Wed, 18th Mar, 2015 Lilydale Falls Reserve to Old Mac’s Farm, Norwood (City Park sightseeing)

Warmer night 22 degrees and rain all night. Just light drizzly stuff.

Slow start to morning. Thinking of Grant & Tracy today as Grant has his operation in Brisbane.

Rang radiator chap in Launceston and he is busy today so said to come in Thursday. Rang around trying to get a replacement radiator or maybe we will freight our old one down so we can still have a car. This radiator will have to be sent to PWR in Yatala, Qld so that will take a couple of weeks so they can confirm if they are replacing it. Bit of a pain but better to get it sorted under warranty.

Said by to Noel & Anita and then packed up the van and headed off. Through Lilydale “Village of Painted Poles”. Got a photo of a couple as we drove through.

Nice drive even though it was overcast but not raining at least.

Passed the turn off to Hollybank Treetops Adventures. I will do this for my birthday when we have a fine day.

Found a site next to where we were last time at Old Mac’s Farm.

Set up, had some lunch then headed into town. Steve wanted to have look at the radiator the chap had in there and talk to him about what to do. Decided to get Jon to get our old radiator and get Brian to freight it down so we can have a car down here while they send the radiator away.

Stopped at City Park to see the monkeys. Grand entrance beside old Government Cottage.

Info about the Children’s Fountain – zoomed in on it in its new position.

We had a great time watching the Japanese Macaque monkeys.

There are over 20 of them now and they were very family orientated spending a lot of time grooming each other. One would just walk up and lay down in front of another one so they could check it for fleas.

There were a couple of cute babies.

A couple of the monkeys were eating the bark off the logs.

Took lots of videos. Shame they weren’t playing on the ropes.

Nice garden around the monkeys.

John Hart Conservatory. Lots of lovely flowers.

Wandered past the ponds – lots of ducks and little ducklings (so cute).

Some info about the park area.

Old photo of the entrance, circa 1905.

Steve had a drink from the Children’s Fountain.

Went back to the monkeys as they were making a racket. One was chasing another around but I didn’t get there in time to video them. When we got there they just sat down again!!

Headed back to the van and had a drink with WA neighbours, Pete & Marg. Ian, who owns the place, came by to collect the $10 fee so we got the story of the place. He leased the land 12 years ago to fix up the wetland area and possibly buy it after a couple of years. He did buy it and then keep filling it and over time made three ponds, had a petting farm and strawberries etc. But Council made that hard so he put in the restaurant and then opened up the land for people to park their vans etc on. He closes for the winter then heads over to the mainland to travel. He is on a winner here.

Sent some texts to our travelling friends to see where they all were.

Rick texted to say Kaylene’s dad, Bill, has taken a turn for the worse. Thinking of them all at this difficult time.

Dark clouds have blown over quickly with a strong wind but the sky is clearing. Lots of lovely colour in the sky as the sun prepares to set.

Tracy texted to say Grant out of surgery after 12 hours. Major operation but he had come through it well and was in ICU. Big recovery ahead though. Wishing him all the best.