Our Next Stop was Melbourne

We continued our trip along the southern coast of Australia to Melbourne.

Here we planned to take a ride on the Puffing Billy steam train and then visit the Healesvilke Animal Sanctuary.  They were in the hills about an hours ride outside of Melbourne.  

Our biggest problem was finding our tour guide and van.  They were  not well marked when we got off the ship and never had a specific meet up local.  Frustrating and wasted about an hours of everyones day.

The skyline

They were getting ready for car racing in the streets.

Riding the Puffing Billy steam train

Through the ecalyptus forest, of which there are many varieties that I never knew.

At the Healesville santuary

See the baby roo in front of his mana.  Pretty soon the Joey climbed in the pouch which you can see in the photo below

Yes, I saw a plyatapus!  Too dark to get decent photos, though.

This is an echidna, which was in their animal hospital.

Mr. Koala, which are marsupials, not bears!

It was a wild ride back to town. The driver did not leave enough time to have a nice drive back.  Racing through the streets, running read lights and checking his phone for traffic updates in busY Friday evening traffic.  We made it with 15 minutes to spare. I don't like cutting corners that much!  

Yesterday, made a trip down to Helena with a friend and her sister.  Curtis was our chauffeur!  Their local unbox craft store is closing after 41 years of business.  I will truly miss this store.  It has a little of everything-art supplies, framing, material, wooden product, beads and of coarse scrapbooking.  They started their grand closing sale.  Who can say no to that.  A great day spent with friends.

Now I get to go scrapping for the weekend , if I can ever get packed up!