From Oz to Oz: Week with Grandma and Grandpa Steuk!

We've had some data and reception issues, so it's been hard to get a good enough connection to blog and keep up! We've been having lots of fun and going on many adventures, so I've got 2 weeks of pictures and info to catch up on. Stay tuned over the next few days as blog entries are a coming! Lots of pictures!

On Tuesday, March 24^th I picked up my parents (Ron and Deb) from the Melbourne airport. They arrived in the morning after about 25 hours of traveling. They were tired from the long journey. We had about an hour and a half drive back to Ocean Grove. We drove along the bay in Geelong so they could catch their first glimpse of the ocean. We also drove through Eastern Park, where they saw different kinds of birds. We also went to take a peek at the Ocean Grove Beach. It was really windy and overcast and pretty cold on the day they arrived. We stopped back at the house and Lydia and Barry greeted them. Lydia was so excited to give them hugs. I drove them through Barwon Heads and then we went to the grocery store. We went home after that and I walked up to the school to pick up the kids. Hannah and Kiernan wanted to walk home quickly so they could greet Grandma and Grandpa. We had lamb souvlaki for dinner and just relaxed and caught up on everything.

Mom and Dad, Melbourne Airport, March 24, 2015

On Wednesday, March 25^th Lydia and I took Mom and Dad to Jirrahlinga Koala and Wildlife Sanctuary. It’s the best place to see many Australian animals in a short amount of time. They loved it. Last time we went it was the weekend and there was less going on. This time the keepers were busy educating visitors and we got up close to several animals. We got to pet koalas!! It feels like wool.

Keeper talk about koalas

Grandpa and Lydia being silly

Lydia petting a koala, Jirrahlinga, March 25, 2015

Weird and hilarious story: Last time we visited this sanctuary Barry and I were shocked to hear a very loud phone ringing several times. It was loud enough that you could hear it through the whole place. At the time we just thought it was so odd. This time I kept hearing it again and one of the keepers mentioned that a parrot liked to make a phone ringing sound. I still did not think she meant the ringing we had heard as it sounded just like a phone. Come to find out…it was this parrot!! Amazing animal! Here she is (sorry-didn’t record her phone ringing sound):

Phone ringing parrot, Jirrahlinga

After Jirrahlinga we stopped at Rolling Pin Pies and Cakes to grab some meat pies for lunch. We then drove to Point Lonsdale to visit the pier. The water was calmer at Point Lonsdale Pier than I’ve ever seen. We were able to see the ocean floor from the end of the pier. We saw a banjo shark, also called a Southern Fiddler Ray swimming over the rocks. We also witnessed a guy catching a squid. The best was when a couple on the pier pointed out that there was a seal hanging under the pier. We could have watched him for hours. He was pretty entertaining. Lydia got to see him, but unfortunately Hannah and Kiernan were at school at the time. We hope to see more seals at some of the places we will visit in the coming months. Lydia was getting pretty tired and sure enough fell asleep as soon as we were in the car. We drove around and I showed Mom and Dad around Queenscliff, another quaint beach town near Ocean Grove. We ended up breaking the kids out of school early and having coffee and a snack at The Dunes Café on Ocean Grove Main Beach, while we watched the surfers catching some waves. Barry and I also went to the beach without the kids to watch the sunset. It was cold but beautiful views. Such a fun day!

Seal, Point Lonsdale Pier, March 25, 2015

Squid, Point Lonsdale Pier

Art at Ocean Grove Beach

Ocean Grove Beach sunset, March 25, 2015

On Thursday, March 26^th we relaxed a bit in the morning. Hannah and Kiernan went to school. We visited Barwon Heads Bluff and saw some spectacular views that day and then had fish and chips for lunch. Thursday evening we took my parents to Little Creatures Brewery in Geelong. It was a rainy evening, but the brewery has a nice indoor area. We shared lots of good food and drinks. Our most adventurous food for the evening was kangaroo skewers. A bit tough to chew and not very flavorful in my opinion.