Walked into Cowes along the beach to use the internet, then went to hire bikes to go and explore the island. We set off, cycling about 8km up and down the rolling (and tiring!) terrain until we reached the Phillip Island winery. We tasted the wines on offer, some grown and made locally, some just made locally, buying 1 to take back. The woman at the winery was surprised at how far we intended to cycle, we then realised we didn’t have any lights to enable us to come back in the dark, after watching the local penguins come in at dusk which we intended to do.
We amend our itinerary and from the winery head, via the GP circuit, over to the koala conservation centre, where we get up close and personal with a rather large koala as he decides to cross the board walkway in front of us! Spot some more koalas in the trees – mostly they don’t seem to do much. The mossies are huge so we douse ourselves in mossie spray.
With sore behinds, we remount our bikes and set off back to Cowes to hand in the bikes (about 12 hours earlier than planned, although unlike in Japan where we handed the car back early and were given a part refund, we don’t get offered a partial refund here!! We have lunch, and work out that we have cycled around 20km, which isn’t bad.
After lunch, Lou wants to look in a nearby clothes shop, much to Ieuan’s delight, however as we get there, who should emerge from the shop but MotoGP rider Loris Capirossi! Lou grabs a couple of pics and Ieuan waits until he gets off the phone then pounces to request a photo with him, which Lou duly takes. Loris goes back into the clothes shop and Lou shops nearby for a bit, before we move on to a cheap hardwareshop for van provisions. Lo and behold, we then spot Loris in the same shop as us, Ieuan pounces for a second time, asking him if he felt guilty about winning a previous title at the expense of punting his teammate off his bike during a race! Loris said no, it’s all about winning! (He realised that I wasn't being totally serious when asking the question, (the event in question occured in 98 at the final round of the 250cc championship in Argentina and was crucial))
That evening, we go to some rock formations called the Nobbies, which have hundreds of gulls nesting on them, and thousands of tiny gull chicks, then on to the “Penguin Parade” where you can watch penguins coming in from the sea to nest on shore. We waiting half an hour or so in the “VIP viewing are” before seeing hundreds of Little Penguins (about 30cm high) make their way cautiously across the beach and up an old river bed to the sand dunes and burrows behind. (http://www.penguins.org.au/content.asp?pg=54) We also spot a wallaby on the hillside nearby.
We drive home in the darkness, make tea, play cards and retire for then night.
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