Winter months - June to August 2012

Hey all,

It's been a while now ... more than 3 months. I've been summarising up my "winter" months in Melbourne below with some text and pics. 

June was an active month with lots and lots of hiking :)
Hiking adventures during June was 2 days on top of Mt Gwinear & Mt Erica (first snow camping for the season - was very cold and I couldn't sleep much, I was leading 11 walkers from MUMC and sleeping in my non-down sleeping bag), Mt Macedon circuit walk (leading a day walk with 14 happy walkers), Grampians car camping and day walk ( I was leading 7 walkers up to Mt Stapylton, Mt Zero and Mt Difficult, we had to give Mt Difficult a miss this time as the weather was bad and visibility was low and track marks couldn't be seen properly). 

A good leader needs to look at the map sometimes :) - by the Observatorium Lake along the Mt Macedon circuit track - June 2012

Winter camping on top of Mt Erica in Baw Baw National Park with MUMC - June 2012

Grampians hiking trip with MUMC - June 2012, Mt Zero, Mt Stapylton and almost Mt Difficult

The traditional Burnley theme party for June was "Mafia" - everyone was dressed as a mafia look-a-like. 
Fredrik's surprise party in Eynesbury was a truly surprise party, good to see the kids again after a long time.
Bike budget rally at the Parliament House in Melbourne - where many cyclists gathered up and protested against Ted Bailleu and his non existing budget for the cycling infrastructure in the city.
Joey house-warming party - a dog party where Joey was the centre of the attention after being in quarantine for 4 weeks ... great dog :)

Miss Savanha at the surprise birthday party

Modern kids playing

Joey - the happy dog after being let out from 4 weeks in quarantine

Me and Mick at the Mafia party in Burnley

July was an active month again :)
Hiking adventures where the following ones: Short walk around Albert Lake in Melbourne with the women's meetup walking group (I was leading 18 happy city walkers for 5km), day walk to Bunyip State Park (leading 26 happy hikers to a new state park for me, wasn't that beginners friendly as there were 3 steep sections and lots of tree obstacles along the track, good fun and great view during lunch - around 14km), Great Ocean Walk from Blanket Bay to Johanna Beach (11 keen hikers did 33km during 2 days along the beach section of the beautiful GOW, finished at Johanna Beach before the high tide came in.

Albert Park lake with city view - 5km of walking with the women's walking group - July 2012

Real sister love - Abby hugging Imogen - Mick's brother with family visiting Melbourne in July

Bunyip State Park with MUMC - 25 happy hikers traversing the obstacles in the park - July 2012

Blanket Bay along Great Ocean Walk - hiking trip with MUMC from Blanket Bay to Johanna Beach - July 2012

Great Ocean Walk with MUMC - river crossing, beach walk, koala spotting in trees, 33km in two days - July 2012

Dancing salsa at Copacabana, first time after a long time, I still have the moves, YEY :)
Meeting Mick's brother visiting from Sydney - Chris with the family (Helen, Abby and Imogen) - cute little girls, good to catch up with them in Melbourne
Farewell party in Burnley - saying good-bye to Nina who was heading back to Canada - theme was Aussie-BBQ with lots of delicious food and drinks :)

After the food is gone, there's plenty to drink - Nina's farewell  party in Burnley - July 2012

Happy Nina double-fisting :)

  
August - another active month
Did the Midnight Ascent with MUMC, which is a traditional yearly hike (cooking a 3 course meal inside the hut and being dressed up on formal attire) up to Mt Feathertop along a steep track and sleep by the MUMC hut at 1625m. Great hike up, challenging and hard as Mick wasn't feeling the best on the way up/down the track. We went skiing in NSW, Perisher, during 4 days with Mick's brother and wife and friends. Guess the Australian slopes can't even be compared with the European ones, too short slopes, too many people queuing for lifts and t-bars, missed the lifts and gondolas from France.
Guess the biggest thing in August was the move from Hawthorn to Bulleen, me and Mick decided to move to a bigger place, a proper house in Bullen, big day was 19th of August.
On the hiking side, did one longer hike in the Brisbane Ranges National Park with the club (MUMC) where me and 5 others did the Burchell Trail which is roughly 40km in two days.

MUMC hut close to Mt Feathertop - August 2012

Annual Midnight Ascent festivities in progress - cooking 3 course meals from scratch in cooking groups all dressed up in formal attire

Happy and leach free Ingrid almost down by the carpark from Mt Feathertop - very wet and steep track

Skiing in Perisher in August

Burchell trail hikers -August 2012

Burchell Trail in Brisbane Ranges National Park (80km west of Melbourne) - end of August - first day of spring gave us 20 degrees, way too hot for hiking, I prefer cooler temperatures

Blooming magnolia tree - our new house in Bulleen, Melbourne