Werribee Open Range Zoo (and a little bit of poker)
Let’s get the silly stuff out of the way first. I played the Main Event of the Aussie Millions on Tuesday. I got up bright and early, spent two hours working out in the gym, came in ready to go and was out in about 2 hours flat. I guess that is the bad news. The good news is they announced a $10K buy-in HORSE event on Saturday. So I have something to do pokerwise before I leave. And I love HORSE 
So now on to the fun stuff. Today I woke up kind of late. I was up very late chatting with Shannon before she left town. We ended up talking for like 4 hours and I didn’t get to bed till after 3 am. So when I woke up at 9 I didn’t feel like working out at all and went up to breakfast to tell Karen that. But then I decided that made me an asshole so I got my butt into the gym and did a good 40 minute ellyptical workout. i would have done more but I was pressed for time. I am proud I at least did that though instead of giving in to the urge to let my fat butt off the hook.
The reason I was pressed for time was that Erik, Gina and I were meeting at noon to go to the Werribee Open Range Zoo. Ok, so if anyone ever gets to Melbourne this is a must. The zoo is a lot like the smaller version of the San Diego Wild Animal Park. We took a private jeep tour with a ranger around and got to drive right into the habitats of the animals. WOW! How could a day when a white rhino just wanders up to the jeep to check you out be bad? We saw camels, giraffes, rhinos, hippos, lions, cheetahs, elands, wallabies, and zebras to name just a few. The animals live in habitats that recreate their natural habitats and are basically just wandering around. So they really do come right up to the jeep when you are driving around with the ranger. Well, the hippos and lions and cheetahs don’t. They are in separate enclosures. But we still got to see those pretty up close, just at a safe enough distance. I can’t recommend this more highly.
The only down side to today was that it was another day where I really missed my kids because they would have loved it today. It is definitely bittersweet when i do these totally fun things that I know my kids would die to do. I really enjoy the experience but am so sad I didn’t get to share it with them. Just another reason to make sure I get back here with the kids at some point.
Oh and then there is also that I have been away from Joe so long now too. It is a double whammy for me this trip and I have another one coming up in February to London where Joe and the kids can’t come either. I will be happy at the end of February when I ge to stay put for a while. I like nothing better than just being at home with everyone. Not to say I don’t love Melbourne. Not to say I am not grateful for the traveling I get to do and the places I get to experience. I do and I am. But I miss my kids and Joe. Terribly.
On a brighter note, Karen, Gina, Erik, Steve Z, Dan Harrington and I all went to what was the best vegetarian restaurant I have ever eaten in tonight. it was call Veggie Bar on Brunswick street in Melbourne. I had a vegan pizza that was out of this world. Put that on your list of must dos in Melbourne. I think I am going to go back and eat there again tomorrow night.
Tomorrow morning is my long training run. I am going to try to do 12 miles tomorrow. Then if Karen can change her flight and stay a couple of extra days I think we might go to Werrebee Gorge to go hiking. Then I might go to a concert tomorrow night, Sufjan Stevens. Fun times
