I have to start with the end of yesterday because it is priceless!
After the shocking spider incident we did manage to complete the journey to Philip Island, although initial reports cannot be very detailed as it was dark on our arrival. We buzzed in to the camp site and met Milly the cat and Darren the campsite manager.
We drove to our patch of grass – it was near the kitchen [a light source] and not very far from the office so we thought we were going to be ok. Fools.
We started optimistically, with the erection of Leah and El’s tent. All went up lovely what with it being a nice modern model with flexible poles and ropes.
We then moved on to the more complex task of piecing together the medieval tent in which I was supposed to sleep.
Now, at this point I think it is fair to reiterate that I have only been camping twice previously in my life and that during neither of those excursions was I in charge of putting up the tent. So we started with the poles and laying out the tent and a debate began about the best way to go about the process with no instructions. I repeat; it was dark. After about ten minutes a couple walked past us to the bathrooms and offered help. We declined. After a further fifteen minutes they returned and ignoring our protestations began to help. At this point we are five people all with a pole in one hand and a bit of fabric in the other. All with an opinion of how it should be done.
After a further half an hour we managed to fit the damn poles and fabric together and realised that with no ropes [we did not bring ropes] that the whole structure would not stand. We gave up.
The truly lovely Don and Karina then offered us a coffee [or something stronger]. I opted for something stronger and we went to their very nice cabin round the corner and all had serious cabin-envy. As it was lights-out/quiet-time at 22:30, Darren came round to shush us up as we were getting on well and sharing stories about fruit picking and surfing and Australia. I told him about our predicament and he shuffled off with his torch. Shortly after he returns, my knight in shining armour, with a tent. A nice modern tent with the bendy poles and lovely attached ropes etc. I could have kissed him, but I refrained. Anyway, this was a dream to put up and I was soon sipping wine and drifting off to sleep to the sound of the sea and insects.
The morning started early as Leah and El went off to the pool and I slept on. When finally forced out of bed we all began the day with a hearty English breakfast [unappetising] and then began our adventures by stopping at the Koala Reserve. Suffice to say that this was a highlight – these animals are lovely, although they do suffer from Chlamydia.
From there we stopped at a beach so that I could run into the sea with all my clothes on and get very sandy. A quick change into Leah’s top, jauntily worn as a skirt and we were off to a farm reserve with a petting section [petting animals, not each other]. It was almost criminal for me to be seen in public in my attire [any photos posted of this will result in violence] but it did not hamper the fun and we continued the roll to The Nobbies.
The Nobbies are a big set of rocks with lots and lots of seals on them. It’s beautiful and wild and apparently smells pretty horrible if you get close.
Exhausted we returned to camp to write postcards before the amazing Penguin spotting. This takes place at a jetty on the beach. The gorgeous little penguins gather in clusters and scuttle across the sand in terrified unison before pattering up the sand dunes toward their burrows. The land around the beach is dotted with hundreds of burrows and all the mother penguins and their young click and buzz whilst the Daddies come in from fishing. They completely ignore all the staring and whispering. I cannot explain how lovely it was to see them. I will never forget it.
With all this over we header back to base to cook up a storm and met some more chatty Australian people to share burgers with in the kitchen [a shed with grills and a sink]. We were told this cracking joke: “A seal walks into a club . . .” A classic, I’m sure you’ll agree.
Finally absolutely exhausted we hit the hay. Credit goes to El for driving all day and to Leah for keeping her temper with me – I did get pretty crabby. There is so much more that I will remember about this day but I cannot reasonably make this post any longer!
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