer to Melbourne but fortunately there were still tracks alongside the railway line and the road. We had to ride alongside one busy road near Baxter and had to cross the road to take up the cycleway. There was a crossing but we are part of the traffic and we crossed to the right hand lane and crossed the road only for a lone motorcyclist to shout and bellow, uttering some rude words in Saxon as though he had a priority over us. I have found that they have these sort of people in Australia, as well as many other places, with a limited vocabulary, limited knowledge and very coarse manner. They call them Bogans. If he had dared to stop we could have had a very interesting tete a tete, I am sure. Once on Frankston we found the rail station and loaded our bikes in the carriage with ample room and trundled up to Melbourne stopping at at least a dozen places over the next hour or so. This area is supposed to have some of the most expensive real estate in Melbourne, but the view from the train is most unimpressive Once at Richmond station we alighted not knowing which way to turn to get off. Not very well signed but had some helpful people on hand. Back to the faithful Georgian Court for a shower and blogging session before the Thai on Bridge Road again I think.

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Photos

Old Geyser on his bike
Mangrove swamp hogger

Comments

[Richard Jnr]

Slow Coach
The old geyser's bike has his kick stand down! Looks like he has already come to a halt