MAY 3, 2013:  The wind is really stirring up the leaves today, and I'm thankful to be sitting in a warm, comfortable office.  We had pizza from Pizza Hut for lunch, and for their first time in my life, I took my favorite pair of black shoes in to be re-soled and re-heeled.  We are looking forward to having the Wong family for creamy enchiladas on Sunday and finally found all the ingredients.  Diced green chilis aren't available here, but thankfully, we brought a few cans with us.

 It seems we can never get enough of the beach, even when the wind is blowing.  This photo was taken along the Great Ocean Road, and we commented about how warm it was, in spite of the wind.  Within 5 minutes, the temperature changed and we were freezing cold. 

 Before Elders Kirklin (pictured with pizza in his hand), Wing, and Petersen were released, we bought pizza at Costco and took to FHE.  Elder Priestley and Jacky joined in for the feast.

 This is a very crooked photo of Yvonne and Elders Snyder and Christensen when we celebrated Elder Snyder's birthday.   Note the lovely dining table and retro chairs. 

 All the girls at Gina's baptism. 

The cameras come out in full force at the baptisms, and memories are digitally captured. 

  

We are trying to see as much of Victoria as we can before we ship off to Tasmania, and Woffindens are happy to join us for PDay adventures.  This day we drove about 2 hours to Phillip Island, home of the little penguins and Seal Island.  We hadn't planned to visit Panny's Amazing Chocolate Factory, but were glad we did.  The chocolate was yummy! 

Picnic lunch while we waited for the 45 minute boat ride to Seal Island. 

 We never dreamed we would see so many seals playing/fighting in the water and lounging on the rocks.  It was a beautiful day, and the stench from the seals was blown away by the wind.  The boat captain circled around, probably for an hour, while we took photos and watched these amazing animals.

 The playful pups frolicked in the water and on the rocks, while the moms swam far into the ocean looking for food.  Occasionally those lounging on the rocks would heave their huge bodies over the sharp rocks into the water.  We were fascinated watching these magnificent  beasts. 

We learned that when sharks come near the island, the bulls, who normally avoid each other, band together, get in the water, and chase the sharks away. 

Another ocean view; this the coastline of Phillip Island

We purchased tickets for a private penguin parade experience and were happy we sprang for the upgrade.  We had a very informative private guide and were ushered to seats right on the beach.  We watched  the little birds wash up from the surf, form sort of a line, then waddle as much as 3 K to their burrows, where their offspring waited impatiently for food. 

A local elementary school built hundreds of penguin burrows that were put in the hillsides by conservation volunteers.  The penguins live in these little burrows when not fishing, when moulting, or when sitting on an egg.  The young stay in the burrows during the day. 


We'll never see a road sign like this in the USA.....



 

....nor one like this. 

They are very much creatures of habit and follow the same path to their burrows.

 Three of our favorite missionaries from the Language Zone went home in April.  We worked with these three daily while we lived in the city.  Elders Kirklin, Petersen, and Wing impacted the lives of many, and we love them.

 One of our office assignments is to make airport runs.  Generally President Lifferth likes to pick up new missionaries, but he was involved in a training this day, and we drew the lucky straw.  We took Elder Cowser to meet his new companion, Elder Chang-Tung.  New missionaries are either wasted from the long trip from Provo, or if coming from New Zealand, are relatively fresh and eager to start their new experience. 

 Another PDay adventure with the Woffindens took us to the Otway Forest and Warrnambool. In the forest, we walked along a prehistoric path and saw lots of dinosaurs.  We were glad this snake was high in the tree and seemed rather benign.

 The Otway Fly Treetop Walk goes through a rainforest on a high steel structured treetop canopy that takes you right into the treetops. 

Looking down from the top of the walkway

 

The walkway is over 600 meters long and 30 meters high. 

 The road was winding and we were almost lulled  into thinking we were driving someplace in Utah.  We remembered we were in Australia when we saw the road sign warning us to watch out for kangaroos and echidnas that might be crossing.

 Or there might be koalas sleeping in the trees.

 Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village in Warrnambool was built around 1858 and was a very lively port during that time period.  The village reminded us of "This is the Place State Park" or "Pioneer Village" at Lagoon, but was a reflection of life in a sea village.
 

 This is one of two working Warrnambool Lighthouses.  When ships enter the port at night, they line up the lights from the two lighthouses  in order to have safe passage.  Over 180 ships came to grief along the Shipwreck Coast prior to the lighthouses. 

     

        Sorry, there were no glazed donuts available.

The ocean was rough, and it was easy to see why many ships met their demise trying to find their way to Warrnambool's port.