Pt 2 - Day 49 - Port Fairy

It is a beautiful sunny day today.  Blowing a howling gale, but it is dry, so off I head to the washing machines, along with the rest of the park!!!  We decide to have a look around Port Fairy today so we head straight to the information centre.  Port Fairy has a little island just near the wharf so we go and have a look at that.  It is called Griffith Island and it takes about and hour to walk around.  We have read that it is home to Mutton birds, which are currently listed as endangered.  They have chosen this island as one of their breeding grounds, however, when we head over to the island we start to notice a lot of dead birds.  They are everywhere, from the minute we step on the island, right around to the other side.  We ask a couple of ladies who look like locals, and they explain that no one knows why they have been dying lately and scientist are currently looking into it.  The birds actually nest underground rather than in trees which makes them very venerable to prey, but it is hard to imagine that so many could be dead without a mark on them.

This is the path that joins the island and the main land.

Anyway, apart from this, the walk around the island was pleasant, we head out to the lighthouse and along the beach on the other side.  Cody comes back to the car loaded up with bits and pieces, always collecting treasures, and a heap of cuttlefish for Uncle Dave's birds!!

We then went down the main street for lunch where we found a lovely little cafe called Rebecca's.  Boy, can Rebecca cook up a storm.  A popular spot with the locals and the tourist.

After lunch Tori and I went and had a look at some art galleries as Port Fairy is just full of them.  First we went to the glass blowing which is always so interesting to watch.  Tori bought herself a glass blown bead which she got put on some leather to where as a necklace.  I refrained, but could have spent a fortune in here.  We wandered through a few more galleries and met some of the local people who were very interesting to talk to.  They are all getting ready for the annual Folk Festival to be held next weekend which brings another 30000 people to the town, quadrupling its population for the long weekend.

This afternoon the kids and Glen swim in the heated pool and I blog and do office work, quite nice to have a minute to myself.  We eat tea in the camp kitchen as it is too cold to eat outside and the rain is threatening again.  I try to use up all our fruit and veg as we have to cross the border tomorrow and I know Quarantine is quite strict here.  Tonight Glen and I look at the map book and try to decide where we go next.  It is our last night in Victoria and we both feel a bit sad that we are on our way back, as we are conscious that our special journey is coming to an end.