Sun, Sand, and Ice cream Vans.

[DJ Downunder]

Today I did my first ride for 08.

I almost pulled the pin on my ride today because of the extreme heat..It's over 40C again today..that's over 100F.

I noticed on my computer that an afternoon sea-breeze was coming in off the bay..but with the city and suburbs being so hot the cool wind gets hot before it reaches our house (in the outer suburbs)..and also the hills where I was going to ride...So it was off to the beach for a ride along beach road.

The traffic was bad heading toward the beach..It seems everyone else had the same idea..I didn't mind getting stuck behind this little beauty.



My first stop was a city beach to see what damage had been done with all the New Years eve partying going last night..I parked my bike..I couldn't wait to get my jacket off..and I asked my friends 'the brown skin guys' to watch my bike while I went for a walk along the beach.



I found heaps of this....The buggers!



I got my gear back on and headed off..but stopped again just down the road to check out the action.



This is the south end of the city beach.



Just checking out the action on the sand.



I was just checking out the little puppy on the beach..that's all.



Next beach not far down the road.



It seems like every beach has an ice cream van...and when it's this hot..how can you resist..but resist I did.



Next beach is the famous Brighton beach.



Yes more ice cream vans...oooh it was sooo tempting..even with the cool breeze off the water it's still stinkin' hot.



Another beach a little further on.



This is looking back the other way.



Wouldn't you know it..another ice cream van.



I'm not sure I could resist it any more...mmmmmmmm!...Ice cream!..(please no one photo shop this pic )



Another pic looking back at the city buildings in the distance.



I've passed this road many times and never been down it..I wonder if there's more ice cream vans?



No..no ice cream vans..but there was this little jetty.



This is an old favorite windsurfing spot..Rickets point.



Looking further south..and it looks like the beaches go on forever.



More ice cream vans....very tempting...mmmmm!..smoothies!



Can't show Aussie beaches without showing beach cricket...Someone please tell her to keep both hands on the bat...That's just not cricket!



Mmmmm!..More ice creams.



Also can't show Aussie beaches without showing seagulls...They're everywhere...Here's some waiting for someone to buy some hot chips.



Fly away...I pretended to throw them a chip.



Nearby was this old brick shed painted on this side with Abo art...Can I say abo?



Another side had this...I forgot to check the other two sides.



Time to head off home..But not without a quick stop at the Mentone Hotel for a nice big cold coke..It overlooks the beach at Menton..Great pub.



Cheers guys..and happy new year.

DJ

[mad1150]

Thanks DJ, I was waiting for a report from you!

In North/Central IL, we've had 3 days of snow now with no sign of the sun. Supposed to get down to 2F (-16C) tonight and windy.

I sure wish we could swap a little weather to even it all out a little.

[sandrider]

DJ, I just spent 6 days in Melbourne with my daughter. Today I take the bike in for inspection and maybe THEN I'll be able to get it registered. Melbourne is absolutely lovely and you have some first class roads to ride!

[cruiser]

At long last, another great DJ report!

Fantastic shots of summer down-under and in stark contrast to the freezing weather here in Germany.... thanks mate!

[GypsyRR]

Fun report, DJ. The beaches look great there - and so did the ice cream. Do the ice cream trucks play the same loud annoying song over and over and over and over again like they do here?

[Ian]

Thanks DJ - nice little show n tell, reminds me of the South Coast and how i miss corners

[sjbmw]

Nice job DJ.
It's very cold here. You help us.

Oh, here, we call that soft machine ice cream "Custard".


The most famous ice cream truck in the USA is ...







Mr. Softee!!

[DJ Downunder]

Thanks guys..We have a long Summer often starting about October and ending about May...(offically Dec to Mar).

Sandrider..You should have given me a call when you were in town..Lets hope you get your bike on the road soon..Did you come over via the GOR. (great ocean road)?

GypsyRR..Those ice cream vans that are parked don't have any music playing but I remember as a a kid they used to cruise the streets and it was the best sound in the world.. ..(to a kid)..We don't seem to get them doing that any more.

sjbmw...I never thought you would call soft ice cream custard... ...What do you call custard then?..

Your two links didn't work for me..but I did google it..so I see what you mean.

The most famous Aussie ice cream vans were Mr Whippy...but I don't see them much anymore.

btw...Those Melbourne bay beaches go on for more than a hundred miles and I only showed less than ten miles worth.

And then there's the ocean beaches...They do go on forever..

I'll do some more rides soon..so you'll have to put up with more silly photos..

DJ

[iowabeakster]

Thanks DJ, I was going to request a beach report. You must have read my mind. Next time try eating the ice cream, it's even better than wearing it.

[Just-Beeming]

Thanks DJ

Your heat is a treat....to the rest of us in the cold part of the world.

Next time you are down there, wish the brown men of St. Kilda a happy and healthy new year.


Ice cream is good!

Carol

[Boxerboy]

http://www.mrwhippy.com.au/index1.htm

I still get the occasional ice cream van around my place, but not as regularly as it used to happen.

Mr. Whippy has been franchised out of the game I think...I haven't seen a real Mr. Whippy for years.

A couple of years back, an ice cream operator here in Melbourne was charged and convicted of murdering a business opponent that had driven thru "his turf". Tough business the soft serve business!

[sillyjax]

DJ -- I am green with envy that you are riding now!!!! It is a sloppy wet mess here in Oregon right now.

Sweatmark and I are considering a trip to New Zealand next year with our riding companions -- any chance you would be available??? Perhaps we should consider Australia instead?

Leave Feb 2009 open and we will give you a shout. Any ideas on great rides (we are considering a moto-tour) for a week are much appreciated!!

Take care and enjoy yourself and that ice cream of yours!

Jacquie

[Max Continuous]

Thanks DJ

I always enjoy your posts! Great pics.

It is -13 here in Canada today, ya bugger!

[taosports]

I'm so jealous DJ.

It's pouring down rain right now in the SF bay area with a serious of storms set up to drench us for the next 4-5 days.

No riding here.

[Buckster]

AAHHHH...fun in the sun!
Thanks for the report!
I did a polar bear run on New Years day with about 25 people.
Good times and I love my heated grips!!

[DJ Downunder]

Thanks for the comments guys..and gals.

Next time you are down there, wish the brown men of St. Kilda a happy and healthy new year.

Just-Beeming...I did that just today.

BTW...They were very impressed that a girl could ride a big bike like mine..and they said Hi back..and hope you also have a good one.

Oh yeah..I took this pic today also..Four eighty odd year olds..and one fifty year old that thinks he's still only twenty one...

DJ

[Just-Beeming]

Great Picture....
Your future is so bright...you just gotta wear shades!

Wow, DJ, If you keep working out you... could look as good as the St Kilda Brown Team.

Brian, Martin, Louie, Tony and Harry and .... DJ

I am Riding the R, Riding the F 650 and can't wait to ride the K1200 R when it gets here....Tell them not to believe what they see on TV..... tell them all 50 year old women in the United States are like this.

Right GypsyRR?, Sillyjax?





is that a rug?

[GypsyRR]

Tell them not to believe what they see on TV..... tell them all 50 year old women in the United States are like this.

Right GypsyRR?, Sillyjax?

I don't know yet, but I sure hope so.

[mnnden]

DJ, I really enjoyed your ride, I can't wait for the weather to change here. Great pictures, Den

[Daryl_stamp]

Thanks DJ, great report as always.
When I was in the Navy, I remember the Mediteranian women usually only had one (small) piece bathing suits.

My in-laws think Americans are uptight ('fur klempt' or inhibited). Are Aussies as modest as Americans?

DLS