Trek 100

Several cities claim to experience four seasons in one day, but I think this is most true in Melbourne. The weather here changes very rapidly from blue skies to hard rain and strong winds. Similar to Portland, the rain leaves the earth green and lush.

When we left Portland at the end of July, Tom and I packed the essentials in suitcases while the rest of our belongings and a few pieces of furniture were boxed up and shipped across the Pacific Ocean. I was warned that our container would not arrive quickly, but I genuinely believed that it would be here by the 45-day mark when we left our temporary furnished apartment in Docklands.

 

 

Fast forward another month and a half of living in an empty apartment in Abbotsford with a few kitchen and furniture items that we borrowed from friends or purchased from Kmart and Ikea. I quickly learned that online ordering is slow and expensive. Let's just say I would have done things differently had I known what I do now! Nevertheless, it was a happy day when our container arrived.

The first few weeks of work at the bike shop were challenging due to the steep learning curve, but I am feeling more at ease now. The Trek 100 is a group ride hosted by Trek stores around the world to build community and fundraise for breast cancer research. It's meant to be 100 km (62 miles), but the Melbourne stores led a handful of rides of varying distance, pace, and terrain. I joined the 65 km ride along the bay to Modialloc, where I enjoyed the sea air and learned how to cycle safely in a group. 

For Tom's 33rd birthday, I made a reservation at Smith and Daughters in Collingwood. The Chef's Table is an intimate dining and drinking experience with head chef, Josh. It was exciting to sit in front of the kitchen and watch the team move efficiently through the space. Josh served an innovative eight-course vegan dinner sourced from local farms. He encouraged us to take advantage of farmers markets, especially through spring and early summer. It was a fantastic evening, and further confirmation that Melbourne's dining experience is next level.

  

Yarra Valley

Australian daylight saving time occurs at the beginning of October--a full month ahead of the U.S. Instead of falling back, however, we turned our clocks one hour forward. Spring weather in Melbourne can be temperamental, though mostly pleasant.

 

Outside of my part-time gig at the bike shop, much of my time is dedicated to pursuing an impact-driven career. I volunteer in a research/communications role for animal advocacy nonprofits, Faunalytics and Vegan Australia. My latest interest is exploring the intersection of the animal nonprofit sector and the Alternative Protein Industry--specifically their common goal of a sustainable and ethical food system. Fortunately, the second annual AltProteins Conference was held in Melbourne this October. I volunteered to help Food Frontier host the event, which gave me access to the conference and a growing network of industry leaders across Australia and New Zealand.

 

I have met a handful of new friends online, which has allowed me to expand my community and check out more local food and watering holes. New neighborhood favorites include plant-based pub Carringbush Hotel and cafes Loosie Grind and Gary.

Victoria has a public holiday the day before the Australian Football League Grand Final Match. Tom and I used the long weekend to escape the city in a rental car. Driving on the opposite side of the road and car was its own adventure! Memories came flooding back of driving across New Zealand in 2019; my friends and I each went through a phase of turning on the windshield wipers instead of the turn signal. 

Less than an hour east of Melbourne, the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges is a beautiful area of lush rolling hills that is both wine country and rainforest getaway. The countless U-pick fruit farms remind me of Oregon's Hood River. I was very impressed by the Tesselaar Tulip Festival and its thoughtful layout and offerings.

 

 

With over 80 vineyards across the Yarra Valley, Australia's cool-climate region specializes in chardonnay, pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon, and shiraz. Sir Paz Estate is a serene oasis with quality food and wine pairings set against sweeping valley views.

 

After the farm and winery visits, Tom and I went for a short walk in the Mount Dandenong Arboretum. The 40-acre park contains a collection of maturing deciduous trees and conifers from around the world. The 3-mile hilly loop was peacefully quiet.