The Great Cretaceous Walk Takes a Rest

About six weeks ago, I shared the happy news of our discovering dinosaur tracks at Milanesia Beach, Victoria, which turned out to be the largest collection of polar dinosaur tracks known in the Southern Hemisphere. Those tracks were found during the month-long excursion (May-June 2010) along the Victoria coast that inspired the start of this blog. And although we found heaps more trace fossils, the tracks constituted out most important scientific find. So even though we have a but more science to do, this is as good of a time as any with this blog to say, “Catch you later” and make a transition both geographical and temporal.

The Great Cretaceous Walk has been very, very good to me. But it’s time to take a pause in all of the walking and talking about the Cretaceous of Australia, and look closer to home (Georgia) and at this time in the present (otherwise known as “now”). Photo by Tom Rich, and taken on May 28, 2011 (Day 2) of our month-long field survey of the Cretaceous trace fossils of Victoria.

Signed, Sealed, and Delivered

While here in Australia, I've seen a few amusing signs and a few seals. So now to deliver the goods...

This one was on the t-shirts for the Dinosaur Dreaming dig in 2007, and saw it in the Museum of Victoria.

Tom Rich has this sign on his office door in the museum. Needless to say (but I'll say it anyway), he's a southpaw.


All geologists can appreciate this one.


I love the simplicity of this sign, warning people to be aware of the "killer waves" on the coast. Here are the close-ups from that one:

Looks as if the guy is waving while talking on his cell phone, too (which makes the next one all the better).

(Giggle, snicker, chortle)


This sign has so many dire warnings about what can happen to you here, you might as well stay home.


Seems as if this sign is lacking the power of dissuasion.

And now it's time for seals! We've seen two while walking along the rocky coastlines of Victoria, one adult and a young one. Here's the adult, who I smelled before spotting. And as soon as I looked at him, he barked at me.


The next one was a cute little tyke, out on her own.

Not enough cuteness for you? I took a video of her hopping back toward the ocean. Yes, I sang "Born Free" once she was in the water. What about it?



Back to paleontology and geology with future posts. Hope you enjoyed the respite!