Otways 7 Dec

Tom measuring

Tom and the block

 Dr Tom Rich hard at work on a remote Otway beach measuring a block found by Dr Tony Martin on his Great Cretaceous Walk earlier this year. Can't say too much about what's on the block until Tony writes it all up scientifically, and Dave and his team work out how to get it back to the museum in one piece (anyone have a helicopter that they want to lend us?). However, Tony is an ichnologist, so that should give regular readers some clues!

Sheep Dip!

Yesterday Mike and Pip launched their new book Sheep Dip and Other Bush Verses on Phillip Island.  Mike read some of the verses, a flying sheep ("mutton bird") was ceremonally dipped into a wading pool and Mike's sister (she's the one in the background of Pip's photo dressed as a sheep in boxer shorts) tried to teach us a bunny/lamb hop.  Email Mike at mikeosaurus@yahoo.com.au if you would like a copy.  Your lucky friends could get three great books from you this Christmas - Dinosaur Dreaming, The Artist and the Scientists, and Sheep Dip!

Mike (dressing as he did in
 his pre-Pip days!)
signs copies of the book

Pip dressed as a peacock,
a character in one of the poems

Detail of Pip's costume

Article in The Age

Check this out: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/walking-with-dinosaurs-on-victorias-jurassic-coast-a-prehistoric-paradise-20101203-18jww.html

Mike & Pip spread out in the Otways




More stuff on the outside of the
tent than could possibly fit in it?

On the fence, over the tent, everywhere!

Otway Trip Day 4




Dave the fossil legend



The museum 4WD and passengers



The limb bone



Alan draws layers

Dave and Tom discuss the limb bone



The limb bone with 5c piece



Dave photographs the limb bone
with Tom's finger for scale

Otway Trip Day 3 - Mike's team




Panorama

Mike, Pip and the shore platform

A crack in the shore platform

Mike and Rohan

Otway Trip Day 3 - Tim's team



The top of the track

Pointing to rocks

Les looks

Les looks closer

Gabi

Tim looks

Tim looks closer



Tim, Gabi and the shore platform

The path out (and yes, it was at
the top of some rather large rocks!)

Mary

Some of the rocks were a bit unusual

Les looks

Les looks some more

Otway Trip Day 2 - Mike's Team




Tom, Pat and the shore platform

Pretty strata



Alan points out the layers

The coastline is beautiful

Les and the shore platform

Footprints

Tom contemplates the terrain

Tom, Pat and the shore platform

Gabi and the shore platform

Otway trip Day 2 - Dave's Team

Sean and Tim synchronising GPSs

Dean was not going to get lost!

Dave clowns around
while Tim works

First fossil!

Second fossil!

Dave and Tim confer

Mary looks

Third fossil!

Tim on a rock

Mary looks at Dean who looks at rock

Mary and Tim

Mary in her stunning
rock-hopping gear

Trekking

Tall rock

Mary mountain goat

Wendy crosses the narrow bit

Crossing

Tim checks the cliff

Tim checking the cliff

Mary and John on the narrow bit

Two hands

Crossing the divide

John hugs the cliff

Close up of rock

The view

Trekking

Lunch

Cliff

Climbing down

Crossing pretty rocks

Oh, John

Crew at the end of the walk