28th November
Alarm at 6.15, snooze a minute later, and then the second alarm at 6.30 (because I didn’t trust myself), which went off right next to my ear so that certainly woke me up. Shower (to feel human), breaky and finish off on the internet I was gone by 9.15 and at the course before 10am. Tee times and book to find John Daly wasn’t playing until after lunch. Spent the morning walking in between holes and groups, but no-one seemed to be able to sink a long put. Come Long John’s tee time I arrived early for a good spot, only to have his far-arse security guard stand right in front of me!!! And so much for no cameras, there were snaps going off everywhere! Followed them around to
the 12th and then headed to the car (for a cricket update) for my camera. Was going to be hard to be inconspicuous, so I had to time my shots. Decided I wanted to ‘see’ some golf instead of just being there, so headed for the 1st and watched about 8 groups, walking ahead at various points to catch up to the next group. Finished the 9th just before the Popeye and Long John came down the 18th, so found a seat and watched them as the rain started. Grabbed my brolly and headed back to the 9th where WA’s Sim had become equal leader with Allenby, and stood in the rain to watch his final hole – and still didn’t see a long put go in all day! Back to the car, chasing a cricket score while I grabbed something to eat and the radio wasn’t working... no I hadn’t had I ..... yes, I had, left the lights on all day. So, I rang the RAC, managed to get the radio happening and some commentary and ate and listened while I waited. Arrived about 45 minutes later, took a while for some charge but eventually got it all happening, and said I needed to keep it running for a bit – so I headed for the hills, literally! Out to Ferntree Gully before the climb (now dark) up to Olinda, where I found the sports ground and public toilets. Locked the doors, asleep (and stuffed) by 11.30pm.
29th November – Bobo’s birthday
Woke up around 8am, still not nice outside. Quick check of the car park to see if a thousand kids were there for morning sport – couldn’t see any. Excellent! Then I hear a couple of kids, and a couple more – yep, cricket on this morning! Changed, breakfast and read the paper before heading back into town to walk the shops. I very carefully left my hands in my pockets! To the Pie Shop that I’d been to before in 2006 with mum and dad for a lemon tart and a cuppa – very naughty but nice! Continued browsing and found a store that I got hooked in, but did get some good chrissy presents. Back to the car loaded up and headed out to the Olinda Falls (nothing on Steavensons’) before a stop for lunch (listening to the cricket of course)
where I heated some of the chicken and pasta on the stove. Onto a picnic ground and the start of a 6.5kms walk... or so I thought. With very poor maps I was impressed when a ranger just happened to turn up with a better one. Set off, but unfortunately the track was badly marked, and the map wasn’t as much help as I thought it would be, so I did a shorter loop than expected, then ended up back where I started before heading off again. Halfway up a tiny track and my guts started to rumble. Hmmm, this was not good. About another two minutes and I knew I was in trouble. Now, going to the toilet in the bush is not something I was new at, however ‘number 2’s’ was a whole different ball game, especially when you’re in a protected area where you aren’t supposed to stray from the track. I found a section just off the track, found a big stick and dug a hole (sorta) about 100mm I guess – took my mind off my guts anyway!!!! Did my business (yep, think lunch may have been in the fridge a day or two longer than it should have) and luckily had some toilet paper in my bag (always prepared!!!). Continued on, and found a gravel road that was marked on the map so followed that, but thinking about it afterwards went right when I should have gone left. Whilst waiting to take a photo someone else happened to walked past – what a coincidence I thought. Walked on and began to wonder where I was, with little signage. Finally came across some more signs, although they didn’t make sense, and one was broken. I stood for about 10 minutes trying to work it out, until the same guy I’d seen earlier came past. ‘You aren’t lost are you’, which happened to be just after I was trying to work out where the sun was, so I could establish a direction. ‘Kinda’. So we then both spent the next 10 minutes trying to work out the map (and established the map was crap) before deciding there were two ways I could head that would get me back to where I needed to go. I was now slightly worried about the time however, as the gates to the park shut at 5pm, and it was getting on past 4. Eventually found a track I had been on, and was in the car and heading out by 4.30pm. Down