Navigating the public transport network.

Today we are on a schedule. We needed to get to Amy’s place by 10:30 … and all by public transport. Those who know me would be aware that public transport isn’t really my thing, but it wasn’t going to work logistically to get Amy to come and pick us up. So our plan was to take a tram from Fitzroy into the city and then get a train out to Chelsea (where Amy and Todd live). I woke up showered, turned on the ABC News to a story that a truck had torn down some tram power lines and some services were affected. Immediately, I thought our ambitions were doomed, but our number 11 tram was good to go. We walked around the corner and had some yummy breakfast before embarking on the journey. With the tram journey completed we walked along to the iconic Flinders Street Station.

It is about a 45 minute train trip from the city to Chelsea, which is about 30 km east of the city. It is a seaside suburb with one of Melbourne’s most popular beaches and a good mixture of modern and older homes. The area was originally populated in the early 1900s and has a well established strip of cafes and shops. Amy and Todd recently bought a family new 3 bedroom and 3 bathroom townhouse which will serve them well. Their dog, Axle also approves.

Jess arrived last night and seemed to have some hay fever or a cold that she’s hoping to shake off prior to Friday’s wedding. So the five of us piled into the car and went to the wedding venue. It is the Rob Dolan winery, perched on a hill over looking the vineyard. We had a few discussions about the weather possibilities… predicting weather in Melbourne 3 days out seemed rather futile to me. We rehearsed a couple of different options, for different weather and I thing Amy is feeling just a little calmer about the day.

We came back to Chelsea and has some lunch where I managed to eat a lasagne big enough to feed a small family, prior to getting back on the train to Melbourne. It was such a long journey that Deb needed a little snooze. A few messages on the trip had us meeting up with Ben and we went to ‘Crafty Squires’ for a few pints. Ben’s partner Stephanie joined us when she finished work and we decided on some Chinese for dinner. Ben recommended Hutong Dumpling Bar, just off Little Bourke Street in Chinatown. We had a great meal, although I didn’t really need any more food, but I did keep my blog promise of ‘No Food Pictures’ today!

Tomorrow we’ve got a free morning, before heading back to Chelsea to do craft things for the wedding. I expect that means that that Todd and I will have a few beers, while the crafty stuff gets done by the ladies.

Until tomorrow!