my trip to Victoria

We took off last Saturday for Melbourne. I was so excited - but gosh it was a long, long drive to even get out of NSW. There was snow on the ground over the Great Divide and it was amazingly cold. But there were sheep everywhere you looked, so Kay wouldn't let me out of the car to play in it.

We finally crossed into Victoria and the weather warmed up and everything looked really green and lovely.
As we were so close, Neil agreed to drive me over to Romper's house for a quick visit. I couldn't wait. When we got there, his person, Keith brought him out and we finally got to meet in the flesh. He was wonderful! And even more handsome then in his photos.

He seemed really pleased to meet me and had the most interesting things to say and some really fun, new games to play. We had a great time.

I got to go back the next two days as we were staying down while Neil looked at the old bikes. He ended up getting two of them, along with a whole trailer full of bits. Finally it came time to say farewell to Rompie. We promised to keep in touch.

Afterwards, we headed south for a look at the famous Phillip Island where all the fairy penguins come ashore every night for the tourists to see. It's supposed to be really amazing, but you know what - they don't let dogs in to see it. So we just went and sniffed around a beach without penguins... whatever they are.

It was interesting and the water was decidely brisk. Brrrrr!

And then it was time to start the long, slow journey home. It also took forever - but I just slept and dreamed about my dear sweet Rompie.

Kay calls him my toy boy but I'm not sure why - he didn't have nearly as many toys as me.

must be fate

Yippppeee - we're going to Victoria!!

Seems that a bloke down there has a couple of old BSA motorbikes that he wants to sell. Neil reckons it sounds like a good deal, so we are going to drive down and have a look at them.

I was in Victoria when I was a puppy - my breeder lives there with my dad. But it has been a few years now since I've been back.

Hmmm, I'll have to check out a map and see if we're going anywhere near you-know-who's place. Neil says not to count on it...but I'm hoping.

Oh wow, you'll never believe it - Rompie lives just down the road from the motorbike guy! About a half hour's drive away! How perfect.

It must be fate that we are to finally meet.

How exciting, I'll have to email him right now!

Melbourne

Sigh.... I just can't stop thinking about Rompie - it would be so cool to meet him...

What's that? - Neil's talking to someone about an old bike... someone in Victoria...

Someone who is selling an old motorbike and lives near Melbourne?!

Say it's so!

trip to the beach

We spent the Queen's Birthday long weekend up at the beach - it was cold but sunny.

There had been mad storms and flooding just a few weeks before and we got to see how much it had reshaped the beaches.


Tonnes of sand had been washed away and an old wreck from the 70's which had been buried in the sand dunes was uncovered. We explored it thoroughly - there were lots of good smells.


Here are some pics of the Smokey Cape lighthouse and the southern beach.

As you can see, it was all pretty gorgeous.


I had lots of fun running up and down the sand dunes.

Up and down and up again. Endless fun.

Rompie

I got an email back from that cute boy, Romper Stomper yesterday. He sounds really nice.

He's a professional show dog and a champion one at that. Might be a bit out of my league...?

He sent another photo - he's just sooo cute, don't you think? His dad's American, same as Kay.

Trouble is, he lives in Melbourne... and I'm up in Sydney. Not sure how I'm going to talk Neil and Kay into going that far for a play date.

Sigh... I'll have to work on that a bit.

new websites

I've been really busy helping Kay make a new website for the Airedale Association of NSW.

Many walks and ball games had to be forfeited while we worked away at it.

But it's ready now and gone live. I even snuck a few pictures of me in there.

Reading all the info about how great us Airedales are has made her love me even more.

While we were at it, we redesigned Neil's motorcycle club site too.

He's crazy about old bikes and has lots of friends that feel the same way. But not me, I don't like his bike much - he leaves me at home when he goes off riding it. hmmph.

If I wasn't already a carpenter's apprentice, I might think about being a web designer - I think I have a certain flair.