the hill with the petrol light on I figured I’d be able to roll all the way down to the petrol station if I did happen to run out, which I didn’t. Filled up and for the first time all trip payed less than $80 for a full tank – Praise that economic crisis! Headed to the Ferntree Gully Hotel, where Diesel was playing that night. Yep, still tickets available, doors open at 8pm - perfect! Now, I was in need of a shower, so back to Millie to find the nearest pool, a 50m facility which didn’t close until 8pm – magic! Had a great swim (by myself) before having a shower and doing half my makeup and leaving at 7.55pm. Finished my makeup in the car before finding subway just across the road from the pub. Rocked in about 8.45pm and bought a drink and tried to ‘blend’ with the crowd, finding a bench to lean on. Was a bit over dressed (even in jeans) for the locals, although there were some ladies who obviously were out to impress... mutton/lamb if you get my drift. Diesel was amazing! I squeezed my way through when he came on to the front of the crowd (the benefit of being by yourself) and spent the next two and half hours rocking away to Diesel (and drooling over the drummer). Even managed to score one of his guitar picks, actually picked up two, but gave one away. Awesome!!! Got back to George, and found the only Diesel song on my ipod, and played it as loud as the stereo would allow me to, without it distorting. Decided to head back towards the golf, and having spotted that ablution block the day before in Oakleigh South I headed for that. Arrived and found that the parking lot was locked up, however there was the entrance to a construction site and the park, and being a Sunday they were unlikely to arrive before I left, so I should be right. Locked the doors and went to sleep.
30th November
Where am I – oh that’s right, the side of the road. Alarm going off was not pleasant at 7am. Trek over to the ablution block before coming back for breakfast, and having someone rock up in the car park – what the??? It was the cleaners for the ablutions, so I got changed and waited for the knock, but they did their thing and left, and I was gone by 7.45am in the 400 metre drive around the corner to the golf course. Packed my backpack and headed in, grabbing a hot chocolate and the paper and caught up on some news in the sun – very relaxing! Decided I should do some walking, so did the back 9 holes, but this time waited for groups to play through. Then came across a guy who was having some really bad luck, with his tee shot crossing the other fairway, so he played another ball, only to find his first one under one of the carts. Spoke to the officials and got the cart moved, and did play a great recover shot to get back onto the (right) green). On the next hole ended up in the trees on the left just short of the green, and behind one of the big signs they have around the place. Now I would have asked for a drop, because it looked a bit close to me, but he didn’t, and played the half shot and heard it go ‘thunk’ as it hit the tree he was playing around and disappeared. Turned out it had hit the tree and with his caddy standing about 15 metres back towards the fairway had ended up in a pocket of his golf bag. Back to the officials again, two shot penalty and that ruined his day with only 1 hole to go. Finished the 18th and went into the pro shop for a look, which also happened to have a tv, although I couldn’t get a cricket score. I positioned myself halfway down the 1st fairway for the leaders to play through, Allenby and Sim, and with the ‘mobs’ followed them, and the group in front, around for the first few holes. Set myself up in the stands at the back of the par 3 hole and watched about 5 groups play through, getting and giving cricket updates (good job Haddin and Pup) and finding out we’d lost the rugby to France (what the?). Once the leaders had played through I relocated to the end of the 18th hole and found a spare seat next to two blokes. What happened next was a rather bizarre turn of events. The bloke next to me, who I found out to be Olly, decided it was time for a beer, and asked his mate, Oscar, if he would also like one. For some strange reason he then turned to me and said ‘would you like a beer too’. ‘Sure’ I replied without much thought. ‘Really?’ ‘Well if you’re going to buy me a beer then I’ll have one’. So Olly went to buy the beers and Oscar introduced the two of them, and we sat and watched the guys play the final hole. It was close, with a guy named Fraser coming from no-where after having a 7 under par on the opening nine that day. Pampling was through not much later, also having a good day and ended up tied with Fraser at the top of the order. Sim had dropped off the pace early, and Allenby was overcome with emotion on the last hole after having terrible luck with a bunker, and put himself out of contention, and with his sick mum following around in a cart he was unable to win her the championship he had promised. Pampling and Fraser were then tied for first, and headed back out to the 18th for what turned out to be 3 extra holes before a winner could be established, but not without some magnificent golf and recovery shots. Pampling won, just as the weather looked like it was going to break, and whilst we had been cheering for Fraser I really wasn’t concerned on the winner, provided they were Aussie. We watched the presentations, and as the boys had no plans (but were keen for another beverage or two) I offered them a lift to anywhere on the way back to Chelsea Heights, which was where we ended up, at the hotel within spitting distance of the caravan park. The trip was rather interesting though, with Olly in the back seat ringing people he knew across Australia to explain what was going on, including Macca from Hobart (every ones best mate)who would even offer me accommodation and someone to drink with (and he does drink a lot I was warned) when I was down there for the cricket. Olly had also rung his wife, who wasn’t impressed that the boys were going with a random chick they had ‘picked up’ at the golf, and things turned ugly when she overheard me laughing in the background (I’m not sure whether it was about something he had said, or Oscar was telling me, and with my voice it didn’t take much to get back to her down the phone. So we got to the sports bar, which was pretty empty, but we did manage to find out the cricket score. So I had a couple of beers with them while we waited for Oscar’s wife to turn up to take them home, with Oscar being another one of the ‘I can’t believe you’re single, where were you 10 years ago (implying before he got married, and when he was actually in is 30’s!). I drove into the caravan park at 8.30pm, after reception had closed, but was able to get the same sight and the internet reconnected. Had a late dinner and was thinking about going to bed about 11.30pm when my phone rang – Olly. Must have called me by mistake. Nope, Olly’s wife, who’d obviously had a few drinks, wondering exactly how I’d picked up her husband. I assured her there was nothing to worry about (he was 41 with kids), but she was obviously quite paranoid and extremely insecure. Decided that keeping in touch with the boys might not be such a good idea! Went to bed about midnight.
Alarm at 6.15, snooze a minute later, and then the second alarm at 6.30 (because I didn’t trust myself), which went off right next to my ear so that certainly woke me up. Shower (to feel human), breaky and finish off on the internet I was gone by 9.15 and at the course before 10am. Tee times and book to find John Daly wasn’t playing until after lunch. Spent the morning walking in between holes and groups, but no-one seemed to be able to sink a long put. Come Long John’s tee time I arrived early for a good spot, only to have his far-arse security guard stand right in front of me!!! And so much for no cameras, there were snaps going off everywhere! Followed them around to
the 12th and then headed to the car (for a cricket update) for my camera. Was going to be hard to be inconspicuous, so I had to time my shots. Decided I wanted to ‘see’ some golf instead of just being there, so headed for the 1st and watched about 8 groups, walking ahead at various points to catch up to the next group. Finished the 9th just before the Popeye and Long John came down the 18th, so found a seat and watched them as the rain started. Grabbed my brolly and headed back to the 9th where WA’s Sim had become equal leader with Allenby, and stood in the rain to watch his final hole – and still didn’t see a long put go in all day! Back to the car, chasing a cricket score while I grabbed something to eat and the radio wasn’t working... no I hadn’t had I ..... yes, I had, left the lights on all day. So, I rang the RAC, managed to get the radio happening and some commentary and ate and listened while I waited. Arrived about 45 minutes later, took a while for some charge but eventually got it all happening, and said I needed to keep it running for a bit – so I headed for the hills, literally! Out to Ferntree Gully before the climb (now dark) up to Olinda, where I found the sports ground and public toilets. Locked the doors, asleep (and stuffed) by 11.30pm.29th November – Bobo’s birthday
Woke up around 8am, still not nice outside. Quick check of the car park to see if a thousand kids were there for morning sport – couldn’t see any. Excellent! Then I hear a couple of kids, and a couple more – yep, cricket on this morning! Changed, breakfast and read the paper before heading back into town to walk the shops. I very carefully left my hands in my pockets! To the Pie Shop that I’d been to before in 2006 with mum and dad for a lemon tart and a cuppa – very naughty but nice! Continued browsing and found a store that I got hooked in, but did get some good chrissy presents. Back to the car loaded up and headed out to the Olinda Falls (nothing on Steavensons’) before a stop for lunch (listening to the cricket of course)
