By early April, the mornings were crisp. Coming from Portland, where summer ends in a dramatic blaze before surrendering to six months of gray, the Melbourne climate is a softer blend, with nice days sprinkled through the cooler months.
Daylight saving time ended the first weekend of April, giving us earlier sunrises and cozy evenings. The shift’s been a nudge toward more productive mornings—especially with weekly bay swims still in rotation. As the water temperature begins to drop, I’m holding off on the wetsuit for as long as I can.
Tom’s deep into training for a running event in May, which meant a spontaneous Saturday trip to the Yarra Valley's Dandenong Ranges for some hill work. The Dandenongs are about an hour east of Melbourne. While we've explored the area before, it was our first visit to Olinda.
We parked at the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden and split off: Tom at a run while I hike around Mt. Dandenong. Very hilly!
