We celebrated Justin's birthday last weekend by engaging in his favourite activity. No, not strip clubs (that's this weekend)... we drove as far away from the city as possible and went camping in the country!!! We left work early on Friday to drive four hours to Dunkeld where we had an 8 o'clock booking at the renowned Royal Mail Hotel - the only restaurant in this remote town but many tourists make the drive just to dine there. Winner of many awards including Two Chef's Hats (Australia's Michelin equivalent), the Royal Mail Hotel proffers three tasting menus including a vegetarian option for $100 - $150 per person as well as a bar menu. Even though each dish is dainty and elegantly served with edible wildflowers on huge plates (almost too pretty to eat), our appetites were beyond satiated by the end of the eight course meal where the last four are dessert. After feasting for two hours, we called it a night at the Sunrise on Sierra Bed & Breakfast down the street from the restaurant.
The next 
morning we chowed down on a hearty breakfast prepared by our lovely and talkative hostess from the UK at the B&B before taking off to the Grampians National Park. The Grampians boast majestic mountain ranges with breathtaking views and spectacular waterfalls - a big playground for big kids. We hiked a very strenuous 10 k Briggs Bluff Trail that could only be described as steep, slippery, and scary. Briggs Bluff is aptly named because you will be, as I was, fooled by the first 30 minutes of easy flat paved road. As soon as you pass the waterfalls, however, you're in for a treat. The rest of the trail is extremely rocky and dangerous and I often found myself on all fours trying to climb up the mountain while fighting the wind. Proper hiking shoes are mandatory as well as a light backpack with plenty of water and snacks. I was also feeling the start of a bad cold so the first hour was pretty miserable, but I toughed it out and made it all the way up to the top where we rested for a picnic. Boy was I glad I did not concede to my aching body, because as soon as we caught a glimpse of the view, we both gasped for breath for a split-second, overwhelmed and awed by the panoramic scenery (see pics) and nature's wondrous beauty. One false step - or strong wind - and we would have plunged to our premature deaths.
After the 
equally dangerous and frightening hike down, we set up camp at the Stapleton Campgrounds where we enjoyed a romantic dinner by the campfire with twenty kangaroos (or wallabees) and fifty other campers. Even though we were exhausted, we were unable to get a good night's sleep. First came the wind which kept us up with its howling, often lifting our tents from underneath. Then came the rain which woke us up in the middle of the night with the sound of heavy raindrops. Then came the sun which woke us up at dawn with its brightness seeping through. Then came the birds which woke us up in the early morning with their cacophony. We gave up trying to sleep and closed up shop instead. After stopping by an aboriginal historical art site (they drew white men stick figures) and Mackenzie Falls, we drove back home to good ole Melbourne concluding Justin's birthday celebration weekend - part 1.Aussie Phrase of the Day:
Ripper means fantastic or great.
Example: What a ripper view at the Grampians!
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