The House(s) of Fran_mart

 We packed up and were outathere by 0800 hours.  Unfortunately, as I drove off a warning light with a depiction of a tyre appeared.  On consulting the manual, which - unlike that for our previous Jetta - is useful, it was suggesting low tyre and a visit to a dealer.  Fortunately there was a Mazda Dealer in South Melbourne so we visited there.  The reception folk realised - after a very little guidance - that we had an urgent issue and investigated the issue returning the car, but not the nail that had stuck in the front tyre, before 10 am.  So we set off again. This began by visiting a typically confusing intersection to get on to the M1.  I am sure Vic Roads recruit their traffic designers from psychotic rodents that have failed maze running. Going through the Domain Tunnel was the usual slot-car racing experience (with bonus b-double).  The green lights running down the side of the tunnel were new! Heading out, Frances took over the right hand s...

 The business today was going to the Western Treatment Plant (WTP) near Werribee.  I am not sure how big the place is, but its huge.  We often do 60 km on the tracks in there.  Today started off with what could be called Average weather.  Possibly a step down, to Ordinary.  It was still raining when we left our accommodation in Rosslyn St.  The first image is Spenser St, but the small camera didn't like the low level of light: at 0800 hrs it was still barely light. I think these next images are somewhere over the Westgate Bridge but still manky. The rain stopped just before the the Point Cool turnoff, but the temperature still hovered around 8C. It was good to get Bird of the Day done with early.  These 3 Brolgas were seen from Point Wilson Rd, before we actually got into the Plant. We got a few birds in the T-section ponds but it was so unpleasant out in the wind we didn't get out of the car.  Touring the Western Lagoons a highlight was a fl...

 There is an old saying about Melbourne " If you don't like our weather, wait 5 minutes and it will change."  There is an underlying optimistic view that the change will improve things.  I am not sure that that the weather did change much on June 17, but if it did, it didn't improve greatly. We began the morning with a visit to the Queen Vic Markets.  The area is being rebuilt, presumably to give more money to developers, and keep members of the CFMEU off the streets.  No sign of any improvement for shoppers!  Being a weekend all the purveyors of tatty t-shirts etc were in situ but we ignored them and got some groceries.   On the way back to our accommodation we passed these houses on the street to the North of Flagstaff Gardens. I will not say they are houses of ill repute, since they may have a very good reputation as purveyors of negotiable affection. We then went to Albert Park, where a Black-tailed Nativehen had been seen recently. ...

 We started by driving to Westgate Park.  Our satnav failed somewhat on this as it took us to point 1 where there was a bus stop and an entry, but nowhere to park.  We ignored a few "no entry" signs at the Boeing premises until we could turn round and worked our way over to point 2 which was the actual entrance. The Park has an active Friends group.  We saw several of the Earth Series Sculptures. These artworks by Lyn Moore are made from natural materials. Work was happening under the bridge (the red patches are workers).  These would have be amongst the worst working conditions I have seen: many metres above the ground; enclosed; horrendous traffic noise. I was unsure whether the full image of the bridge .... .. or the cropped version was better, so have included both. Another shot relating to the bridge pylon, from 0750 on 19 June. A view of the lake. A pleasant place to visit but not helpful for Bird A Day purposes.  We returned to the apartment and deci...