Pam Down Under: Melbourne Cup (AU's biggest day) Kangaroo Island with Claire

More than just a horse race, Melbourne Cup day stops the nation and is a public holiday in the city of Melbourne. More than 100,000 people descend on Flemington racecourse every year creating a carnival like atmosphere to mark the occasion. The whole country comes to a standstill at 3pm on Cup day, as a new Melbourne Cup winner etches his name into the history books.

Once a year punters are out in force at spring carnival time as people all around the country like to have a flutter on the Melbourne Cup, or try their luck at a Cup sweep, and the festival atmosphere and great days racing make for one of the biggest sporting events on the Australian calendar each year.

The staff room's tables are covered with
betting envelopes and anticipation builds
throughout the day waiting for the race.
Who will be the big winners and have
enough for a fresh "cuppa" at Scoots
the next day after a Melbourne Cup
Bubbley hangover?

Children make fascinators or hats from newspaper depending
on the enthusiasm.

Some are more stylish.

The principal, Deb, is the most stylish of all. She introduces the race
and teaches a bit of racing etiquette. Classes gather in the
library to cheer for their horse.

Melbourne Cup Day coreespondes with beautiful spring
days. The jacarandas are beginning to bloom. They line the streets
throughout the cily.

Claire spotted her first Koala crossing the
road driving just a few kilometers from home.
We inched closer and closer before he
decided to climb the tree.

Claire visiting Remarkable Rocks

Not able to visit rocks without looking for a good handhold
and attempting a climb.

Cliare and I napped here-the less windy side of the rock.

and later walked down to Admiral's Arch

and stayed between tour busses to watch the
seals fighting and frockling

They were lounging or getting worked up.

We hiked down Snake Lagoon which opened to a beautiful
spot on the seaside. Claire took a "selfie". (We truly live in a
digital age. The “selfie”, has been announced by the Oxford
English Dictionary as this year’s most popular word.)

But it took lots of scrambling to get to
the coast

but it was worth it,

and once there a sign warned us of freak waves. Just after reading
it, a huge wave slammed on the formerly silent beach.

We stayed at little "Raven Cabin" It was on Vivone Bay which was
voted as Australia's best beach. Unless, like us, the mutton birds
had just finished their 12,000 mile annual migration. Many
arrived at the coast and died leaving the beach littered
in short-tailed shearwaters or Tasmanian mutton
birds as theymare sometimes known.