18 August 2010-Today was the best day of the trip. The bikes were ready at 9:00 with new oil and sparkplugs, so after a good breakfast of poached eggs, bacon, and toast (Australian bacon is a combination of what Yanks call Canadian bacon, and American bacon, and seemingly is about 95 fat free – and delicious!) we saddled up and headed out. It was 10 C (50 F) but we were rugged up and warm. We went about 100 Km’s west on the Princes Highway toward Melbourne, then headed north in rain 65 Km’s through beautiful old growth forest of large and tall trees to the town of Healesville. We dropped off our gear there and went a few Km’s west to Tarrawarra Abbey, a Cistercian (Trappist) Monastery. I volunteer at the Trappist monastery outside Lafayette, Oregon, and had been deputized by the Abbot Peter and monks there to relay their greetings to Tarrawarra if we were able to visit. We did, and what a wonderful time we had! We were warmly and generously greeted by two very kind and most fascinating Australian men, Abbot David, and the Guestmaster, Fr. Bernard. First they offered us tea, coffee, and biscuits, and we then spent the next several hours in a discussion of everything Australian, as it related to the world, the Church, history, politics, suggested readings, and mutual friends, interrupted quite frequently by gales of laughter that must have shaken the walls. The Rule of St. Benedict, which the Cistercians follow, indicates that they are to treat all visitors as if the visitor was Christ Himself. I can assure you, He would not have been better received, and treated more royally. Sue was delighted to have spent the afternoon talking with two AUSTRALIAN men. As we left Abbot David admonished me to give him high Marks to Abbot Peter – I don’t believe higher marks would have been possible! Although I couldn’t change Abbot David’s mind about George W., I think I convinced him to visit Oregon if he has the chance. What a wonderful day! The only disappointment was that we were not able to stay at the Abbey for Vespers and an evening Mass since they started at dusk, and that is the time kangaroos are noted to be up and hopping onto the roads. Hopefully, next time….