where I heated some of the chicken and pasta on the stove. Onto a picnic ground and the start of a 6.5kms walk... or so I thought. With very poor maps I was impressed when a ranger just happened to turn up with a better one. Set off, but unfortunately the track was badly marked, and the map wasn’t as much help as I thought it would be, so I did a shorter loop than expected, then ended up back where I started before heading off again. Halfway up a tiny track and my guts started to rumble. Hmmm, this was not good. About another two minutes and I knew I was in trouble. Now, going to the toilet in the bush is not something I was new at, however ‘number 2’s’ was a whole different ball game, especially when you’re in a protected area where you aren’t supposed to stray from the track. I found a section just off the track, found a big stick and dug a hole (sorta) about 100mm I guess – took my mind off my guts anyway!!!! Did my business (yep, think lunch may have been in the fridge a day or two longer than it should have) and luckily had some toilet paper in my bag (always prepared!!!). Continued on, and found a gravel road that was marked on the map so followed that, but thinking about it afterwards went right when I should have gone left. Whilst waiting to take a photo someone else happened to walked past – what a coincidence I thought. Walked on and began to wonder where I was, with little signage. Finally came across some more signs, although they didn’t make sense, and one was broken. I stood for about 10 minutes trying to work it out, until the same guy I’d seen earlier came past. ‘You aren’t lost are you’, which happened to be just after I was trying to work out where the sun was, so I could establish a direction. ‘Kinda’. So we then both spent the next 10 minutes trying to work out the map (and established the map was crap) before deciding there were two ways I could head that would get me back to where I needed to go. I was now slightly worried about the time however, as the gates to the park shut at 5pm, and it was getting on past 4. Eventually found a track I had been on, and was in the car and heading out by 4.30pm. Down the hill with the petrol light on I figured I’d be able to roll all the way down to the petrol station if I did happen to run out, which I didn’t. Filled up and for the first time all trip payed less than $80 for a full tank – Praise that economic crisis! Headed to the Ferntree Gully Hotel, where Diesel was playing that night. Yep, still tickets available, doors open at 8pm - perfect! Now, I was in need of a shower, so back to Millie to find the nearest pool, a 50m facility which didn’t close until 8pm – magic! Had a great swim (by myself) before having a shower and doing half my makeup and leaving at 7.55pm. Finished my makeup in the car before finding subway just across the road from the pub. Rocked in about 8.45pm and bought a drink and tried to ‘blend’ with the crowd, finding a bench to lean on. Was a bit over dressed (even in jeans) for the locals, although there were some ladies who obviously were out to impress... mutton/lamb if you get my drift. Diesel was amazing! I squeezed my way through when he came on to the front of the crowd (the benefit of being by yourself) and spent the next two and half hours rocking away to Diesel (and drooling over the drummer). Even managed to score one of his guitar picks, actually picked up two, but gave one away. Awesome!!! Got back to George, and found the only Diesel song on my ipod, and played it as loud as the stereo would allow me to, without it distorting. Decided to head back towards the golf, and having spotted that ablution block the day before in Oakleigh South I headed for that. Arrived and found that the parking lot was locked up, however there was the entrance to a construction site and the park, and being a Sunday they were unlikely to arrive before I left, so I should be right. Locked the doors and went to sleep.30th November
