And here I was thinking nothing interesting had ever happened on my birthdate…

Elm Farm Ollie (known locally as “Nellie Jay”) was the first cow to fly in an airplane, doing so on 18 February 1930. On the same trip she also became the first cow milked in flight. This was done for scientists to observe midair effects on animals, among other reasons.

Not satisfied with these feats, the people who milked her put the milk into paper cartons and parachuted them to fans waiting below.

PS. What “other reasons”?

I’m house-sitting at the moment, and feeding the cats that belong to the house. One of the cats is ignoring me, but the other welcomed me as its new overlord as soon as it realised I would be feeding it.

Meanwhile, back to the weekend adventuring – this was camp on Monday night. It’s on Mount Ramsay on Wilson’s Prom, the granite boulders are at the summit, and provided excellent dinner tables, as well as sun lounges.

Well it wasn’t particularly epic for me. In fact I don’t really know what they were complaining about. It was a bit of a bumpy ride from my backpack though.

This was my ascent of Mount Ramsay in Wilson’s Prom. There was a lovely view from the summit, although it was a little cold.

Went out to play in the snow today :)

There was a slight change of plans after realising the weather would be horrible for sea kayaking, and that there would in all likelihood be a reasonable amount of snow at Mount Baw Baw. We like the snow.

However, I would have preferred a late season this year, so I could theoretically get my thesis written and then go off and play in the last of the snow. I suppose 1) The season could still end up finishing late, or 2) The snow running out could encourage me to magically get my thesis written sooner (hah!)

A long (long) Easter weekend was spent at Blackheath, in the Blue Mountains. The weather and climbing were both lovely, and the old house we rented for a week was interesting, particularly with 15 people staying in it. A sample of our adventures in the photos below. As per usual, when the most climbing was being done, there was no photographic evidence. Conclusion from the trip – Sydney climbers have it pretty good when it comes to quality rock nearby (also some other conclusions about Sydney being warmer, but Melbourne being a nicer city to live in, or something like that).

 
Helen manages the reachy crux on the appropriately named Pommy Filth (19), Mount York

 
Samantha belays Dave on Noodle (15), Mount York

 
Hannah slabs it up at Porters Pass

 
More blue skies as Ness does the first ascent of a newly bolted 18 at Mt Piddington

 
Jackie contemplates the crimpy crux of Cutopia (23) at Porters Pass

 
Jesse laughs in the face of those who climb without class

I gaze out over the Blue Mountains escarpment. This was a quiet trip for me, of lazing by cliff walls in the sun, and contemplating my fur.

Distribution from small selected sample (people who live in my house):

Arapiles – 1
Moonarie – 1
Blue Mountains – 3

Blue Mountains wins! I’ll be back in a week :)

So close…. damnit.

NOTE- To those of you who would mock my van, I’m referring to the odometer, not the speedometer.