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Actually this the the blog for the 1st Nov but we didn't write it until 2nd - wifi is much more difficult to find down under than Vietnam.
Picked up the car around 11am and headed off in the direction of Phillip Island. As predicted the weather was not the best but nothing you can do there. On the tram to the hire car we debated if we should go back to the apartment to get our shorts and swim ware, then in the car office decided against it as we watched the hail and rain bounce off the windows and pavement. All the ladies dressed for the Melbourne races in their short dress and fascinators were also bouncing down the pavements blown by the gale force wind. Decided against shorts and started our trip in typical English summer weather clothing, of jeans, tee shirts with hoodies and raincoats. Good call.
First point of call was a town called Sorrento. Lovely place and I am sure we would have spent little more time there if the weather was better, I kid you not we drove for 1 1/2 hours without rain and as soon as we stepped out of the car it poured. Run up the high street looking for shelter and food and eventually found a cafe / bakers where David enjoyed his first Ozzy pie, an award winning pie at that, he was in heaven. The shop was looking for summer staff, David was tempted but due to the poor climatic conditions he decided not to apply for the post. "I can get wet working in Gregg's in Whitley"
After our late lunch headed off to a small wildlife park. Seen a few parrots and other native birds, dingos, kangaroos, wallabies and koalas. We hand fed the wallabies and kangaroos and averted our eyes as a couple of Roos got frisky. Koalas look cuddly and cute but God there dull. The ranger (all staff like to be called ranger) told us they sleep for 18-20 hours a day. The ranger showed us a couple of young koalas who they hoped would bread, she was in one tree while her perspective mate was in another. I think the Rangers were hoping that the fornicating kangaroos next door would give them ideas. But having witnessed Roo love play, which was an awkward affair involving long tails and big feet, a different approach should be adopted.
Then off to the star attraction of the penguin parade. You have to remember they favour bleak isolated lumps of rock for their colonies and they come ashore at night. So we were huddled in the dark, wind, rain, cold spit of rock waiting for the Penguins to come ashore along with several thousand other people from all around the world. Now being Brits we are used to having fun in inhospitable conditions but others were less experienced and so impatient. The Penguins started to arrive and despite being told to stay seated by the staff and local visitors, there was a stampede for the front. We felt sorry for the Penguins or would have if we could see them. Gave up on sitting in the dark and cold rain to walk back to the car and suddenly there were loads on Penguins right next to us and they are very cute trying to waddle uphill surrounded to overexcited tourists. Sorry to photos were allowed.
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