Where am I – oh that’s right, the side of the road. Alarm going off was not pleasant at 7am. Trek over to the ablution block before coming back for breakfast, and having someone rock up in the car park – what the??? It was the cleaners for the ablutions, so I got changed and waited for the knock, but they did their thing and left, and I was gone by 7.45am in the 400 metre drive around the corner to the golf course. Packed my backpack and headed in, grabbing a hot chocolate and the paper and caught up on some news in the sun – very relaxing! Decided I should do some walking, so did the back 9 holes, but this time waited for groups to play through. Then came across a guy who was having some really bad luck, with his tee shot crossing the other fairway, so he played another ball, only to find his first one under one of the carts. Spoke to the officials and got the cart moved, and did play a great recover shot to get back onto the (right) green). On the next hole ended up in the trees on the left just short of the green, and behind one of the big signs they have around the place. Now I would have asked for a drop, because it looked a bit close to me, but he didn’t, and played the half shot and heard it go ‘thunk’ as it hit the tree he was playing around and disappeared. Turned out it had hit the tree and with his caddy standing about 15 metres back towards the fairway had ended up in a pocket of his golf bag. Back to the officials again, two shot penalty and that ruined his day with only 1 hole to go. Finished the 18th and went into the pro shop for a look, which also happened to have a tv, although I couldn’t get a cricket score. I positioned myself halfway down the 1st fairway for the leaders to play through, Allenby and Sim, and with the ‘mobs’ followed them, and the group in front, around for the first few holes. Set myself up in the stands at the back of the par 3 hole and watched about 5 groups play through, getting and giving cricket updates (good job Haddin and Pup) and finding out we’d lost the rugby to France (what the?). Once the leaders had played through I relocated to the end of the 18th hole and found a spare seat next to two blokes. What happened next was a rather bizarre turn of events. The bloke next to me, who I found out to be Olly, decided it was time for a beer, and asked his mate, Oscar, if he would also like one. For some strange reason he then turned to me and said ‘would you like a beer too’. ‘Sure’ I replied without much thought. ‘Really?’ ‘Well if you’re going to buy me a beer then I’ll have one’. So Olly went to buy the beers and Oscar introduced the two of them, and we sat and watched the guys play the final hole. It was close, with a guy named Fraser coming from no-where after having a 7 under par on the opening nine that day. Pampling was through not much later, also having a good day and ended up tied with Fraser at the top of the order. Sim had dropped off the pace early, and Allenby was overcome with emotion on the last hole after having terrible luck with a bunker, and put himself out of contention, and with his sick mum following around in a cart he was unable to win her the championship he had promised. Pampling and Fraser were then tied for first, and headed back out to the 18th for what turned out to be 3 extra holes before a winner could be established, but not without some magnificent golf and recovery shots. Pampling won, just as the weather looked like it was going to break, and whilst we had been cheering for Fraser I really wasn’t concerned on the winner, provided they were Aussie. We watched the presentations, and as the boys had no plans (but were keen for another beverage or two) I offered them a lift to anywhere on the way back to Chelsea Heights, which was where we ended up, at the hotel within spitting distance of the caravan park. The trip was rather interesting though, with Olly in the back seat ringing people he knew across Australia to explain what was going on, including Macca from Hobart (every ones best mate)who would even offer me accommodation and someone to drink with (and he does drink a lot I was warned) when I was down there for the cricket. Olly had also rung his wife, who wasn’t impressed that the boys were going with a random chick they had ‘picked up’ at the golf, and things turned ugly when she overheard me laughing in the background (I’m not sure whether it was about something he had said, or Oscar was telling me, and with my voice it didn’t take much to get back to her down the phone. So we got to the sports bar, which was pretty empty, but we did manage to find out the cricket score. So I had a couple of beers with them while we waited for Oscar’s wife to turn up to take them home, with Oscar being another one of the ‘I can’t believe you’re single, where were you 10 years ago (implying before he got married, and when he was actually in is 30’s!). I drove into the caravan park at 8.30pm, after reception had closed, but was able to get the same sight and the internet reconnected. Had a late dinner and was thinking about going to bed about 11.30pm when my phone rang – Olly. Must have called me by mistake. Nope, Olly’s wife, who’d obviously had a few drinks, wondering exactly how I’d picked up her husband. I assured her there was nothing to worry about (he was 41 with kids), but she was obviously quite paranoid and extremely insecure. Decided that keeping in touch with the boys might not be such a good idea! Went to bed about midnight.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment