Break Through Frost And Crack Icicles

Night falls as they ride into Moe.

We stopping? asks Sweezus.

We push on, says Gaius.

They ride past a pub. The delicious smell of three roast meats and veggies reaches their noses, as someone opens a door.

Perhaps a quick dinner stop, says Gaius.

They stop at the Moe Bottle-O Pub.

Half an hour later, they are pressing on towards Rawson.

Not everyone is happy.

There has been some debate about the direction to take after Rawson.

Let's VOTE! says Terence.

No, says Gaius. We will not take a vote. We head for the plateau proper. That means the Baw Baw National Park, not the Alpine Resort. No need to imagine what that's like!

Funner, says Terence.

More fun, says Sweezus.

See! says Terence. He agrees. Why aren't we going?

Apart from the expense and price markups, says Gaius, our quest is to find endangered frogs. We will hardly find them in an Alpine Resort full of skiiers and tobogganers.

True, says the Elegant Parrot. They will be hiding in dark moist places. They will be difficult to find. We must poke and prod. We must break through frost. We must crack icicles.....

Woohoo, says Terence. I'm doing THAT!

It's what I'm here for, says the Green Grocer Cicada. That and my Honourable Mention.

Certainly, says Gaius. I'm glad everyone has come to their senses.

Sweezus and Arthur exchange glances.

How about we just head to the resort for the night, says Sweezus. It's freezing already.

No, says Gaius. We'll camp out in the National Park, for an early start in the morning. Don't forget, time is of the essence.

Especially for me, says the Green Grocer Cicada. Although, I feel better about my existential dilemma after finishing my poem. I now see......

Me too, says Terence. I now see that dinosaur teeth have a good side and a bad side.

The pointy side being the bad side? says Sweezus.

YES! says Terence. You're RIGHT! But I didn't actually mean that. I meant....

But we are not to find out at this point what Terence meant, nor what the cicada believes to have lessened his existential dilemma.

We have reached Rawson, and a signpost.

North to Baw Baw National Park (some roads closed for winter, limited camping, no facilities).

North west to Mount Baw Baw Alpine Resort (accommodation, restaurants, downhill skiiing, snowboarding, tobogganing, ski lifts etc).

We head north, says Gaius.

And so we head north into the deep icy blackness, our bike lights dancing over low ferns and tall trees of mixed rainforest habitat lining the road......