Port Fairy

We like it here, we could move here.  Its a cute little seaside village with a lovely feel about it.  Lots of old cottage-ie houses with lovely gardens in full flower.  We even like Warnambool that is bigger and busier and had what looks like a new modern purpose built TAFE.  Watch out CIT you might loose one of your best teachers.  Although Sporty Elephant wants to stay in Canberra.

The Red Elephants all had a sleep in today and after waiting for the showers to clear we did not get out and about till after 11am.  WE walked around Griffith Island that is attached to the mainland by both a footbridge and a breakwall.  The walk around the island was 3km.  We passed by low lying beach shrubs and grasses and spotted holes under the grass.  The junior Red Elelphants recognised them as Fairy Penguin burrows.  But we later found out that they belong to Shear Water Birds who Fly from as far away as Japan and Alaska evry spring to arrive at Griffith Island.  They then meet up with their partners from last year, burrow up to 2 metres to mate.  The walk also crossed some dark grey/black rocks on the waters edge and along the beaches.  There was lots of lovely little coves that I imagine would be wonderful safe swimming spots in summer, with the sun warming the water.  We made it to the Griffiths lighthouse and explored all around its base.  I do like a lighthouse and the stories of the lighthouse keepers that go with them.  This one they would return to Port Fairy once a month to stock up and would get their wood for their fires once a year.  Sometimes the waves would be lapping the doors of the lighthouse and during high tides they would be cut of completely from the mainland.

We then returned to the mainland to explore the marina area and checked  out all the boats.  The junior Red Elephants rather like one with a sparkly blue deck and I liked the yellow and cream one.  We found out that they mostly fish for Lobsters here and Gummi Sharks.  It was all very seaside scenic and picture - skew!

By this time we had all got quite warm.  Yes warm we actually had to take of a layer  of clothing . Unbelievable!!  We returmed to the van for a quick bite of lunch before heading back in to explore the main street.  Port Fairy is a town of three bakeries and two looked like they make bonza vanilla slices.  Surprisingly the Junior Red Elephants voted for icecreams instead so my waistline was saved as although warmer still to cold for Mumma Red Elephant to have an icecream