Plovers All Over

We have made it back to the Springs this arvo just in time for Debbie to make a 2:00pm meeting. Phew. I think it must be nap time by now but first I have had alook at the photos.  The plover action from yesterday is best seen on the video. One of their strategies is to remain perfectly still and all aligned in the same direction. You could walk passed and easily not see them.  I also have photo looking out at the  Moyne River from the neighbours house where we went in for coffee. Its amazing some of this gear doesn't break, as in an 1860's cottage, they did not make room for laptop/phone/watch/computer charging stations. I dropped a hard drive at one stage and the phone was covered in fine sand but they kept going.

Yambuk

There are secrets along the coast line that not a lot of people know about. We have found them before like Blue Johanna and Red Johanna, with their ship wreck anchors embedded in the shore line. You can add Yambuck Lake to the secret list.  This almost breaks thru to the coast but not quite, just like Lake Tyers. The surprise here was the plovers. For years the plovers at Collendina were fussed over, sites guarded, fences erected, dogs warned off etc. We saw maybe 200 plovers crossing the beach. Like the ground seemed to be moving but it was plovers. So endangered no more. The old lady sitting for hours next to the plover nest 15 yar ago doesn't need to do it.  She  can retire knowing plovers abound.

Wartime crash landing on on Lady Julia Percy Island

plovers

Sitting on the Dock of the Bay

 We have done our share of bike riding lately so for these few days we are walking everywhere. This house is central to Port Fairy. Yesterday we had lunch at Charlies which is a cafe over the top of the surf club. Good views and good hamburgers here. The beaching required a relocation further around the bay to get out of the breeze. The water temperature is good even if it is 21° air temp.  Sitting on the Dock of the Bay was a bit breezier this time but if it is wine time then it is not whine time.  This morning we walked to the lighthouse on Griffiths Island where there a lots of birds and tame wallabies. By the time we went thru town and back to the house it was 5.5 km. The Mill is a cafe with coffee in mugs compared to a few here who only do it in the takeaway cups.

East Beach

Wine Time

Well I'll be

Griffith's Light

Old Days

Port Fairy Old Town

This cottage backs onto the Moyne River. We spent late afternoon sitting on the jetty and spied our old lawyer friend two doors down in his backyard.  They rented us our first ever office space for BACS Bookkeeping in Lincoln Rd. We knew they had moved here but were never sure where.  Last night we squeezed into the Merrijig Kitchen by taking the last two seats at the bar.  This was good but pricey food in a very old Inn.  It was on the opposite corner to the Customs House where we stayed one time last century.  Back then the Merrijig was a private house and the Customs House you could stayin. Now it is switched around as the Merrijig is now a restaurant and the Customs House is a private residence.  

We walked this morning thru the Botanical Garden and the caravan park where chainsaw sculptures are everywhere.  Crossing to the beach we went as far as the Battery station then turned inland to the Moyne River and followed the yachts back to the foot bridge. From here we went into town for a bakery coffee stop and a wander around the shops. All up it was a 5km walk.

from the jetty

Tree Whale

Merrijig Bar

1860's cottage

 A newer house has been built on this block between the cottage and the river, so we don't get direct access but we have been told we can go down on the jetty. The cottage is four rooms and has been updated. There is a sign out the front that the property is for sale.  We called into Killarney where we stayed a few yar back and had lunch on the beach there before we got here. It's beer o'clock so we are waiting for some deck chairs. Shouldn't these people have everything ready.

Cadel's Ride

 We have been watching the men's race today, covering all the iconic parts we rode around yesterday.  The bike mounted video we took has proved a bit tricky, as a lot of it was taken as timplapse which leaves small gaps but gives the appearnce of being sped up. If you hold your finger to long on the start button it goes from normal to timelapse mode. We will remember that.  I got some official photos as well.

Rest day Slow day

 I am grappling with the Gopro downloads at the moment. I mounted it on Debbie's bike so am not sure what we will get out of it but it ws running for a long time so much so that ir ran out of battery before we crossed the line.  In the meantime there are two days worth of photos here of Estelle, Kia and Asher in all sorts of action as well as some paid photos from the bike ride.  It was sun clouds sun clouds for two days but we got those kiddies to the beach anyway as well as the adventure playground and for a forest walk.

in flight exit

slide races

mini donuts

adventure house

Aussie Day 

marshmellow kids

Bluey Mermaid Tail