Canadian Invasion

The threats have been occurring since the Parks induction get-together in Melbourne mid-December. All of us hoping to visit the other’s park and see some more of this beautiful country, extending invitations to each other and promising to go visit. The past week or so we have found ourselves enjoying the company of three of the Canadian exchangees.

The weekend of March 1st, Scott, from Anglesea was up to visit and to hoe into (tackle) some hikes. Back home Scott is from Gulf Islands National Park. He was very ambitious and tackled two of the longer, more difficult hikes. A little too demanding for Aiden and I, so Sean went with him on Saturday and climbed Mount Difficult.

While they were out, Aiden and I took in the Wildlife Park and Zoo that is practically out our backdoor (See the next blog for details).

Scott insisted on cooking us a superb evening meal. Hardly seemed right considering we’ve enjoyed his hospitality twice already. That evening we all climbed Mt. William to catch the sunset.

Two days later Art and Beth arrived. While Art is in Australia, he and Beth are posted at Wilson’s Prom and back in Canada, Art is stationed in Banff. They were on the tail end of a two-week holiday and had a short stopover here. The first night we had a lovely visit over supper at our house and the next night we had some fine dinning at the famous Kookaburra restaurant here in Halls Gap.

This past weekend was Labour day long weekend. We had to stick close to home so we could cover a shift at the Halls Gap Primary School market on Sunday. The school hosts about 6 markets through out the course of the year and runs a canteen. It is all done through parent and teacher volunteers and raises the majority of the funds sought. Face painting was available this Sunday and we ended up coming home with a tiger.

 
We were expecting Rhonda and Marguerite (a friend visiting from the Yukon, Canada) on Sunday, but unfortunately they were delayed by car troubles. Sean and Rhonda know each other from way back. Rhonda was in Haines Junction when Sean was living and working up there. Rhonda is now working out of Whitehorse and is in Melbourne while here. Rhonda found out that the RACV (CAA equivalent) is very good here. It appears that when a car experience + 34° temperature with 1/3 of its radiator plugged, it protests. Rhonda and Marguerite ended up coming up for the day on Monday in a rented car, courtesy of RACV, who also put them up in a hotel for three nights while Rhonda’s car was being fixed. We braved the heat and drove up to Boroka lookout and tackled the short hike to the Balconies. Then we shared another fine meal at the end of another fine day.

























All in all it was great to have everyone visit and be able to show them some of our park. Must be feeling like home since we seem to have taken ownership of it.