18th August.

Still a long flight and arrived in Melbourne both suffering from night shift trauma. Into the duty free where a couple of purchases made then to customs. No waiting in the line with the new passport. Just scan it and receive a ticket and then off to the I.D. station where insert the ticket and stand in front of the face recognition camera and off you go. Found the packs already going round and round so into line and quickly checked. Packs not search this year as when asked told them that we were held up last year when they washed the tent pegs and ground sheet so this year we made sure everything was clean of dirt.
Out into the Melbourne weather which was only about 8 degrees but we found to be refreshing rather than cold. On to the sky bus and into Southern Cross terminal and a short walk to the Ibis Motel in Little Bourke Street. Lucky for us they had a room available straight away so we were in bed by 9.30am with the alarm set for 5.30pm. Slept straight through.
Up and off and met Felicity in Collins Street and caught a tram to Richmond where James had booked a table at a pub. Had a lovely steak for under 7 dollars, yes that's right. Said goodby to James and back into the city where we were still hungry so had desert and coffee with Felicity. Said goodby to her and after midnight before we were in bed and asleep.
Home tomorrow on the train to Ballarat then the bus to Hamilton. Looking forward to it.